Captain America #158
The Crime Wave Breaks
Both Captain America and the Falcon have been poisoned by the Viper. As the villain flees, Cap struggles against the venom in his system so he can reach the antidote that has been left just out of his reach. When Redwing arrives on the scene, the hawk cannot understand Captain America’s plans. Through great effort, Cap manages to recover the vial of antidote and after drinking some of it gives the rest to Falcon. As they recover, Captain America explains how this all started when the Police Commissioner asked him to investigate the Cowled Commander’s attempts to bribe officers on the police force.
After parting company with Falcon, Captain America goes to Queens to meet with Sargent Brain Muldoon, who has been suspended on bribery allegations.[1] When Cap explains that he is looking into the Cowled Commander, Muldoon reveals his suspicions of Officer Steve Rogers, unaware that Captain America is Steve Rogers. Cap tells Muldoon to leave things to him, but Brain refuses to sit idle while they can clear his name. After he leaves, Captain America can’t help but worry that his secret identity might get exposed by Muldoon’s crusade to clear his name.[2]
Meanwhile, the Falcon pays a visit to Morgan, the local crime boss in Harlem to see what information he has on the Cowled Commander.[3] While Morgan admits that he knows the Commander’s true identity, he refuses to talk. Realizing that he is getting nowhere, the Falcon departs after rejecting another offer to work for Morgan. By this time, Captain America has come across a bank robbery in progress. When trying to stop the criminals he discovers that he not only feels great but suddenly has super-human strength.[4] When the police come to round up the defeated crooks, one of them warns Captain America that the Cowled Commander is plotting a massive crime wave. Elsewhere, the Falcon decides to investigate where the Viper gets the chemicals to make his venom. He hits pay dirt at one pharmacy which gives him the address to a man named Jordan Dixon. Catching the Viper in the act of making more of his venom, the Falcon ambushes the villain and easily overpowers him. However, the Viper is unconcerned about this defeat because the Cowled Commander is planning a major crime wave.
By this time, Steve Rogers has returned to his apartment where he is starting to feel weak and ill again. There he discovers that someone went through his apartment.[5] That’s when he is visited by his landlord who suspects that Steve might be in trouble with the law and threatens to call the police if Steve doesn’t pay him to keep quiet. With all of these complications surrounding his civilian identity, Steve decides to go out for a walk to clear his head. Once on the street, Steve is knocked out from behind by Brain Muldoon and Bob Courtney, who hope to get him to admit that he is actually the Cowled Commander. While back at Jordan Dixon’s apartment, the Viper explains the Commander’s planned crime spree involves a number of super-villains, namely Plantman, the Porcupine, the Eel, and the Scarecrow.[6]
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, Viper, Boss Morgan Brian Muldoon, Ellen Muldoon, Eel, Porcupine, Scarecrow, Plantman
Continuity Notes
Muldoon was accused of accepting bribes in Captain America #152. Nobody suspects that Muldoon is the Cowled Commander, as we’ll learn next issue.
Captain America states here that he just got his secret identity back. Captain America revealed his secret identity to the public in Tales of Suspense #95. However, this made him a constant target and so he faked his death in Captain America #111 to trick everyone into thinking that Steve Rogers was dead. This only worked because the Space Phantom erased everyone’s memories of Captain America’s true identity as part of a convoluted plot to get revenge against the Avengers. See Avengers #106-107.
During this conversation, the Falcon mentions the recent gang war between Doctor Octopus and Hammerhead, as well as the Pushers recent clash with Ka-Zar. See Amazing Spider-Man #113-115 and Astonishing Tales #15-16.
It’s explained next issue that Viper’s venom interacted with the Super Soldier Serum in Captain America’s blood endowing him with superhuman strength. This added strength will eventually fade away, returning Steve to his usual strength by the time Captain America #218 rolls around.
Steve Rogers apartment was searched by Brain Muldoon and Bob Courtney in Captain America #156.
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition #2’s entry on Plantman states that this is not the real Plantman but one of his simuloids, duplicates created out of plant matter that carry out his schemes by proxy.
Topical References
Falcon likens his relationship to Redwing to that of Rin Tin Tin. Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepard (and its successors) that appeared in film and television shows of the same name between 1922 and 1959. This was already a dated reference when it was made in 1972. To put it another way, if you didn’t know what the fuck Rin Tin Tin was before you read this, that’s why this is a topical reference.
When springing his surprise attack on the Viper, Falcon says “Avon Calling!” This was a slogan for the Avon Cosmetics Company which, around the time this story was published, did most of its business through door-to-door solicitation. Not only is this a topical for referring to a real-world company, but also because of the dated slogan.
