Death Throws

William Cross is being brought to trail for the crimes he committed as the costumed criminal known as Crossfire.[1] However, as he is brought up to the courthouse the guards are attacked by Oddball, Tenpin and Bombshell, three members of the criminal jugglers known as the Death-Throws. Using knock out gas, the trio help Cross get to their getaway van, driven by Knickknack, the final member of their group.

Moments later, Hawkeye and Mockingbird — who were scheduled to testify against Crossfire — arrive on the scene and learn how Cross escaped. The pair decide to go out looking for Crossfire so their trip out east isn’t a total waste.

Meanwhile, in Brooklyn Heights, Steve Rogers is helping his girlfriend, Bernie Rosenthal, pack up her apartment. She is leaving to attend law school in Wisconsin. Since Bernie is leaving, Steve has decided to move back into Avengers Mansion as staying in the building will be a painful reminder of their relationship. Their discussions about the future are interrupted by their landlord, Anna Kapplebaum, who is upset to learn that Steve and Bernie are parting ways as she had high hopes for their relationship. They assure Anna that they are just spending some time apart and both promise to visit her regularly.[2] That’s when Bernie’s father arrives and is eager to help her daughter pack her things. Bernie apologizes for his jovial attitude, telling Steve that her devoutly Jewish father didn’t really approve her dating a goy. Josh Cooper also drops by to express his disappointment that the couple are moving out but refuses to let them go without throwing a going away party, which both Steve and Bernie agree to attend.

Later, at a deserted warehouse in lower Manhattan, the Death-Throws getting down to business with William Cross. Oddball is going over how much Cross owes them for their rescue and is angered to learn that William doesn’t have any access to his fortune because the authorities have frozen his assets. The Death-Throws then surround him and begin tossing their deadly juggling weapons around Cross as they try to figure out how to recoup their losses. They ultimately decide to hold Cross from ransom, figuring the authorities will pay good money to get him back.

Back in Brooklyn Heights, the going away party for Steve and Bernie is in full swing. In attendance are their neighbors Anna Kapplebaum, Josh Cooper, and Mike Farrel, as well as Steve’s friend Sam Wilson,[3] his former boss Arthur Bennett, and Bernie’s parents and sister. Soon, Clint and Bobbi stop by so they can tell Steve about Crossfire’s escape from custody. Steve takes Clint back to his apartment so they can check Captain America’s hotline database to see if he received any tips about Cross.[4] They find a message from the Death-Throws offering Cross up for ransom, asking Hawkeye to meet alone with them at their warehouse hideout. Knowing that he is walking into a trap, Clint accepts Steve’s offer to join him on this meet up.

When Captain America and Hawkeye arrive at the warehouse, they agree to trade weapons since Clint would make better use of the shield to defend himself. Hawkeye is in awe that Cap would give him his shield, something he has never done in the past. Sure enough, the Death-Throws try to drop a net on Hawkeye and Captain America is able to warn him of the danger. Coming to Clint’s aid, the pair switch weapons again and they are able to hold their own against the Death-Throws. They quickly wrap up the kidnappers and contact the authorities. Clint decides to stay behind, telling Steve to get back to his going away party.

Steve finally returns home at 3 AM to find that the party has long since ended. Bernie’s apartment is empty except for a goodbye note, telling Steve that she is spending the night at her parents place before heading off to Wisconsin. She figures Steve’s absence was par for the course and a mercy since she is terrible at saying goodbyes. She wishes him the best of luck and although there are no guarantees hopes that they have a future together. After reading the note, Steve sits quietly in her apartment, mourning the end of their relationship.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Hawkeye, Death-Throws (Oddball, Crossfire, Bombshell, Ring Leader, Knickknack, Tenpin), Bernie Rosenthal, Josh Cooper, Michael Farrel, Anna Kapplebaum, Ann Brennan, Arthur Bennett

Continuity Notes

1. For more on Crossfire’s crimes see Hawkeye #1-4.

2. We don’t see Anna Kapplebaum again until Captain America #380.

3. Mention is made here how Sam Wilson had recently ran for congress. He announced this in Captain America #272. Ultimately, he lost the election, as revealed in Captain America #290.

4. Hawkeye compares Cap’s Stars and Stripes network to the Teen Brigade, who helped both the Hulk and the Avengers early on in their careers. See Incredible Hulk #6 and Avengers #1-14.

Topical References

• At the party, Michael Farrel is promoting the idea of fire fighters having beepers while not on the job. This should be considered a topical reference as this is an outdated technology due to the proliferation of cellular phones.

• The portable computer that Steve uses to connect to his hotline is depicted as being needed to be plugged into a phone line, also Steve is depicted as having a rotary phone. All this outdated technology should be considered topical because it’s old as shit.

• Here, Hawkeye refers to Teen Brigade as a group of ham radio operators. This should be considered topical since ham radios are not the cutting technology they were back when Teen Brigade first appeared. Per Avengers: The Origin #1-5, Teen Brigade is now depicted as computer hackers.

• The original twin towers of the World Trade Center are depicted as part of the New York City skyline. This should be considered topical because they were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and subsequently replaced with the Freedom Tower.