WHAT IF #4

"WHAT IF THE INVADERS HAD STAYED TOGETHER AFTER WORLD WAR TWO?"
Co-Conjurers of Cosmic Cacophany: Roy Thomas & Frank Robbins
Embellisher: Frank Springer | Colorist: George Bell
Letterers: Joe Rosen & John Costanza

The Plot: In April of 1945, the Invaders have gone their separate ways. Captain America and Bucky are presumed killed in action as they thwart Baron Zemo's attempted theft of a new Allied radio drone. Meanwhile, the Human Torch and Toro have taken the fight to Berlin, where the Torch kills Hitler in his bunker. Elsewhere, Namor battles the Japanese in the Pacific while Spitfire and Union Jack defend Winston Churchill from Nazi assassins. The group is summoned back together by their liaison officers, who reveal the deaths of Cap and Bucky. Namor and the Torches then fly to the United States for a meeting with recently inaugurated President Harry Truman, who explains that he had the press quash all coverage of Cap's death. Truman introduces Namor and the Torches to a new Captain America and Bucky -- the former Crusader called the Spirit of '76, and New York Yankees batboy Fred Davis -- and asks that they be allowed to join the Invaders.

Truman also adds the Whizzer and Miss America to the group, revealing that the Liberty Legion recently disbanded. Thus the new Invaders battle together and separately against the final remaining Axis power, Japan -- until the war finally ends. At that point, again at Truman's suggestion, the team re-christens themselves the All-Winners Squad and continues to fight crime in the United States. But eventually, the All-Winners decide to take a break. The Human Torch and Toro fly to Boston to visit the Torch's creator, Professor Horton -- but find that he has been imprisoned by his new android creation, Adam-II. Adam traps the Torch and Toro in a deathtrap with Horton, then departs on a mission. But former Liberty Legionnaire the Patriot comes to the aid of the Torches and Horton. As soon as he has freed them, Horton reveals that Adam-II is on his way to replace a congressional candidate with another android.

INVADERS #34

"HE WHO DESTROYS!"
Concept/Editor: Roy Thomas | Guest Writer: Don Glut
Artists/Illustrators: Alan Kupperberg & Frank Springer
Letters: Joe Rosen | Colors: Nel Yomtov | Consulting Editor: Jim Shooter

The Plot: The Invaders are startled to read in the newspapers that the mighty Destroyer has defected to the Nazis. Then, even as they discuss the situation, a radio news report states that the Destroyer is attacking the London Bridge with a Nazi fighter plane. The Invaders set out to stop him. At the bridge, the Sub-Mariner and Human Torch disembark Namor's flagship to assist with rescue operations, while Captain America pilots the craft in pursuit of the Destroyer's plane.

The plane lands at a castle on the moors, where Union Jack and Spitfire bail out as Cap maintains a holding pattern. The sibling Invaders, having deduced that the "Destroyer" is an imposter, enter the castle, with Union Jack insisting that he must unmask the villain masquerading as his friend. So, while Spitfire searches the castle for the real Destroyer, Roger Aubrey, Union Jack battles his impersonator. Spitfire finds Roger, who explains that he was captured behind Nazi lines by Master Man, who now wears his costume. Meanwhile, Master Man defeats and reveals himself to Union Jack. Master Man's three henchmen, who had been knocked out by Spitfire, come around and flee the castle rather than face the Invaders. When Master Man sees their plane taking off, he leaps onto its wing with Union Jack captive -- but U.J. struggles free and leaps from the plane. Spitfire creates an updraft to slow his fall, and Roger catches him.

Later, back at Falsworth Manor, Captain America invites the Destroyer to join the Invaders again, but once more he refuses, though he allows that he would be willing to work with them if they ever need him, as an "honorary" Invader. Then, moments after the Destroyer leaves, Lord Falsworth presents Captain America with a message from President Roosevelt, summoning Cap, Namor, and the Human Torch back to America immediately.

INVADERS #33

"A TIME OF TITANS!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators/Innovators: Alan Kupperberg & Frank Springer
Letterer: Joe Rosen | Colorist: George Roussos
Consulting Editor: Jim Shooter

The Plot: The Invaders fight Thor to save Stalin, but when the Thunder God summons a rainstorm, the Human Torch is rendered useless. Namor grabs Stalin and carries him aboard his flagship, and the pair takes off for Moscow. The remaining Invaders hold Thor at bay barely long enough for him to lose track of Stalin, then he departs. The Invaders board Stalin's train and head for Moscow, while Thor uses his hammer to speak with Hitler. The Nazi leader transmits the location of the Kremlin to Mjölnir, and Thor flies off to complete his mission. In Hitler's headquarters, Doctor Olsen suffers a heart attack and dies, leaving his assistant, Hans, to work with Hitler.

