US Agent #2
Inside Moves
US Agent, aka John Walker, had come to the aid of a woman who was being stalked by the Scourge of the Underworld. In saving her life, John had discovered that she herself was a former Scourge.[1] Claiming her name is Lisa, the woman takes US Agent to the training facility where she learned the skills to become a Scourge. Unfortunately, by the time they arrive, the place has already been cleaned out.
Returning to his car, US Agent tells “Lisa” to tell him the whole truth in the hopes it might offer some clues as to where they can find the Scourge operation. She admits that her real name is actually Priscilla Lyons. She was originally from Gary, Indiana, but followed her brother to Maimi when he get involved in a bad crowd. It was here she met the vigilante named Nomad and convinced him to help her get her brother out of a life of crime. However, it turned out that her brother Phil didn’t want to be saved.
Giving up on her brother, Priscilla went on the road with Nomad and adopted the identity of Vagabond. They eventually started working with Captain America and his partner at the time, D-Man. She underwent some training and was later able to hold her own in a fight. However, things eventually went sour, as Nomad became jealous of the way D-Man kept hitting on her and left. Priscilla drifted away from Cap and D-Man shortly after that. Priscilla returned home only to learn that her brother had died of a drug overdose. During his funeral she was furious and wished she could do something to make the people responsible pay.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have the raw power to do that, so she sought out the Power Broker and his strength augmentation program. During her meeting with the Broker, they were attacked by the Scourge of the Underworld. Luckily they were saved by US Agent who took Scourge down at the time. After the Power Broker was incapacitated Dr. Karl Malus — his chief scientist — tried to convince Priscilla to run the operation but she rejected the offer.[2] After this sour experience, Lyons wanted to get out of town as soon as possible. Eventually, she was contacted by those who ran the Scourge program. Impressed by how she handled herself fighting their operative, they gave her an opportunity to join up with them. Seeing this as the opportunity she needed to avenge her brother’s death, Priscilla accepted.
Under their training she became a skill fighter, a crack shot, a master of disguise, and a deadly assassin. Her first assignment was to locate the criminal known as the Matador and eliminate him. However, when she discovered that he had long quit being a super-villain to help his sister raise her children she couldn’t bring herself to pull the trigger and fled. It was from that moment on that Priscilla was being hunted by the very people who trained her. Needing help and remembering how US Agent saved her last time, she called him and the rest he knows.[3]
As they drive through a seedy part of town, they are unaware that they are being followed by Scourge in his tactical van. When Domino, his handler, radios in, Scourge is told to go after a new target as they can always catch up with US Agent and Priscilla once they have stopped. Scourge complies and is directed to go to an adult movie theater. Buying a ticket and going inside, he sits behind Peter Brand, aka the super-villain known as Blowtorch. Pulling a silenced pistol from his jacket, he shoots Brand through his seat and then leaves.[4]
Meanwhile, US Agent is still going over Priscilla’s story. When asking how Scourge was able to track her down, she figures that her own tactical van was bugged. US Agent is annoyed that she left this van out of her story so far and they head to its location to check it out. The vehicle looks untouched since Priscilla abandoned it and she goes for the phone stashed inside. She uses it to call Domino and US Agent has her make up a story that she is being pursued by him and she wants to come back in. Domino tells her to wait as he is sending someone right away.
A half hour later, Scourge arrives on the scene and finds what appears to be Priscilla asleep at the wheel and opens fire on her. This is, of course, a trap laid out for him and Scourge is soon ambushed from above by US Agent. Spraying the hero in the face with tear gas, Scourge tries to make a getaway in his van, but US Agent leaps through the windshield to try and force him to crash. Luckily, Priscilla is able to shoot out one of the tires making him crash anyway, knocking Scourge out. Loading their prisoner into the back seat of his car, US Agent suggests they retreat in case Domino sends another operative after them.
