This issue of Captain America continues our hero’s process of “taking care of business” in his new Stark-designed armor that grants him mobility after his body completely gave out on him due to depleted super-soldier serum. It also returns to the topic of the new Super-Patriot (who was presumed dead after disappearing in a fire in issue #427) and Diamondback’s work with Superia in exchange for a cure for Cap (from issue #433)—and all of this ahead of a crossover with Avengers which starts at the end of issue #386 of that book. Finally, we have a couple beautiful panels of the Invaders drawn by the incomparable Alan Davis in issue #8 of his title TheClanDestine.
After three pages of the Falcon chasing a presumably deceased Nighthawk around the New York City skyline, we first see the title hero in Captain America #439 with own “team,” which now apparently includes the Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine of SHIELD…
…amidst the most relevant exposition (highlighted below), complete with Cap’s customary humility, and only missing the opening record scratch.
Let’s turn our attention to Bernie Rosenthal, who has found the new Super-Patriot, whom she suspects is someone from her (and Cap’s) past…
…namely Mike Farrel, their former neighbor and honored firefighter, who joined up with the domestic terrorist Watchdogs but later surrendered to the authorities, and after his release from prison he blamed Cap when his life opportunities dried up.
We’ll return to Bernie and Mike later, but now let’s check in on Cap’s more recent romantic partner, Rachel Leighton aka Diamondback, who is working for the villainous Superia in exchange for a promised cure for Cap—which she needs to test on someone, and there’s only one person in the room who has some super-soldier serum in her blood (since issues #409-410).
We’ll touch base with them at the end of the issue, but now we turn once more to Sam Wilson, who has to believe a(nother) man can fly.
Cap quickly makes up for the fact that he never told his former partner and close friend that he was dying…
…and naturally Sam has a hard time coming to terms with it.
Cap really wants to get the bottom of Dead Ringer, the new Super-Patriot’s partner who can adopt the form of the deceased, but Sam just doesn’t feel this should be the priority right now.
Regardless, Sam finally accepts that Cap won’t budge, and then agrees to join him on his next mission (which begins in Avengers #386, covered below). After Cap answers a distress call about Bernie, Sam is left to reflect on the virtues of Captain America and fearing a world without him.
Gee, I wonder what would happen… (Read all about it in the second edition of my book, coming in July!)
When Cap arrives at Farrell’s apartment he makes like the Kool-Aid Man, and Dead Ringer transforms from Basilisk (never mind) to Death-Stalker (whom we saw in Daredevil #155-157) and thwarts Cap’s initial attack.
Cap falls back on his time as a police officer while Dead Ringer goes in for the kill, which is a step too far for Farrel—who is a distraction Cap does not need right now.
Now that everyone’s caught up, Dead Ringer reveals his ultimate plan.
Who doesn’t, right?
Mike inadvertently proves to be just the distraction Dead Ringer needs, but luckily Cap is saved by his armor.
Dead Ringer turns his attention to Bernie and uses her as a hostage to force Cap to sacrifice himself—something he would do under normal circumstances, even if he didn’t believe he was very close to death as it is—but Mike comes through in the end to defend both Bernie and Cap.
Mike becomes a hero once again at the end, giving Cap a chance to subdue Dead Ringer…
…before freeing Bernie and learning who is behind Super-Patriot’s mask.
In addition to saying farewell to Mike Farrel, the final page of the issue shows Superia reveling in the successful test of her cure, as well as Arnie Roth arriving at the hospital after collapsing earlier in the issue, alongside Free Spirit and Jack Flag (who don’t know about the cancer diagnoses he shared with Cap in the last issue).
Now, back to that whole AIM business Cap recruited Sam for: In Avengers #386, the team returns from fighting the Red Skull (of all people) to find an old friend in a new outfit…
…and Cap continues his “oh yeah I forgot to tell you” tour.
As the tag above says, this leads into the “Taking A.I.M.” crossover between Captain America and Avengers, beginning with the next post.
Before we finish, let’s check out a couple beautiful images of the Invaders courtesy of writer/penciler Alan Davis and his title The ClanDestine, specifically issue #8.
No other reason to post these, really—it’s just beautiful work.
Check out Alan Davis’s recent take on the early Avengers with writer (and former DC Comics publisher) Paul Levitz in their miniseries Avengers: War Across Time.
ISSUE DETAILS
Captain America (vol. 1) #439, May 1995: Mark Gruenwald (writer), Dave Hoover (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ashley Posella (colors), Joe Rosen (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Captain America Epic Collection: Twilight’s Last Gleaming.
Avengers (vol. 1) #386, May 1995: Bob Harras and Terry Kavanagh (writers), Angel Medina (pencils), Scott Koblish (inks), John Kalisz (colors), Bill Oakley and NJQ (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Avengers Epic Collection: Taking A.I.M. and Captain America Epic Collection: Twilight’s Last Gleaming.
ClanDestine (vol. 1) #8, May 1995: Alan Davis (writer and pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Helen Nally (colors), Pat Prentice (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: ClanDestine Classic.
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Captain America #438 (April 1995) and Avengers #382 and Marvel Double Feature #381-382 (December 1994-January 1995)
NEXT ISSUE: Captain America #440 and Avengers #387 (June 1995)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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