Captain America (vol. 3) #24
The Difference
When Hydra kidnaps a SHIELD agent, Captain America makes a daring rescue. As Dum Dum Dugan and his operatives arrive to do the clean-up, Agent Wheadon warns them that Hydra has planted a bomb to disrupt the United Nations International Peace Initiative that is scheduled for later that day. Rather than cause a panic by having SHIELD secure the area, Captain America heads off to find the bomb by himself.
Taking to the rooftops, Cap races to Embassy Row where he is ambushed by Crossbones and the Absorbing Man who have been hired by Hydra to plant the bomb and prevent anyone from interfering with their plan.
While the Absorbing Man keeps Captain America busy, Crossbones begins prepping the bomb.
However, although Crusher Creel can absorb the properties of anything he touches, Captain America manages to outsmart him at every turn. He tricks Creel into touching his bare skin and then lands a knock out punch. Cap then catches up with Crossbones but is too late to stop him from setting the bomb. Crossbones then blasts Cap in the face with gas in order to cover his escape.
By this time, the Absorbing Man has recovered and returned to the scene of the battle. Finding Captain America’s shield embedded in the side of a chimney, he uses his power to take on its properties so he can trounce Captain America. Cap however convinces Creel to help him contain the bomb since it is tamper proof. Realizing that Crossbones abandoned him, Creel uses his invulnerable body to muffle the explosion saving countless lives in the process. Creel tells Captain America that they’re now even and absorbs the properties of the smoke left over from the explosion in order to get away.
Captain America muses that Hydra misjudged Crusher Creel who proved that one man can make a difference.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Absorbing Man, Crossbones, SHIELD (Dum Dum Dugan)
