Flashpoint

Receiving a tip, Captain America and the Falcon prevent an assassination attempt on a candidate for mayor in Harlem.[1] This happening at a time when there is a lot of racial tension in the neighborhood. Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, is well aware of this. Fighting crime alongside Captain America is difficult because the residents of Harlem are judgmental of him for the company that he keeps, especially when this assassin turns out to be an Black man.

On their way back from the political rally, Captain America and the Falcon overhear a television news report about John Mason. Mason was a member of the racist group called the Sons of the Serpent. The group has since rebranded themselves as the Sons of the Shield, making Captain America their unofficial mascot for their white supremacist ideals. This obviously angers Steve Rogers.

In those days, Captain America worked as a police officer in his civilian identity and worked the beat in Harlem.[2] A few days later, Sam met up with Steve while he was on the beat. They talk about the Sons of the Shield, and Steve admits that he is upset but he believes that the public will know that he and the Sons are on two opposite ends of the spectrum. Sam isn’t so sure, and points out how perceptions might say otherwise, noting that the last bunch of guys they busted were all Black men. Steve admits that he didn’t even notice, and Sam isn’t surprised since the only colors that Rogers sees that that of the American flag. He views everyone as equals. Unfortunately, not everyone has that naive worldview.

Steve later sits in on a meeting with Sam and members of the community who have come to express their concerns about the Sons of the Shield. Particularly since the group is setting up a recruiting center in Harlem itself. Under the watchful eye of Sam’s girlfriend Leila, Steve notices a letter in the trash and picks it up. It is for an outreach program in Connecticut that is hoping to recruit Sam as a social worker, however despite the generous offer, Sam has refused to accept the job. After the meeting, where vague plans have been made to protest, everyone leaves. When Sam asks why Steve didn’t speak up in the meeting, Rogers admits that the last thing they wanted to hear was any ideas from a white cop. Still, he is uneasy about all of this and fears that things might get worse before they get better.

Little did they know that the Sons of the Shield were up to something. At their headquarters, the group has paid for the services of the super-criminal known as the Wizard. Although he cares little for their racist ideas, the Wizard is interested in their money and provides his skills to build them some high tech weapons. With the work done, the Sons send Ajanii Jackson — a Black man in their employ — to plant a bomb in the local Baptist church. When the bombs go off, it deeply upsets the people of Harlem. To stoke the flames, Ajanii shows up and tells the bystanders that he found a flag belonging to the Sons of the Shield, a calling card that they were responsible for the bombing. This works people up into a frenzy and they form a mob to go down to the Sons of the Shield’s recruitment office.

Seeing the situation escalating, Sam and Steve decide to intervene as Captain America and the Falcon. While Falcon tries to keep the crowd calm, Captain America sneaks inside and tries to get everyone inside to evacuate. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to complete their plan, John Mason orders his men to get the guns made for them by the Wizard and distribute them among the angry mob outside. Sure enough, when armed with weapons, the locals begin opening fire on the building, prompting Cap and the Falcon to stop them before someone gets hurt.

With the situation getting brought back under control, John Mason remotely activates one of the weapons, making it shoot Captain America in the back, seemingly incinerating him.[3] When Mason uses this to denounce the rioters and proclaim Captain America a martyr to their cause, Falcon realizes that Mason set this all up. Falcon tries to rush Mason, but the police arrive and hold him back before he can cause anyone harm.

As a result of their plot, the Sons of the Shield begin doing nightly patrols on the street while the people of Harlem denounce Captain America as a sell out. Watching this in the street, Falcon tries to figure out how he is going to resolve this situation. When a costume shop owner tosses a Captain America costume out into the street, it gives Sam some inspiration.

Later that evening, a Black youth is being chased by some of the Sons of the Shield. Ducking into the alley, he is found by Sam — now wearing the discarded Captain America costume — he tells the boy that nobody is going to hurt him as long as Captain America is on the job.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Falcon, Sons of the Shield (John Mason, Ajanii Jackson), Wizard, Redwing

Continuity Notes

1. This story takes place during the period in which Captain America and the Falcon were first partners from Captain America #133-222. Per the Marvel Chronology Project this story takes place after Cap’s appearances in Avengers #100 and between Captain America #143 and 144 for the Falcon.

2. Steve Rogers became a cop for a time. This was between Captain America #139 and 159.

3. Captain America’s not really dead, he actually got teleported to the Sons of the Shield’s hideout as we’ll learn next issue.

Topical References

• The TVs in this story are depicted a CRT models. This should be considered topical as this is an obsolete technology.