These issues complete Dan Jurgens’ first story as the new writer on Captain America, alongside young but already veteran artist Andy Kubert, in which Captain America and the Falcon once again fight the vile forces of white supremacy, whose leader was revealed at the end of the last issue (and reiterated in the double splash to issue #26 below) to be none other than…
…who is holed up in his base in Idaho, holding Cap’s mighty shield while standing amidst swastikas, Nazi memorabilia, and a picture of Adolf Hitler himself (of whom Hate Monger himself is one of a series of clones).
(Before we move on with this story, at the end of this post we also have one page from an issue of the now adjectiveless Hulk title featuring our hero and Reed Richards giving their opinions on Bruce Banner’s latest legal and ethical dilemma.)
Back to Cap and the Falcon, who are goading Hate Monger into revealing his intentions for the anthrax gas he stole from Russia (as revealed in the last issue)…
…which he did with the coerced assistance of General Groves below, whose race Hate Monger also hopes to use to aggravate racial tensions in America while he launches the anthrax gas into Europe and the Middle East to start a war there, laying the ground for a Nazi resurgence amidst the chaos (all familiar strategies of fascists and white supremacists throughout history).
Groves shows above that he is as much a hero as the other two when he shouts to Cap to defeat Hate Monger with no regard to his own life. (And note also Sam’s snarky comment in the previous image about representatives of the superior or “master” race never living up to the claim.)
Fascists also realize the power of symbols, which they exploit to manipulate popular opinion—and Hate Monger knows how important Captain America’s shield is as a symbol of American values.
(This is not the first time the shield has been molested like this, but it doesn’t make it any easier to see.)
Cap shows he knows the fascist playbook as well as anyone…
…before Hate Monger kicks him into a deep dark hole, where he is reunited with an old friend, long thought deceased by those who don’t know him, and whom Cap is happy and relieved to see.
Nick reviews his own history with Hate Monger, including the villain’s first appearance in Fantastic Four #21, which was also Nick’s first appearance outside his own title, which was only four issues old at the time. (What’s that—you want more Fantastic Four? Well, you’re in luck: check out my new book and my new blog.)
When the comic returns to the Dynamic Duo, they’re up to their necks in it, and while Batman asks his little chum to grab his utility belt, he muses about the old days sittin’ around the wireless with the folks.
After the boys use the prong from Cap’s belt to free each other from shackles, they tackle the next challenge, breaking through the lid to Hate Monger’s dungeon, which they do with an awesome display of (silent) teamwork and strength.
Cap and Nick emerge to find Sam and Groves bound to the two missiles, but despite their best efforts to fight through the Hate Monger’s men, they fail to stop the launch.
Don’t go anywhere—you’re already there! Issue #27 opens with a record-scratch/freeze-frame scene of our hero seemingly being overwhelmed by Hate Monger’s Nazi thugs while the exposition reminds us of his mission and the stakes of his current situation.
Cap defiantly breaks free even with a pistol pointed at his head and charges the boss…
…while promising to use the symbol of freedom against the symbol of domination.
After dramatically removing the swastika from his shield—kids, don’t try this at home!—Cap watches the missiles launch…
…and as he strikes a pose, Nick offers a critique of his priorities.
But Cap knew what he was doing, even if it beggars belief that he can throw his shield that high into the air, adjacent to a missile’s powerful exhaust plume, and still hit a precise target on its nose without hurting the guy tied to it.
Sam has his priorities too—and everyone should be grateful that Hate Monger put a warning label on the anthrax container. (He probably puts big dollar signs on his money sacks when he robs banks too.)
Cap explains why he was so motivated to free his partner who was tied to a airborne weapon, and Nick says, “oh yeah, right.”
Nick is a little quicker to recognize Cap’s other reference, after which he tells his friend to go after the head Nazi…
…who eventually gets away, inspiring a solemn vow from the Sentinel of Liberty.
As our heroes regroup in Hate Monger’s lair, Nick and Cap remembers their first battle against Nazis, a battle they thought they’d never need to fight again. (And yet…)
Later, Nick invites Steve over to his surprisingly luxurious apartment (especially for a “dead guy”) to apologize for not letting him know he was not a dead guy, and also to toss him a CD…
…which turns out to be the radio show Steve thought was lost forever. (And look at Nick being all sensitive about Steve’s memories of the old days being much fresher than his own.)
The two old friends revisit their childhood, with Stevie lying over an open book while Nicky is the street tough with the whoopie cap and the slingshot in his back pocket.
Before we end this post, let’s take a peek into Hulk #11, where Bruce Banner has been convicted for murder for the hundreds of people killed after “a” Hulk attacked and brought down an airliner (in issue #4). Even though he was not the Hulk responsible (which is not widely known at this point), Banner insists on taking responsibility because the killer did it with the Hulk’s power. Below, Doc Samson and She-Hulk discuss what to do, and a number of folks give testimony about the case…
…two of which we’ll zoom in on, both agreeing in their sympathy toward Banner and their hope that he would say something to add detail regarding his moral responsibility for what happened (for his own sake as well as the victims and their families and the cause of justice in general).
ISSUE DETAILS
Captain America (vol. 3) #26, February 2000: Dan Jurgens (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Dan Green (inks), Gregory Wright (colors), Todd Klein (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Captain America (vol. 3) #27, March 2000: Dan Jurgens (writer), Andy Kubert and Dan Jurgens (pencils), Dan Green (inks), Gregory Wright (colors), Todd Klein (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Captain America by Dan Jurgens Omnibus.
Hulk (vol. 1) #1, February 2000: Jerry Ordway (writer), Ron Garney (pencils), Sal Buscema (inks), Steve Buccellato (colors), John Workman (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Incredible Hulk by Byrne & Casey Omnibus.
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Captain America #25 (January 2000)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Avengers #25, Iron Man #25, and Ant-Man’s Big Christmas #1 (February 2000), Domination Factor: Fantastic Four #3.7 and Domination Factor: Avengers #4.8 (February 2000), and Fantastic Four #26-27 (February-March 2000)
NEXT ISSUES: Captain America #28-30 (April-June 2000)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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