Meanwhile, the Invaders have reunited in Moscow. When Thor arrives, Captain America, Sub-Mariner, Spitfire, and the Human Torch head out to challenge him. But Thor is too much for them, and makes it into Stalin's office. He blasts the premier with a lightning bolt. Elsewhere, Hitler orders Hans to bring trolls from Asgard to Earth -- but Hans, revealing himself as Victor von Doom, refuses and blows up Doctor Olsen's machine. Von Doom departs, leaving Hitler behind in the wreckage of his lab.

However, before leaving, von Doom transmitted to Thor's hammer the ravings of Hitler, revealing that he had manipulated the Thunder God. At the same time, Captain America deduces that "Stalin" is actually Union Jack in disguise. Realizing he's made a mistake, Thor withdraws the lightning from Brian Falsworth, restoring him to life. Thor then tells the Invaders that they must forget this encounter until such time as he is ready to walk once more among mortals. Thor uses Mjölnir to erase the Invaders' memories of their battle, and then returns to Asgard.

INVADERS #32

"THUNDER IN THE EAST!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators/Storytellers: Alan Kupperberg & Frank Springer
Letterer: Joe Rosen | Colorist: Carl Gafford
Consulting Editor: Jim Shooter

The Plot: As the Invaders tour a newly established American base in Britain, Nazi saboteurs sneak in and hijack three experimental Achilles tanks. The Invaders destroy two of the tanks, but at the insistence of base commander General Moore, leave the third intact. The tank has been promised to the Russians, and Moore asks the Invaders to deliver it personally to their premier, Josef Stalin.

Meanwhile, after viewing a performance of Wagner's "Gotterdammerung", Hitler returns to his headquarters, where a scientist named Olsen has opened a portal to the realm of Asgard. Olsen pulls Thor through the portal, and Hitler quickly convinces the Thunder God that the Allied forces have attacked the Germans, and that Germany needs Thor's help. Thor agrees to aid the Nazis.

The Invaders arrive in Russia in time to save a train carrying Stalin from strafing Nazi planes, after which they land. Just as they're about to present the tank to Stalin, however, Thor arrives to assassinate the Russian premier.

INVADERS #30

"FIVE AGAINST THE FLYING DEATH!"
Guest Writer: Don Glut | Penciler: Alan Kupperberg | Inker/Embellisher: Frank Springer
Colors: George Roussos | Letters: Jim Novak | Editor: Roy Thomas

The Plot: Aboard Namor's flagship in the British skies, the Invaders battle the Teutonic Knight's "Flying Death" -- or der Fliegentod. When the craft blasts a building, Namor flies out to save it from toppling. Meanwhile, the Human Torch distracts the Flying Death from without, while Captain America, Union Jack and Spitfire board the craft. They easily dispatch its crew, but the Teutonic Knight appears, holding Doctor Barrow hostage. The three Invaders save Barrow and knock out the Knight, while the Torch takes out the Flying Death's final blaster. But the ship suddenly begins shaking. Doctor Barrow realizes the engine is disabled, and the Flying Death is about to crash.

The Torch helps Namor get the damaged building fused back together, but Spitfire arrives a second later, having bailed out of the falling ship. She enlists the pair to stop its fall, and then the Invaders turn the Teutonic Knight over to the British authorities. But their mission is not finished: having been informed by the Knight that Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery are in town for a secret meeting and are the targets of a Nazi kidnapping squad, the Invaders find the meeting spot and rescue the British leaders, capturing the squad as well.

Their mission now complete, the Invaders head home aboard Namor's flagship, content that the Flying Death has proved an unfeasible experiment for the Germans.

INVADERS #29

"ATTACK OF THE TEUTONIC KNIGHT!"
Guest Writer: Don Glut | Penciler: Alan Kupperberg | Embellisher: Frank Springer
Colorist: Françoise Mouly | Letterer: John Costanza | Editor: Roy Thomas

The Plot: Aboard Namor's flagship, the Invaders fly off on a secret mission. Union Jack explains that the group is out to find a Nazi villain called Komtur, the Teutonic Knight, which elicits exclamations of recognition from Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner.