As they drive, US Agent rips off the Scourge’s disguise and strips him down to his underwear. After gagging and blindfolding their prisoner, US Agent tells Priscilla to drive to the home of Reverend Ned Nordstrom at his church. At first Nordstrom is happy to see US Agent, thinking he had come to take up his offer for spiritual guidance. The truth mortifies the priest, but after learning how dangerous Scourge is, he allows them to lock the killer up in the basement. John then leaves Priscilla to guard him while he goes back out and impersonates Scourge in an attempt to infiltrate their organization. Before he can leave, Reverend Nordstrom has John commit to having that promised talk once this is all over.
Returning to the scene of the crime, US Agent arrives just as clean-up crews are hauling the Scourge’s van away. Priscilla’s van is still on the scene however, and he decides to use its phone to contact Domino instead. Disguising himself as Scourge, he calls in and says he has been shot and needs an immediate evac from the area. Domino then sends another operative out to pick him up.
Back at the church, Reverend Nordstrom brings down some food and water for their prisoner. However, Priscilla stops him from going into the room as Scourge is too dangerous. While Ned understands the danger he finds it inhumane to keep a man prisoner without the necessities of life.
Eventually, a woman comes to pick up the man she thinks is Scourge. At first, it looks like US Agent’s plan is going to work as he is escorted back to the woman’s car. However, once they are on the road she reveals that she knows he’s not really Scourge and shoots US Agent three times with a handgun.
Recurring Characters
US Agent, Priscilla Lyons, Scourge of the Underworld, Domino, Ned Nordstrom
Continuity Notes
The Scourge of the Underworld isn’t a single person, but a group of trained assassins whose sole purpose is to eliminate super-villains, their origins are explained in issue #4. At the time of this story, there have been at least five active Scourges. They are:
The first one turned up in Iron Man #194. He was killed by his successor after he was captured by Captain America in Captain America #320.
The second became active around the same time as the first, appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #277. He was killed by the fourth Scourge after being captured by US Agent Captain America #362.
The third Scourge was an operative of the Red Skull, first seen in Captain America #347. The Skull killed him for failing a mission in issue #394 of that series.
The fourth Scourge made his first appearance in Captain America #362. He is the one who is active during the course of the US Agent limited series.
The fifth is the woman who US Agent is protecting, as we learned last issue.
All of these clarifications are made in the Scourge profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #10.
We get another limited series obligatory exposition dump here. This time for Priscilla. The details:
Priscilla and Nomad’s attempt to save her brother occurred in Captain America #325.
Nomad and Vagabond paired up with Captain America and D-Man starting in Captain America #336.
Here, Priscilla mentions how at the time Steve Rogers wore a costume similar to the one that US Agent is wearing in this story. They are actually the same one. Vagabond’s time with Rogers happened at a time when Steve was stripped of his Captain America identity by the government who then gave it to John Walker, as seen in Captain America #332 through 350. At the time, Steve referred to himself simply as “The Captain”. When the government set John up as US Agent in Captain America #354, they gave him the costume Steve wore as the Captain.
The scene of Vagabond holding her own is from Captain America #342, when she single handedly knocked out Black Racer of the Serpent Society.
Nomad got sick of D-Man’s interest in Vagabond and dipped on her in Captain America #345. She drifted apart from Cap and D-Man immediately after that.
Priscilla’s attempt to undergo the Power Broker’s strength augmentation program was chronicled in Captain America #358-364.
And you would too if you read US Agent #1.
Peter Brand first appeared in Defenders #135. He should not be confused with the armor wearing Blowtorch who appeared in Marvel Comics Presents #67. As of this writing in January 2023, Peter Brand is still considered among the deceased.
Topical References
The Scourge’s battle van is depicted as having a car phone installed. This should be considered a topical reference as car phones have become obsolete thanks to cell phones becoming the norm. Modern readers could assume that a Scourge has a burner cell phone stashed in their vehicle for anonymous communication, or something.
