Hello there,
Hope everyone's been enjoying the weekend. Today's topic is the seventh issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted the Shroud battling Dr. Doom on a castle walkway, with the Sub-Mariner sailing to the scene and several hungry-looking dogs in the background. The tale was titled "Who Is...The Shroud?" The issue had a cover date of August 1976.
The story started right where the previous issue left off. The Fantastic Four were walking out of Castle Doom after being told by Latveria's newest ally, Henry Kissinger, that he'd signed a non-aggression pact with the small Latverian nation. Joining the group was Namor, who had just turned on the FF against his own wishes.
The American heroes were still quarreling on their way back to the Fantasticar. Their team leader, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), wasn't happy with the situation, but felt they had to obey the laws. His brother-in-law, Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), was angered by that perspective. He felt that Doom was just as dangerous as Hitler and felt they had to do something. Reed's college roommate, Ben Grimm, felt similarly, but wasn't quite as eloquent in explaining his frustration. Johnny's sister Susan (the Invisible Girl) tried to calm the tensions, adding that her husband Reed was still the group's leader.
Shortly afterward, Victor Von Doom bid Kissinger farewell, and the diplomat departed via helicopter. Doom and Namor were left to discuss matters, and still clearly had opposing views. They parted ways, and Namor went into one of the lower levels of the castle. There, he met the mystery figure he'd spotted earlier: a new costumed vigilante who went by the name of the Shroud.
After introductions were made, the newcomer explained his reasons for being there. It started when he suddenly became an orphan one evening after walking home with his parents after a concert one evening. A crook robbed them of their jewelry and fired his gun at the adults (a scenario that's very similar to the origin story for the Distinguished Competition's caped crusader). The boy then vowed to spend the rest of his life fighting crime.
He trained in criminology, science, and physical conditioning. The lad noticed the rise in prominence of superheroes and set out to be a force of good. He eventually flew to Nepal, where he came upon the Cult of Kali. He was welcomed into the group and learned their ways and methods. As a rite of passage, the man was branded with the Kiss of Kali and robbed of his sight from that day forth.
The man ran into the snow, dropping face forward to soothe his burning skin. His vision was gone once he arose, but he knew that he no longer needed it. He also noticed that the temple itself had suddenly disappeared. The man later returned to the U.S. and created his costume and heroic persona.
He told Namor that he wanted to kill Doom, feeling that if he was successful, he would become Earth's premier superhero. If he failed, the Shroud presumed that it would be a noble way to expire. The Sub-Mariner thought that the intruder was insane and was reluctant to help.
Meanwhile, the Fantasticar wasn't about to head home just yet. Reed made a detour to Hydrobase. Upon landing, he informed the residents about something important that he felt they needed to know.
Early the next morning, Victor was walking his loyal hounds before entering the family home of some of his citizens. He announced that he was exercising his droit de seigneur, his right to the company of any female in his nation. Doom took the couple's daughter, who realized there was nothing they could do to obstruct such a longstanding tradition in their country.
Von Doom led the girl to a cliff, where he was about to set the dogs on a hunt, since they had longed for the taste of wolfish blood. Before more could be done, the Scourge appeared from behind, demanding the woman's release. The girl named Gretchen stood aside before Doom mounted his first attack.
It became apparent immediately that the Scourge wasn't going to surrender. He engaged the monarch in a heated battle. Both combatants used their own unique weapons in the melee. The Shroud threw a net over Doom, which held him long enough for Doom's iron chest plate to be removed. That put him at the mercy of Doom's own ravenous dogs.
The dogs chased their master, who ran off the end of the cliff, seemingly to his own demise. The Shroud celebrated his victory, thinking that his opponent had perished. He later returned to the castle to proclaim his victory to the Sub-Mariner.
While the two left the castle, Doom awoke to find two females before him. His chest had been bandaged. Doom was now back in Atlantis, the same area that he'd attacked a few issues earlier.
I didn't expect Doom to be bested so easily, especially by a novice hero. The Shroud would be featured in a few more issues of this title. He would also appear in a Spider-Man issue of Marvel Team-Up and Spider-Woman's first regular series. The Shroud would later work with the West Coast Avengers, have his own limited series, form the hero group known as the Night Shift, and pose as Moon Knight after Marc Spector's passing. An interesting character whose origin was obviously copied from Batman in some areas. His powers and abilities put him on par with Daredevil, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, and other similar superheroes.
That's it for today. I'll begin tomorrow with a synopsis of the eighth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. We'll learn more about why Doctor Doom was sent to Atlantis, and see the villains that the Shroud and Namor encounter in that story. Hint: they're already well-known in the Marvel Universe. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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