Captain America #150
Mirror, Mirror…!
While investigating the disappearance of underprivileged children, Captain America and Falcon have learned that Batroc the Leaper is responsible. In the ensuing battle, Batroc summoned his mysterious employer to assist. At first, it appears that this entity is the enigmatic Stranger. After using his cosmic powers to incapacitate the humans, the “Stranger” realizes this merely a disguise to throw off anyone who might have previously encountered the real Stranger.
Doffing his disguise, the alien being reveals that his real name is Jakar. He tells Captain America and the Falcon that he comes from another dimension where his world was the only one left supporting intelligent life after massive cosmic collapse. However, soon his own people entered a catatonic state, including Kari-Le, his wife. The lone survivor for reason unknown, Jakar vowed to restore his people to normal. Fate then provided a solution when a conflict between the Stranger and the Fantastic Four created a portal allowing Jakar to see into this other universe.[1] Crossing over to Earth, Jakar began kidnapping children because their pure souls can be used to bring his people back to life. With that, Jakar teleports away with all of his victims.
Freed from Jakar’s control, Captain America and the Falcon are then attacked by Batroc and his Brigade. However, in the ensuing battle, Batroc flees in order to track down Jakar and force him to make payment for the job he was hired to do, using a tracking device that was given to him. Little does the mercenary know is that Falcon’s pet, Redwing, is following him from the sky.
Meanwhile, at SHIELD headquarters, Sharon Carter’s workout routine is interrupted by her second-in-command, Countess Valentina. She admits to Sharon that she previously hit on Captain America in order to try and make Nick Fury jealous, as he seemed to stop pursuing a romance with Valentine in favor of Laura Brown, another SHIELD agent.[2] However, this plan backfired and the Countess openly admits to Sharon that she has found herself legitimately in love with Steve Rogers.
By this time, Cap and the Falcon are led to Jakar’s hideout by Redwing where they discover that Batroc has been incapacitated by his former employer. The pair are soon trapped in glass cylinders but the Falcon is able to break free thanks to his grappling hook and he frees Captain America. Although Jakar is insanely powerful, Captain America manages to stop the villain dead in his tracks by pulling up an image of Kari-Le on one of the monitors. Cap convinces Jakar to stop what he is doing, saying that Kari-Le would reject him if she knew that he sacrificed the lives of innocent children in order to restore her to life. Realizing the horrific crimes he was about to commit, Jakar agrees to stop his mad scheme and frees the children. Batroc then tries to get payment from Jakar, but is blasted by the departing alien for his troubles.
Jakar then leaves the Earth, after the children are returned home and Batroc is turned over to the authorities, Steve Rogers returns to his apartment. There he is visited by Sharon Carter, despite Nick Fury’s orders to stay away. She has come to get Steve’s advice over the situation with Valentine. However, as the two lovers embrace for the first time in days they are unaware that they are being watched from a nearby alley by the Scorpion and Mister Hyde, who are waiting for the right moment to strike.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, Batroc the Leaper, Jakar, Countess de la Fontaine, Scorpion, Mister Hyde, Rico Santiago, Jaun Santiago, Paul Santiago
Continuity Notes
The Stranger’s encounter with the FF happened in Fantastic Four #116.
A footnote here points readers to Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #12-15 for more on the Countess/Laura Brown love triangle. Valentine hit on Captain America during Femme Force’s recent mission in Las Vegas in Captain America #145-148.
