RED SKULL
Johann Schmidt’s mother died giving birth to him, something his father attempted to murder him for. His father committed suicide shortly later, orphaning the young boy. While working as a bellhop, he met Adolf Hitler and sensing the boy’s dark nature, Hitler took him under his wing, transforming him into the Red Skull. Surviving into the present day, the Skull has now begun his ultimate plot, using a Cosmic Cube and powers stolen from Doom to warp reality into his own twisted vision.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
During World War II, Private Steve Rogers was deemed too weak to serve his country. Rather than let it get him down, Rogers volunteered for the experimental, top-secret Super Soldier program. He was given the Super Soldier Serum, which transformed him into the pinnacle of human perfection. During the war, Captain America was frozen within a block of ice, only to be thawed out decades later by the Avengers. Now, in this new world, Captain America is a captive of the Red Skull, his old enemy, and subjected to the Skull’s twisted fantasies.
AVENGERS
From overseas to deep space, the Avengers have answered the call of duty wherever they are needed and have become the most beloved heroes not just in America, but in the world. Over the years, the team has included numerous members. In this new world ruled by the Red Skull, Captain America is missing and Captain Marvel is in a coma. The remaining Avengers—Iron Man, Warbird, Vision, Namor and Cannonball—are the leaders of the American resistance movement.
FANTASTIC FOUR
When four friends attempted a space flight, they were bombarded by cosmic rays. These cosmic rays endowed them with incredible powers. Upon their return to Earth, the friends decided to use the powers for the betterment of mankind. They became the Fantastic Four, a team of explorers who have saved the world on many occassions. After the loss of the Thing, the Fantastic Four are now trapped in the Skull’s twisted vision, their own memories altered.
BARON ZEMO
The son of Heinrich Zemo, an old enemy of Captain America and a high-ranking member of the Nazi Party, Helmut at first followed in his father’s footsteps as the thirteenth Baron Zemo. However, Zemo has apparently reformed, now with a desire to see the world achieve perfection. He believes that this vision can only be accomplished if he is supreme ruler and he and his Thunderbolts recently achieved their goal, until the Red Skull snatched it away. And now, Zemo finds himself a prisoner of the Skull’s vicious youth, his only hope lying in the Thunderbolts.
DOCTOR DOOM
A brilliant scientist, Victor Von Doom rules his nation of Latveria with an iron fist. Embittered with rage towards his former colleague, Reed Richards, Doom has continually tried to exact revenge upon Richards and the Fantastic Four. He aspires to nothing less than world domination and has continually combined his mastery of sorcery and science to obtain this goal. Doom senses a greater threat to not only the planet, but the universe on the horizon and has a plan to stop the threat himself, utilizing the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, SHIELD and the United States as his pawns.
THUNDERBOLTS
Originally gathered by Baron Zemo to pose as heroes in order to gain the world’s trust, the Thunderbolts were revealed and then went on the run. After attempting to reform under the former Avenger Hawkeye, the Thunderbolts returned to Zemo, following his new philosophy. They were on the cusp of victory when the Red Skull snatched it away. And now the remaining Thunderbolts—Moonstone, Songbird, MACH-IV, the Fixer, Radioactive Man, the Swordsman, Blizzard and the Abomination—plan to overthrow the Skull.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Once SHIELD was the world’s major peacekeeping agency but in this new world, Colonel Nick Fury has found himself the leader of a resistance movement against the Red Skull’s fascist rule. Also by his side are the Avengers, the remnants of Warren Worthington’s X-Corporation, and the combined forces of Atlantis, Genosha and Wakanda. The former SHIELD Helicarrier has been renamed the Steven Rogers, in honor of their missing leader.
NEW WARRIORS
In the regular world, they are the next generation of Earth’s heroes, dedicating themselves to changing the world into a place they want to inherit. In this world, however, the New Warriors—Speedball, Spider-Woman, Ricochet, Joystick and Gravity—have had their memories corrupted and are all part of the Red Skull’s youth movement. In their possession? Their former teammate Rage and the man known as Baron Zemo.
