Captain America Vol 5 31

{{Marvel Database:Comic Template
 * Image              = Captain America Vol 5 31.jpg
 * Month              = 12
 * Year               = 2007
 * Event              = Death of Captain America
 * StoryArc           = Burden of Dreams


 * Editor-in-Chief    = Joe Quesada
 * CoverArtist1       = Steven Epting


 * Quotation          = I understand more about the human mind and its workings than anyone on this planet, boy. Do you truly think I care if you call me fat?
 * Speaker            = Dr. Faustus


 * StoryTitle1        = The Burden of Dreams Part 1


 * Synopsis1          = Sharon Carter walks down New York City streets thinking--and answering--to herself about her part in the death of Captain America, for which Dr. Faustus was in control of her mind. Still not completely in control, she does "as she's been told" and heads down and alley to join "the revolution".

Dr. Faustus attempts to brainwash James "Bucky" Barnes into believing that Captain America was a traitor during World War II, which Bucky fights to Faustus' surprise. Bound, he tries to psychologically fight back by calling Faustus "fat", which he actually respects as he sees it as Barnes showing a "mean streak". Faustus has his nurse double the dosage of the drugs for another attempt at brainwashing.

In a S.H.I.E.L.D. infirmary, Falcon wakes up with Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff standing over him--days after Carter shot him and Romanoff in her apartment. Stark breaks it to him that it was Carter that shot Captain America and that she's likely not acting under her own power. He further explains that her psychiatrist, who is also linked to a number of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that have recently gone missing, appears to have been working for Red Skull--which is how Crossbones escaped--and was later found dead. S.H.I.E.L.D. also exhumed Dr. Faustus' grave, which was empty.

Elsewhere, Red Skull--being addressed as General--delivers a speech to an assemblage of Kronas soldiers which is being broadcast to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in their fold. He tells them that he, in a pact with Aleksander Lukin, will soon lead the soldiers to the victory they're waiting for and will write "America's epitaph in it's own blood."

Dr. Faustus continues attempting to brainwash Barnes, this time telling him the Invaders--Captain America, {{a|Namor}}, {{a|Toro}}, and Human Torch--were as Gods while he was "barely human," then showing him Captain America reveling in needless killing of German soldiers. Barnes sees through the lies, and Faustus shifts gears to discuss the day Bucky died hanging on to a plane trying to foil Baron Zemo's plans and his subsequent revival. Faustus tells him his dead was Captain America's fault for not allowing him to jump free of the plane and that the only time Barnes really mattered was when he was the Winter Soldier.

Hearing this, Barnes snaps and suddenly questions why he is bound. He admits to knowing Faustus, who works for his boss: Lukin, and when questioned admits he would have to follow any orders given by Faustus. Faustus unlocks him and gives him a weapon, with which he orders him to kill the nurse--Sharon Carter. Carter begs him to call Barnes off, but he lifts his weapon and fires.


 * Writer1_1          = Ed Brubaker
 * Penciler1_1        = Steven Epting
 * Inker1_1           = Steven Epting
 * Colourist1_1       = Frank D'Armata
 * Letterer1_1        = Joe Caramagna
 * Editor1_1          = Tom Brevoort

Featured Characters: Supporting Characters: Villains: Other Characters: Locations: Items:
 * Appearing1         =
 * {{Flashback|Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes)}}
 * {{FlashOnly|Captain America}} {{Dream}}
 * {{a|Falcon (Sam Wilson)}}
 * {{a|Tony Stark}}
 * {{a|Sharon Carter}}
 * {{a|Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)}}
 * {{a|Dr. Faustus}}
 * {{a|Red Skull}}
 * Kronas soldiers
 * {{Dream|Invaders}}
 * {{Dream|Namor}}
 * {{Dream|Toro (Thomas Raymond)}}
 * {{Dream|Human Torch (Jim Hammond)}}
 * {{a|New York City}}
 * {{a|Black Widow's Gauntlets}}
 * {{FlashOnly|Captain America's Shield}} {{Dream}}


 * Notes              =
 * This is the beginning of the second act of the Death of Captain America storyline.
 * Trivia             =
 * Buchanan calls Faustus Gabby Hayes, an actor who once starred in his own comic series.