Field of Vision

Mother Superior has just recruited Baron Zemo into the latest revenge scheme against Captain America being orchestrated by Baron Zemo. In order to make him understand the scope of their schemes, she takes Zemo on a virtual trip through histories bloodiest wars and the deaths of some of the most iconic people in history in order to fully convert him. The process is so disturbing to Zemo it almost breaks his mind, but she manages to manipulate him into fully joining the cause.

Meanwhile, in the state of Virginia, the Cox family gets an unexpected visit from Captain America. Julie Cox can hardly believe that the living legend of World War II is in their home, but her husband David is happy to see his old friend. After meeting Julie and their newborn son Cody, Captain America tells Dave that he need to talk to him in private.

Back at Skull House, Mother Superior runs Baron Zemo through a training course as he needs to be at his fighting best in their final battle with Captain America. The Red Skull soon comes to observe them and when Zemo tries to relate to his own attempts at getting revenge against Captain America, the Skull hits Zemo over the head with his cane. He calls Zemo and his attempts to avenge the death of his father as lacking vision and in order to win against their mutual foe he will need to widen his perceptions.[1] The Skull orders his daughter to teach Zemo as he taught her and she teleports away with their new protégé to carry out the next phase of their plan.

In Virginia, Captain America tells Dave how he has recently been asked to marry his current girlfriend, Bernie Rosenthal. This is a hard decision for him to make because he still thinks about his last love, the late Sharon Carter, and has come to Dave for advice since they both shared feelings for Sharon. Dave feels he got to know Sharon pretty well during their short friendship and tells Steve that she would want him to be happy and that he should follow his heart.[2] Steve thanks Dave for his advice and believes he can accept Bernie’s marriage proposal. After Cap departs, Dave is kidnapped by Mother Superior and Baron Zemo. They take Dave back to Skull House with them where they begin brainwashing him into being one of their operatives.

The following evening, Captain America and Nomad are out on patrol. Steve isn’t ready to talk about his experience during the Secret Wars,[3] but talks about how brave Dave Cox is due to his pacifist nature. Nomad can’t understand how this can be, and Steve tells him that explaining the changes in society since Jack has been in suspended animation will be hard to easily explain.[4] The two then spot a robbery in progress and leap down to the street to stop it. Here, Nomad uses excessive force to stop the robber and Captain America scolds him for acting recklessly. Frustrated by his partner’s expectations, Nomad tells Cap to leave him alone and takes off on his own. When Steve follows after him he finds Jack beaten to a pulp in a nearby fire escape.

There he is ambushed by Dave Cox who, dressed in the Devil-Slayer costume, has been brainwashed into the Red Skull’s loyal minion. Captain America can hardly believe that he is fighting his friend. This combined with the Devil-Slayer cloak allowing Dave to teleport as well as pull an unlimited arsenal of weapons from other dimensions into battle puts Captain America on the defensive. Cap is quickly knocked out by his friend, leaving Nomad to face Dave by himself.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Nomad, The Slayer, Mother Superior, Baron Zemo, Julie Cox, Cody Cox, Red Skull

Continuity Notes

1. The original Baron Zemo died in a battle against Captain America back in Avengers #15. Years later, in Captain America #168, his son Helmut made his first attempt at revenge. His latest scheme against Captain America also ended in failure. See Captain America #275-279.

2. Captain America and Dave Cox go through some of their shared history with Sharon Carter:

   • Cap dated Sharon Carter for a time, starting in Tales of Suspense #95.

   • Mention is made of how Dave Cox held his own against the Serpent Squad despite his pacifist ideals and how he spent a great deal of time with Sharon during a period where she and Steve were having trouble in their relationship. See Captain America #163 and 182-186.

   • Sharon is believed to be dead after seemingly being brainwashed into joining the National Force and committing suicide via self-immolation. See Captain America #231-237.

   • In reality, Sharon is still alive and faked her death to go under deep cover on a mission for SHIELD. She will turn up alive again in Captain America #444.

3. Steve had just returned after he and many other heroes were abducted by the Beyonder to fight in the Secret Wars. See Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #1-12.

4. Jack Monroe spent decades in suspended animation after being the Bucky of the 1950s. For more on this see Captain America #155 and 281.

Topical References

• Julie Cox states that they have more toys for her infant son than F.A.O. Schwartz. This should be considered topical as that is a real world toy company.

• Dave Cox is referred to here as a Vietnam War veteran. This should be considered a topical reference due to the Sliding Timescale. Per History of the Marvel Universe #2, all Modern Age characters stated as being involved in Vietnam are now veterans of the Sin Cong Conflict.

• Likewise, Captain America states that Nomad needs to understand the changes in society that happened during the 1960s as though he lived through them. This should also be considered topical due to the Sliding Timescale.