Captain America #377
Streets of Poison Part 7: The 100% Solution
Crossbones has failed to assassinate the Kingpin so his boss, the Red Skull, can take full control of New York City’s drug trade. The Skulls decides to punish him by taking away a percentage of the profits he’ll earn from their operation and sends him away. Moments later, Bullseye — the Kingpin’s hired assassin — comes crashing in through the hotel room window. He then shoots the Skull in the face with a shotgun, apparently killing him. Hearing the gunfire, Crossbones returns and is shocked to see his boss laying lifelessly on the floor. Crossbones charges at Bullseye and begins trying to choke him to death. However, the trained assassin spits one of his false teeth into his attacker’s eye, allowing him to break free and escape. After Bullseye gets away, Crossbones checks on his boss and is relieved to discover that it was merely a robotic proxy sent in his place.
Meanwhile, Captain America has been brought back to Avengers Headquarters after an exposure to a heavy dose of Ice left him a paranoid wreck.[1] He is treated by Keith Kincaid, the Avengers resident doctor, who has to do a full transfusion to get the drug out of Cap’s system. He tells John Jameson, Diamondback, and the Black Widow that the drug had fused itself to the Super Soldier Serum in Steve’s body, amplifying their effects. However, he isn’t sure if he can purge the Ice from the tainted blood and has called for Hank Pym for help. With Cap now safe and resting, the Black Widow decides to depart. Before she leaves, she pulls Diamondback aside and encourages her to continue down her path to going straight, able to relate to her efforts to reform, as she was once a Russian spy.[2]
At that same time, Bullseye calls the Kingpin from a pay phone to tell him that he just eliminated the Red Skull. Although the Kingpin will pay for his efforts, he’s not convinced that the Skull is truly dead and believes that this is not over year. He’s not wrong as, at that moment, the Red Skull is flying into the city in a private jet and making arrangements to be picked up at the airport.
Back at Avengers Headquarters, Steve Rogers is still recuperating while the blood transfusion does its work. As he sleeps he has a nightmare that takes him back to the days of Operation: Rebirth. In the dream, he asks Professor Erskine if the Super Soldier Serum is a drug. Erskine grows angry and chastises the frail Rogers, telling him of course it is a drug and its the only reason why he can be Captain America.[3] However, Steve refuses to accept that this, telling the scientist that even though the serum enhanced his body, it was his own hard work and determination that has allowed him to continue being Captain America all these years. Suddenly, Erskine transforms into the Red Skull and begins strangling Steve. However, Rogers refuses to admit defeat and fights free. Waking up from this dream, Steve vows that he will prove that he doesn’t need the serum to be the best at who he is. He ends up trashing his room and eventually slumps down to the floor. That’s when Hank Pym and Keith Kincaid come rushing in. Cap then admits to his friends that he is hallucinating because of the drugs that are still in his system and that he needs help.
A few hours later, the Red Skull is overseeing the operations at one of his Ice labs. He has come to personally deal with matters thanks to the growing drug war between him and the Kingpin. After killing his accountant for doing a bad job, the Skull tells Crossbones that he has arranged for a one-to-one meeting with the Kingpin to settle matters once and for all.
By this time, Hank Pym has finished his analysis on Captain America’s blood. He has discovered that Ice has fused itself to the Super Soldier Serum and in order to cure Steve they’ll have to completely purge both from his system. Hank grimly tells Kincaid that in order to save the life of Steve Rogers they might have to kill Captain America.
The following evening, the Kingpin is attending a baseball game at the local stadium. As the game is winding down, his bodyguards inform him that the owners of the stadium have been paid off and they will be allowed to hold their meeting with the Red Skull there after the game is over. As the Kingpin and the Red Skull meet,[4] Steve Rogers wakes up after the transfusion has been complete. Now completely purged of the Super Soldier Serum, Steve wants to go out and prove that its is the man, not the drug, that makes him Captain America.[5] On his way out, he is approached by Peggy Carter. He tells her that he needs to prove to himself that he is still who he is and asks her to let him go and not to tell the others. Although she is concerned for Steve’s safety, Peggy allows him to leave.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Crossbones, Bullseye, Diamondback, John Jameson, Peggy Carter, Red Skull, Kingpin, Machinesmith, Typhoid Mary, Keith Kincaid, Henry Pym
Continuity Notes
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.