One at a time, the three Invaders relate their respective encounters with the Teutonic Knight: Cap and Bucky fought him in late 1941 in the United States, when they were guarding a government warehouse. The Knight raided the facility and escaped with the plans for a saucer ship called the "Flying Arsenal". Not long after, the Torch and Toro were guarding a British scientist, Doctor Barrow, who held the secret of the Flying Arsenal's experimental engine. The Knight kidnapped Barrow and escaped the Torch and his ward. Then, later still, Namor found himself aboard an American ship near Africa with his friend, reporter Betty Dean, and a newly discovered element called Radium-X. The Knight attacked the ship and stole the Radium-X.

Union Jack then reveals that the Teutonic Knight has been terrorizing Britain aboard a flying craft, which the Invaders realize must be the experimental ship, constructed from the purloined plans, running thanks to Doctor Barrows' special engine, and powered with Radium-X. No sooner do they reach this conclusion, than the group comes across the ship involved in a dogfight with British planes.

INVADERS #28

"CALLING THE KID COMMANDOS!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Artists/Artisans: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colors: George Roussos | Letters: John Costanza
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner burst into Agent Axis's underground lair. Teaming up with Bucky, Davy Mitchell, and Gwenny Lou Sabuki, the group easily defeats Axis's henchmen and sends the villain into retreat. Axis takes Doctor Sabuki hostage and boards his iron mole. The Human Torch gives chase, but loses track of the mole undergorund. However, when the vehicle emerges in a desert reservoir, Namor confronts Axis and rescues Sabuki. Captain America then arrives to fight Axis.

Meanwhile, Bucky, Davy, Gwenny Lou, and the recovering Toro finish off the henchmen. The Invaders return moments later with Axis captive and Doctor Sabuki rescued. Soon after, Bucky, Toro, Davy, and Gwenny Lou board Namor's flagship with Doctor Sabuki and set out for the Sandy Flat internment camp. En route, Davy and Gwenny Lou don costumes and christen themselves the Human Top and Golden Girl, respectively. At the camp, Agent Axis reappears and the kids defeat him, after which camp commander Captain Simms allows Golden Girl to depart with Bucky and company, while Doctor Sabuki remains behind.

Bucky and friends bring Axis back to the other Invaders, where the villain reveals himself as Namor in disguise, having pulled a fake attack in order to give the kids more credibility with Captain Simms. Then, as the adult Invaders return to England, Bucky, Toro, Golden Girl, and the Human Top opt to remain in the United States and fight on the homefront as -- the Kid Commandos.

INVADERS #27

"AGENT AXIS-- MASTER OF MURDER!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators/Storytellers: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: George Roussos | Letterer: John Costanza

The Plot: Aboard Agent Axis's "mechanical mole" machine, Bucky lets slip that Toro lies near death in a nearby hospital. Axis changes course to go kidnap Toro as well. At that instant, a young man named Davy Mitchell wanders into Toro's room. When the mole arrives, Davy is taken along with the young Torch.

Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner arrive at the Sandy Flat internment center, where they find Namor's parked flagship and learn of Bucky's kidnapping. Namor realizes that Bucky took a homing device from the ship before he disembarked, and sets about tracking the young man down.

Agent Axis and his captives arrive at his hidden underground lair, where he demands that Doctor Sabuki cure him of his multiple personality disorder. Sabuki agrees, on the condition that he be allowed to help Toro first. Some time later, Sabuki begins work on Toro, and removes the bullet. With Toro stabilized, Sabuki turns his attention to Axis. The villain has attached Davy and Sabuki's daughter, Gwenny Lou, to equipment that will kill them if Sabuki tries anything on Axis during the procedure. But when Toro awakens and blasts Axis's henchmen, a fight breaks out. The equipment is ruined, and in the process, Gwenny Lou and Davy are endowed with super-powers. A moment later, the Invaders burst into the room.

INVADERS #26

"DAY OF INFAMY...DAY OF SHAME!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Artists: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: George Roussos | Letterer: Joe Rosen
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: Bucky leaves Doctor Sabuki's California home and takes Toro to a local hospital. There, a helpful nurse tells Bucky where Sabuki is interned. Leaving Toro at the hospital, Bucky travels to a Japanese detention center, where he runs afoul of the racist warden, Captain Simms. When Simms refuses to give Bucky access to Doctor Sabuki, Bucky goes rogue, fighting off Simms' military police, and goes in search of Sabuki.

