Captain America #228
A Serpent Lurks Below
It’s a rainy night in New York City and Captain America has grown restless at Avengers Mansion. When Iron Man asks the Star-Spangled Avenger what’s wrong, Cap admits that after his recent battles with the Red Skull and Korvac, he doesn’t know what to do with the sudden downtime because he doesn’t have much of a life outside being Captain America.[1] Seeing his fellow Avengers having a life outside heroics only drive this home harder. Walking Cap to the roof, Iron Man points out that every member of the Avengers has their own hang-ups but are striving to make better lives for themselves. He tells Steve that he needs to do the same, saying that feeling sorry for himself will not solve the problem.
Left alone with his thoughts, Steve Rogers looks down onto the street below and sees some kids playing in the street. When a speeding truck comes barreling down the road and can’t slow down fast enough on the slick road, Captain America leaps down and saves the life of a boy that is about to be run down. Seeing their hero in action excites the children who then ask Captain America where the Falcon is. This makes Cap remember that Falcon is currently missing in action and he has been too wrapped up in his own problems to search for him, an issue he intends to rectify immediately.[2]
Miles away, in Washington, DC, Senator Eugene Kligger Stivak is informed that his flight to Gamma Base is ready for him. This pleases him as his scheme to destroy Captain America for the Corporation is finally coming to its conclusion.
By this time, Captain America has arrived at the barbershop that acts as a front for SHIELD’s headquarters. He is surprised to find the place deserted and is attacked by one of the spy agency’s robots. After destroying the automation, Cap uses the secret elevator to access the lower levels. There he discovers the SHIELD facility has been stripped bare and deserted. As he looks around for clues a communicator is activated by Jasper Sitwell. He tells Cap that SHIELD abandoned their headquarters after it had been infiltrated by the Corporation and it is about to be demolished.[3] Sitwell agrees to delay the destruction of the base long enough for Cap to contact the Super-Agents to find out what happened to the Falcon. The team has been relocated to a SHIELD facility in California. They seem disinterested in the fact that the Falcon abandoned them and Blue Streak says that Sam went looking for someone named Jim, who he claimed to be in trouble. Other than that, they have nothing else to tell.
As Captain America ends the communication he is ambushed from behind by the Constrictor, who has been hired by the Corporation to eliminate the Avenger.[4] Cap tries to warn the Constrictor that the SHIELD base is about to be destroyed, but the mercenary refuses to believe him. During this fight, Cap tries to think who could have known he’d be at the SHIELD facility and begins to suspect one of the Super-Agents as being a spy for the Corporation. Despite the fact that his opponent has unbreakable Adamantium coils charged with electricity, Cap manages to grab hold of the coils and tie them into a not, incapacitating his foe. Unfortunately, this takes too long and the SHIELD headquarters begins to self-destruct, threatening to bury both men alive.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, The Corporation (Kligger Stivak, Constrictor), Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, the Vision, Beast), SHIELD (Jasper Sitwell, Marvel Man, Texas Twister, Bluestreak, Vamp/Animus)
Continuity Notes
Captain America battled the Red Skull’s legion in Captain America #226-227 and Korvac in Avengers #176-177.
Mentioned here is how the Falcon was left to train SHIELD’s new Super-Agents in Captain America #217. He was reported MIA in issue #222. Issue #230 reveals that he went looking for his nephew Jim Wilson, who has been on the run from the Corporation since Incredible Hulk #208.
SHIELD was infiltrated by Corporation spies in Captain America #213-214. Next issue and issue #230 reveal that Blue Streak and Vamp of the Super-Agents are also Corporation double-agents.
A footnote here reminds readers that the Constrictor was last seen in Incredible Hulk #212.
Topical References
Captain America is depicted using a police call box to summon the police. This should be considered a topical reference as these have become obsolete thanks to advances in radio dispatch technology.
