Captain America vol. 3 #50 continues
Title: “Keep in Mind”
Writer: Kathryn Kuder
Artist: Stuart Immonen
Editor: Andrew Lis
Mr. Scott walks into East Park Public
School. He is greeted by Mrs. Watt who tells him that she is so
glad that he could come and speak with them today. She leads him
down the hall towards the classroom. She says that they just
finished their lessons on World War II, and that they are lucky
to have him come to tell them a story.
In France at the airport, Steve Rogers
checks in with his passport. The man asks him how long he will be
staying and if he will be conducting any business there. Steve
says that he will be there a week, but that he is just there for
a visit. Steve walks outside and looks up at the planes.
Mr. Scott begins telling his story in the
classroom. He says that life is made up of moments, and that some
moments stay with you the rest of your life. He says that in 1944
he was 23 years old. He says that he had two months training for
two years of being a co-pilot who made maps and snooped around.
He says that it was valuable work, and that it was a lot safer
than being a fighter pilot. Mr. Scott says that some of those
guys had to be washed out of their turrets with a hose. He says
that sometimes he would look up in the sky and wonder how
something so horrible could be happening in such a beautiful
place. Mr. Scott says that on the morning of October 9th
that they were on a map-making mission on the coast of France
when their plane was shot down by enemy fire. There were four
guys in that plane, but when he reached the ground he was by
himself. He wasn’t alone however as the Germans were moving
in. Mr. Scott says that he needed to get out of there.
Steve Rogers looks out on the shore of
France. He later walks along a road as a bus drives by.
Mr. Scott says that he didn’t really
know where he was going, but he just started moving away from the
advancing line and trying to find farmhouses. He wound up in the
cellar of an abandoned homestead. After five or six days he heard
the rumble of tanks and artillery coming, but didn’t know if
it was the Germans or his own men. They turned out to be his own
men and he was found. He says that two days later he found out
that he was the only one found in the crash. Mr. Scott holds up a
picture of thirty-two men that Mr. Scott flew with. He says that
of the thirty-two men only nine made it home alive. He asks how
many children are in the class. Mrs. Watt says that there are
thirty-one children in the class. He shows them the headline that
he cut out of the paper the day he got back that reads,
“Paris Liberated!”.
Steve Rogers looks out over a graveyard. He
comes across a woman on a cellular phone trying to talk to her
grandfather.
Mr. Scott says that he has learned that it
takes courage to live in peace as well as fight for it. He asks
the crowd if they have any questions. One asks if the man would
ever let his children go to war. One asks if he ever felt like a
hero. One asks if he fought because he had to or if it was
because he wanted to. One asks if he was ever afraid. One asks if
he thought that his friends would forget about him. One asks if
he ever thought that he was going to die.
Cap's Shield rating: 9 out
of 10
Immonen is a much better painter than he is
a penciller. His facial expression are conveyed in a much better
light left to his own devices. The story of course is quite
touching, though perhaps an odd selection to run alongside the
quiet ponderings of Steve Rogers.
Title: “To the
Core”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Bob Layton
Colors: Avalon
Studios’ Edgar Tadeo
Editor: Bobbie Chase and
Andrew Lis
With art by:
John Romita and Bruce Timm
Ron Frenz and Bruce Timm
Rick Veitch and Tom Palmer
Sal Buscema
Mike Zeck and Al Gordon
In Maine, Captain America walks up to an old
house. Cap says that the place is supposed to be empty, and that
in truth is should probably be condemned. Cap opens the door and
an ever present mist seeps out the doorway. A voice asks Cap what
he hopes to accomplish here. Cap says that he needs to erase the
doubt… to prove the truth. The voice says that it
doesn’t know what he is talking about. Cap says that they
have always had doubts for as long as they have known each other.