Meanwhile, the Invaders return to Falsworth Manor, where they find that Union Jack's old friend, Roger Aubrey -- formerly Dyna-Mite -- has been restored to normal size and taken on the identity of the mighty Destroyer. Soon after, Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner depart London in a British bomber, bound for California to check on Bucky and Toro.

Back at the internment camp, Bucky finds Doctor Sabuki and his daughter, Gwenny Lou. Sabuki agrees to aid Bucky, but before they can leave, Sabuki's quarters are attacked by a trio of masked men and their leader, Agent Axis. Axis defeats Bucky and kidnaps Sabuki, bringing Bucky and Gwenny Lou along as well.

INVADERS #25

"THE POWER AND THE PANZERS!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Artists: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: George Roussos | Letterer: John Costanza
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

What's this? Didn't we just look at issue 23 last week?? Did we skip an issue?! No, Frantic Ones, you didn't miss a thing. Apparently INVADERS #24 was entirely and completely a reprint of a Golden Age story, without even a new framing sequence to explain it! Chalk up another casualty to the Dreaded Deadline Doom, I guess. We now rejoin our Scarlet Scarab epic, already in progress...

The Plot: The Human Torch and Sub-Mariner battle Scarlet Scarab near the pyramids, while Captain America, Spitfire, and Union Jack aid British forces against the German advance on Cairo. Sacrlet Scarab wins his battle and moves along to the front line, where he seeks audience with the Nazi general leading the charge. When the battle briefly stops, Cap and the others go in search of Namor and the Torch.

Scarlet Scarab offers to fight for the Nazis if they will leave Egypt when the battle is done. When the Germans agree, the Scarab charges out to battle the reunited Invaders. But when he spots the German general about to execute an old Egyptian man for defying the Reich, the Scarab turns on his new allies. With the Invaders fighting alongside the Scarab, the Nazis are driver into retreat. In the aftermath, the Scarab departs, declaring himself neither friend nor foe of the Invaders.

Meanwhile Bucky arrives in California with the injured Toro, seeking Doctor Sabuki -- but is shocked to learn that the doctor has been sent to a Japanese internment camp.

INVADERS #23

"THE SCARAB OF THE NILE!"
Writer & Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators & Illuminators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: George Roussos | Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: Captain America, Bucky, Namor, and the Human Torch stand by in a hospital waiting room as Toro undergoes surgery. The surgeon soon appears, stating that Toro is stabilized but still has a bullet near his heart. Only one doctor is proficient enough to remove the bullet: Sam Sabuki of California. Namor volunteers his flagship to ferry Toro quickly to the U.S.A., but Spitfire arrives just then to announce that the Invaders have a new mission. Bucky volunteers to take Toro in the flagship while the rest of the team goes with Spitfire, and the Torch ultimately agrees.

The Invaders are dispatched to British-occupied Egypt and deal with a terror group called the Sons of the Scarab, who are wreaking havoc there even as the German General, Rommel, advances toward Cairo. The group, joined by Union Jack, arrives in Egypt soon after, where they are immediately ambushed by the Sons of the Scarab. The villains escape, and the Invaders meet up with their liaison officer, Major Harrison, and an Egyptian civilian archaeologist, Doctor Faoul. The British believe that the Sons of the Scarab are hiding out in the pyramids, and they want the Invaders, advised by Faoul, to ferret them out. While Captain America, Union Jack, and Spitfire head to the front line to aid the British against Rommel's forces, the Human Torch and Namor go with Faoul to the pyramids.

The Torch and Namor dig their way into a hudden chamber, where a mysterious ruby scarab waits. Faoul grabs it, revealing, beneath his clothes, ancient Egyptian garb that marks him as a Son of the Scarab. The ruby gifts Faoul with incredible powers, as he brags to the heroes that his not simply a member of the Sons -- he is their leader. He holds his own against the duo and then takes off to assist the Nazis in driving the British from Egypt. Meanwhile, Captain America and the others struggle to hold the line againt Rommel's advance.

