The Choice

In Washington, DC, a man calling himself Warhead parachutes onto the top of the Washington Monument. There he sets himself up on the tip of the monolith and announces that he has a nuclear bomb that he will set off if anyone gets too close.

Meanwhile, Captain America arrives at the Pentagon to get some answers about the G.I. Max fiasco. He meets with General Wexler, who is unaware that Lieutenant Michael Lynch was involved with a criminal like the Power Broker to achieve success in their attempts to create a new super-soldier program, but promises Cap that he will investigate the matter. That’s when Cap is visited by FBI agents Faber and McNulty, who tell him that they have been looking for him.

Back at the Washington Monument, the authorities are cordoning off the area around the monument. When they try getting helicopters in the air, Warhead pulls out a gun and threatens to set off the bomb if they don’t back off.

A half hour later, Captain America finds himself before the Commission on Superhuman Activities. They have summoned him because they have taken issue that he accepted back payment for military service dating back to 1945 when he hasn’t worked for the government in an official capacity since the end of World War II.[1][2] They outline how Captain America was created by the United States government and as such, they own the rights to the name, costume, and indestructible shield that Steve has been using since. Since they paid him for work he has not yet done, the government wants him to start working for them again. Unable to pay back the money because he spent it on his hotline, Captain America asks for time to think it over and is given 24 hours to make up his mind.[3]

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Georgia, John Walker — aka the Super-Patriot — and his agent, Ethan Thurm, are watching the news when they catch a report about Warhead’s demands. Thurm sees this as the perfect opportunity to boost the Super-Patriot’s profile and cancels their plan so John can deal with this threat.

Unaware of what’s going on at the Washington Monument, Steve Rogers retires to his hotel room and decides to call on some friends for advice on what to do. He first tries calling his ex-fiancée, Bernie Rosenthal, but she is in a class and is not around to take his call. He calls Sam Wilson — aka the Falcon — next. Sam believes Cap doesn’t have much choice in the matter and suggests he gives it a shot, saying he could always back out if the government asks him to do something he doesn’t stand for. He next tries Nick Fury, who is also away and unable to take his call. Dennis Dunphy — aka D-Man — is surprised that Steve would call him for advice, but isn’t sure what he should do, but will support whatever decision he makes. When he tries calling Hawkeye, he gets his voice mail. Lastly, he calls Captain Marvel who wonders if the National Security Council’s reluctance to reinstate their security clearance might have something to do with this and recommends a lawyer he can speak with.

None of this advice helps Steve make up his mind. He finds himself stuck in a dilemma because to him, Captain America is a representation of the American ideal, the ideals for which the country was founded and not the government of the day. If he agrees to work for the government again he will have to follow orders and be forced to do things he doesn’t personally agree with.

By this time, the media have arrived at the Washington Monument, prompting Warhead to finally give out his demands. He believes that men in America have grown into weaklings as they have not had a war to fight in and demands that the United States government declare war against a nation, any nation, so that America can finally conform to his toxic masculine ideals and gives the government 11 hours to meet his demands. Also arriving on the scene is the Super-Patriot, who offers his assistance to the authorities but is turned down.

As the Super-Patriot decides what to do next, Steve Rogers is contemplating his future. He fears that if he has to work for the government he’ll have to give up his position in the Avengers and close down his hotline. Worse, if he decides to give up his Captain America identity he may have to ask his friend Tony Stark for a loan to pay back the government. He isn’t sure he wants to create a new costumed identity for himself after his poor outing as Nomad, and also isn’t sure how he’d feel about somebody else using his uniform and shield.[4] Cap then gets a call from the lawyer recommended to him by Captain Marvel to discuss what legal grounds Steve has to fight for ownership of the Captain America identity. Finally, Steve calls Hiram Riddley, the young hacker who helps him with his hotline. Hearing the boy’s devotion and loyalty to the Stars and Stripes network, Steve finally makes up his mind on what to do.

Meanwhile, the Super-Patriot decides to take matters into his own hands. Breaking into the Washington Monument, he travels up the stairs and then uses a grappling hook to climb up onto the perch that Warhead has set up for himself outside. In the ensuing struggle, Super-Patriot accidentally knocks Warhead over the edge. However, rather than die in the fall, Warhead blows himself up with a grenade so he can die like a man. Super-Patriot then hands over the nuclear bomb over to the authorities to be disarmed.

The following morning, Steve Rogers heads back to the Commission to give them his decision. He tells them that although Captain America was created to be a soldier for the government, he turned the role into something more, something that represents the American Dream. Because of the higher standard he has set for himself, Steve Rogers cannot go back to just being a soldier as it would impede with the job he has tasked himself with doing. With that, he has decided to give up being Captain America so he can keep helping the people. With that, he hands over his uniform and shield and walks out.[5]

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Super Patriot, Warhead, Falcon, Demolition Man, Captain Marvel, Ethan Thurm

Continuity Notes

1. Captain America received a huge lump sum payment back in Captain America #312. He used the money to open a national hotline so the average American could reach him for help.

2. There are multiple references to Captain America’s origin here, the creation of his shield , and how he went missing in action in 1945. See Captain America Comics #1 (Cap’s origins), Avengers #4 (his disappearance), and Captain America #255/Captain America #303 (the creation of his costume and shield).

3. Mention is made about how the government has their own team of super-heroes, the Freedom Force. Freedom Force was formed in Uncanny X-Men #199, when the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants reformed to avoid anti-mutant persecution. Captain America encountered the group when they were sent to bring in the Avengers in Avengers Annual #15.

4. For a time, Steve Rogers quit being Captain America after uncovering the President of the United States as the leader of the Secret Empire. Steve developed the identity of Nomad to continue his crime fighting career but went back to being Captain America after the Red Skull murdered his successor. See Captain America #175-183.

5. The Captain America identity will be given to John Walker next issue, a role he will maintain until it is given back to Steve in issue #350.

Topical References

• This story makes multiple references to how the last war America was involved in was the one in Vietnam. This should be considered topical as America has since gotten involved in many other conflicts and as such this should be considered a topical reference. One could assume that Warhead is now referring to the Sin-Cong Conflict, per History of the Marvel Universe #2.

• Captain America worries that he would have to go to Nicaragua to help the Contras down there. From 1979 until the early 90s, the United States funded a number of right-wing militias to help them liberate Nicaragua and Iran. They were controversial because of the Contras committed many human rights violations and war crimes. This reference should be considered topical.

• It is stated here that World War II ended 40 years prior to this story. This should be considered a topical reference as well. Due to the Sliding Timescale, the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe is pushed forward in time, making the length of time between the end of World War II and the beginning of the Modern Age to become longer with the passage of time.