Face to Face with the Swine

The Falcon is reunited with his girlfriend, Leila Taylor, who has just been cured of the brainwashing she received as a captive of the Night People.[1] As they are both cured, Doctor Hartman agrees to release them from SHIELD’s mental health facility. Although Captain America is happy to see the couple reunited, it also depresses him as he is reminded of his current romantic troubles with Sharon Carter, who is upset with him for not making their relationship a priority. As the trio are flown back to New York City, Sam and Leila suggest they all go out to dinner and offer to help Steve and Sharon with their problem.

Meanwhile, in the South American nation of Rio de Muerte, two slave laborers are brought before Hector Santiago, the ruthless dictator of this land who is referred to as “The Swine” by those who despise his rule. They have been brought to Santiago because they have been complaining about being too weak to work due to the fact that they are also being starved. Pretending to be concerned for the well beings of his workers, Hector invites one of them to sit at a banquet set out for Santiago’s birthday celebration and eat all the food he wants. As the grateful slave sits down to eat, he doesn’t suspect that the Swine’s sudden generosity has a sinister purpose.

Back in New York City, Steve, Sharon, Sam, and Leila all have dinner together at a restaurant. There they are served by a waiter named Felix Garcia. Suddenly, two armed men from Rio de Muerte come into the restaurant to apprehend Garcia, who recently fled to America to escape the tyranny of his homeland. Unable to sit back and let these men take Felix away, both Steve and Sam leap in and fight off his would-be kidnappers.

At that moment, back in Rio de Muerte, the Swine forces the complaining slave to continue eating despite the fact that he is full. This force feeding continues until the slave dies when his stomach bursts. Horrified by what he has witnessed, the other slave makes the mistake of calling Hector the Swine to his face. This angers the dictator so much that he executes the slave on the spot. Hector then goes out to the work yard to check on the other laborers. While some harbor a desire to revolt against their cruel master, they are two weak and malnourished to mount a proper rebellion.

Meanwhile, the evening has ended for Steve, Sharon, Sam, and Leila and they all part company. Sharon is upset that their evening was ruined by the fight at the restaurant. Unaware that they have been followed home by the kidnappers, Steve tries to make things up to Sharon. However, the two men from Rio de Muerte gas the couple. They have decided to take Steve prisoner after their botched kidnapping so they don’t return home empty handed. Feeling something hard on Steve’s back, they pull up his shirt and discover that he is wearing his Captain America costume and shield underneath his street clothes. Realizing that they have knocked out Captain America they gleefully take Rogers away with them. At that moment, Sam Wilson suddenly has a feeling that something is wrong and has the urge to call Steve to make sure he’s safe. However, Leila convinces him that he’s just being paranoid and the couple enjoy a romantic moment alone.

Back in Rio de Muerte, the Swine hears another slave complaining about being too weak to lift heavy stones and revels in forcing this man to push a rock with his nose ten miles a day for an entire month. Although everyone fears Hector Santiago, there is one person who openly despises him without repercussions, his cousin Donna Maria.[2] Hector warns his cousin that one day he will run out of patience with her rebelliousness. However, Donna Maria is convinced that someone will topple his empire long before that happens.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Falcon, The Swine, Sharon Carter, Leila Taylor, Donna Maria Puentes

Continuity Notes

1. Both Sam and Leila were kidnapped and brainwashed in Captain America #201-203.

2. Donna Maria’s full name is not given here. Her last name is revealed to be Puentes in Captain America #350.