INVADERS #22

"THE FIRE THAT DIED!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Artists: Jim Mooney & Frank Springer
Colorist: Phil Rachelson | Letterer: John Costanza
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: The Invaders board the British vessel Forester, which ferries them back to England in order to get medical attention for Toro. On the way, the Human Torch tells his friends the true origin of his young ward.

Continuity Notes: The Torch says that he met Toro in 1940's HUMAN TORCH #1, "nearly two years" before the events of this issue. The story the public knows is that the Torch met Toro when he was part of an act in a circus, and adopted him as a crime-fighting partner after his parents were killed in a train accident. The Torch fills in some blanks, however: Toro is actually the son of Fred Raymond, lab assistant to the Torch's creator, Professor Horton. Raymond is a specialist on asbestos, and has contracted a terminal disease due to his work with the substance. But this doesn't stop him from marrying his sweetheart, Nora, who is also dying due to exposure to radium.

The couple welcomes a child soon after their wedding, but are shortly accosted by the Human Torch's enemy, Asbestos Lady, who wants Raymond to work for her. The Torch saves them and learns from the couple that Toro is a mutant, with flame-based powers. The Torch decides to keep an eye on the Raymonds, but fails to protect them from the train accident, which -- unknown the general public -- was staged by Asbestos Lady. Toro is adoped by the circus fire-eaters, and his survival of the crash soon becomes public knowledge. Asbestos Lady and the Human Torch both go to the circus for him, and Toro's powers awaken as he helps the Torch defeat Asbestos Lady.

INVADERS #20 & #21

"THE BATTLE OF BERLIN!" | "THE BATTLE OF BERLIN! PART TWO!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Letterers: Tom Orzechowski (#20) & John Costanza (#21)
Colorists: Don Dickens (#20) & Sam Kato (#21) | Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: (Issue 20) As Union Jack battles the Nazis, the Invaders shake off the effects of their drugs and join the fray. But Toro is shot, sending the Human Torch into a frenzy. As soon as Master Man and Warrior Woman are married, Hitler sends them into the fight, running off with Captain America's shield. Hitler and his scientist, Colonel Dietrich, board a plane and fly off, unaware that Dyna-Mite has hitched a ride.

(Issue 21) Dyna-Mite reveals himself and takes out Hitler's guards, but the dictator bails out of the plane, which is actually being piloted by Lord Falsworth and his aide, Oskar, to evade capture. On the ground, the Invaders are on the defensive against the Nazi army, Master Man, and Warrior Woman. When the plane comes back around, they board it and fly out of Germany, barely making it back to the English Channel. There, the crashed heroes are rescued by a British patrol boat, as the Torch declares that Toro needs medical care.

INVADERS #19

"WAR COMES TO THE WILHELMSTRASSE"
Author/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators/Innovators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Letterer: John Costanza | Colorist: Goerge Roussos | Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: Namor, the Human Torch, Toro, and Bucky, all captives of the Third Reich, are paraded through Berlin. Captain America and the Destroyer observe from hiding, until Bucky angers a Nazi guard. When the guard prepares to shoot Bucky, Cap leaps into action, and the Destroyer follows. But in the ensuing skirmish, the Destroyer is killed by a grenade blast, and Cap is captured.

The entire incident is observed from hiding by Lord Falsworth, Spitfire, Dyna-Mite, and their aide, Oskar. The quartet has come to Berlin seeking a way to restore Dyna-Mite to his normal size, and looking for Falsworth's son, Brian. When the group heads to the Nazi Institute of Science, they run across the scientist who altered Dyna-Mite and the other Crusaders, but he captures them with a trap door and some knockout gas.

The next morning, Spitfire stands alongside the other Invaders, all drugged to prevent escape, for execution. As Master Man and Warrior Woman stand before a minister to be publicly wed, Hitler orders a firing squad to finish the Invaders. But before the squad can carry out this command, Union Jack leaps into the scene.

INVADERS #18

"ENTER: THE MIGHTY DESTROYER!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Letterer: John Costanza | Colorist: George Roussos

The Plot: Captain America, hurled from Hitler's fortress ramparts by Warrior Woman, plummets toward the ground -- but he manages to break his fall with his shield and is caught on the ground by a costumed mystery man. Meanwhile, Hitler orders that Master Man and Warrior Woman will be wed to sire a new race of superhumans. When Warrior Woman bristles at this, Hitler gives her time to think it over.

