At Avengers Mansion, Spider-Man is showing his teammates an article about some old comic books drawn by Steve Rogers, before he became Captain America, that were recently uncovered that are going up for auction.[1] Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Wolverine and Hawkeye get a good laugh about the simplicity of the comic about a hero named Sir Spangled, the Human Tank and his dog Liberty Bonds. Particularly since the story is mostly focused on the importance of war bonds.[2] That’s when Captain America comes into the room and he reminisces over his old work. When Spider-Woman suggests they make a deal to get the artwork back to Steve, he dismisses the idea. Crumpling up the newspaper, he tells them that art wasn’t his strong point. When Peter asks why Steve gave up art, he thinks about World War II but simply says “stuff” happened.[3]

When Captain America rallies his Avengers, Peter admits to Cap that they were just having fun and that he actually thinks Steve’s work was really neat. As the other Avengers file out of the room, Steve gets the paper out of the trash and laughs when he takes another look. As the team heads to their Quinjet, Peter is excited to learn that Captain America used to be a nerd, just like he is. The Avengers soon meet up with the Red Hulk so they can begin their search for the rest of the Serpent Society, after Spider-Man and Hawkeye previously captured their leader, Sidewinder. Deciding to pair off for the search, Spider-Man insists that he pair-up with Captain America.

While Captain America and Spider-Man stake out the Serpent Society’s hideout, Spider-Man tries to bond with Cap by asking him questions about his childhood. The pair storm the front gate, Spider-Man asking Cap questions about his personal life the whole way. He is so distracted, the web-slinger is ambushed by Copperhead, but he is quickly taken down by Captain America. With a lull in the battle, Spidey asks if Cap ever wishes he never took the super-soldier serum who turned him into Captain America. Spider-Man still thinks Steve was a good artist and suggest that collaborate on a story once they get back to the Mansion. Moments later, the rest of the Avengers arrive with Anaconda and Sidewinder prisoner as well. When Cap cuts their conversation short, Wolverine thinks that their leader and Spider-Man might not have as much in common as the web-slinger thought. Spider-Man doesn’t think so, and believes all he has to do is remind Steve about his passion.

Later that day, Peter uses his own money to buy Steve’s old artwork and has it framed on the wall. Steve tells Peter to stop, because the artwork was drawn by a sickly kid who thought that his comics were the only way he could help make his mark. However, that is not longer the case because he became a soldier and he feels that he grew out of it. When he asks Peter if he still plays with his old chemistry set, Peter lies at first but admits it after saying he’ll get rid of the artwork. However, hearing hits home for Cap.

He catches up with Peter just before he takes his old chemistry set down to the incinerator.[4] Steve has a bunch of art supplies and reveals that he had started doodling and realizes that he could use some help to collaborate on ideas. The pair sit down in the Avengers rec room and begin going over Steve’s ideas. When Cap says that his skills are all coming back to him, Peter suggests that they never left.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Captain America, Serpent Society (Copperhead, Sidewinder, Anaconda), Avengers (Hawkeye, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Red Hulk)

Continuity Notes

1. Steve Rogers has always been artistically inclined. For more on his pre-Captain America art work see the 1939 Daily Bugle Special.

2. Sir Spangled appears to be a parody of Secret Stamp, a character who was featured in back-up stories in issues of Captain America Comics back in the 1940s. Secret Stamp stories were always focused on war bonds. See Captain America Comics #13-27 and USA Comics #7-9. According to the Unofficial Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe, the adventures of Sir Stamp actually exist in the Marvel Multiverse, and exist in Reality-12055.

3. Among the memories from the war is one of Captain America punching Hitler in the face. This is a homage to the cover to Captain America Comics #1, which featured Captain America socking Hitler right in the mouth. Nickperon.com fully indorses punching Nazis in the face.

4. Peter mentions how his Aunt May recently moved to Boston. She and her husband, Jay Jameson, decided to move to get away from the craziness of New York City. They left in Amazing Spider-Man #673.