Captain America #181
The Mark of Madness
Steve Rogers has adopted the identity of Nomad to continue his crime-fighting career after he quit being Captain America.[1] In Washington, DC, he has come to the Lincoln Memorial for inspiration when he is ambushed by the Sub-Mariner. Namor, having come to the surface to find the exiled Warlord Krang, attacks Nomad because of his previous clash with the Serpent Society, Krang’s new minions. Nomad convinces Namor they are allies and proves that he was formerly Captain America by reminding Namor of their previous clash in Japan over the Evil Eye.[2]
Krang, meanwhile, has revealed himself as the one backing the Serpent Squad after they successfully kidnapped Hugh Jones, the CEO of the Roxxon Oild Company. Krang has recovered the lost Serpent Crown and intends to use it to make Jones their slave.[3] He explains that he discovered the Crown after his recent exile from Atlantis and putting it on his head the powerful entity powering the crown ordered him to recruit Madame Hydra and reform he Serpent Squad.[4] With the explanations out of the way, they force Jones to wear the Serpent Crown. With the CEO under their control, they highjack the radio airwaves have have Jones order his company to allow the Serpent Squad to take control of their operations.
This broadcast is overheard by Nomad and the Sub-Mariner. Namor fears that Krang might be plotting against Atlantis. Nomad then races to a nearby payphone to call SHIELD. After confirming his voice-print he is connected with Nick Fury, who confirms that Roxxon has an oil drilling platform near the location of Lemuria, the long lost undersea kingdom. Realizing that Krang must be trying to raise Lemuria from the ocean floor, the pair race to Namor’s undersea ship so they can get to the drilling platform.
Meanwhile, Sharon Carter returns to her family mansion in Virginia to try and make up with Steve after they had an argument over his continued costumed career. When she arrives, the family butler informs her that Steve left some time ago and hasn’t been back, confirming her fears that Rogers went through with his crazy scheme.
Back in New York City, the Falcon is working on training Redwing with the mental link they both share.[5] This training session is interrupted by the arrival of Roscoe, a gym owner that wants to take over the identity of Captain America.[6] Complete with his own costume and shield, Roscoe tries to show off his acrobatic skills and ends up landing flat on his ass. That’s when Gabe Jones and Peggy Carter come by looking for the real Captain America. Seeing Roscoe in his get-up gets Peggy’s hopes up, but an embarrassed Roscoe quickly excuses himself and leaves. As the Falcon explains the situation, he wonders why Jones is always hanging out with Peggy Carter these days.
While off the Pacific Coast, the Serpent Squad arrives at the Roxxon Oil drilling platform and order the crew there to prepare to use their equipment to raise Lemuria from the ocean floor. There they are ambushed by Nomad, who convinced Namor to wait back so he can handle the villains on his own. Nomad is able to hold his own against the Serpent Squad until Roxxon’s private security force arrives on the scene.[7] Drawing gunfire, Krang grabs the Serpent Crown from Jones’ head and he and tosses it to Viper who then flees in a helicopter with the Cobra.[8] When the head of security tells Nomad that they didn’t need his help, Steve punches the man out. Furious about this disrespect, Nomad wonders why he decided to return to crime fighting but refuses give up and will keep playing things his own way.
Recurring Characters
Nomad, Captain America, Falcon, Serpent Squad (Viper, Eel, Krang, Princess Python, Cobra), SHIELD (Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter, Gabe Jones), Sub-Mariner, Roxxon (Hugh Jones), Redwing
Continuity Notes
Steve quit after discovering the leader of the Secret Empire was a former President of the United States. See Captain America #169-175. He will return to the role in issue #183.
This was during the Avengers/Defenders War, where the two teams were pitted against each other by Dormammu and Loki. See Avengers #115-118 and Defenders #8-11.
The Serpent Crown was lost in the ocean in Sub-Mariner #13.
Krang was exiled in Sub-Mariner #33.
The Falcon’s mental link to Redwing was revealed to him by Professor X of the X-Men in Captain America #174. Issue #186 reveals that this mental link was created by the Cosmic Cube when it was wielded by the Red Skull.
Roscoe’s last name is not given here. It’s revealed to be Simmons in Captain America #615.1.
Nomad hints that he fought the Serpent Squad previously as Captain America. That was in Captain America #163.
The Serpent Crown’s influence on Hugh Jones doesn’t end here and he will soon plot against Captain America and his allies in Avengers #143-149. The events surrounding the Serpent Crown in this issue are explored in more detail in Web of Spider-Man Annual #5.
