Captain America #412
Disguise the Limit
Captain America and his allies Diamondback and Falcon are on a mission to infiltrate the Advance Idea Mechanics weapon expo. It is a two fold operation to shut down the expo as well as track down Diamondback’s mortal enemy Snapdragon.[1] The trio have disguised themselves as Crossbones, Mother Night, and Jack O’Lantern so they can infiltrate the event.[2] In order to maintain his cover, Captain America has been forced to follow through on a challenge Crossbones made with Batroc, betting that he could defeat any of the five opponents Batroc choses to fight in the ring.
Already, Cap has been able to defeat both Mad Dog and Ramrod. Now he has to go up against his third opponent, the massive sumo wrestler named General Wo. Even though Cap fought the General years earlier, Wo has increased his bulk since then making defeating him a challenge.[3]
Elsewhere, Diamondback is looking for her old enemy Snapdragon to get revenge on the earlier attempt on her life.[4] He finds her, but she is busy guarding Superia alongside Iron Maiden and Blackbird. At first the group of women think Mother Night is spying on them. When “Mother Night” assures them that she wasn’t, they buy her bluff and Superia even hands her a business card before they leave. When they do, Snapdragon looks back at her, making Rachel wonder if she has seen through her disguise. Once they are gone, Diamondback is filled with rage and she vows to get revenge once and for all.
Back in the ring, “Crossbones” finally bests General Wo by wrapping his fingers around the fat man’s neck and begins choking him. This prompts Wo to get up off his opponent. This allows Captain America to overpower him and toss Wo out of the ring. The next contestant is Razorfist. Batroc justifies his inclusion despite the “no weapons” rule by pointing out that the blades on Razorfist’s arms are prosthetics that act as his missing hands. Watching from the stands in his Jack O’Lantern disguise, the Falcon notices that Diamondback has been gone for too long and decides to go looking for her.
Meanwhile, on a nearby loading dock, a shipment of equipment that was once owned by the notorious Fu Manchu is delivered to the island. Inside one of the crates hides Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, who has stowed away to find out who is interested in his late father’s equipment and why.[5] Shang-Chi knocks out one of the guards and then begins his search for answers.
At that same moment, Captain America defeats Razorfist by snapping off his blades, rendering him harmless. With his defeat, Batroc the Leaper jumps into the arena, announcing that he is “Crossbones’” final opponent. However, when “Cross” overpowers him, Batroc reveals that he knows that he is actually Captain America in disguise — having recognized his body language and fighting style — and tells Cap that unless he wants his cover blown, he convincingly throw the fight.
At that same time, Diamondback follows Superia and her entourage to the head office of AIM, where the feminist terrorist has scheduled a meeting with AIM leader Alessandro Brannex. The agent at the front desk allows Superia to head upstairs, but insists that her bodyguards remain in the loby.
In the arena, the battle between “Crossbones” and Batroc rages on. However, rather than go down for the count, Cap keeps on fighting. This results in Batroc twisting his ankle when he’s thrown to the ground, prompting him to reveal to announce to everyone watching that “Crossbones” is really Captain America in disguise. As there is no need for a disguise anymore, Captain America deactivates Sersi’s disguise so he can fend off his attackers with his trademark shield.
Meanwhile, Superia is meeting with Alessandro Brannex and when his guard is down, she blasts him through the chest seemingly killing him.[6] In retaliation, MODAM appears to avenge her master. While down below, Iron Maiden becomes aware that something went sour upstairs. When she and Blackbird go to investigate, Diamondback finally confronts Snapdragon. Dropping her disguise, she tells her former friend that they have a score to settle. While outside, the Falcon drops his disguise so he can look for Rachel on the island. Flying by the cargo dock, his infrared sensors pick up someone lurking around and swoops in to investigate. When he does he is suddenly ambushed by Shang-Chi.
While back in the arena, Captain America braces himself for battle as villains come at him from all sides.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Diamondback, Falcon, Shang-Chi, Absorbing Man, Angar the Screamer, Batroc, Beetle, Black Talon, Blackbird, Blizzard, Boomerang, Boomslang, Constrictor, Dragonfly, Eel, Electro, Flying Tiger, Hydro-Man, Iron Maiden, Killer Shrike, Klaw, Man-Bull, Mentallo, MODAM, Moonstone, Piledriver, Razorfist, Rhino, Ringer, Scorpion, Screaming Mimi, Shocker, Snapdragon, Spymaster, Speed Demon, Stiletto, Sunstroke, Superia, Triple-Iron, Whirlwind, Wrecker, General Wo, Zaran, “Alessandro Brannex”
Continuity Notes
Snapdragon nearly killed Diamondback in Captain America #388.
Crossbones, Mother Night, and Jack O’Lantern were captured by Captain America and co in Captain America #410. They disguised themselves as the villains last issue because they knew they wouldn’t be in attendance.
Captain America fought General Wo way back in Tales of Suspense #61. Cap states that is this was “years ago”. Based on the Sliding Timescale it has been about eight years.
Snapdragon threw Rachel off a ship and she almost drowned, as seen in Captain America #388.
Fu Manchu was believed to have died in Master of Kung Fu #118. However, he will turn up alive again in Marvel Knights #4.
This isn’t actually the real Brannex. Alessandro was killed and replaced with a Super-Adaptoid as we’ll learn next issue.
