This one-shot introduces Captain America to elements of the world of Doctor Strange, but with a twist: these events transpire decades before Stephen had his climactic automobile accident, giving a different spin on what could otherwise be a standard World War II-era tale of Cap and Bucky featuring Sgt. Fury and the Howlin’ Commandos.
The story begins with the Red Skull in Germany in October 1944, greeting a plane arrives delivering the spoils of his minions’ incursion into Tibet: the Eye of Agamatto and the Ancient One himself. As Fury and the boys watch from afar, Cap and Bucky arrive in disguise on a motorcycle, making a grand entrance indeed.
After the ensuing battle begins, the Skull disappears into a mystical portal, followed by our heroes, and while Bucky is freaked out by their new surroundings, Cap remains focused on the mission at hand.
Back in the “real” world, the Ancient One tells Fury that Cap, Bucky, and the Skull were abducted into another dimension—exactly which one we’ll see soon—where Bucky manages to snatch the Eye from the villain…
…and he and Cap demonstrate the value of teamwork and training.
After the Ancient One opens a portal for Nick and the Commandos to join their friends, we see whose dimension they’re all now occupying.
After the Skull tells Dormammu on whose person the Eye can be found, Cap and Bucky retreat to safer ground, with the former advising his injured young partner to “walk it off”…
…but he hardly has a chance before one of Dormammu’s Mindless Ones attacks.
Cap recognizes he’s at a significant disadvantage in terms of size and strength… but luckily, he knows judo, which provides a way to counter both.
When more Mindless Ones arrive, Cap urges Bucky to push through the pain until they get a bit of good luck, after which Bucky’s mind turns to the obvious topic.
After firming up Bucky’s ankle, Cap reaffirms the need to keep the Eye from the Skull (and his boss), and leaves to find food or help, assuring his partner he will return.
Meanwhile, Nick meets Clea, niece of Dormammu (and future student, wife, and successor to Stephen Strange as Sorcerer Supreme of our dimension, as well as eventual ruler of the Dark Dimension).
After they meet up with Cap, Nick invokes Shangri-La, the mystical land from the James Hilton novel (and Frank Capra film) Lost Horizon, which inspired Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One’s home in Tibet where Stephen Strange was trained in the mystical arts.
Our expanding troupe returns to the cave to find Bucky abducted by the Red Skull, who demands the Eye in exchange for the boy. Nick reminds Cap he can’t give in, no matter how much he may want to, which Cap acknowledges with understandable regret, anticipating that Bucky would say the same thing himself.
When the Ancient One Zooms in, Cap affirms his resolve not to take the Skull’s deal…
…and the Ancient One suggests a plan based on an ancient Tibetan game called poker.
Cap does give the Eye to the Skull in exchange for Bucky’s freedom…
…after which the Skull tries to kill them anyway. Along with Nick and the Commandos, they escape before the Skull discovers the Eye was naught but a mystical decoy, which leads Dormammu to banish him to another realm before turning his wrath to the others.
This time it’s Nick’s turn to save the day, by pointing out that the Mindless Ones are threatening some villagers whom Dormammu seems to sincerely care for, so he returns the WWII heroes home where they are welcomed by the Ancient One, who drops some words of wisdom before mentioning the need to find “a worthy disciple.” (Strange, that.)
While Bucky thinks he’s gonna ride the big boy bike, Cap tells Nick he and the boy are leaving to face Baron Zemo—but before you raise an eyebrow, remember that this can’t be their fateful final confrontation with him, which doesn’t happen until April 1945 (unless time passes very differently in the Dark Dimension).
Cap signs off with a collegial handshake with the man he’ll be friends and comrades with for many years to come.
ISSUE DETAILS
Captain America/Nick Fury: The Otherworld War: Peter Hogan (writer), Leonardo Manco (pencils and inks), Mariana Manco and Digital Chameleon (colors), Jonathan Babcock (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Not yet collected.
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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