The voice asks if this is supposed to change that. Cap says
‘absolutely’. He says that he has programmed a test to
show what makes him tick. He says that he isn’t sure how it
will work, but seconds later he is next to Bucky in Europe
fighting Nazis. Cap says that this was one of his first fights
alongside Bucky. Bucky is punching the Red Skull in the face. Cap
says that these are the defining moments of his life.
The mist fades and another scenario comes to
life. He is fighting the Super Adaptoid from right after when the
Avengers rescued him. Super Adaptoid is down when Dragon Man
comes along and knocks Cap off a rooftop. Cap is caught by his
old partner the Falcon. As Falcon lets Cap down, Cap says that he
understands what he is dealing with. He says that the program is
taking him to all the important pieces of the puzzle. The voice
says that each of them are defined by their experiences
they’ve had and the people that they have met. The voice
says that it sees what is coming before Cap does. It says that it
knows how Cap defines himself, and that it knows how fast that
can change at a moments notice.
The next image is of Steve Rogers in his
Nomad period. The voice says that when he turned his back on
Captain America that some say he turned his back on the most
important thing in his life. Cap says that they were dark days
for both himself and for the nation. He says that he learned from
that and discovered who he really is. The voice says that he went
back to being Captain America, but what about Steve Rogers. Cap
says that he doesn’t think that there is a difference. He
says that it isn’t like there are two of them, and that no
matter how powerful the costume is as a symbol that he is still
just a man under it. Cap says that he still falls into the same
emotional entanglements… the same traps of love, life, and
loss as anyone else. He says, “If each of them offered
lessons to who I am and what I should be… well it’s a
lesson learned.” Cap says that these visions and experiences
are the real him.
Cap finds himself standing back in the old
house in Maine. He says that the visions are not well-intentioned
lies, but that they are the complete unvarnished truth. Sharon
Carter stands beside Cap and says that she can’t believe
that he made her watch all that. She says that they usually use
this house and its hallucination gas like a truth serum to
debrief deep cover field agents to make sure that they have all
the facts straight, but that use it this way is crazy. Cap says
that they have been the most “on again, off again”
couple ever. Cap says that he just wanted her to know that she
can believe in him. Sharon says that is sweet, but that you just
can’t give that to someone. Sharon says that if he thinks
that he knows what he wants that is fine, but that he can’t
make the same decision for her. She says that she needs some time
to work this out, and that a lot is happening right now. Cap says
that he will be there when she works it out. For old times sake
Sharon kisses Cap and they watch the sun rise together.
Cap's Shield rating: 4.5
out of 10
Writing gets a 1 out of 5. Cap wanted to let
Sharon know that she can believe in him so he shows her a bunch
of hallucinations from his old fights? I’m not sure what
exactly was accomplished in this story beside the fact that there
were five splash page pin-up type shots. Jurgens’ art has
never been one of my favorites, but it is certainly adequate. The
pin-ups were cool for the most part, but as they kind of dictated
the story they were a little ruined for me.
Title: “Relics”
Writer: Brian
David-Marshall
Penciller: Igor Kordey
Inker: Igor Kordey
Colors: Avalon Studios
Editor: Andrew Lis
Captain America sits at home bouncing his
shield around the room as Sharon Carter tells Cap that she is
happy that he has chosen to be with her, but that he no longer
gets to make that decision on his own. She says that she is still
reeling from all the crap that they been through. She says that
she needs some time to make her own decisions about herself and
about them. Steve asks if there is still going to be an
“us” between them. Sharon says that she just needs some
time to think, and that she doesn’t think Steve will be
disappointed. Steve says that he doesn’t understand it, but
that he’ll respect it. Sharon says that after they hang up
that Steve shouldn’t watch television, but that he should
try to get some sleep. Steve asks why she would even mention that
to him since he never watches television. Sharon says that she
doesn’t know why, but that she will see him in a couple of
days. They hang up and Steve turns on the television. It is a
sketch comedy show, and there are guys dressed up as Punisher,
Wolverine, and Ghost Rider. The guy dressed as Captain America
walks in and says, “Golly, guys! Sorry I’m late. What
did you want to talk to me about?” The Wolverine guy says
that they want to talk to Cap about his attitude. Cap says that
he doesn’t have an attitude. Ghost Rider says that is his
attitude problem… no attitude. The audience laughs for some
reason.
