Captain America Annual #10
The Origin of Captain America
In 1940, a young man named Steve Rogers is horrified by news of the war going on Europe. Wanting to do his part, Rogers attempted to enlist in the military but he was rejected as being too frail and sickly to serve. Overhearing Steve’s impassioned speech to do his part, General Chester Philips offers the young man the opportunity to serve his country.
This service came in the form of Operation: Rebirth, a secret military project that sought to create an army of super-soldiers to fight against the Nazis. Steve was treated with the Super Soldier Serum created by renown scientist Doctor Abramam Erskein. The formula transformed the frail young man in to the pinnacle of human perfection. However, there was a Nazi spy observing the experiment and after its success he assassinated Erskein. Rogers fought back against the assassin, knocking him into some machines where the spy was electrocuted. With the death of Erskein, the Super-Soldier Serum was lost and Steve Rogers would be the only super-soldier birthed from it.
Soon afterward, Steve underwent a grueling training and exercise regiment to made him the perfect soldier. Given a costume and a shield, Steve was codenamed Captain America. Over the next four years he fought the Nazis, including his polar opposite the dreaded Red Skull. However, in 1945, Steve fell into the Atlantic Ocean while trying to stop a drone plane from bombing London. As he sank into the freezing waters, Captain America entered a state of suspended animation. He was frozen for decades until he was found and revived by the Avengers. Since then, Steve has resumed the mantle of Captain America, adjusting to this new era he has found himself in and fighting for liberty, justice, and the American Way![1]
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Chester Phillips, Abraham Erskine, Heinz Krueger, Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp), Baron Zemo, Red Skull
Continuity Notes
This story is an abridged version of Captain America’s origins based on the original tale told in Captain America Comics #1.
The Von Strucker Gambit Part 3: Call of Duty
This story continues from Punisher Annual #4…
The Hydra operative known as Cassandra Romulus has broken into the headquarters of genetics firm Double Helix. As she slaughters the guards, Captain America comes crashing in through the front window on his motorcycle. Cap orders her to stand down, but Romulus insists that she is not in control of her actions. In the ensuing clash, she manages to snatch some keys from one of the guards and flees down the hall. Captain America is prevented from chasing after her to treat one of the injured guards.
Romulus heads down to the morgue where she rips out the organs of two bodies that are being stored there. When Captain America finally catches up with Cassandra, she has smashed through another window and escaped. That’s when SHIELD director Nick Fury arrives and tells Cap that they need to talk.
Meanwhile, a Hydra assassin named Dakini has rented out a room in a cheap hotel for the night. Here she sets up a temporary base of operations as part of her ongoing mission to hunt down and eliminate rogue genetic experiments that were created by Hydra to attack and test the abilities of Daredevil, Captain America, and the Punisher.[1]
Back at Double Helix, Fury explains how he is determined to track down and capture Cassandra Romulus so he can learn who is running Hydra now as well as avenge the death of 1500 SHIELD agents that were recently murdered by the terrorist organization.[2] Although they don’t know where Romulus will turn up next, Captain America gathers a blood sample off his shield and decides to have he Helix scientists run some test on it so they can learn everything they can about their mutual foe.
At the same time, Dakini has finished her latest report to Baron Strucker, the leader of Hydra, and vows to hunt down and kill Cassandra Romulus as she sees the genetically modified super-soldiers created by the organization as a blight on Hydra’s good name.
Cap and Fury pay a visit to one Doctor Jonathan Fishman to examine the DNA sample collected. Fishman’s analysis shows that Hydra has created some kind of super-soldier process of their own. However, it is not entirely perfect and Cassandra’s genetic structure is filled with abnormalities. He theorizes that the reason Romulus harvested organs from the other dead Hydra operatives is because she seeks to use the genetic material to create a cure for herself. As he is explaining all of this, they are unaware that Cassandra is listening to them from outside the window. However, he cover is blown when Dakini catches up with Romulus and begins shooting at her with a snipe rifle from the building across the way.
Leaping in through the window to find cover, Romulus is shoved into Nick Fury’s open arms while Cap uses his shield to deflect the bullets. However, Cassandra can’t be held for long as she slashes Fury’s face. She then hands over a gym bag with the harvested organs and demands that Dr. Fishman create a cure that will make her human again. As Captain America battles Dakini outside, Fishman creates a cure that Romulus needed. She then leaps outside where she kills Dakini with her bare hands. Understanding that her violent nature is due to the genetic tampering she has experienced, Captain America decides to let her go so Cassandra has a chance to cure herself. Nick Fury is deeply upset that Cap let her go as he was spoiling to get revenge for all the SHIELD agents he lost.
Later, Cassandra Romulus returns to Hydra headquarters and reports in to Baron Strucker. As it turns out, she wasn’t the out-of-control victim she appeared to be. She was well aware of Strucker’s actual plans — to use expendable super-soldiers to determine the fighting capacities of Cap, Daredevil and figure out if they might be able to coerce the Punisher into joining their cause. With the information gathering a complete success, Cassandra smashes the vial containing her cure and re-pledges her allegiance to Strucker with a “Hail Hydra!”
