Captain America #230
Assault on Alcatraz
Captain America has learned that the Corporation has kidnapped his partner, the Falcon and is holding him prisoner somewhere on Alcatraz Island. Accompanying him on this mission are the last two members of SHIELD’s Super-Agents team, Marvel Man and the Vamp.[1] Little do they suspect that Vamp is also working for the Corporation and is waiting for the right moment to strike.
Meanwhile, northeast the Bay Area, Fred Sloan and the Hulk have managed to flee a police roadblock and are trying to figure out their next move.[2] Fred smoke a joint to calm his nerves. While the second-hand smoke irritates the Hulk it also sooths him enough to cause him to revert back to Bruce Banner. As Banner and Fred introduce themselves to each other and make explanations for what’s going on, another police car comes up behind them with its siren on. When Fred is forced to pull over on the side of the roads. The two “cops” — actually Corporation operatives — recognize Banner and tranquilize both men. They then call in a truck which they use to load Fred’s van to cover up their kidnapping.
Not far away, Senator Eugene Stivak, has caused his plane from Gamma Base to crash to fake his death. While he’ll miss his cover, he now fully embraces him role as Kligger, leader of the east coast branch of the Corporation. With Jim Wilson as their prisoner, Kligger orders Karla Sofen to change into Moonstone before they begin the next phase of their plan.
By this time, Steve Rogers and his allies have taken a tour of Alcatraz to search for where the Corporation is keeping the Falcon. Slipping away from the tour group they come upon a recently installed metal door. After Marvel Man blasts through it, the trio head down and find the Corporation’s facility. The banks of computers and equipment are all powered by a tidal generator in the center of a floodgate that regulates the flow of water. Chained to one of the floodgate doors is the Falcon. There they are greeted by Curtiss Jackson, the man who runs the Corporation’s western operations. He informs Captain America that the Falcon is to be put to death unless Captain America helps him procure Jim Wilson, who they want to use to control the Hulk, who is also their prisoner.[4] That’s when Kligger and Moonstone arrive with the captive Jim and propose a trade to Jackson: Jim Wilson alive in exchange for Captain America dead. It’s here that Captain America and Marvel Man discover that Vamp has been working with the Corporation this whole time.
With no other choice, Captain America and Marvel Man fight back against their captors. In the process, Bruce Banner is freed from his restraints. The strain of waking up in the middle of a battle is enough to trigger a transformation into the Hulk. However, the gamma-spawned monster won’t listen to reason and attacks Cap and Marvel Man.[5] Jim tries to convince the Hulk to stop attacking the two heroes, but these pleas fall on deaf ears. In the chaos, Kligger orders the floodgates to be opened, threatening to drown the Falcon. With Cap and Marvel Man down, Kligger activates a device that transforms Vamp into Animus — revealing that they are both the same person. A blow from Animus’ club and an energy blast from Moonstone is all that takes to bring the Hulk down.
… This story is continued in Incredible Hulk #232.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Hulk, Marvel Man, Falcon, The Corporation (Kligger Stivak, Curtiss Jackson, Moonstone, Vamp/Animus,) Fred Sloan, Jim Wilson
Continuity Notes
Lots going on here off the top:
The Falcon went missing in Captain America #222. As we learned last issue he went looking for his nephew Jim Wilson, who has been on the run from the Corporation since Incredible Hulk #208.
SHIELD has been having issues with the Corporation planting spies within their agency since Captain America #213.
The Super-Agents were formed in issue 216 and were being trained by the Falcon until his disappearance.
Last issue, Blue Streak was exposed as a Corporation spy. Texas Twister quit between issues.
The Hulk and Fred Sloan have been on the run from the law since they first met in Incredible Hulk #231.
A footnote here reminds readers that Curtiss Jackson was last seen in Machine Man #8.
Much to do about Jim Wilson here:
Curtiss Jackson references a failed attempt to capture Jim earlier. It was when the Corporation sent the Constrictor to try and kindnap the boy and got his ass handed to him by the Hulk. That was in Incredible Hulk #212.
Captain America learned of the connection between the Falcon and Jim Wilson in Captain America #228-229.
The Hulk accuses Marvel Man of claiming to be a Defender when he wasn’t. This is a reference to the “Defenders for a Day” fiasco from Defenders #62-63. When the team’s loose membership policy was made public, Marvel Man and many other heroes tried joining up, which proved to be more trouble than it was worth.
Topical References
Although the Hulk complains about Fred’s “cigarette”, it’s clear that he’s actually smoking a joint. This is obvious by the way Fred is holding it and the fact that the smoke makes Hulk feel sleepy and calms him down. Calling it a cigarette was probably a way of slipping this scene past the censors at the Comics Code Authority. Believe it or not, back then, showing characters smoking cigarettes was perfectly fine but showing someone smoking some pot was against the rules.
The guide giving a tour of Alcatraz makes reference to the Clint Eastwood movie The Enforcer as well as the Robert Stroud, the Bird Man of Alcatraz. These would not be considered topical references since the tour guide is making historical references and not refering to either of these things in the present tense.
