Captain America #411
The Arena
After being rescued from the Red Skull, Diamondback engages in a training session with Falcon at Avengers Headquarters. Thanks to a transfusion of Captain America’s Super-Soldier Serum infused blood, she is at her peak fighting efficiency and passes with flying colors.[1] Captain America is pleased that Rachel has come out of retirement, however she isn’t ready to fight alongside him again because she still has some unfinished business to attend to. When she tries to blow off Steve’s offer of aid, he insists that she give him a chance as it will be good for their relationship. Diamondback decide to try things his way and tells him about her need to get revenge on Snapdragon after her old enemy almost killed her recently.[2]
Cap then gets in touch with Nick Fury to see what information SHIELD has on Snapdragon. Unfortunately, they don’t have much on her as the mercenary usually keeps a low profile. Fury theorizes that if she is going to be anywhere right now it would be the weapons expo being held by Advance Idea Mechanics on their island of Boca Caliente.[3] SHIELD cannot do anything about AIM’s weapons dealing because it falls within the boundaries of international law, but muses that he would be pretty happy if Captain America manages to find some way to shut it down. While puzzling how he and Diamondback could infiltrate Boca Caliente, Cap suddenly gets some inspiration and asks Peggy Carter to summon Sersi.
Meanwhile, Dennis Dunphy — aka Demolition Man — is a prisoner of the Night People of Zerotown. Unable to speak due to selective amnesia, Dunphy’s silence is viewed as defiance by their leader, Brother Wonderful.[4][5] While some think he might be the one prophesized to save them, Brother Wonderful doesn’t believe it and orders his people to kill the intruder. When Dunphy defends himself, he reveals his tremendous strength, making Brother Wonderful wonder if he might be the “one” after all.
Some time later, Captain America and his allies Diamondback and Falcon are heading to Boca Caliente. Thanks to Sersi’s transmutation powers they have been disguised as Crossbones, Mother Night, and Jack O’Lantern. They have taken these disguises because Cap and his friends just recently busted the trio and know for sure that they won’t be attending the expo. Steve reminds them all to remain in character, but the idea of posing as the man who kept her prisoner for weeks on end disturbs Diamondback.
When they land on the island they are screened by a group of technicians. Captain America pulls off a very convincing impression of Crossbones and is able to explain away why they don’t have their invitations and why their bio-readings are different than what is on record. The technicians are more worried about losing the Red Skull’s business that they overlook these glaring issues. The trio are then ferried to the hotel where the expo is taking place and they are surprised by the sheer number of super-villains that have come. Cap wishes he could alert the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, but fears that AIM is probably monitoring all outgoing transmissions. The trio are on their guard the entire time and try their best to stay in character. Falcon almost pushes it too far, nearly sparking a fight between him and Flying Tiger.[6]
After “Crossbones” gets the key to their room they are greeted by Batroc the Leaper. Batroc reminds “Crossbones” that they made a wager during the last expo, Batroc was willing to bed that Cross couldn’t defeat five opponents of his choosing in the ring. Cap grudgingly accepts the challenge as there is no way to get out of it without compromising their cover. Cap figures that this will be a good distraction, allowing Diamondback and Falcon to checks things out. Sure enough, many of the super-villains in attendance go to the arena to watch “Crossbones” fight in Batroc’s challenge. The first challenger is Bob Baxter, aka Mad Dog. As Captain America fights for his life against a feral foe, Falcon and Diamondback look around. Spotting Iron Maiden leaving the room, Rachel decides to follow her alone in the hopes that she will be led to Snapdragon.
When “Crossbones” defeats Mad Dog the next opponent — Ramrod — is brought right in. This challenger proves to be a more difficult foe to beat thanks to his cybernetic implants.[7] Outside, Rachel sees her old friend Asp, Black Mamba, and Impala. She calls out to them, forgetting that she is in disguise, and then quickly departs leaving the three women confused by the outburst. Continuing to follow Iron Maiden, Rachel overhears her meeting with Superia who is being guarded by Blackbird and Snapdragon. Seeing “Mother Night’s” cape sticking out from around under a curtain, Superia has her minions pull it back and demands to know why she is spying on them.
