Happy Tuesday, folks!
Today's topic is the eleventh issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Dr. Doom battling the Red Skull in the foreground, and Captain America tackling the Shroud in the background, with Namor, the Sub-Mariner, bursting through a window in the midst of the chaos. Part three of the story was called "My Ally, My Enemy!" The issue had a publication date of April 1977.
The tale began with the Red Skull and his guards opening fire on the Shroud after having wounded the false Dr. Doom (the crown prince Rudolfo). The Shroud put up a valiant effort, but eventually relented to the new occupant of Castle Doom. The Skull brought his new captive to a viewscreen, where the real Dr. Doom was on board a ship with Captain America.
The Shroud was blind, so he wasn't able to see what transpired. A beam emitted from the castle was fired at the vessel, one that sent the plane on a spiral toward the ground. The Red Skull then switched the view to outer space, where his crew was busy assembling a hypno-ray to be aimed at our planet.
While the Skull was gloating about his presumed triumph, Cap and Doom were ejecting from the ship before it crashed. They landed in the tall grass. Moments later, they were met by snakes who were much larger than they were.
A few moments later, the Sub-Mariner entered the fray. He took out the Skull's guards before their master teleported to the balcony. Skull appealed to Namor, claiming that they should both be on the same side (not telling his guest that he was the one responsible for the mining in Atlantis in Doom's name). He pointed to Rudolfo, stating that he stood in the way of the democracy he was about to offer the Latverian people.
The Shroud tried to appeal to Namor's senses, reminding him of his battles against the Red Skull and his allies back in World War II. The Sub-Mariner thought for a moment before asking to confer with the Skull. Meanwhile, Victor Von Doom and Captain America were underwater, having been knocked into a sewage duct by the onrush of water after floodgates were opened. Doom saved Cap from drowning before the duo crept along Doom's prison cells.
He stopped for a moment to consider his faithful servant Boris before leading Cap further. They soon came across a window, where the Red Skull was discussing matters with the Sub-Mariner. Doom leapt into the room and struck at his larger foe. The Skull's ray still had them shrunken, but they returned to normal size just as the Skull held his small foe in his hand.
Their regrowth was due to the Sub-Mariner pressing a button on a nearby console, just before he was shot by the German villain. Cap fought off the soldiers while Doom made a beeline for his would-be usurper. The Shroud was eventually forced aside by Captain America, who reluctantly fought his fellow hero, feeling that Doom had to prevail in this particular struggle.
Just when it seemed like the Red Skull would win, Rudolfo, still struggling after being shot (last issue) managed to grab the teleportation control and sent the Skull away. The quintet's attention turned to the viewscreen afterward. The Red Skull was now on the moon, preparing to aim his hypno-ray at Earth's population.
This was the second issue of this title that I purchased when I was much younger. I didn't know much about the characters at the time, but I loved the pacing and action. The confrontation between Doom and Skull was inevitable, and I'm surprised they haven't clashed more often over the years.
That's all for today. This storyline continues in the twelfth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up, which I'll cover tomorrow. Doom and the Red Skull will face off again, and we'll see how Captain America and the Shroud fit into the final climactic conflict. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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