Issues
Avengers #20 – Fourth Reich (1)
The last thing the Avengers remember was being in Latveria alongside the Fantastic Four and Nick Fury. But now, they’ve woken up in St. Louis alone and missing both Captain America and Captain Marvel. Worse, they discover a shocking truth about America, an America now under the control of none other than the Red Skull! “Fourth Reich” begins here, by Dino Pollard and Derrick Ferguson!
Avengers #21 – Fourth Reich (2)
Trapped in an alternate reality ruled by the Red Skull, the Avengers – or what’s left of them – have gone into hiding in the abandoned Morlock tunnels. Between planning their next big move, Cannonball is helping refugees escape the horror that Manhattan has become, but a routine ‘run’ becomes anything but when Master Man and the Pterorists strike! It’s a battle of epic proportions in the next chapter of “Fourth Reich” by Derrick Ferguson and Dino Pollard!
Avengers #22 – Fourth Reich (3)
Captain America is missing, Captain Marvel is comatose, and all of America has become a twisted image of itself, led by the Red Skull! A few still have their memories of the way the world was, including the Avengers, and they are determined to find a way to overthrow the Skull before he can cause any more damage!”Fourth Reich” continues, by Dino Pollard and Derrick Ferguson!
Fantastic Four #15 – Meanwhile…
A council including the Kree, the Skrulls and Ronan the Accuser among others gathers due to the massive energy fluctuations appearing around the Earth, to determine what might be done to avert the catastrophe caused by the Red Skull and the Cosmic Cube. Meanwhile, on Earth, Reed Richards in this strange, new reality is known as Der Phantastisch, part of the Skull’s new order, and he is on the verge of an incredible discovery! A “Fourth Reich” tie-in begins in “Meanwhile…” by Curt Fernlund!
Thunderbolts 2008 Annual – Villains in White Hats
The world has changed, and the not for the better! The Thunderbolts take it upon themselves to find their leader after his disappearance at the end of the last issue, but chances are someone else has a few surprises up their sleeve. See it all in “Villains In White Hats” by Dino Pollard!
Avengers #23 – Fourth Reich (4)
We’ve seen the world’s transformation from the eyes of the Avengers and their allies, but what of the Red Skull and Doctor Doom? Plus, the mystery of the disappearance of the Skull’s greatest enemy deepens! Whatever happened to Captain America? The Fourth Reich continues with “Philosophical Differences” by Derrick Ferguson and Dino Pollard!
Fantastic Four #17 – Malice…
After his jaunt through time, the Thing is back! Except he’s returned to a world corrupted by the ideals of a Cosmic Cube-weilding Red Skull! And the Invisible Woman knows something is going on as well, but can she stand up to the awesome might of the Skull on her own? Will the Thing come to her rescue? More importantly, does he want to? Find out in “Malice…” a “Fourth Reich” tie-in by Curt Fernlund!
Avengers #24 – Fourth Reich (5)
In the face of the Red Skull, the Avengers assemble aboard the Steven Rogers. Cannonball and Master Man get a rematch as the Axis attacks! Will the Avengers be able to stand in the face of a man with the power of the Cosmic Cube, the ability to shape reality, and cosmic awareness? They’re about to find out in part five of the explosive “Fourth Reich” by Dino Pollard!
Avengers #25 – Fourth Reich (6)
The Avengers, with the aid of an unlikely ally in the form of Baron Zemo, make one, last ditch-effort to rescue Captain America and put an end to the Red Skull’s fascist reign of terror! But can they help to go up against a madman who has the power to reshape reality at his fingertips? Find out in the long-awaited conclusion to “Fourth Reich” by Dino Pollard!
Fantastic Four #19 – And A Child…
The Battle for Attilan continues! Black Bolt and the Inhumans face off against the Kree in a fight for the Moon and their lives! But will anyone emerge victorious when the Red Skull takes the floor? Check out “And a Child…,” the final issue of Curt Fernlund’s run on the First Family!
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