Back in the ring, “Crossbones” defeats Ramrod and only has mere moments to catch his breath before the next contestant — a giant sumo wrestler named General Wo — enters the ring.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, Diamondback, Absorbing Man, Angar the Screamer, Battleaxe, Batroc’s Brigade (Batroc the Leaper, Machete, Zaran), Beetle, Blackbird, Black Talon, Blizzard, Bombshell, Boomerang, Boomslang, Dragonfly, Eel Electro, Firebrand, Flying Tiger, Frenzy, Gladiatrix, Hammerhead, Hydro-Man, Iron Maiden, Killer Shrike, Knockout, Lady Deathstrike, Mad-Dog, Man-Ape, Mentallo, Mesmero, Moonstone, Oddball, Piledriver, Puff Adder, Ramrod, Razorfist, Resistants, Rhino, Ringmaster, Ringer, Screaming Mimi, Scorpion, Shocker, Shockwave, Snapdragon, Speed Demon, Spymaster, Stiletto, Stilt-Man, Sunstroke, Superia, Tarantula, Thermo, Titania, Tombstone, Triple-Iron, Trump, Vertigo, Water Wizard, Whirlwind, Wildfire, General Wo, Nick Fury, Demolition Man, Black Mamba, Impala, Asp, Night People
Continuity Notes
After getting caught in a meth lab explosion, Captain America needed a full blood transfusion to get the tainted blood out of his system. The drug laced blood was then filtered so the Super Soldier Serum could be returned to his body. However, Cap opted not to undergo another transfusion as he wanted to prove that it was the man, not the serum that made him Captain America, as seen in Captain America #372-378. This proved to be a moot point as it was later revealed that trace amounts of the serum still remained in his system and was replenishing itself, as revealed in issue #384. Diamondback stole the blood from Avengers Headquarters in issue #405. Rachel received a transfusion of this blood in Captain America #409-410.
Snapdragon almost drowned Rachel in Captain America #388. This near death experience convinced Rachel to retire as Diamondback until her recent captivity at the hands of Crossbones/the Red Skull from Captain America #395-410.
Nick Fury states that the AIM Weapon’s Expo happens every year. The last one was depicted in Quasar #9.
Dunphy’s mind has been suffering from selective amnesia after a prolonged dip in the Arctic Ocean between Captain America #349 and 400. He ended up in this underground tunnel after getting attacked by one of the Magus’ doppelgangers created during the Infinity War in Captain America #408-409.
The Night People originally lived on Zero Street in New York City, as seen in Captain America #201-204 and Marvel Team-Up #52. It’s later explained in Captain America #418 that they were forced underground when their neighborhood underwent gentrification and they were pushed out by the wealthy people who moved into the area.
Flying Tiger makes a big scene about if it is Jason Macendale in the Jack O’Lantern costume, recalling that he changed his identity to the Hobgoblin. Macendale was the original Jack O’Lantern starting in Machine Man #19. More recently, Macendale usurped the Hobgoblin identity in Amazing Spider-Man #289. Falcon is posing as Steven Levins, who took on the Jack O’Lantern identity in Captain America #396. Levins’ real name was revealed in New Avengers: Most Wanted Files #1.
Captain America only knows Ramrod by reputation, recalling that Daredevil had fought him once. DD fought Rammy in Daredevil #103 and 105-107.
Topical References
Fury’s statement that the AIM Weapon’s Expo happens on an annual basis is more or is not accurate. Quasar #9 was published in April, 1990 while this one was in January 1993. These publication periods fall under “Year Eight” of the Modern Age. The first story placing it somewhere in the first quarter of the year, while the latter in the final quarter. One could assume that the reference here is topical and that in universe these expos actually happen quarterly instead of yearly.
Batroc and Crossbones’ wager is for $500000. This amount should be considered a topical reference due to inflatin. 500k in 1993 money is now worth over a million in 2022.
