This issue concludes Mark Waid and Ron Garney’s first extended storyline in Captain America, which began in issue #445. So far, our hero was revived by Sharon Carter (whom he had long believed to be dead) and the Red Skull (who provided the blood transfusion that saved him), all to save the world from the Kübekult, a Nazi group plotting to use a Cosmic Cube (containing Adolf Hitler’s mind) to create a New World Reich.
At the end of the last issue, the Skull had trapped Cap in the Cube, and this issue begins with him reliving several pivotal moments and periods in his life, but… differently. It begins, of course, with Project Rebirth, and Professor Erskine making sure young Steve Rogers understands the risks of the procedure—and when Steve only wants to consider the upside, Erskine hails his bravery. (So far, so good.)
After the process is judged a success, Erskine confirms that Rogers is meant to defeat Hitler—which has been emphasized throughout the storyline, especially by the Red Skull—before a Nazi spy announces his assassination attempt.
Wait, why did I say “attempt”? Because in this version of events, Steve saves Erskine—and even stranger, he’s congratulated by Bucky, whom he shouldn’t even have met yet.
Meanwhile, in the real world, the Red Skull reveals his true plan to Sharon: trapping Cap in the Cube with Hitler, the man he was created to defeat (as the Skull repeatedly reminded him). While Cap’s and Hitler’s wills battle inside it, the Cube is powerless, but the Skull hopes that, after Cap fulfills his purpose of defeating Hitler, his motivation will lapse and the Skull can control the Cube completely.
Back inside, Cap and Bucky are fighting Nazis, presumably in Germany, and searching for Hitler…
…but then suddenly they are back in Cap’s own neighborhood in New York, where he sees where “Jacob” and “Joe” lived (most likely references to his creators, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon).
Things get even stranger, as a newspaper reporter calls in a story on a cellphone (circa 1995).
Even weirder for Cap, though, is the appearance of his mother, who in reality died long before he underwent Project Rebirth, and with whom he has a touching reunion.
After our heroes return to looking for Hitler, they chase one American Nazi up a flight of stairs, where they pass a fella wearing 90s headphone and singing a theme song from a TV show that debuted in fall 1994. <clap clap clap clap>
Soon they find themselves aboard an airship, where Cap sees a very familiar and frightening sight.
As with Professor Erskine’s assassination, Cap now has an opportunity to fix his greatest regret…
…not only saving Bucky…
…but also using Zemo’s airship to take the fight to Berlin.
Cap and Bucky join Sgt. Nick Fury and His Howlin’ Commandos on the ground in Germany…
…soon to be joined by two other beloved heroes.
No “real” reason to show those pages, other than the beautiful artwork by Ron Garney, Denis Rodier, and John Kalisz.
They finally approach their target, and Cap is ready to go, but Bucky is… not?
As the Red Skull watches eagerly, Cap starts to see the truth, as revealed to him by his subconscious speaking through “Bucky,” warning him of the temptation of reliving and improving on the past at the risk of ignoring the dangers of the present.
“Bucky” reveals that somewhere, Cap knew what the Skull was up to, but he was distracted by familiar scenes and people. But now, he must ignore the illusion and confront the reality, using the resolve and discipline for which he is renowned.
“Bucky” says farewell, assuring Cap that he’ll always live in his memories—and elsewhere, as we now know—and Cap gives a final salute to the partner and friend he has lost once again.
Steeling his resolve and setting his mind right, Cap bursts through the door, which was formerly the path to Hitler’s bunker…
…but now leads him back to the real world outside the Cube and face-to-face with the Red Skull (and Sharon).
The Skull demonstrates why he has already lost when he can’t believe Captain America—Captain America—has the willpower to break out of the Cube. (Even if he hasn’t been following this blog, he really should have known that.)
After Cap thrashes his foe about the head for a bit, we get a very ominous pairing of image and words.
Maybe the Skull does know Captain America after all—at least he’s been listening—but all is forgotten when he sees the Cube nearby.
This gives the Skull the strength to slip Cap’s grasp, but unfortunately for him, Cap is gotten very good with his shield since he was “reborn”…
…not only severing the Skull’s arm but destroying the Cube as well. After the ensuing explosion, both are gone, leaving Cap looking pensively at the ruins.
In the aftermath below, Cap confirms that destroying the Cube reversed the changes the Kübekult made to reality, including the military personnel transformed into cult (or “kult”) members. More important, his response to Sharon about Hitler shows that he learned from this experience to always look forward, and we also see that he’s not too concerned with whether or not the Red Skull is alive somewhere (although he knows better than to ever count that guy out). Finally, he offers Sharon a ride, which she reads too much into…
…but then he makes her an offer she does not refuse. (And given the odd spacing, I imagine him spelling out SHIELD, which sounds very passive-aggressive!)
They’re back, but are they back back? We shall see…
ISSUE DETAILS
Captain America (vol. 1) #448, February 1996: Mark Waid (writer), Ron Garney (pencils), Denis Rodier (inks), John Kalisz and Mailbu Color (colors), John Costanza (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Captain America Epic Collection: Man without a Country, Captain America: Operation Rebirth (trade paperback), and Captain America: Operation Rebirth (hardcover).
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Captain America #447 and The Savage Hulk #1 (January 1996)
ALSO THIS MONTH: Avengers #395, Avengers: Timeslide #1, Iron Man #325, and Age of Innocence: The Rebirth of Iron Man #1, and DC Versus Marvel #1 (February 1996)
NEXT ISSUE: Captain America #449, Avengers #396, Iron Man #326, and Thor #496 (March 1996)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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