Three Nazi soldiers arrive to collect Captain America's body, but instead find themselves attacked by Cap and the man who saved him, the Mighty Destroyer. The duo defeats the soliders and then ducks into the Destroyer's cavern hideout, where he describes his origin to Cap. Meanwhile, Hitler orders the imprisoned Invaders loaded up for transport to Berlin, where they will be publicly executed.

At that moment, Spitfire, Lord Falsworth, and Dyna-Mite arrive secretly in Berlin and link up with Oskar, an old German friend of Falsworth's. Back at the fortress, Warrior Woman orders Private Biljo White executed -- but after she departs, Cap and the Destroyer rescue him, and then learn that the Invaders have already been taken away.

INVADERS #17

"THE MAKING OF WARRIOR WOMAN, 1942!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: George Roussos | Letterer: John Costanza

The Plot: Hitler and Master Man gloat over the imprisoned Invaders, then depart. Meanwhile, Private Biljo White is interrogated by the woman he once knew as Julia, but who now identifies herslef as Madame Ratzel. When Ratzel hypnotizes him, White tells her that he grew up with a man who is now a government scientist, and who told him that one of the key ingredients in the Super Soldier Serum is potassium.

Realizing this was the one ingredient Brain Drain lacked when he created Master Man, Ratzel quickly sets about creating a new serum. But she is interrupted by a Captain Schneider, who realizes she plans to test the serum on herself. Schneider tries to stop her, and in the ensuing struggle, Ratzel's machinery explodes. Schneider is killed, while Ratzel is empowered with superhuman strength.

The Invaders manage to free themselves and confront Hitler and Master Man on the ramparts of Hitler's fortress. But when Ratzel arrives, calling herself Kriegerfrau -- "Warrior Woman" -- the heroes once again fall. Captain America is hurled off the castle, and the rest of the team is recaptured.

INVADERS #16

"THE SHORT, HAPPY LIFE OF MAJOR VICTORY!"
Author/Editor: Roy Thomas
Guest Artist: Jim Mooney | Embellisher in Residence: Frank Springer
Colorist: Janice Cohen | Letterer: John Costanza

The Plot: Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes watch a newsreel of a recent Invaders misson to France. Afterward, when London suddenly blacks out, they change to costume in time to stumble onto the kidnapping of an American soldier by Nazi agents. Cap and Bucky intervene, but are unable to prevent the abduction.

Soon, the duo regroups with the other Invaders, where they are briefed by their superiors on a Nazi plot to kidnap an American soldier. Cap explains that the kidnapping has already happened, and gives the soldier's name, which he overhead: Private Biljo White. Toro and Bucky realize White was the artist on the hottest new American comic book, MAJOR VICTORY, and Cap knows that since he was drafted, he has been drawing cartoons for the armed forces' Stars and Stripes newspaper. When Cap shows everyone the most recent issue of MAJOR VICTORY, the group is shocked to see that White's origin for the title character mirrors Cap's own origin very closely. Realizing that the Nazis believe White harbors some secrets about the Super Soldier formula, the Invaders head out to find him.

Deducing that the Nazis would have brought White directly to Hitler's fortress, Berchtesgaden, the heroes head there -- but upon arrival, they are attacked by Master Man, empowered once more and now able to fly. Master Man takes out the entire group with ease. When the come to inside the fortress, the Invaders find themselves face-to-face with Hitler himself.

INVADERS ANNUAL #1

"OKAY, AXIS--HERE WE COME!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas
Illustrators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer (Chapters 1 & 5),
Alex Schomburg (Chapter 2), Don Rico (Chapter 3), Lee Elias & Frank Springer (Chapter 4)
Colorist: Sam Kato | Letterers: Darn Near Everybody! | Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Plot: In London, the Invaders meet with their British and American liaisons and are informed that three of their old enemies have resurfaces, working for the Axis powers, in the United States. Captain America, Namor, and the Human Torch head for the East Coast, where they split up to search for their sparring partners.

First, the Torch finds his foe, the Hyena, out to hijack a shipment of valuable medical supplies. The Torch lays a trap and intercepts the Hyena's ambush, but the Hyena has a trap of his own waiting for the Torch. After capturing his enemy, the Hyena extracts some of the Torch's blood for use in making super-powered Nazi agents, and then prepares to kill the Torch -- but the hero vanishes into thin air before the Hyena can finish him.

