"Red Skull in the Sunset!"
What's wrong with this picture? The Invaders tearing up and eventually levelling an American munitions plant in broad daylight? The Red Skull hijacking the U.S. radio and television airwaves to boast and bait the public that their heroes have joined the Nazi cause and now fight against them?
The answers lie a few weeks earlier. The Invaders had been persuaded to appear at a War Bonds rally by wealthy businessman, Bettman P. Lyles.
Armed Nazi agents suddenly burst from the crowd to ambush the heroes. Captain America and company make short work of them, but then the real threat manifests itself.
The Red Skull appears in a vortex created by some fantastical technology taunting the Invaders to ally themselves with him. The bait is taken and one by one they vanish into the vortex, all except Bucky; who the Skull cruelly dismisses. He has no need for Cap's sidekick, as he possesses no special powers or abilities. The shock of the rejection and the loss of his team-mates leaves Bucky in a state of catatonic daze.
Continues in Marvel Premiere #29.