Captain America (vol. 3) #4
Capmania
With his popularity soaring to new heights, Captain America has declared a one-man war against the terrorist organization known as Hydra.[1]
With the aid of Hawkeye, Cap stops a Hydra operative from blowing up the skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza. The situation is quickly brought under control and the Hydra operative is turned over to the authorities. As usual, Captain America is swarmed by the media who bombard him with questions. This time, they are joined by Andrew Bolt who is running for congress and asks if Cap will give his endorsement. Cap declines to give an endorsement, telling the would-be congressman that he doesn’t weigh in on politics saying that he believes in the system and that the American people will decide if he’s right for the job.
Back at Avengers Mansion, Hawkeye can’t believe how popular that Cap has gotten since they all came back from the Onslaught incident.[2] While Hawkeye wishes he could be this popular, Steve doesn’t like it because he keeps on getting mobbed by people while on the job. Clint then suggests that they go out for a burger out of costume to get away from the crowds for a bit. However, they can’t seem to escape “Capmania” as the burger join is having a Captain America promotion. Clint can’t help but buy a kids meal that comes with a Captain America action figure. Steve does not like the idea that Captain America’s image is being commercialized and idolized because that’s not what he intended for his alter-ego. Clint, however, revels in this as much as possible. When they pass by a shop that is selling Captain America masks, he rushes in to buy one. He then spots a news crew doing a vox pop segment about Steve and decides to go in front of the camera and make wild (not to mention false) claims about Captain America’s achievements.
Meanwhile, at SHIELD headquarters, Sharon Carter has returned to the fold in order to find out why the spy agency abandoned her years earlier.[3] She discovers that this information goes all the way to the top with former director Nick Fury, who has long since believed to be dead.[4] However, Sharon finds a bit of encrypted data regarding a cryonics unit and decides to check it out.
Elsewhere in the city, Steve Rogers and Clint Barton part company. Steve goes for a walk to reflect on his growing popularity and what it will mean for the future. On the one hand, he enjoys that children see his alter-ego as a role model, on the other hand he cannot stand the commercialization of his image. Suddenly, Batroc the Leaper appears and begins terrorizing people and demanding that Captain America reveal himself. Little does Steve know that Batroc has been hired by the Sensational Hydra as part of his ongoing plot against the Avenger. Steve obliges and changes into Captain America and confronts his old foe. He is disappointed that Batroc has returned to a life of crime after promising to reform.[5]
While on a private island, two hirelings of the Red Skull are on the beach getting some sun. One of them wonders why they bother keeping the place running when their boss is dead. The other reminds him that the Red Skull always manages to cheat death and that their job is to keep things running until his return. That’s when they are suddenly attacked by a shadow creature that them all the way down to the bone at a touch.[6]
Meanwhile, Captain America refuses to take Batroc up on his challenge and attempts to walk away. However, as Cap turns to walk away, Hawkeye arrives and fires a stun arrow into the mercenaries chest. Hawkeye’s only mistake is taking the fight to the Rockefeller Plaza ice rink, where it is incredibly slippery. Seeing that Clint is in danger, Captain America has no choice but to leap into action to save his friend. As usual, Captain America proves to be the superior fighter, prompting Batroc to make a hasty retreat. When Hawkeye tries to go after him, Cap tells him to let Batroc go.[7] He points to the gathered audience that have been cheering him on the entire battle and explains that this entire fight was turned into a spectacle. Hawkeye tells Cap to just give into his celebrity already and enjoy the ride. When a crowd of people lift him into the air and begin cheering his name, Captain America does allow himself to smile a little.
This smirk is observed by the Supreme Hydra who has been watching from his secret base. He is pleased to see Cap finally accepting his newfound fame, quipping that the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Hydra (Sensational Hydra, Batroc the Leaper), Sharon Carter, Hawkeye, Andrew Bolt, Red Skull
Continuity Notes
Since returning in Captain America (vol. 3) #1, Steve has discovered that Captain America’s popularity has exploded. This is being manipulated by the Supreme Hydra, a Skrull operative, as part of a complex plot to destabilize the world and make it ripe for conquest. See Captain America (vol. 3) #5-7.
Captain America along with the Avengers and Fantastic Four were sacrificed their lives in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1. In reality, they were transported to a pocket universe by Franklin Richards where they lived reimagined lives. They had just recently been found and rescued as seen in Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4.
As we’ll learn next issue, Sharon Carter is looking for answers as to why SHIELD cut her loose while she was on a deep cover mission. Sharon faked her death in Captain America #237 in order to go on this mission. She was cut loose under mysterious circumstances and was left to fend for herself for years until she turned up again in Captain America #444. As we’ll learn in Fury/Agent 13 #2, Nick Fury believed she was killed in action and this is the reason why SHIELD abandoned her.
Nick Fury was believed to have been killed by the Punisher in Double Edge Omega #1. In reality, this was a Life Model Decoy posing as Fury while he was off on a top secret solo mission. He has been trapped in a virtual reality simulation of World War II this entire time and will remain trapped until he is rescued by Sharon Carter, as seen in Fury/Agent 13 #1-2.
Batroc made a pledge to go straight back in Captain America #443 because at the time Captain America was dying due to the fact that the Super-Soldier Serum in his body had been breaking down since issue #425. Steve did eventually get cured in issue #445, but then the whole Onslaught thing happened shortly thereafter.
This disembodied shadow is the Red Skull, whose body was incinerated by an exploding Cosmic Cube in Captain America #448. The Skull will be restored to normal in Captain America (vol. 3) #14.
Here, Batroc mentions that Captain America has a new shield. The facts:
Captain America lost his trademark shield in the ocean while on a mission last issue. It will remain lost until Captain America (vol. 3) #13. However, it will not be functional to use until issue #22.
This was the triangular shield that Cap first wielded in Captain America Comics #1, he switched to his trademark round shield in the following issue. The original triangular shield was destroyed by Baron Zemo during the Masters of Evil’s raid on Avengers Mansion in Avengers #273-277. It will later be restored in Thunderbolts #105. This shield was taken from the Smithsonian in Captain America (vol. 3) #3.
Topical References
Hawkeye quips that if Steve becomes anymore popular he could become a member of the Spice Girls. The Spice Girls were an all-woman pop-group who were at the height of their popularity when this comic book was first published. This should be considered a topical reference.
Clint jokingly tells the media that Captain America invented Snapple. This beverage brand was actually quite popular around the time this story was published. Its reference here should be considered a topical reference because it is a real world brand.
Captain America wonders how he is going to matter in the new millennium. At the turn of the current century a lot of people asked themselves what the year 2000 would bring. This story is no different. That said, references to the “new millennium” should be considered topical due to the Sliding Timescale which pushes the Modern Age forward in time. It has done so enough that the Age of Heroes does not start until after the start of the 21st century.