Recurring Characters
Captain America, SHIELD (Nick Fury), Hydra (Baron Strucker, Cassandra Romulus, Dakini)
Continuity Notes
The genetically modified warriors went after Daredevil in Daredevil Annual #7 and the Punisher in Punisher Annual #4.
These SHIELD agents were all killed during the destruction of SHIELD Central Headquarters by Hydra. See Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD (vol. 3) #25.
Brothers
Following the arrest of the Serpent Society, Bushmaster finds himself a prisoner in the Vault, where he suspects that he will spend no more than five years behind bars for his past crimes.[1] He doesn’t mind being in prison due to the fact that his serpentine appearance — thanks to cybernetic limbs that have given him a long serpent’s tail instead of legs — makes him an outcast in the outside world. He then thinks back to the events that led to his becoming Bushmaster in the first place.
Before becoming a member of the Serpent Society, Bushmaster was once Quincy McIver. He grew up on Caribbean Island along with his brother John. John was always getting into trouble for stealing when they were growing up, with Quincy frequently taking the heat while his older brother got away scot free. As they grew older, John started working as a gun runner for the local mob. He used his connections to get Quincy a job collecting smuggled weapons from the pier.
Unfortunately, on the night of the delivery, the police launch their sting operation on the situation. Not wishing to get caught, Quicky dove into the water and tried to swim to safety. Tragically, while trying to make his escape, McIver was run down by a police boat. When he woke up he found himself in the hospital where his brother informed him that contact with the propellor of the police has left Quincy a quadriplegic. John only stayed around long enough to tell his brother that he is moving on to bigger and better things. Now calling himself John Bushmaster, he is leaving for Europe to further his gun running trade.[2]
A few weeks after this, Quincy was visited by Seth Volker who had come to visit him on behalf of the Roxxon Coporation. He offers McIver the chance to regain his mobility with a new experimental cybernetic limb replacements that he can pay for by working for Roxxon, promising that the corporation will make sure his legal troubles go away. Quincy agreed and he was soon taken to the Brand Corporation — a subsidiary of Roxxon — where he was given new cybernetic limbs. Waking up after his surgery, Quincy was shocked to discover that instead of legs he was given a long serpentine tail. Volker then explained that he would only get his legs after he has finished repaying his debt to Roxxon. From there, Quincy named himself Bushmaster like the snake but also in honor of his brother.
Unfortunately, Bushmaster would never get the cybernetic legs he was promised as the Brand Corporation was soon shut down.[3] This forced him to work for the Serpent Society until he most recent arrest. Quincy’s thoughs are interrupted by his lawyer who has come to say that the authorities have insufficient evidence against him and is being released. Bushmaster doesn’t want to leave prison and vows to commit another crime so he can be returned to the Vault.
Recurring Characters
Bushmaster, John Bushmaster, Sidewinder, Roxxon
Continuity Notes
Bushmaster was among the members of the Serpent Society that were busted by Captain America in Captain America #382.
John Bushmaster would go on to become an antagonist in to both Power Man and Iron Fist. See Iron Fist #15, Marvel Team-Up #63 and Power Man #48-49. Here, Bushmaster says that he chose this name at the suggestion of a female friend. Yes, they’re implying Bushmaster eats pussy.
With the help of Spider-Man, Will O’ the Wisp exposed the Brand Corporations unethical human experimentation leading to the subsidiary being shut down. See Amazing Spider-Man #231-236. A new Brand Corporation will be opened in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #26.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Seth Volker, aka Sidewinder, has given up on the idea of packing up his things and fleeing after he went against his former team, the Serpent Society, to rescue Diamondback from their clutches.[1] Seth recalls how he was the founding member of the Serpent Society, but a after an attempted coup by Viper, he decided to turn leadership over to Cobra so he could retire.[2] Because he betrayed his former team, Volker knows that it is only a matter of time before they get out of prison and come after him again.
He decides to try and prevent this from happening by doing what he used to do when he was leader of the team: Use his teleportation cape to free any incarcerated group. However, this will prove to be a challenge as the Serpent Society has been sent to the Vault in Colorado, an apparently escape proof prison for super-villains.
Regardless, Seth puts on his Sidewinder costume and teleports himself just outside the prison. Debating on if he should go through with this, Sidewinder is forced to follow through with his plan after he is caught by some of the Guardsmen on patrol around the facility. Teleporting into the Vault, Seth begins looking for King Cobra. He finds him as he is being put on trial via a video conference with a judge and Captain America.
He manages to grab King Cobra and teleport themselves back outside the prison. However, a guard’s bullet clips Sidewinder on the shoulder. He tells Cobra that escaping the Vault is now up to him and teleports away to treat his wound. At first King Cobra tries to make his escape but he quickly realizes that doing so would be abandoning his teammates and refuses to do so. Finding some guards out looking for him, Cobra surrenders explaining that he was taken against his will. As the guards escort him back to the prison, King Cobra vows to get back at Sidewinder for this.
Recurring Characters
Sidewinder, King Cobra, Halflife, Guardsman, Captain America
Continuity Notes
Diamondback was captured by the Serpent Society and put on trial to determine if she had betrayed the group to Captain America. Black Mamba then called in a favor and had Sidewinder teleport Rachel to safety. See Captain America #380-382.
Volker founded the Serpent Society back in Captain America #310. Viper attempted to take control of the Serpent Society in Captain America #342-344. She was stopped by Captain America and his allies.
Worth Fighting For
Nomad is making his way through the wilderness of British Columbia on foot in the dead of winter. Along the trail he come across a pack of wolves that attack him. The vigilante fights back but the wolves bite him enough times that he begins losing a lot of blood and collapses to the ground. Luckily, a hunter happens upon them and saves Nomad’s life by firing her gun into the air, scaring off the wolves.
She then drags Nomad back to her cabin where the woman lives with her son Billy. Stripping off Nomad’s snowsuit, the woman is surprised to see that he was keeping a baby — Bucky — warm inside his jacket. While the baby is still sleeping, the woman tells her son to bring the baby by the fire to warm her up. Suspecting that there is something fishy about this stranger, she gets her gun ready after treating his wounds.
When Nomad wakes up with a gun in his face and explains that the reason why he was talking in the woods was because he was heading to Seattle after conducting some business up in Jeneau, Alaska.[1] He assures her that she isn’t any danger and isn’t wanted by the police — at least not in Canada. He tells her that he is caring for Bucky because her mother is addicted to crack. The woman tells him that she and her son are hiding from the law as well after she killed her abusive husband whose position as chief of police prevented her from getting help, let alone anyone believing her story.
Realizing that they are both victims of circumstances, Nomad quickly disarms the woman and Billy. He assures them that he will keep their location a secret if they keep quiet about him. However, as he begins packing things up, the woman invites him to stay as long as he needs and even offers them a map when they are ready to go on their way.
… This story continues in Nomad (vol. 2) #1.
Recurring Characters
Nomad, Bucky
Continuity Notes
Topical References
Bucky’s baby carrier has a picture of Mickey Mouse on it. Something like this would usually be considered a topical reference. However this would no longer be the case here since Marvel Comics is now owned by Disney.
When Nomad wakes up he jokes that the family who rescued him are a combination of the Waltons and the A-Team. The Waltons was a historical TV drama about a typical Virginian family during the 1930s and early 40s. It ran for 9 seasons from 1971 to 1982. The A-Team was an action series about mercenaries-for-hire on the run from the law that aired from 1983 to 1987. References to these shows should be considered topical because they are dated AF.
Supplementary Materials
This issue features a number of pin-ups which include:
“Cap and Company” which features Captain America and his closest allies: Nomad, Demolition Man, Bernie Rosenthal, Michael O’Brien, Nick Fury, Fabian Stankewycz, Diamondback, John Jameson, Peggy Carter, Edwin Jarvis, and the Falcon
The Serpent Society: A two page spread of the entire team Anaconda, Black Racer, Fer-De-Lance, Rock Python, the Rattler, King Cobra, the Asp, Puff Adder, Copperhead, Bushmaster, Coachwhip, Cottonmouth, and Boomslang. It also features portraits of past members including Sidewinder, Diamondback, Death Adder, Princess Python, the Constrictor, and Viper.[1]
The Skeleton Crew: A roster of this group’s current members including the Red Skull, Crossbones, Mother Night, the Machine Smith, the Fourth Sleeper, and Minister Blood.
Continuity Notes
The pin-up of the Serpent Society depicts every member of the group, past and present, at the time of this issue was published. The membership of the team goes as follows:
The team was formed by Sidewinder in Captain America #310, founding members included Anaconda, Asp, Black Mamba, Bushmaster, Cobra, Cottonmouth, Diamondback, Death Adder, Princess Python, and the Rattler.
Black Racer, Coachwhip, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Fer-De-Lance, Puff Adder, Rock Python were later recruited in Captain America #338.
Sidewinder was leader of the group until Viper staged a coup against the group in Captain America #342-344. He later left the team in the care of Cobra, as we saw in one of the stories above.
Cobra later changed his name to King Cobra in Captain America #367.
Diamondback drifted away from the team following the events of Captain America #342-344 because she had a romantic interest in Captain America and wanted to go straight. She has been a person non-grata with the group since Captain America #380.
Death Adder was murdered by the Scourge of the Underworld in Captain America #318. He will remain dead until he is resurrected by the Hood in Punisher (vol. 8) #6.
Princess Python found that she couldn’t measure up to the rest of the group all of whom had super-human powers or enhanced technology to simulate the abilities of a snake. She noped out of the Serpent Society in Captain America #313.
Constrictor actually refused to join and got beat up by the other members after he tried to tip off the Avengers to their existence in Captain America #310.
It’s interesting to note that Black Mamba and Asp are depicted as members of the team as they had just left the group in Captain America #382. My assumption is that this pin-up was drawn before that decision was made.
The Von Strucker Gambit Reading Order
Daredevil Annual #7
Punisher Annual #4
Captain America Annual #10 <— You Are Here