Captain America #374
Streets of Poison Part 4: Falling Out
While investigating the ruins of a former drug lab, Captain America runs into Bullseye who is there to find out who is competing with the Kingpin’s drug trade. When confronting Captain America, Bullseye throws a flashlight and a spade at his face. Blinded by the light, the hero is able to deflect the flashlight but is struck in the thigh with the other object. This staggers Cap since he is still recovering from an earlier gunshot wound to that area.[1] The hero, continuing to block the barrage of projectiles thrown at him from the deadly assassin, rolls over to a pillar for cover and to catch his breath.
Meanwhile, Diamondback emerges from the Hudson River after a clash with the Black Widow. She quickly recovers Cap’s crashed sky-cycle and speeds off. Moments later the Black Widow surfaces and promises that she and Diamondback will meet again.
Back inside the warehouse, Captain America climbs up into the rafters to give himself the high ground. Still, Bullseye’s uncanny ability to throw projectiles with deadly force keep the hero on the defensive. That’s when Diamondback arrives to give him back-up. Not expecting two opponents, Bullseye decides to leave since he wasn’t able to turn up any information about who ran this drug lab.[2] Captain America and Diamondback emerge moments later and circle in around the area in the sky-cycle to try and find their opponent.
Uptown, a gang of youths involved in dealing Ice, the street drug Cap is trying to shut down, hotwire a car. They then take it down to where some rival drug dealers sell their wares to people on the street. There they engage in a drive-by shooting, mowing down all their competitors in a hail of bullets. When word gets back to the Kingpin he is furious that someone is continuing to interfere with his operations. Since Bullseye hasn’t reported back, Typhoid Mary offers to look into it on the Kingpin’s behalf.
By this time, Captain America has returned to Avengers Headquarters where he scolds Peggy Carter for calling in the Black Widow to interfere with his operation, telling her that this is a personal affair and not Avengers business. Peggy is shocked that her old friend would scold her in such a fashion. She isn’t the only one concerned by Steve’s increasingly erratic behavior. He overhears Diamondback expressing her concerns about his well being to John Jameson and accuses her of talking behind his back and orders John to escort her out of the building because he’s done with her. Jameson agrees that there isn’t something right about Cap and gives Rachel his private number in case she needs someone to talk to. Later, both John and Michael O’Brien recommend that they might better deal with the drug problem plaguing the city by trying to decreasing the demand, curtailing the profitability of the drug trade. Rogers vetoes this idea, saying that it would take too long to effect any change that way and insists tackling the issue head on is the only viable solution. Angered by this advice, Cap reminds the two that they are only civilian staff on the Avengers and can be fired at any moment. He then leaves to tackle the problem alone.
Soon, Diamondback returns to her apartment. She refuses to give up trying to figure out what is wrong with Cap. Having had a new costume designed, she puts it on and heads back out to try and help the man she loves. While in Times Square, Bullseye corners two Ice addicts and forces them to reveal who their supplier is. He is told that they get their drugs from a guy named Ritzo who operates on the corner of 42nd and 9th. Bullseye thanks them for their assistance, but warns them that if they lied to him he’ll be back to kill them.
Two nights later, Daredevil returns to New York City after an extended stay up state.[3] He finds that he has to re-adjust to life in the city after he almost misses the mark while swinging to a flagpole. He also recalls his recent encounter with Captain America and how out of sorts the Avenger was.[4] Concerned for Cap’s well being, Daredevil decides to go looking for him and see if there is anything he can do to help.
Elsewhere, an increasingly paranoid Captain America has been on a non-stop hunt to find out who is responsible for the Ice operation in the city. He hasn’t slept for days and needs to rest, but in his current state of mind he doesn’t know who he can trust. Spotting a limo pulled over on the side of the road, Cap witnesses a the sale of drugs from a street dealer. Flying in to confront them, the limo drives away, prompting Cap to toss his shield at the fleeing vehicle. It strikes the wheel on the front passenger side of the car, causing it to crash. Captain America then hauls the buyer out of the back and gives him an unhinged speech about the dangers of drugs then leaves confident that he got his message across.
