Behold the Hordes of Hydra

As Captain America and SHIELD’s Femme Force clash with agent of Hydra, their mysterious benefactor contemplates setting off the base’s self-destruct system. Unaware of this, the Supreme Hydra continues to fight on, not willing to fail his master. As the other members of Femme Force continue to battle the terrorists, the Countessa discovers that she is developing feelings for Captain America and hopes he doesn’t get hurt.

However, before the man behind Hydra can eliminate his foes and the failed Supreme Hydra, he is stopped by his wife who pleads with him not to kill the Supreme Hydra.[1] As the battle continues, the Supreme Hydra orders Captain America to surrender by threatening to electrocute his prisoner, Sharon Cater. Cap tries to destroy the device by tossing his shield but is too late to stop the Hydra commander from pushing the button. Presuming that Sharon has just been murdered Captain America flies into a rage and lays into his foe. The mastermind behind Hydra, now revealed to be none of other than the Kingpin of Crime is about to push the button to destroy them all when Captain America unmasks the Supreme Hydra and is shocked to discover that his minion is also his son.[2] In the meantime, Valentina has checked on Sharon and reports that she is still alive. This revelation stops Cap from going over the edge, but the Supreme Hydra manages to escape while he is checking on his lover. Ordering the Countessa to get Sharon to a hospital, Captain America follows after the Supreme Hydra’s ship with a jetpack used by Femme Force.

Meanwhile, the Kingpin is still reeling from the revelation that his son is the Supreme Hydra and demands his wife explain how this came to be. She recounts how, after her husband suffered a mental break during the previous revelation that his son was the Schemer, his underworld rival. After his father was taken away restore his shattered mind, the Kingpin’s son vowed to build a powerful criminal organization to make up ruining his father. His wife goes on to explain that their son used the Kingpin’s underworld connections to re-organize and reform Hydra and place himself in command as the new Supreme Hydra. With Hydra their son found a technological means of restoring the Kingpin’s mind. Revealing his true identity to his mother, he had her swear his true identity to secrecy until hew was ready to reveal his true identity. By the time the Kingpin’s wife has finished all of these revelations his son’s Hydra organization has been defeated in battle, much to the Kingpin’s aggrivation.

Not far away, Sam Wilson is heading to Las Vegas to assist Captain America on the behalf of SHIELD director Nick Fury. Wilson finds this mission at odds with his decision to terminate his partnership with Cap so he could focus on fighting crime in Harlem. However, the information that Fury recently uncovered — that the Kingpin was back and had taken over the empire of Harold Howards, a wealthy business man, in order to financially back Hydra — he realizes that his former partner could use all the help he can get.

At that same moment, Captain America has followed the Supreme Hydra to the Vegas hotel owned by Harold Howards. There he discovers the connection between the terrorist group and the elusive businessman. Entering Howards’ penthouse, Captain America discovers that the Kingpin is the man behind this new incarnation of Hydra. Soon a battle breaks out between Captain America and the crime boss. Although Captain America is the superior fighter, the Kingpin’s massive size and strength allow him to overpower the Star-Spangled Avenger. Luckily, the Falcon and Redwing arrive to lend Captain America a hand. However, the battle is abruptly stopped by a newcomer, whose appearance is such a shock that the battle stops dead in its tracks. They are then told by this newcomer that he has been the real force driving the return of Hydra. He then orders Captain America to surrender or the entire city of Las Vegas will be wiped out.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Falcon, Hydra (Richard Fisk, Kingpin), Red Skull, SHIELD (Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, Countessa de la Fontaine), Vanessa Fisk

Continuity Notes

1. The Kingpin, his Vanessa, and their son Richard are never fully named in this story. The Kingpin’s real name (Wilson Fisk) and that of his family doesn’t get revealed until Daredevil #170.

2. A footnote here reminds readers that Richard Fisk was last seen in Amazing Spider-Man #83-85 when he attempted to take down his father’s criminal empire as the Schemer.