Steve gets a phone call from Nick Fury.
Steve asks if this isn’t past Fury’s bedtime. Fury says
that he was going to ask the same thing of Steve. Fury says that
he knows that he is not the SHIELD agent that Cap wanted to hear
from tonight. He says that he just wanted to know if he is doing
all right, Steve says that besides feeling old, silly, and lonely
that he is fine. Steve says that he just doesn’t understand
relationships anymore. Fury says that it isn’t the
relationships, but that they don’t make women like they used
to. Steve says, “I got news for you , old friend. The
don’t ‘make’ women, unless those rumors Dum-Dum is
spreading about you and the LMD’s are true”. Fury asks
if Cap just made a joke and says that they finally defrosted his
sense of humor after all these years. Steve says that he
doesn’t get this television show. Fury asks if he is
watching that garbage and says that he should have put the kibosh
on that. Steve says that he may not think it’s finny, but
that he wouldn’t stand for Fury interfering with their right
to say it. Fury says that he knows that and that’s why
it’s on. Fury says that Cap is so Cap. Cap says,
“Thanks… I think.” Fury tells Cap to get some
sleep and they hang up. Suddenly Cap hears a beeping coming from
his closet. Cap starts pulling things out when he finds his old
hotline case. The message reads, “Hope this finds you, Cap!
I don’t know if this Hotline even works anymore, but I
didn’t know where else to turn. We sure can’t go to the
cops since we were trespassing. And what do you think our parents
would say if we told them that we found a nuclear
bomb?”…
Cap drives down
the street on his motorcycle. Fury says that he thought Cap was
going to sleep. Fury says that there might be something to this
story however. He says that back in the 50’s there was a
C124- Globemaster that was carrying three nuclear devices. They
had to lighten their load so they dropped them off, but that all
the cores were recovered. Fury says that Cap is chasing a dud.
Steve says that it isn’t a dud. He says that Fury said it
was ‘one point safe’. Cap says that it might not be a
nuclear device, but that it is dangerous. Fury says that is what
bomb squads are for. Fury tells Cap to go to sleep. Cap says that
he isn’t tired and asks why the bomb squad should put
themselves at risk when he can do it himself. Fury says to forget
the women, and that they don’t make them like Cap anymore.
Cap asks about the town, and Fury tells him that the town was
abandoned long ago and that it is an official ghost town.
Cap arrives at his destination and starts
looking around. Cap spots someone and starts chasing after him.
Fury asks Cap if he is still there, but Cap is too busy running
after the guy. Cap catches the guy and spins him around. The man
is wearing a Red Skull mask. Cap turns and sees two more men
wearing Red Skull masks. Cap asks if this is some sort of joke.
He says that they are clearly not the Red Skull and asks who the
heck they are. Cap pulls one of the masks off and reveals an old
man, but the old man just spits in Cap’s face. Suddenly Cap
hears a man shouting for help. The man keeps shouting as Captain
America follows the sound of his voice. As Cap runs more and more
men in Red Skull masks follow Cap. Cap finally finds the man
screaming for help, but discovers that it is another man in a Red
Skull mask. The man says, “Somebody stop them…
They’re going to kill Captain America! Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Cap is surrounded and the men just start piling on. Cap says that
he doesn’t want to hurt them. Eventually Cap is overwhelmed.
