Captain America vs Wolverine (Part 2)

Wolverine and Captain America have been transformed into Hulks by the Intelligencia. With his mind kept relatively intact due to his healing factor, Wolverine knows that if they don't stop their foes and cure themselves they will die. However, unable to control his rage due to memories of a past encounter with Cap years earlier while he was still the Russian operative known as the Winter Soldier.

The Past:

Logan and his partner Squee have been captured by Abilene, the mistress of Monte Boscardin, a crooked politician who is trying to become the governor of Illinois. They were investigating his illegal operations before they were captured. With Squee chained to a wall, Abilene tortured Logan to try and learn why they are seeking Monte Boscardin, and who hired them to do it. Shortly after the torture has begun, the Winter Soldier has arrived. Recognizing the Winter Soldier's scent as that of the wartime hero Bucky, Logan can hardly believe it, as at that time he was unaware of the fact that Bucky survived the war and was turned into the Russian operative standing before him. As she heats up a corkscrew, she tells Logan that they get to decide if the two live or die, and asks how slowly they want to die.

Today:

Captain America and Wolverine continue to battle it out in the streets of Washington, D.C. Cap tries to kill Wolverine. However, Logan points out that all he's succeeding in doing is making him angrier, which makes him respond in anger, impaling his claws into Captain America's stomach.

Wolverine tries to get his anger under control because although the Hulk healing ability allowed Cap to survive, he could kill him. But, the rage is hard to control, and worse, he is growing to like it.

The Past:

Logan wakes up after blacking out from the first round of torture. This impresses Abilene, but she points out that his healing powers are not going to do him much good in his present situation. She once again demands to know who hired them to kill Monte Boscardin. When he still refuses to talk, she decides to take a blowtorch to his fingers. However, as she approaches with the blowtorch, Logan extracts one of his claws, puncturing the fuel tank. Fuel spills onto the table and catches flame instantly. Abilene drops the torch in a panic and it blows up on contact with the flames, freeing Logan from his binds. With his healing factor repairing the damage, Abilene tells the Winter Soldier to do something when suddenly the feral mutant leaps at them.

The Present:

Captain America and Wolverine continue to fight it out in the streets. So single-minded is Captain America's rage that he ignores a dog that runs up and starts biting the cuff of his boot. He then tries to toss a car at Wolverine, but the mutant recovers Captain America's shield from the ground and throws it with enough force that it cleaves the car in half.

The Past:

Logan leaps at the Winter Soldier and the two scuffle for a moment until the Russian operative throws a scalpel into Logan's shoulder. As he pulls it out, the Winter Soldier has enough time to leap out a nearby window. Before Logan can escape, Squee pleads to not be left behind with Abeline. With no other choice, Logan is forced to let Winter Soldier get away so he can free his friend. After cutting Squee loose, Logan threatens to kill Abeline if she doesn't lead them to Monte Boscardin.

The Present:

As the battle rages on, Wolverine thinks about how cold and silent the Winter Soldier was when he saw him all those years ago. This causes him to think back to when Captain America and Bucky teamed up during World War II. He recalls how back in those days you could hardly get the young man to shut up half the time.

The speechless brutality of the Winter Soldier back then is not all that different from the rage that motivates them today. As the fight gets bloodier, Wolverine's mind drifts back into the past once more...

The Past:

Logan and Squee are led to the hideout of Monte Boscardin by Abeline. When they burst in, Monte is being protected by a room full of armed men. This is hardly a challenge for Logan, who easily dispatches them. Before he can slay Monte, he is shot in the shoulder by the Winter Soldier. Logan leaps at the Winter Soldier and as the two struggle with each other, Boscardin and his woman try to flee. However, they don't farther than the front door before they are gunned down by Squee.

The Present:

As Wolverine thinks about both he and Captain America have gone under many identities over the years. Ultimately, he manages to exercise enough control over his rage to knock out Captain America, but not kill him. Wolverine then ties him up with powerlines and wanders off.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Wolverine

Continuity Notes

• Wolverine gives an abridged history of James Barns' career:

  • He recounts how, as Bucky, was the partner of the original Captain America. This was the case since Captain America Comics #1. The pair were also founding members of the Invaders circa Invaders #1.

  • Bucky seemingly died in 1945 when he was blown up trying to stop Baron Zemo's drone bomb, as seen in Avengers #4.

  • In reality, Bucky survived and was recovered by the Russians, who turned them into their operative the Winter Soldier. This was revealed, and the Winter Soldier was freed from his mental conditioning during the events in Captain America Vol 5 #5-14.

  • When the original Captain America was assassinated in Captain America Vol 5 #25, leading to Winter Soldier taking up the mantle in Captain America Vol 5 #34.

• Wolverine first met Bucky during World War II, as seen in Wolverine: Origins #16-21. He mentions how he almost became Captain America's partner in those days, as seen in Uncanny X-Men #268.

Thing vs the Human Torch

The Thing and Human Torch have been transformed into Hulks by the Intelligencia. Filled with rage, the two teammates now find themselves fighting each other. As the two battle, their minds go back to an incident not too long ago at the Baxter Building. Johnny was fleeing the Thing after playing another one of his practical jokes. As Johnny runs around the Baxter Building passing through the kitchen where Reed, Sue and the children are eating breakfast. Suddenly, the Thing comes crashing through hellbent on getting his hands around Johnny's neck. When Sue and Reed tell him to calm down, he turns around and faces them revealing that Johnny had painted up his face.

In order to get back at Johnny, the Thing went into the garage and threatens to damage one of his cars. When Ben cracks the frame with his fingers, Johnny decides that this battle has taken a personal turn and flames on. As they recall these skirmish, the two Hulked-Out members of the Fantastic Four end up taking their fight out into a naval yard, where the Thing tries to crush the Torch with a battleship.

As they fight, they recollect how Reed and Sue worked together to stop their fight in the middle of Times Square. They force Ben and Johnny to apologize and consider the matter over. However, Johnny and Ben both agree that this is far from over and promise to resume their ongoing feud.

Recurring Characters

Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing)