Captain America #3 (March 1998)

In this post we see Captain America process the loss of his beloved shield in the last issue, while he also deals with the “Capmania” that broke out while he was “dead” for a year and which exploded when he returned. (Oh yeah, and Hydra too, again.)

After a couple pages setting up Hydra’s invasion of the Smithsonian to lure our hero into their clutches, we arrive in Avengers Mansion, where some unidentified flying object is terrorizing various provisional members of the team (before the membership is settled in Avengers #4).

It takes a God of Thunder to ground the threat, which turns out to look awfully familiar.

“Did I do that?” asks Steve Urkel Rogers, as Tony literally uses an adding machine to sum up the damages caused by his replacement shield (for which, at least, Cap is very grateful).

Tony explains that he did the best he could, although the creation of the original was shrouded in mystery, as we know, and also got its share of dings and scratches over the years, to which Cap had grown accustomed. But more important, we get the answer to the question I assume we all had following the last issue.

Too bad Namor can’t talk to fish like the other fella can. (And speaking of Marvel Team-Up, Cap will be joining Namor in issue #9 very soon.)

Cap steps outside for some air and reflects on the fact that Tony makes a new armor every other day, while Cap was happy with the Mark 2.0 model of the shield. But he’s shaken out of his misery but something even less comfortable for him: public attention.

Cap doesn’t have long to dwell on this before he learns of the goings-on at the Smithsonian, and drives the crowd even more nuts as he leaves in trademark fashion.

Let’s take a peek at the new Hydra Supreme—make that the Sensational Hydra—just because (a) he looks like Guy Gardner and (b) he gets a good laugh out of Hydra’s catchphrase.

When he gets to Washington, Cap displays his legendary command of strategy to a fan.

Once inside, the attacks begin, leading Cap to lament the harm Hydra is doing to the nation’s history before he notices two instances of much greater possible harm he now needs to look out for—while he revisits a bit of his own past (which explains the cover image) and gives a lesson to the youths.

And it isn’t the only one, as he recounts George Santayana’s famous quote—coincidentally the basis of a Magritte painting housed at the Smithsonian.

Cap tells the boys to run while he fights a group of Hydra agents, but do they listen? To make matters worse, they encourage him to kill his enemies, and when he asserts that he does not do that, they wish somebody “cooler” had come to their aid, recalling the comics fan from Captain America #425. (Thanks to Chris for reminding me what issue this was from!)

After the Hydra forces have Cap and his two young critics surrounded, he soon realizes he needs to throw his new shield, despite his lack of practice with it yet. As he feared, he misses the return…

…so he has to shield the boys the only way he has left, as a hero does.

While the Hydra goons drool over the shield, they miss Cap slipping away, and as one tries to get the kids to talk, he reveals he knows Cap better than the kids do.

They decide the use the boys as lures to draw Cap out, confident that he’s no longer a threat without his shield…

…but they didn’t count of him fetching a Mark 1.0 model from the Invaders exhibit.

And what’s Xuperman doing there? (I assume that on his world, the X stands for hope—an addition that would be introduced to the mythos of the other guy by none other than Mark Waid in 2003’s Superman: Birthright.)

Armed with a more familiar (if unwieldy) shield, Cap makes quick work of the Hydra guys, finally earning the admiration of the two boys.

After getting his shoulder wrapped up, he tells the Smithsonian administrator how much he appreciated the loan, and the man kindly offers it to him as long as needs it. On his way out, he ignores the fawning crowd and greets Agent James McElroy, who worked with the Avengers in Captain America #444 after Cap was believed dead due to his deteriorating super-soldier serum.

You’ll no doubt recall that, like the kids in this issue, McElroy began skeptical of Cap’s legend before coming around by the end (and even throwing an imitation shield to fool that issue’s terrorists), so his “wow” above is well earned.

Cap ends the issue by announcing that he’s bringing the fight to Hydra…

…which leads to an expected response from the Sensational Hydra.

Sure, why not? Ze leapair is always welcome at this blog!

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ISSUE DETAILS

Captain America (vol. 3) #3, March 1998: Mark Waid (writer), Ron Garney (pencils), Bob Wiacek (inks), Joe Rosas and Digital Chameleon (colors), John Costanza (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)

Collected in: Captain America: To Serve and Protect and Captain America: Heroes Return–The Complete Collection Vol. 1.

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PREVIOUS ISSUE: Captain America #2 (February 1998)

ALSO THIS MONTH: Avengers #2 and Thunderbolts #12 (March 1998)

NEXT ISSUE: Captain America #4 (April 1998)