Marvel Database
Advertisement

Quote1 We have so little say over who lives or dies. We can try to shield them...fight fire with fire...keep them at a safe distance...and pray they are somehow impervious to injury...but for those who defend our freedoms by constantly putting themselves in harm's way...harm will find them...sooner or later. Quote2
Captain America

Appearing in "Old Soldiers Never Die..."

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "Old Soldiers Never Die..."

The year is 1946. The threats of Nazi Gerany have been defeated. However, the world is still in peril, so a super-team has formed - the All-Winners Squad! We see them in action against a time-traveler called Future Man, who threatens to summon his army across time and conquer present-day Earth. However, a happy accident on the part of Captain America destroys his machinery, and Future Man, his paramour Madame Death, and his timeship, and sent careening through time.

The heroes escape, and are met by the press. Cap seems uncomfortable with them, since he is the second man to wear the mask but must pretend to be the first. Miss America deflects probing questions by setting ap up as the hero of the piece and implying a relationship between her and him.

A week later, the All-Winners Squad is at their HQ in the Flatiron Building. They think that the current Captain will do well, but is being beaten by having to measure up to the original. Miss America and the Whizzer are going for a night out in their secret identities.

As they walk, the Whizzer says he is having trouble seperating Miss America's feelings for Captain America from Madeline's feelings for him. Miss America waves it away as part of the act, but the Whizzer is worried that one day, he won't be jealous any more.

The two meet a soldier, who kisses Madeline, then explains that he is returned from the Pacific. As he tells them about the horrors of the battlefield, he turns into a zombie, and starts exhibiting murderous PTSD, repeating "You die, I live."

More zombies appear from exploions around Times Square, and the heroes rush to action. The Wizzer moves all the civilians to Rockefeller Plaza while the rest of the team fight the zombies. The Whizzer tries to help his teammates, but is stopped by a forcefield.

Within the forcefield, the All-Winners Squad is confronted by the original Captain America and Bucky. They explain that if they can find someone to take their place in the afterlife, they can return to life. The team is shocked by this, but the current Cap offers his life in exchange for his predecessor's.

Toro, however, is not so trusting, and sees a woman in the shadows. As he hits her, all the zombies stop moving at once. She is revealed as Madame Death. She explains that Future Man was able to use some of the ship's technology to prevent their fall through time, and then started rebuilding the ship. Over the course of a few years, he filled her in on certain parts of ghistory as he knew it - including the "death" of Steve Rogers. Contracting a fatal illness, Future Man died in the past, leaving Madame Death to return to the present and gain revenge.

Toro tries to destroy what he assumes is her qweapon, but she planned for this - it is the weapon, but it is both flameproof and heat-activated. As the device explodes, the forcefield breaks down. Cap shields Bucky, Human Torch and Toro melt the shrapnel before it hits them, and Sub-Mariner is naturlly shrapnel-proof... but Miss America is not so lucky... until the Whizzer saves her. Madame Death is killed by her own bomb, and dies thinking of her love.

The next day, the All-Winners Squad decide that they should move their headquarters to avoid future collateral damage. Cap mentions that he knows a new building which would be ideal, and whose owner made his money selling paper to the comics industry. They call a press conference to detract attention from reports of undead soldiers. One of the reporters mentions the alleged "relationship" between Miss America and Captain America, which leads Miss America to sweep the Whizzer off his feet and kiss him. Cap, no longer the centre of attention, thankfully slinks away. Namor catches up with him,. and commends him for his bravery, noting that such an act is worthy of the mantle of Captain America.

The stpry ends with Jeff Mace, the civilian identity of Captain America, writing a piece on the events of the week. On the desk in front of him is a letter from Leland Baxter, saying that he would be proud to accept the All-Winners Squad into his newly-constructed Baxter Building.

Appearing in "Winners All"

Reprint of the 4th story from
All Winners Comics #2

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Nazis (Only in flashback)
    • Sturmabteilung (Only in flashback)
      • Unnamed Soldier (Only in flashback)
  • Bank Robbers (Only in flashback)
    • Slug (Only in flashback)
    • Lew (Only in flashback)
    • Three unnamed robbers (Only in flashback)

Other Characters:

  • Unnamed Old Man (Only in flashback)
  • Coin Bank of New York (Only in flashback)
    • Unnamed Bank Guard (Only in flashback)
    • Several unnamed bank tellers (Only in flashback)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Synopsis for "Winners All"

Reprint of the 4th story from
All Winners Comics #2

Editor Stan Lee meets with current heroes featured in All-Winners and together they agree that the Destroyer and the Whizzer should be added because of their great exploits against the injustice.

Appearing in "The Four Trials of Justice"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
All Winners Comics #12

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "The Four Trials of Justice"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
All Winners Comics #12

Steve Rogers and James Barnes are out for a stroll when they pass into the resort town of Lakehorst. They are shocked to see a fence has been put up around the town and even more surprised to see a woman trying to leave the town limits being stopped by a man in a Nazi uniform. The pair change into Captain America and Bucky and attack the Nazi soldier. When they question the girl about what has happened, all she knows is that a large plane landed somewhere nearby the night before.

Suddenly, Captain America and Bucky are ambushed by their old foe the Red Skull and an army of Nazis. They attempt to gun down the heroes, but they manage to escape and decide to investigate the town. Within the town, the Red Skull is furious that Captain America and Bucky got away as they stand in the way of his plan: As Germany is losing the war, the Red Skull has begun a plan to take over the United States and turn it into a Nazi country from within.

Captain America and Bucky arrive in the town and rescue a group of vacationers who are being held prisoner and getting them food giving them freedom from want. He tells the people there that as Americans they are entitled to freedom from fear. Tracking the Red Skull to the outside of a church, Captain America prevents him from destroying it, protecting the peoples freedom of religion. The Red Skull manages to knock out Cap and Bucky and they are then taken to a local pool that has been drained and attempts to toss them into it from the diving board.

Captain America springs back and fights off the Nazis and frees Bucky. The pair then track down the Red Skull again who is threatening locals to accept the Nazi way of life or die. In protecting their freedom of speech, Bucky distracts the Red Skull long enough for Captain America to ambush him. Easily subduing the Red Skull and his men, Captain America and Bucky turn them over to the authorities. He tells the people gathered that he is ever there to defend every Americans basic freedoms. As the Red Skull is being led away Bucky quips that their old foe wishes he had freedom from Captain America.

Solicit Synopsis

Captain America and Bucky…the Human Torch and Toro…the Sub-Mariner…Miss America…the Whizzer…THE ALL-WINNERS SQUAD! It's 1946 and World War 2 is over, but the memory of those lost in the War haunts everyone— especially when Times Square is overrun by undead soldiers wanting their lives back! And leading this tattered battalion are the two casualties the All-Winners Squad can't fight— the original Captain America and Bucky! Plus: a surprise romance that has all the tabloids a-twitter! "Old Soldiers Never Die…" by Karl Kesel (MARVEL APES) and Steve Uy (AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE) Buy Bonds! And this comic!

Notes

See Also

Links and References

http://marvel.com/catalog/?id=12432

References

Advertisement