This issue continues the current storyline, begun in the last post, in which the Red Skull has acquired the power of a Cosmic Cube and is using it to attempt to steal the universal information held in Galactus’ ship, in the hopes of rendering him both omnipotent and omniscient. Captain America and Sharon Carter stand in his way, alongside a very selectively interventionalist Watcher, but as of the end of the last issue, our hero was… well, Sharon’s expression below gives a hint.
Let’s just say it’s a good thing the shield isn’t heavy any more.
Cap and Sharon take this occasion to renew their discussion from the first part of the story about killing the Skull to prevent him from conquering the world after he draws the information from Galactus’ ship. Sharon reminds him of his wartime experience, but Cap insists this is different, refusing to admit that killing may be necessary until every last option has been exhausted—and the Watcher gives him a shred of hope (even if he didn’t mean to).
(Yes, Sharon, we remember you grabbed Chekov’s raygun from Galactus’s ship in the last issue.)
Our heroes find the Red Skull laying waste to Washington, DC, mocking the principles and ideals its monuments stand for, but one living monument would like a word. Despite his physical diminution, Cap defiantly stands up to the Red Skull and reminds him what how real strength differs from fascists’ schoolyard notion.
Of course, the Skull swats him away, about which Sharon tries to shame him—which works, triggering what tiny shred of honor the Skull clings to.
Restored to his physical glory, Cap fights back more effectively…
…but the Skull continues to mock him for refusing to take the easy way out.
Sharon finally pulls the trigger herself, but the Skull redirects the blast back at her just before Galactus’ ship arrives and prepares to beam him up. The Watcher tries to make sure Cap realizes this is his very last chance to stop him…
…by chanting those words over and over again as Cap recalls the images of the future world under Skull’s rule.
And then Captain America kills the Red Skull.
This may be shocking, but we can reasonably assume that he finally recognized that he was truly out of options and this was the only way to stop a nightmare scenario. The fact that he waited this long shows how much he values his principle of not taking a life, but in the end he acknowledged that saving the world from an all-powerful fascist tyrant was more important.
That said, Cap’s face below makes it clear that this was not an easy choice, even though Sharon wants a high five—at least before they notice the following development.
Cap and Sharon watch as the Watcher reveals his true identity: Korvac, whom he (as the Watcher) mentioned in the last issue, reminding us that he also once tried to access Galactus’ data banks. He goes on to explain how, in the form of Kang, he manipulated the Red Skull into using the power of the Cosmic Cube to attract Galactus’ ship, and then put Cap in a position where he’d be forced to kill him, releasing that power into Korvac so he can steal Galactus’ information and effect his own world conquest as described with villainous glee below.
Ever the gentleman, Korvac says thank you before disappearing into the timestream, and even though Sharon tells Cap how foolish it would be to follow him…
…he dismisses her concerns, silently and physically, before doing exactly that.
Be sure to come back for the next issue, in which Cap has an Edge of Tomorrow-type adventure in Korvac’s future.
ISSUE DETAILS
Captain America (vol. 3) #17, May 1999: Mark Waid (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Jesse Delperdang (inks), Christie Scheele (colors), Todd Klein (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Captain America: Heroes Return–The Complete Collection Vol. 2.
PREVIOUS ISSUES: Captain America #14-16 (February-April 1999)
ALSO THIS MONTH: Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9, Avengers #16 and Magneto Rex #1, Avengers Forever #6, and Cable #67 (May 1999)
NEXT ISSUE: Captain America #18 (June 1999)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
One of my favorite Waid storylines. I like the anti-killing message demonstrated at the climax of the story arc.
Unlike the pro-killing Sentinel of Liberty #1, Waid makes a credible case that killing the villian might be the only choice. Everybody tells Cap he needs to kill the villian- including the villians (just like in Sentinel of Liberty #1). But, unlike Sentinel of Liberty #1, Cap doesn’t let someone else do his dirty work for him.
However, in the end it turns out that killing the villian was the WORST thing Cap could have done because it played right into Korvac’s plans. So when he gets a chance to relive that opportunity Cap…well I guess I shouldn’t spoil it & let you share what happens when you get to that issue Doc.
The argument Cap makes to Sharon that killing in war is different from killing outside of war always seemed obvious to me, but many seem to agree with Sharon that it’s no different. Of course, the law would agree with Cap since soldiers who kill in the line of duty are not prosecuted and people who kill outside of war (when it’s not self-defense) are prosecuted.
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