Captain America #435
Fighting Chance Book 11: Snake, Battle and Toll
Jack Flagg has managed to infiltrate the Serpent Society by passing a test for King Cobra. Impressed that Flagg was able to steal art from Mister Hyde, Cobra has decided to let Jack take over his identity as he has decided to retire from the Serpent Society. However, there is one last test he needs to do in order to win the title: Defeat the rest of the Serpent Squad in a free-for-all battle. Soon, Jack Flag is swarmed by the other members of the Serpent Society.
Meanwhile, Captain America has finished his combat training with Free Spirit and summoned his pilot to pick them up from Baron Zemo’s castle.[1] As Free Spirit gets to know Moonhunter, Cap decides to check the Stars and Stripes network to see what’s going on back home. Its here that he gets Jack Flagg’s distress call about the Serpent Society and decides to check it out. The snake-themed criminals remind Steve of his now ex-girlfriend, Diamondback, making him wonder why she decided to break off their relationship.[2]
Back stateside, Doctor Keith Kincaid has gone behind Steve’s back and enlisted the aid of Hank Pym, aka Giant-Man, to help with his condition. Pym’s analysis is grim: If Cap doesn’t slow down he’ll eventually work himself into irreparable paralysis for the rest of his life. Unless they can find a cure, they are going to have to force Steve to retire before it is too late.
Back in Arizona, the Serpent Society have all piled on Jack Flagg when suddenly King Cobra gets a call to tell him that there is an intruder on their property. When the members of the squad get up off the ground they discover that Jack Flagg is not trapped under them anymore. He then pops out of the pool, revealing that he used the slipper King Cobra costume to slip out from under them. However, the intruder turns out to be Mister Hyde who has come to get his stolen painting back. Puff Adder and Anaconda are the first to find him and the first to fall in battle.
Soon Captain America arrives on the scene and orders Free Spirit to remain aboard the Quinjet with Moonhunter because she is too inexperienced to go up against the Serpent Society alone. Running into Jack in his new King Cobra costume, the two get in a fight. As they struggle, Jack reveals who he really is and what’s going on and convinces Cap to play along with him. At that that same moment, Moonhunter gets an emergency call from Hank Pym who warns them that Cap’s health is in serious risk prompting him and Free Spirit to return to the Serpent Society’s hideout to pull him out Steve out of there.
Meanwhile, Mister Hyde finds King Cobra and after the two talks things out, they decide to put aside their past differences. That’s when Jack runs into the rest of the Serpent Squad and hands Captain America over to them. Elsewhere, Free Spirit is looking for Cap and runs into Coachwhip. Free Spirit defeats the villain and then puts on her costume as a disguise. However, King Cobra sees right through it when she arrives on the scene. They then toss Captain America into the pool and drain it hoping to dispose of the hero. To make sure the job is done, both Cobra and Mister Hyde dive into the drainage pipe after the hero, leaving Free Spirit to face off against the rest of the Serpent Society alone.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Serpent Society (Cobra, Anaconda, Bushmaster, Coachwhip, Cottonmouth, Fer-De-Lance, Puff Adder, Rattler, Rock Python), Jack Flag, Free Spirit, Giant-Man, Keith Kincaid, Moonhunter
Continuity Notes
Captain America has been training Free Spirit since last issue so there is someone to take over for him should his failing health take him out of action. Cap’s Super-Soldier Serum has been wearing out since issue #425 putting him at risk of complete disability. He will get cured in Captain America #445.
Diamondback was a founding member of the Serpent Society back in Captain America #310. She left them following the events of issue #344 to go straight as she was romantically interested in Captain America. They have been dating since issue #371. With Cap’s failing health, Diamondback agreed to go and work for Superia in exchange for the promise of a cure back in issue #433.