The Black Widow began her career as a Russian spy but eventually defected and reformed in Avengers #30. Diamondback was a member of the Serpent Society starting in Captain America #310. She has been working on reforming since issue #342-344.
Technically, the Super Soldier Serum is a drug. See Captain America Comics #1 et al.
The Red Skull muses about his first meeting with the Kingpin back in Captain America #145-148. He also mentions how they both worked together during the Acts of Vengeance conspiracy. See Thor #410, Avengers Spotlight #26, Damage Control (vol. 2) #1, Amazing Spider-Man #326, Incredible Hulk #363, Spectacular Spider-Man #158, Web of Spider-Man #59, Avengers #311, Captain America #365, Fantastic Four #334, Quasar #5, Iron Man #251-252, Avengers West Coast #53, Thor #411-412, Captain America #366, Avengers Spotlight #27, X-Factor #50, New Mutants #84-85, Wolverine (vol. 2) #19-20, New Mutants #86, Power Pack #53, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #11, Amazing Spider-Man #327 , Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9, Uncanny X-Men #256-258, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #12, Spectacular Spider-Man #159, Daredevil #275-276, Web of Spider-Man #60, Avengers #312, Punisher (vol. 2) #28-29, Amazing Spider-Man #328 , Alpha Flight #79-80, Spectacular Spider-Man #160, Web of Spider-Man #61, Avengers Spotlight #28, Mutant Misadventures of Cloak and Dagger #9, Captain America #367, Quasar #6, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #13, Marc Spector: Moon Knight #10, Punisher: War Journal #12-13, Avengers West Coast #54, Avengers #313, Fantastic Four #335-336 , Avengers West Coast #55, Damage Control (vol. 2) #2-4, Amazing Spider-Man #329
Topical References
Black Widow refers to herself as a former Soviet spy. While would have been the case early on in Natasha’s career, its use here should be considered topical. This stems from the fact that at the time of this story Russia was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. After the fall of the USSR in 1991, all references to the Soviet Union in Marvel stories taking place in the Modern Age should be considered topical. Modern readers should substitute “Soviet” with “Russian”.
The meeting between the Kingpin and the Red Skull is depicted as happening at the old Yankees Stadium. This should be considered a topical reference as the original stadium was replaced with a new facility in 2009 and the original was demolished a year later. References to both the Yankees and Red Sox in this story should be considered topical as they are real world sports teams.
Going for Broke
Battlestar has been de-powered by Doctor Karl Malus as part of an experiment to reverse the Power Broker’s strength augmentation process.[1] Unwilling to remain a prisoner, Battlestar manages to take Malus as a hostage but is soon surrounded by the members of the Power Tools. When all seems lost, US Agent comes smashing through the ceiling.
While the Agent is busy fighting the Power Tools, Battlestar wheels Malus into the lab so he can restore his super-human strength. There he is attacked by the Power Broker who despite his incredible muscle mass, needs an exo-skeleton to move around. Caught in the Broker’s grasp, Lemar manages to kick the mouth guard which houses the controls to the Power Broker’s exo-skeleton, allowing him to escape. He then rushes to the wall and grabs a fire extinguisher and threatens to smash Malus’ machines with it.
That’s when the US Agent enters the room victorious. He tells the mad scientist that his pal wants his power back and he’s there to make sure he gets it. This makes Lemar wonder if John has his memory back.[2]
Recurring Characters
Battlestar, US Agent, Power Broker, Doctor Malus, Power Tools (Jackhammer, Buzzsaw, Drill)
Continuity Notes
The Power Broker, aka Curtiss Jackson, tried to jack himself up when his home was attacked by the Scourge of the Underworld. The process doesn’t always work and in Jackson’s case he had been left completely immobilized by the excessive amount of muscles his body produced. See Captain America #360-364. He has been trying to undo this since Captain America #374.
John Walker and Lemar Hoskins were long time buddies dating back to Captain America #323, including a stint as Captain America and Bucky/Battlestar that ran from Captain America #333 to 350. When Steve Rogers took back the role of Captain America, the government faked John’s assassination in the following issue. They then brainwashed Walker and installed him in a new identity as the US Agent. Not believing his friend was truly dead, Lemar spent that entire time trying to learn the truth. He ran into John in Captain America #372-373, but attempts to get Walker to remember his past had failed.