While on the Upper East Side, John Jameson pays a visit to Rachel Leighton while she is on the job at Collette’s Fashion Boutique. He tells her that he is concerned about Captain America since he hasn’t returned to Avengers Headquarters in days. Agreeing to help him search for Steve, Rachel quickly changes into her new Diamondback costume. They two then hit the streets where Rachel tells John that she has put two-and-two together and determined that Steve is high on drugs after he was caught in a meth lab explosion.[5] As they discuss the ramifications of this theory, a car pulls up and the occupants begin opening fire. Diamondback quickly knocks John to the ground before being struck by bullets multiple times in the back and collapses to the ground.[6]
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Bullseye, Diamondback, Kingpin, Typhoid Mary, John Jameson, Peggy Carter, Michael O’Brien, Daredevil
Continuity Notes
Captain America was shot back in Captain America #362.
When landing on the roof of a car while making his escape, Bullseye remarks how much having adamantium laced bones is a benefit. Back in Daredevil #181, Bullseye was crippled in a fight with Daredevil. Later over the course of Daredevil #196-200 the villain went to Japan where his bones were laced with adamantium by Dark Wind, this process restored his mobility.
Daredevil has been having a rough go of it at the time of this story. He was seduced and betrayed by Typhoid Mary circa Daredevil #255-260. Feeling betrayed he went MIA in issue #261 and later left New York City all together in Daredevil #267.
Daredevil recently encountered Captain America in Daredevil #283.
Diamondback’s deduction is correct, Cap was caught in a meth lab explosion in Captain America #372. He is high on Ice, which is having a prolonged effect on him due to its mingling with the Super Soldier Serum in his veins. Steve will need to undergo a full blood transfusion in Captain America #377.
Do I need to tell you Diamondback survives this attack? Because she does. Next issue it is revealed that her new costume is lined with aramid fiber, aka Kevlar.
Power Tools
Battlestar has answered a call for help from his former manager, Ethan Thurm. In a cheap hotel room, Lemar learns that the “national emergency” he was called to help is nothing of the sort. In reality, Thurm is afraid for his life and wants Battlestar’s protection. Before he can explain who is after him and why, the Power Tools — strength enhanced humans with high tech weapons based on power tools — come smashing through the front door to eliminate their target. As Battlestar clashes with Jackhammer, Buzzsaw, and Drill, Thurm ducks into the bathroom to cower.
The fighting promoter laments over his hard luck recently, a series of professional blunders followed by the kidnapping his his most recent client, a wrestler named Red Zepplin who he signed onto the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation.[1] Unfortunately, despite Battlestar’s best efforts to stop the Power Tools, they manage to nab Ethan Turm and force Battlestar to surrender. The pair are then taken to a nearby warehouse. There, the Power Tools toss Battlestar into a air tight gas chamber.
Recurring Characters
Battlestar, Power Tools (Jackhammer, Buzzsaw, Drill), Red Zeppelin, Ethan Thurm
Continuity Notes
Here, Thurm goes over his trouble plagued clients list:
The Battlin’ Beyonder: Yeah, the Beyonder. While trying to understand the human experience on Earth, Thurm took the Beyonder on as a client. As the Battlin’ Beyonder, the omnipotent being fought one match against the Thing in the UCWF and took off shortly thereafter. See Thing #30.
Super-Patriot: Thurm then took on John Walker and his pals Lemar Hoskins, Hector Lennox, and Jerome Johnson as clients. Wanting to be a new patriotic hero, Walker and his buddies took on the identities of Super-Patriot and the Bold Urban Commandos in Captain America #323. This ended up going tits up when John and Lemar were offered jobs working for the government as Captain America and Bucky/Battlestar in Captain America #333.
Left-Winger and Right-Winger: After John and Lemar left, Ethan continued to represent Hector and Jerome who reinvented themselves as Left-Winger and Right-Winger. The pair then publicly revealed John Walker’s true identity in Captain America #341. This prompted the terrorist group known as the Watchdogs to kidnap and murder John’s parents in issue #345. This pushed John over the edge and in an ensuing fight both Hector and Jerome were caught in an explosion that burned 90% of their bodies, putting them out of commission. See Captain America #347.
Topical References
Ethan’s cheap motel room has a CRT television. This should be considered a topical reference as this is an obsolete technology.
