The Coming of Nomad

After his battle with Hawkeye, Steve Rogers has been convinced to continue being a crime fighter, not as Captain America, but in a brand new identity.[1] As delighted by this new prospect, Steve literally leaps over cars after he accidentally wanders into traffic.

Meanwhile, the Viper is being transported to Washington, DC to stand trail for his part in the Secret Empire’s attempt to take over the United States.[2] The prisoner transport is attacked by Madame Hydra.[3] She is reforming the Serpent Squad, but rather than recruit the Viper she murders the villain in order to steal his identity. While in Virginia, Madame Hydra’s ally Princess Python breaks the Eel and Cobra out of prison to be part of the team as well.[4]

Back in New York, Steve Rogers has decided to call the police commissioner to officially resign from the police.[5] When Sharon comes home Steve tells her about his plan to create a new crime fighting identity. Sharon is upset by this news because she was enjoying the extra time they had together and was glad that Steve was no longer endangering his life as a crime-fighter. When he asks if he can use Sharon’s family mansion to work on his new project, she allows him to do so, but tells him he’s going by himself. Depressed by Sharon’s reaction, Steve leaves the apartment wondering why he can’t keep his life together.

Meanwhile, the new Serpent Squad meets in their new hideout. There, the new Viper lies to the Eel and says that his brother was killed by the guards who were transporting them. She also explains how she cheated death during her last battle with Captain America, thanks to the Space Phantom.[6] After explaining how she also recruited Princess Python, the Cobra tries to overpower Viper for leadership of the team. However, the former Madame Hydra is more than prepared and easily defeats the Cobra, cementing her leadership on the team.

The following day, Steve arrives in Virginia where he is welcomed by Harrison Carter, who gives Steve the privacy he needs to work on his new costumed identity. After a series of designs, Steve creates a black and yellow caped costume and decides to call himself Nomad, since he is now a hero without a country.

At the same time, Roscoe — the man who owns the gym Steve Rogers works out at — arrives at Sam Wilson’s looking for Steve only to discover he’s not home.[7] He’s surprised by the sudden arrival of the Falcon. Roscoe then tells Falcon about his idea to become the next Captain America and he hoped to get Steve Rogers to help him train. The Falcon thinks this is a bad idea and tells him to go home. Insulted by this rejection, Roscoe vows to show everyone he has what it takes to be the next Captain America.

That evening, Nomad makes his debut in Washington, DC. As he patrols the city, he spots the Serpent Squad trying to kidnap a man outside of a theater that is screening a documentary about Captain America. The battle spills into the theater where Nomad fights the Serpent Squad in front of the theater screen as it plays the documentary about his former identity. Unfortunately, the Serpent Squad manages to get away when Nomad trips over his own cape. Realizing that this was a poor design choice, Nomad rips off the cape but his foes are already long gone. Nomad then vows to find them and rescue the man they kidnapped.

When the Serpent Squad returns to their hideout, Viper reveals that the man they kidnapped is the CEO of the Roxxon Oil Company.[8] She also introduces their secret benefactor, the exiled Atlantean warlord Krang. Krang has recovered the Serpent Crown of the lost world of Lemuria and use it to take over the world.[9]

Recurring Characters

Nomad, Falcon, Serpent Squad (Viper, Eel, Cobra, Krang, Princess Python), Sharon Carter, Roscoe Simons, Hugh Jones (unidentified), Harrison Carter

Continuity Notes

1. Steve quit as Captain America after discovering the leader of the Secret Empire was the former President of the United States. See Captain America #168-175. He will be forced back into the role in issue #183.

2. The Viper kicked off a negative ad campaign against Captain America in Captain America #163, it was then co-opted as part of the Secret Empire scheme.

3. Mentioned here is how Madame Hydra was once the leader of Hydra, obviously. See Captain America #110-113.

4. A footnote here reminds readers of Princess Python’s last appearance in Iron Man #50.

5. Steve joined the NYPD at the request of the police commissioner. His stint lasted from Captain America #139 to 159.

6. The Space Phantom swapped places with Madame Hydra as part of a complex scheme to erase the world’s memory of Steve Rogers secret identity. Long story. See Avengers #106-107.

7. Roscoe’s full name is not given here. Captain America #615.1 reveals his last name is Simmons.

8. The CEO is unnamed here. Next issue he is identified as Hugh Jones.

9. The events surrounding the Serpent Crown in this issue are explored in more detail in Web of Spider-Man Annual #5.

Topical References

• The documentary film states that Captain America has been in action for over thirty years. This should be considered a topical reference as it measures the time between World War II and when this comic was published in 1974. Per the Sliding Timecale, the gulf of time between World War II and the Modern Age will continue to grow with the passage of time.