Captain America #217
The Search for Steve Rogers!
Captain America and the Falcon are signing autographs for fans when Falcon notices his partner’s mind drifting off. He excuses the pair so they can get to work uncovering the secrets of Captain America’s past.[1] Seeing what SHIELD might have on file, Cap and the Falcon go to the barbershop that acts as a front for the spy agency and use the secret elevators built into the barber chairs to get down to the lower levels. When they arrive they are attacked by an army of SHIELD agents. When the pair fight them off, Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan enter the room and reveal that this was all a test to make sure that they are dealing with the real Captain America and Falcon and not impostors.
This is of importance to Fury after his agency has been infiltrated by spies working for the Corporation.[2] To show them how serious this is, Nick takes them into a room where they are scanning the mind of the spy. They pull up memories showing the traitor talking to two men dressed like Captain America and the Falcon, proving Fury’s concerns were valid. When the traitor is taken away, he suddenly scrapes some poison hidden under his eyelid and uses it to kill himself, preventing SHIELD from learning anything else from him. Fury then shows the two heroes SHIELD new Super-Agents Project: a team of super-heroes that work exclusively for SHIELD. They include Blue Streak, who uses rocket powered roller-skates to augment his fighting abilities; the Vamp, a vivacious martial artist who also wears a belt that allows her to copy the powers and skills of anyone she battles; The Texas Twister who has the ability to generate and channel the wind; and lastly Marvel Boy, patterned after the hero of the 1950s, and armed wristbands that were designed to match the power of the original.[3] When Nick Fury orders Captain America to help train the Super-Agents, Steve refuses. This leads to a battle between Cap and the team of novice super-heroes.
When Captain America beats them all in battle, he admits that they are good but need more work. Rather than argue with Nick Fury, Steve instead suggests that the Falcon train the team instead. This comes as a surprise to Sam Wilson, but since Cap thinks he can take on a leadership role like this he decides to take it. This satisfies Nick Fury who welcomes the Falcon onto the team. As Captain America exists SHIELD headquarters he is unaware that he is being observed by Kligger the head of the Corporation and his associate Veda.[4] Kligger wants to know if Captain America’s sudden interest in discovering his past is true or not and sends Veda to investigate. Veda accepts this mission as she believes that if anyone has the right to kill Captain America it will be her.[5]
Back at SHIELD headquarters, Nick Fury has a surprise for Sam Wilson before he begins teaching the Super-Agents, his pet hawk Redwing.[6] By this time, Captain America has returned home and he calls his girlfriend Sharon Carter to tell her that he needs some time alone to sort out his past and ends their relationship. Stripping off his costume and going outside for a walk, Steve Rogers spots some muggers attacking a woman. Little knowing that this has been staged by the Corporation, Steve saves the woman. It’s Veda, and she thanks Steve, revealing that she knows he’s really Captain America and that she has a connection to his past.[7] To thank him for the rescue, Veda kisses him just as Sharon Carter arrives to try and talk Steve out of breaking up with her. Seeing Rogers being kissed by another woman makes Sharon think that he broke up with her for someone else and walks away without a word. Steve tries to call out to Sharon, but Veda tells him to forget her as they have much to discuss.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, SHIELD (Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Sharon Carter, Marvel Boy, Texas Twister, Bluestreak, Vamp), Corporation (Kligger, Veda), Redwing
Continuity Notes
Steve Rogers realized in Captain America #215 that he no longer remembered much of anything before he was signed up for the Super-Soldier Program. He will find answers of a sort in Captain America #225.
The Corporation had infiltrated SHIELD in order to eliminate an operative called the Defector in Captain America #213-214.
Some facts about SHIELD’s Super-Agents that are not revealed here:
Marvel Boy’s real name is Wendal Vaughn, which will be revealed in Marvel Two-In-One #53
Blue Streak’s real name is Don Thomas as revealed in Civil War: Battle Damage Report #1.
The Vamp is identified as Denise Barringer is Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #8.
The Texas Twister is identified as Drew Derringer in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #11.
What’s not revealed here (obviously) is that both Blue Streak and Vamp are spies working for the Corporation. Their true allegiances are exposed in Captain America #229-230.
Here, Marvel Boy references his predecessor. This was Robert Grayson who fought crime in the 1950s starting in Marvel Boy #1. At the time of this story, Grayson was believed to have died following the events of Fantastic Four #164-165. However, Agents of Atlas #3 and Marvel Boy: The Uranian #3 revealed that this was an impostor named Thelius.
Marvel Boy also states here that his arm bands were created by Stark Industries. This is not accurate, as detailed in the Quasar profile of Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #9 which explains that these bands were recovered from the battle between the FF and Thelius. Reed Richards passed them to Wendell’s father Gilbert to examine, who then gave him to his son. Wendell will not be given a proper origin until Quasar #1.
Kligger’s full name is not given here. In Incredible Hulk #231, he is introduced as Eugene Kligger Stivak.
Veda’s comments are a hint to a claim she will make next issue. She states that she is the daughter of Agent-R, the operative that guarded the Curio Shop where Operation: Rebirth took place. Agent-R is the name this operative was given in Tales of Suspense #73 and Captain America #109. She was referred to as Agent X-13 in Captain America Comics #1. Adventures of Captain America #1 identifies this woman as Cynthia Glass and there is no known connection between her and Veda. An explanation has yet to be given.
Redwing hasn’t been seen since Captain America #191, because Jack Kirby — for whatever reason — didn’t include Falcon’s iconic bird in his stories.
Steve Rogers is surprised that she knows that he’s Captain America. This is because the general public does not know Captain America’s secret identity per the events of Avengers #106-107.
