Man and Wolf Part 5: Leader of the Pack

While investigating the disappearance of his pilot John Jameson, Captain America has discovered that Dredmund the Druid has transformed the entire population of Starksboro, Massachusetts into a city of werewolves. Dredmund’s assistant Nightshade has just injected Cap with the werewolf formula as well, putting him under her thrall. Taking Cap back to her lab, he places him in the pen with all of the other werewolves that she has been experimenting on.

There, Cap is confronted by the leader of the werewolves a giant white wolf.[1] Unable to talk, Cap has to defend himself against the creature and quickly defeats it in combat. This causes the other wolves to see him as their new leader.

Meanwhile, in the nearby church, Dredmund the Druid has defeated Doctor Druid in combat. Slapping an iron mask on Druid’s face he then chains his rival to a druidic stone formation he has constructed. Dredmund intends to use his foe for a mystical ceremony that evening, one that will give him ultimate power.[2]

Back in the wolf pen, Captain America discovers one of the werewolves is the mutant known as Wolfsbane.[3] She explains that she was drawn to this region by some irresistible force. When she arrived outside of town she was quickly captured by Moonhunter, Dredmund’s enforcer, and thrown in the pen with the other werewolves. Seeing that Cap is having trouble communicating, she teaches him how to speak in his wolfen form and he tells her that they must get free.

Elsewhere, at the secret headquarters of X-Force, Shatterstar reports to Cable to tell him that their teammate Feral has gone missing since last night. The mercenary assures Shatterstar that they’ll find her.

Meanwhile, Captain America has taken command of the captured werewolves and has them form a human pyramid so he can climb up and open their cell to help them get away.

While in Central Park, Bernie Rosenthal has been searching all over for Dennis Dunphy after he disappeared on her.[4] Unable to find him, she finds some police to help look for him. She blames herself for Dennis disappearing after she yelled at him.

As night begins to fall on Starksboro, Dredmund summons Moonhunter and Nightshade and orders them to gather the locals for the upcoming ceremony. Meanwhile, Cap and the other werewolves have managed to escape. They attempt to free Wolverine from his own cell, but unfortunately the mutant is still under Dredmund’s hypnotic control and they are forced to leave him locked up for their own safety. They then run into Nightshade and Moonhunter. The captive werewolves swearm the two humans, removing their weapons and armor. Removing Moonhunter’s mask, they discover that he’s just a normal guy. When Cap asks Nightshade who he is, all she knows is that his first name is Zachary, but not much else. She then takes them to the source of her werewolf formula, the Werewolf by Night, who she has been experimented upon this entire time. As they try to figure out what to do about Nightshade, she warns him that Dredmund is about to sacrifice Doctor Druid in the upcoming ceremony.

Cap leads his army of werewolves to the church were they end up in an clash with the locals who have also turned into werewolves with the rise of the moon. This keeps Captain America at bay long enough for Dredmund to cut Doctor Druid’s throat. When the flow of blood strikes the Moongem it restores it to its full power. Captain America can only watch in horror as Dredmund place the gem on his throat and begins to transform into something less than human….

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Wolfsbane, Doctor Druid, Dredmund the Druid, Nightshade, Moonhunter, Bernie Rosenthal, Cable, Shatterstar, Wolverine, Werewolf by Night

Continuity Notes

1. This white wolf is later revealed to be the missing John Jameson in issue #408.

2. Here, Dredumd mentions his last encounter with Captain America. That happened way back in Captain America #256.

3. Wolfsbane states that she is a former member of the New Mutants and a current member of X-Factor. Cap first met Wolfsbane during the time she was a member of the New Mutants circa Uncanny X-Men #191-192. Wolfsbane was a founding member of that team in Marvel Graphic Novel #4. She remained with the Mutants until they disbanded in New Mutants #97 and joined up with X-Factor in X-Factor #71.

4. Dennis Dunphy has been in a state of selective amnesia since an accident in Captain America #349. Bernie took him out for a walk in the park and lost him last issue. He’s still wandering the park alone as we’ll see in Captain America #408.

Topical References

• A hot dog vender cart in Central Park advertises that it sells Pepsi cola and 7Up soft drinks. These advertisements should be considered topical as these are real world products.

Fight on Skull Mountain

Crossbones and Diamondback are climbing the Rockies to get to the Red Skull’s hideout in the hopes that Crossbones can convince his former boss to hire him back.[1] However, they are ambushed by the newest members of the Skeleton Crew — Cutthroat, Jack O’Lantern, and Blackwing — who have been given orders to kill the intruders. Crossbones tries to reason with them, saying Mother Night can vouch for him, but Cutthroat and the others refuse to listen.

Soon a fight breaks out, putting Crossbones and Diamondback at a distinct disadvantage since the are on the side of a cliff and their opponents all have flying platforms to maneuver around on. However, Diamondback manages to leap onto Jack O’Lantern’s back and threatens to stab him through the heart with one of her diamonds. This prompts Cutthroat and Blackwing to cease fighting and lead her and Crossbones up the rest of the mountain to the Red Skull’s hideout.

There, they are greeted by armed guards and taken prisoner. Crossbones tells Diamondback to remain calm as he’ll straighten things out for the boss. When he refers to her by her nickname “Ratsel”, this realizes that Diamondback is his baby sister![2]

Recurring Characters

Diamondback, Crossbones, Skeleton Crew (Cutthroat, Jack O’Lantern, Blackwing)

Continuity Notes

1. Crossbones was fired from his job in Captain America #393. He later kidnapped Rachel in issue #396 and has been training her back to fighting form in order to offer her to the Red Skull. Little does he know that the Skull has replaced him with Cutthroat in issue #395.

2. As we’ll learn in Captain America #408, Cutthroat is Rachel’s older brother Danny Leighton. As explained in Captain America #400, Danny was a member of Brock Rumlow’s Savage Crims street gang. When Rachel tried joining the gang, Brock raped her instead. This led to her brothers Ricky and Willy trying to avenge her. Willy was killed and Brock went on the run, eventually becoming Crossbones. Danny, ashamed of his lack of action in this whole affair, ran off to Europe where he trained to become the mercenary he is today.