Captain America #179
Slings and Arrows
Steve Rogers has quit being Captain America and is enjoying the free time he can now spend with his long time girlfriend, Sharon Carter.[1] However, his life is not free of troubles, as the couple debate how to reveal their relationship to Peggy, Sharon’s relative whom Cap had a brief romance with during World War II.[2] That’s when they are suddenly attacked by a stream of arrows, prompting the couple to seek cover in a nearby alley.
There, Steve is confronted by a man calling himself the Golden Archer. Somehow, this new foe knows Steve’s secret identity. Immediately fleeing, the Golden Archer vows that he will return three more times and on their last encounter, he will kill Rogers.
Meanwhile, in Harlem, Morgan is paid a visit by the Falcon, who is not happy that the mobster recently hired Lucifer to try and rub him out.[3] He has had enough of the attempts on his life and warns Morgan that anyone else he sends will be sent back to him gift wrapped.
Later that evening, Steve Rogers has returned to Roscoe’s gym to practice his boxing skills. Roscoe, the owner, is once more impressed with Steve’s athletic abilities.[4] The practice is interrupted when a sonic arrow — fired by the Golden Archer — comes crashing in through the window. Steve quickly disables the weapon but when he races outside to face the Archer, his opponent is long gone. While in the town of San Rafael, California, a biker named Scar Turpin reads the news about Captain America’s retirement and how Bob Russo — a famous baseball player — unsuccessfully tried to replace the Star-Spangled Avenger. Turpin finds this hilarious but it gets him thinking that his rough and tumble nature would make him an ideal candidate to replace Cap. When a biker named Rasputin mocks him over this idea, Turpin knocks him down with a single punch.
Back on the east coast, Steve returns to Sharon Carter’s apartment and tells her about his second encounter with the Golden Archer. Steve doesn’t understand how this man could know his real identity since all memory of his unmasking was erased from memory by the Space Phantom.[5] Seeing Peggy walking by more depressed then ever, Steve decides to let her down in the hopes she will move on and get over her love of Captain America. Concealing his face in the shadows, Steve addresses Peggy as Captain America and tells her that their romance is long over. As Peggy runs off crying, Steve immediately regrets what he said. Unfortunately, before he can go after her he is attacked again by the Golden Archer. As Steve chases after the Archer, the pursuit is observed from the rooftops by the Falcon. He decides against getting involved since he ended their partnership. Just when Steve is about to nab the Archer, the villain uses a flash arrow to temporarily blind Rogers and escapes yet again.
Meanwhile, in California, Scar Turpin goes on patrol as Captain America and tries to stop a mugging. However, the biker doesn’t anticipate the six-to-one odds and is beaten up by the muggers. He quickly realizes that being a super-hero isn’t as easy as it seems.
In New York, Steve Rogers then sets up a trap at Sam Wilson’s office by setting a dummy up near the window.[6] Although the Golden Archer knows this is a trap straight out of a Sherlock Holms mystery he takes the shot at the dummy anyway. Steve then ambushes the Golden Archer and overpowers him in battle. That when the Archer calls a truce and remove his mask revealing that he has been Hawkeye in disguise this whole time. The archer explains that he accidentally stumbled upon Captain America’s secret identity recently but kept it a secret. After his own departure form the Avengers and working as a solo adventurer, Hawkeye learned that there was more to him than his affiliation with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Since Captain America was a mentor of his in the early days of the Avengers, pushing Hawkeye when he was an arrogant jerk, Hawkeye wanted to return the favor. He adopted the Golden Archer persona to prove to Steve that he still has what it takes to be a crime-fighter.[7] When Steve reiterates that Captain America is dead, Hawkeye points out that Steve can keep fighting crime under a different identity. After a moments consideration, Steve decides that this might not be such a bad idea.[8]
Recurring Characters
Steve Rogers, Falcon, Golden Archer/Hawkeye, Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter, Boss Morgan, Redwing
Continuity Notes
Captain America quit after discovering that the Secret Empire was run by the former President of the United States, see Captain America #169-175. He will be forced back into the role in issue #183.
Captain America had a romance with Peggy Carter in World War II, however she went missing following the Liberation of France as seen in Tales of Suspense #75. Everyone believes that Peggy suffered amnesia until recent history when she was rescued from Doctor Faustus in Captain America #161-162. The reality is far more complex. This story also asserts that Sharon and Peggy are sister, which is impossible now due to the Sliding Timescale. For a more detailed explanation of these complex issues, click here.
Falcon’s battle with Lucifer happened in Captain America #177-178.
Roscoe is only referred to by his first name here. His last name is revealed to be Simmons in Captain America #615.1.
Steve Rogers revealed his identity to the public the last time he tried to retire as Captain America in Tales of Suspense #95, but he was forced back into the role in the following issue. This later made Cap a target of Hydra, so he faked his death to make the world believe Steve Rogers was dead in Captain America #111 and that new hero succeeded him. This became a moot point as shortly thereafter, the Space Phantom erased all public knowledge of Steve Rogers’ identity as part of a scheme against the Avengers, as detailed in Avengers #106-107.
Steve has been staying at Wilson’s office since he was evicted back in Captain America #166.
Lots of Hawkeye history going on here.
Hawkeye mentions his early days with the Avengers when he had no respect for Captain America, who was the leader of the time. Hawkeye joined the team in Avengers #16.
More recently, Hawkeye rage quit the team in Avengers #109 when he learned that the Scarlet Witch loved the Vision and didn’t like the idea of being cock-blocked by an android.
One panel shows a collage of Hawkeye’s more recent encounters with Daredevil (Daredevil #99), Spider-Man (Marvel Team-Up #22), Zzzax (Incredible Hulk #166) as well as his brief affiliation with the Defenders (Defenders #7-11)
This prompts Steve to become the Normad, as seen next issue. Rogers retains this identity until the return of the Red Skull in issue #183 forces him back into the mantle of Captain America.
