Traitors All About Me

Captain America has been ambushed by the Constrictor at SHIELD’s abandoned headquarters just as it is about to be demolished. Thanks to his indestructible shield, Captain America is able to protect himself and his would-be assassin from the falling debris. Digging his way out and getting to the surface via a man-hole, Cap ties the Constrictor to a lamp post to question him. He demands to know how the Corporation knew where to find him. The Constrictor unfortunately doesn’t know as his orders were given to him telepathically. The villain also mentions how he failed to kill a kid named Jim Wilson. As Jim shares the same last name as the Falcon, Cap wonders if there is a connection. He then leaves the Constrictor for the police so he can head to California, as he suspects that there is a spy among SHIELD’s Super-Agents.[1]

Captain America returns to his apartment to get some money for a flight only to be reminded that his apartment was recently trashed during a botched assassination attempt by the Corporation. He then remembers he left his wallet and credit card with his street clothes during his later battle with Animus.[2] Among the wreckage, Steve finds a shattered picture frame of himself with his wartime sidekick Bucky. Remembering how Bucky was killed in action, Cap vows not to let another partner of his die.[3] Needing fast cash to pay for his trip, Captain America goes to the Avengers Mansion, but unfortunately none of his teammates has the money to spare.[4] Luckily, Jarvis has put aside some money and this allows Cap at least pay for a bus ride to California.

On the bus ride, Steve gets to know a little boy who is a fan of super-heroes, and Daredevil in particular. When Steve admits that he is a fan of Captain America, the boy calls his alter-ego an “old fogey”.[5] As Steve arrives at the SHIELD training facility and changes into Captain America he thinks about how how the complex world of the present constantly has him justifying the his ideals as Captain America.[6] When Cap enters the facility, he says he knows who the traitor among the Super-Agents is in hopes of bluffing them into revealing themselves. Blue Streak, who is the real traitor, tries to dismiss these accusations as another attempt by Cap to test the Super-Agents out.[7][8] In the ensuing battle, Blue Streak attempts to kill Captain America, giving himself away. That’s when the Vamp begins pounds Blue Streak within an inch of his life until Captain America stops her from killing him. He then demands to know where the Falcon is. Battered and bleeding, Blue Streak reveals that Sam has been taken prisoner at the Corporations hideout on Alcatraz Island and that he’ll never leave the former prison alive.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, The Corporation (Constrictor, Bluestreak, Vamp/Animus) SHIELD (Jasper Sitwell, Marvel Man, Texas Twister), Avengers (Thor, Hercules, Beast), Edwin Jarvis

Continuity Notes

1. There is a lot going on off the top, so let’s get into it:

• SHIELD’s headquarters was slated to be destroyed because the agency has been having issues with Corporation spies since Captain America #213.

• The Constrictor mentions how he failed to murder Jim Wilson. This was in Incredible Hulk #212.

• The Falcon has been missing since Captain America #222. This is because his nephew is Jim Wilson, as we’ll learn next issue.

• While we discover that Blue Streak is a Corporation plant he’s not the only one. The Vamp is also exposed as a spy next issue.

2. Animus tried to kill Captain America by driving a car into his apartment. This also happened in Captain America #222. The battle with Animus happened in the following issue.

3. Per Avengers #4, everyone believes that Bucky died in 1945 after failing to disarm a drone loaded with explosives. Little does anyone know is that Bucky actually survived and was transformed into the Russian assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Cap won’t learn the truth about this until many years later in Captain America (vol. 5) #14. Captain America trained Sam Wilson to become the Falcon in Captain America #117 and the pair eventually became crime-fighting partners almost consistently since issue #133.

4. It is mentioned here that the Avengers are no longer cleared to use their Quinjets. The team has had a number of their government clearances revoked by CIA agent Henry Gyrich who had deemed the group a security risk in Avengers #168. This will remain an issue until the team starts following Gyrich’s instructions in issue #181 of that series.

5. The boy is exited that Gene Colan is drawing the Daredevil comic book. Marvel Comic books exist in the Marvel Universe, as first seen in Fantastic Four #10. Marvel Comics creators also exist in the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe and exist in the relative prime of their lives. While the real life Gene Colan died in 2011, presumably his Marvel Universe counterpart still lives much in the same way that Jack Kirby and Stan Lee continue to live on. That said, Colan has had multiple runs on the first volume of Daredevil including issues #20-49, 53-82, 84-100, 110, 112, 116, 124, 153-154, 156-157, 363, 366-368, 370, as well as #-1 and the first annual.

6. Captain America previously tested the Super-Agents in Captain America #216.

7. It’s mentioned here that the Texas Twister was previously defeated by the Human Torch. That was in Fantastic Four #192. This story reveals that his reason for attacking the Torch was to recruit him into SHIELD. During that period the Fantastic Four had been going through a prolonged break-up that lasted from issue #188 to 200 of that series.

Topical References

• Captain America states that his apartment was trashed by a Volkswagen here. This should be considered a topical reference as that is a real-world car manufacturer.