Captain America #438
The Bombs Bursting in Air
This story continues from Iron Man #314…
Captain America is living on borrowed time due to the break down of the Super-Soldier Serum in his body.[1] Completely immobilized because of his condition, Cap has had Iron Man built Steve a suit of armor that will allow him to fight until the very end. After running a test on the suits capabilities with Iron Man and Giant-Man, Steve is satisfied with its functions. He thanks his friends for their help and takes off with his new set of jet-boots.
Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, Flag-Smasher and ULTIMATUM have captured one of the young hackers that volunteers to operate Cap’s Stars and Stripes network. They intend to use the boy to lure Captain America into a trap to destroy the Star-Spangled Avenger for good.
At that same moment, Free Spirit and Jack Flagg have finished wrapping things up after their battle with the Serpent Society. They then call Cap’s pilot Moonhunter to pick them up. That’s when they pick up the distress call from the Stars and Stripes network.
In Brookyln, Bernie Rosenthal is certain that she knows the true identity of Super-Patriot — a man who has recently been trying to ruin Captain America’s reputation.[2] Knocking on the door, Bernie is caught off guard when someone yanks her into the apartment.
Later, Captain America and his allies have come to Washington to rescue the kidnapped Stars and Stripes member. Detecting the approach of the Avengers Quinjet, Flag-Smasher dispatches some of his troops to attack the ship. Captain America soon arrives on the scene in his new armor. Two of the operatives plant rockets on the side of the Quinjet that force it to crash. Unable to regain control of the Quinjet, Moonhunter hits the ejection seats after setting a crash course for the Potomac River. Meanwhile, Captain America uses his armor’s built in weapons to defeat the ULTIMATUM troops, preventing them from trying to blow up the White House.
Cap then flies into the building where the kid is being held hostage. There he easily defeats Flag-Smasher and his goons. Preferring to die before facing another defeat, Flag-Smasher activates an bomb that he planted in the building.[3] However, Cap manages to escape with the hostage unscathed.
In the aftermath of the battle over, Captain America calls for a meeting with all his friends an allies back home. He comes clean about his failing health and need to wear this suit of armor to continue living. Steve tells them that he still has a lot of work to accomplish and that unless they are going to help him achieve his goals they need to stay out of his way. With that, Steve walks out of the room. He is stopped by his friend Arnie Roth who tells Cap he understands what he is going through. He then reveals that he is dying of bone cancer and has less than a year to live himself and that the reason why he came back was to help Steve and do something useful with himself before the end.[4] Without saying another word, Steve hugs his friend.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, ULTIMATUM (Flag-Smasher), Iron Man, Giant-Man, Jack Flag, Free Spirit, Moonhunter, Bernie Rosenthal, Fabian Stankowicz, Arnie Roth, Super-Patriot (unidentified)
Continuity Notes
Captain America’s health has been in decline since Captain America #425. His body became completely immobile last issue. Tony built Steve’s suit of armor in Iron Man #314. This health condition will persist until he is cured in Captain America #445.
Super-Patriot was making life hell for Captain America between issues #425-427. Next issue we’ll learn that Super-Patriot is really Mike Farrel, a former neighbor to Steve and Bernie. He took on this identity to get revenge after his involvement with the Watchdogs ruined his career as a firefighter. See Captain America #385-386.
Although seemingly killed here, Flag-Smasher turns up alive and well in Marvel Team-Up (vol. 2) #3.
Arnie Roth returned to Steve Rogers’ life in Captain America #428 after leaving New York to live in Florida back in issue #306.
Topical References
ULTIMATUM’s hostage mocks Flag-Smasher by saying he looks like Space Ghost. Space Ghost with the title character of a super-hero cartoon that ran from 1966 to 1968. Space Ghost was better known — at the time this comic was published — was for Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, a cartoon that repurposed old Space Ghost clips and turned it into a late night talk show that was super good. It ran from 1994 to 2004. The reference here should be considered topical.