These three issues start off an epic storyline featuring the return of you-know-who, who has been trapped in a Cosmic Cube since they both disappeared at the end of Captain America (vol. 1) #448. The first issue takes place in the Skull’s personal hell inside the Cube, where he works as a bellhop in a modern Berlin hotel while the guests anticipate the arrival of Captain America, who is celebrated in the heart of the Skull’s homeland (much to his disgust). After rising up to kill his longtime foe, the Skull breaks out of his Cosmic Cube prison, ready to wreak havok on the free world once again.
Issue #15 opens on a much lighter note, with the real Captain America making quick work of Cobra and Mr. Hyde when Tony arrives with bad news (based on a pivotal scene from the last issue). Cap reminds Tony how he feels about distractions, but they don’t seem to impair his effectiveness against his opponents in the least.
This distraction may prove different…
…but luckily Tony’s there to take care of business while Cap is stuck in “agape” mode.
Tony brings Cap up to date while a friendly police officer just makes things so much worse.
Later, Sharon tries to cheer Cap up by showing him the upgrade pack she bought for his energy shield, but he doesn’t want to hear it.
Sharon suddenly remembers that she’s known this guy for years and realizes how to perk him up…
…by taking him somewhere that’ll remind him of his ex! Just kidding (maybe): She wants to show Steve how well things have worked out for the Ramirezes, the down-on-their-luck family who was living in his apartment. And this time, when Steve deflects credit, it’s appropriate.
While Steve gives his elevator pitch for “Doogie Howser, J.D.,” I have to wonder who the “lawyer he knows” is, if it’s not Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, or Jen Walters. (Where is Bernie practicing these days, anyway? She was in New York City last time we saw her…)
If he hadn’t forgotten Bernie by now, he might after he meets Connie Ferrari (first mentioned in Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #1), who is unaware of his other life but admires him no less for it—and he feels the same.
Who says Steve Rogers can’t flirt?
Steve assures Connie that Sharon is not his girlfriend while she acts very much like his girlfriend.
I’m glad to see Steve gets some mileage out of Sharons’ outburst, calling her out on her attitude towards him in the same way that he did after the episode with Nightmare brought out the patriotism hiding underneath her cynicism.
Looks like Steve has another squatter (literally)…
…who, as usual, does not bring good news.
The Red Skull toys with them for a little bit, warning there’s a bad moon arising and trouble on the way, yada yada, and after he’s gone Cap demands answers from Uatu…
…who OMG HE’S BREAKING HIS SACRED VOW as if he doesn’t do that almost every time he appears. (There is an explanation in this case, though, which will be revealed later.)
After Uatu shows Cap and Sharon a vision of America conquered by the Red Skull, with the heroes hung in chains, Sharon discovers they don’t have much time to prevent it… and Cap learns it may not be the Skull’s fault anyway.
In issue #16, Uatu notices Sharon’s reaction and reminds her the book is not titled Sharon Carter.
Despite the rush, Uatu says they have time for a field trip, so he takes Cap and Sharon to Galactus’s ship, which he says the Skull is trying to attract to Earth, at the suggestion of Kang the Conqueror (who has been advising/manipulating Skull behind the scenes)…
…and then, what the hell, let’s bring Korvac into this. The Watcher then breaks his other vow—against massive exposition dumps—and explains that the Red Skull threatens the entire universe, an outcome Cap can prevent only by breaking his vow not to kill his greatest foe.
Cap declines, about which only Sharon could be surprised. (And so, she absconds with some insurance just in case—hey, it’s Chekov’s raygun!)
Back on Earth, Cap finds the Red Skull teasing the tortured residents of a superheated New York City with an apple, and after confronting him he sees a way to defeat him without doing that thing Sharon reminds him he could do, were he not who he is.
With the help of Uatu (who is definitely not interfering), Cap follows the Skull around the world, keeping him off his toes, until the madman acknowledges that Cap will never give up and puts him (back) on ice.
Sharon breaks him out before realizes how literal the Red Skull was being.
To be continued, obviously—in the meantime, check out Captain America #355, when Cap reverted to a teenager on purpose.
ISSUE DETAILS
Captain America (vol. 3) #14, February 1999: Mark Waid (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Jesse Delperdang (inks), Chris Sotomayor (colors), Todd Klein (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Captain America (vol. 3) #15, March 1999: Mark Waid (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Jesse Delperdang (inks), Chris Sotomayor (colors), Todd Klein (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Captain America (vol. 3) #16, April 1999: Mark Waid (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Jesse Delperdang and Joe Kubert (inks), Chris Sotomayor and Jean Segarra (colors), Todd Klein (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Captain America: Heroes Return–The Complete Collection Vol. 2.
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Captain America #13 (January 1999)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #6 (February 1999), Deadpool #25 (February 1999), Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 (March 1999), Avengers #14-15 (March-April 1999), Avengers Forever #4-5 (March-April 1999), Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8 (April 1999), and Cable #66 (April 1999)
NEXT ISSUE: Captain America #17 (May 1999)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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