Cap is chained to a large statue of a hawk
sitting upon the Nazi symbol. The leader says that Captain
America operated like clockwork, from the predictable reaction to
the Hotline to his unwillingness to strike his elders. Cap says
that if they let him go that he might surprise them. The leader
says that he will savor this all the more as Cap displays his
“fighting spirit”. The leader says that Cap is an
impressive specimen, but that it is too bad that he enslaved
himself to a democratic society where the weak are rewarded. Cap
asks what a man in a mask would know about a democratic society.
The old man responds, “I could tell you more than you care
to know. I am only here at the behest of your government. Myself
and countless others you see with me were smuggled into this
country, our war crimes expunged, in exchange for meaningless
information about the Fuhrer’s plans for a nuclear device.
At first I was content to chew my cud and grow fat in my split
level home here in Chancey. I even paid my taxes! Then we were
forced from our homes by the very same government , a government
so vast and corrupt that one tentacle was unaware of what the
other was doing. We were but a splinter of the spear, but we knew
we could stab at America’s heart. Our brothers in your
government learned of the ditched device. They also learned that
your leaders lied about recovering all the cores. Obtaining the
bomb was easy, but the missing core eluded me for many
years… By the time we found it we had aged from a vital army
into a suicide cult. I have lived on hatred for many years
waiting for this moment. Fifteen seconds if just enough time to
think about everyone you have ever loved.” Cap tries to
strain against the chains, but the leader says that he can
struggle if he wants but in the end all that will be left is his
indestructible shield letting America know that their champion
has failed. Cap manages to uproot the entire statue. He gets
loose from his chains and says, “Let me tell you about
America, Nazi! America’s a place where you’re free to
think and feel however you choose. But you can’t hurt
people. You squandered your chance at the American dream. You
gave up your chance at tomorrow. And that’s the difference
between us…” Cap grabs the core off the bomb and throws
it out the window. He says, “…even when things seem
hopeless… America always… finds hope!”
The bomb explodes.
Nick Fury and another agent stand in
radiation suits at the location. The agent says that they only
found the bike. He asks if Fury has any idea what happened there.
Fury asks him what he thinks happened there. He says, “A
great man saved our hash one more time.” Fury asks if they
found the shield. He says that they are still looking for it.
Fury tells him to do that. Fury says, “One more time, old
friend… one more time.”
Cap's Shield rating: 6 out
of 10
The writing gets a 4 out of 5. It’s a
well constructed story. Cap’s enemies seem to understand
just how to exploit Captain America, and it does its job well.
The art is kinda rough in my opinion. I don’t care for it
much.
Title: “A Moment of
Silence”
Writer: Jen Van Meter
Penciller: Brian Hurt
Inker: Jim Mahfood
Colors: Avalon Studios
Editor: Andrew Lis
The teachers are trying to decide if they
should tell the children here or if they should let them find out
at home. The principal says that he will make an announcement
later. In the schoolyard, the children are running around playing
superheroes and supervillains. Smita and Ranji are talking off to
the side. Smita says that Ranji should just ask Mark, and that he
is his friend and will understand. Ranji says that everyone likes
it this way, and that he doesn’t want to start any trouble.
Smita calls Mark over and asks him if he wouldn’t mind if
Ranji got to be Captain America sometime. She says that he always
has to be one of the bad guys. Mark says that they can switch
places tomorrow. They all start playing together.
Back in the classroom, the teacher is
handing back the spelling tests. She says that there is going to
be an announcement soon and that they should all be quiet. Ranji
got a 100% on his paper, but Mark looks down on his 67%.