Elsewhere, Captain America arrives at the Statue of Liberty to meet an FBI contact, but is shocked that the man is a mere puppet of the sinister Agent Axis. Axis has come to take Captain America's shield, and already has his originial triangular shield with him, which he has determined has no special properties. Cap fights back against Axis, and their battle takes them up the statue. Cap flings his shield at the villain, but it's magnetically pulled to a nearby autogyro. Seconds later, with only his triangular shield in-hand, Cap vanishes, to reappear in a featureless void beside the Human Torch.

Namor jumps from his flagship to protect a British ship from an attack by the Shark. But the Shark's electrified torpedo knocks out the Sub-Mariner, and when he comes around, he finds himself a prisoner of the Shark, who has taken his special scaled trunks for study. Namor manages to get free, but vanishes, reappearing with the Human Torch and Captain America. The trio then mateiralizes in front of the Lourve in occupied Paris, face-to-face with three costumed characters who they assume to be Axis agents.

The Invaders battle these strangers, Black Panther, Yellowjacket, and the Vision, but the strangers, who identify themselves as the Avengers, are victorious. Briefly, the Avengers explain that the battle is part of a contest between cosmic beings called Kang and the Grand Master, then both groups vanish. The Grandmaster returns the Invaders to their proper time, where they confront Agent Axis, the Shark, and the Hyena aboard the Shark's boat. The Invaders win the day, recover the blood, shield, and trunks, and head home.

INVADERS #15

"GOD SAVE THE KING!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Artists: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: Don Warfield | Letterer: John Costanza

The Plot: The Invaders discuss King George's order to replace them with the Crusaders as his honor guard at the christening of a new warship. With urging from Spitfire, they finally agree to give up their roles at the ceremony. Meanwhile, the Crusaders meet with their handler, the cab driver Alfie, who shows them photos proving the Invaders are actually Nazi agents.

Alfie then departs and, from a secret waterfront lair, reports in to his superiors in Germany that the Crusaders have fallen into line. But Alfie has been followed by Dyna-Mite, who he tosses into the sea. Dyna-Mite escapes the water and makes his way to Falsworth Manor, where he warns the Invaders of Alfie's plan. The next morning, the Invaders -- less Spitfire, who remained behind to tend to Dyna-Mite -- arrive to stop King George from breaking a booby-trapped champagne bottle. The two super-teams come to blows, but when the bottle explodes -- harmlessly thanks to the Human Torch and Namor -- the Crusaders realize they've been had. Alfie makes a break for it and the Torch pursues, but Alfie drives off the Tower Bridge and his flaming car explodes in midair.

With Alfie dead, the control belt that provided the Crusaders with their powers is gone as well, leaving the group normal humans once more. They make peace with the Invaders, who then head back to Falsworth Manor -- where they discover that Spitfire, Lord Falsworth, and Dyna-Mite have departed on a secret mission.

INVADERS #14

"CALLING... THE CRUSADERS!"
Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas | Illustrators: Frank Robbins & Frank Springer
Colorist: Marie Severin | Letterer: Joe Rosen

The Plot: The Invaders return to Poland to find London under siege by German aircraft. One Nazi plane crashes and its pilots begin to massacre members of the British Home Guard -- until three new heroes, the Spirit of '76, Dyna-Mite, and Ghost Girl, come to their aid just before Namor, the Human Torch, and Toro arrive. Meanwhile, Captain America, Bucky, and Spitfire move to aid the victims of a nearby fire, when three more heroes appear: Captain Wings, Tommy Lignting, and Thunderfist. Collectively, these six call themselves the Crusaders, but they depart before answering any of the Invaders' questions about where they came from.

The Invaders return to Falsworth Manor and then set out the next morning aboard Namor's flagship for a secret mission. But their task is interrupted when a car below explodes. The Invaders land to investigate, and are directed by a cabbie to search for the culprit in nearby St. James Park. But at the same time, a limousine carrying King George is attacked by an assassin. Dyna-Mite appears to thwart the villain, and the rest of the Crusaders arrive just behind him.

The Invaders soon arrive as well, realizing that the car that exploded was a decoy meant to pull them from the attack on the king. The Crusaders announce that they, as mostly British-born heroes, want to replace the mostly American Invaders as King George's honor guard at the christening of a new warship the next day. The king and the Invaders agree. When the announcement of this switch is made over a radio broadcast, the cabbie, Alfie, laughs maniacally.