Principal Harris comes on and says that he has some sad news. He
says that there was a massive explosion in an abandoned town
forty miles from there, and that it looks like Captain America
was killed in the blast. He tells everyone to have a moment of
silence in Captain America’s honor. All the children are
stunned and a tear rolls down the teacher’s face. After the
moment has passed, one of the children asks if they can see what
they are saying on the news. The teacher turns on the television
where they are showing amateur video of the explosion that was
taken by a couple of campers. They go on to say that Captain
America’s body has not been recovered, and that only now
have emergency response teams been able to get in because of the
massive fires. One of the children gets up and punches Ranji in
the face. The teacher comes and pulls the kid off, but the kid
gets loose and suddenly a bunch of the children are all attacking
Ranji. Some are saying that Ranji isn’t even from here and
that he hated Captain America. The teacher breaks it up and tells
them to get to their seats. She tells Smita to turn off the
television. Ranji just watches as the children beat on him while
Mark sits silent at his desk. Smita tells Mark to say something
because they will listen to him, but Mark remains silent at his
desk.
After school, Smita walks Ranji home.
Ranji’s mom calls to him. She doesn’t understand
English. She says that something has happened, but that she
can’t understand them. When Ranji’s mom sees his face
she asks if he has been in a fight. Ranji walks right by his
mother into his room. She follows him to his room. His mother
asks him to please tell her what has happened. Ranji stands with
many news clippings of Captain America pinned up on his walls.
One of them shows Captain America holding Ranji on his shoulders
with the headline “DARING REFUGEE RESCUE”. Ranji says,
“He’s dead, mom. They killed him.”
Cap's Shield rating: This
one doesn’t get a number, but a simple observation. The
story is very well constructed, but it is simply too depressing
because it shows just how far the American dream has fallen
short. The last thing that Captain America would have wanted was
for the students of that class to beat up a foreigner, and yet
there was only one student that wasn’t part of the beating
or would lift a finger to help the child. It’s very
reminiscent of how many people decided that the best thing to do
in the wake of September 11th was to attack random
Muslims that had nothing to with the tragedy. Ignorance, hatred,
and stupidity still lives and breathes in the land of the melting
pot.
Title: “Stars and
Stripes Forever”
Writer: Evan Dorkin
Penciller: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Kevin Maguire
Colors: Avalon Studios
Editor: Andrew Lis
Iron Man says that they had been through a
lot together, and that in that back of your mind you always knew
that something like this could happen. Iron Man says that he was
proud to be his friend and fellow Avenger. He says that he was
the best.
Wasp cries as Hank tries to console her. She
says that she has hope that he is still alive. She says that she
was there when he was found in the ice. She says that he has
cheated death before.
Union Jack says that Britain will never
forget his efforts on their behalf and on behalf of freedom
everywhere. He says that they stand by their allies in America in
this time of tragedy.
Jack Monroe says that he only worked with
him for a short time, but that everything that they said about
him is true. He says that there will never be another like him.
Thor says that this is a day of mourning,
but also a day of rejoicing . He says that they should not drown
his memory in sorrowful tears, but instead honor his spirit and
courage. Thor says that they should sing his praises from Earth
to Valhalla so that everyone knows that he was a man that
embodied the human spirit and all the goodness it possesses.
Mr. Hyde is working on a work crew. He says,
“Well, you know what they say: ‘old soldiers never die-
they just get blown up in New Jersey!” Hyde starts to laugh,
but another on the chain gang hits him in the face with a rack
and calls him a “commie scumbucket”.
Namor says that of all the surface dwellers
that he was the most deserving of his respect. Namor says,
“Fare thee well, Captain, fare thee well.”
M.O.D.O.K. says that just as AIM has
destroyed Captain America that they will topple his leaders. He
gives warning to those that oppose them that they will share the
fate of the “defender of liberty”.
A group of World War II veterans says that
though this is a sad day that it is their duty to take the flag
from him and keep it flying high. He says that they owe him, and
themselves, nothing less.
Tony Stark says that as benefactor of the
Avengers that he only knows the man through his reputation, but
that the Avengers will work through this time of crises.
A skateboarder says that he doesn’t see
what the big deal is. He says that he thought he died years ago.
He adds that he likes “that mutant guy, Wolverine”. He
says that his claws are cool.
Some guy says that he was the greatest man
he ever knew.
Jonah Jameson says that there is no justice.
He says that it couldn’t be Spider-Man and not someone good
and upstanding.
The rest of the Fantastic Four stands by
Reed as he says that Captain America was an inspiration to them
all. He says that they can do nothing more than continue fighting
for the greater good to honor him.
The Mad Thinker says that he isn’t sure
what to think of this.
A homelessman says that they never found a
body and that the super types are like cockroaches. He says that
where they find his shield that they will find the man.
Dum-Dum says that he was the best soldier he
ever knew and takes a moment to wipe a tear from his eye.
Absorbing Man sits on his bed. He says,
“I hated that guy like poison.”
USAgent says that it is a blow to the
country, but that they persevere and that someone will pay for
this.
Black Widow says that the next one of them
that tries to get a sound byte out of her is going to get more
than a broken camera. She tells them to let the man rest in
peace.
Quicksilver says that he was never
judgmental and that he accepted them at a time when most people
feared and shunned them. Scarlet Witch says that they will never
forget what he did for them, and that he was a dear friend that
they will miss.
A Hydra leader says that this is a day of
victory, and that just as they have destroyed the symbol of
America so shall they destroy America itself.
Arnim Zola just laughs and keeps saying
“finally”.
Henry Gyrich says that he always felt that
Cap was too much of a bleeding heart for the job, and that he
always felt it held him back. Gyrich says that was off the
record.
Hawkeye says that if only he could have been
there that he might have been able to save him the way Cap was
always saving everyone.
A guy in a bar says that he thinks that
there have been for or five guys in that suit, and that
they’re just going to find someone else to wear the uniform
and Captain America will be back.
Doom says that another life lost in petty
circumstances means nothing to him.
Whirlwind says that Cap broke his nose, his
jaw twice, and most of his ribs. Whirlwind says that unlike
Ant-Man that he respected Cap, and that it was never personal
with him.
Hulk says that he is sad.
A cop says that Cap saved his life once, and
that he would like to see them build a statue of him or put his
face on the one hundred dollar bill.
Jarvis says that he was a man of simple
tastes and a true gentleman. He says that it was an honor to
serve him.
A “comic book guy” says that cap
memorabilia has gone through the roof on eBay. He says that it is
a tragedy, but that a guy has to make a living.
Black Panther says that all of Wakanda
grieves at the loss. He says that his efforts towards peace went
far beyond those of the country whose name he bore. He says that
he was a good friend and that he will never forget him.
Bartoc raises a glass and salutes Captain
America. He says that he deserved better, but that they live in a
different world now.
From his prison cell, Red Skull says that he
only regrets that he didn’t get to kill Captain America with
his own two hands.
Sharon Carter rests her head on Nick Fury as
he holds her. She says that she loved him so very much.
Falcon speaks at the funeral. He says that
they called Captain America a “super-soldier” and that
as corny as it sounds that was exactly what he was. He says that
Cap was a superhero, and that they use the word so much that they
forget what it means, but that if anyone embodied the word that
it was Cap. He says that he provided the nation with a symbol of
hope and strength. He says that America, and the world, will
never forget him for what he has done. Falcon says that like many
of them that he had the chance to fight alongside Cap, and that
he wishes he had the chance to thank him again for his guidance,
generosity, and utter humanity. Falcon stops to try and fight
back the tears. Falcon says that he was more than a partner,
mentor, and friend. He says that he was his brother. Falcon says
that they all loved him and godspeed. All kinds of superheroes
stand around Captain America’s coffin.
Cap's Shield rating: 5 out
of 10
I like the art in this one and it even
helped me kind of figure out who some of these random human faces
were. The writing was very nice, but I found it kind of hard to
find an emotional attachment to the “sending off of Captain
America” when they’re advertising his next issue within
the book. Maybe the guy in the bar was right and it will be a new
guy in the suit next time and if so this story might have some
real meaning, but compared to the Death of Captain Marvel this
one falls short.
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