Captain America #342
The Snake Pit
At the Santa Monica mansion of Demolition Man, the former wrestler gives Vagabond some much needed fight training so she can become a more active participants in their missions with the Captain. However, Vagabonds boyfriend, Nomad, jealously sees this as D-Man trying to steal his woman and attacks his teammate. Deciding that Jack needs to cool off, Priscilla shoves him into the pool, making him even angrier than before.[1] However, the conflict is quickly ended when a Wakandan ship appears over the mansion.
The Captain says that this is for him and leaps aboard the craft. Inside he is greeted by two scientists who have come to deliver a new shield for Steve. His old friend the Black Panther couldn’t be there in person and greets Steve via a video link.[2] This new shield is made out of Vibranium and while it’s not a perfect replica to his original shield, it is better than the Adamantium shield made for him by Tony Stark.[3] The Captain is testing out his shield when the Falcon arrives to tell him that they got a distress call from the Serpent Society through Steve’s hotline. Without a second thought, Steve asks the Wakandans to give his friends a lift to the east coast before heading back home.
At that moment, the Serpent Society’s headquarters has been attacked by Viper, who has infiltrated the organization with snake-themed operatives of her own: Copperhead, Fer-de-Lance, Black Racer, Puff-Adder, Boomslang, Coachwhip, Rock Python and Slither. With Sidewinder poisoned, Diamondback has retreated with him to the security room where she watches as her comrades are either captured or recruited onto Viper’s team. When Fer-de-Lance and Coachwhip break into the monitor room, Diamondback can’t defend herself and Sidewinder and uses his teleportation cloak so they can both escape to the outside.
Diamondback manages to get to a nearby gas station nearby where she makes another call to the old Captain America hotline and gives her coordinates. Receiving the message, the Captain and his friends are soon dropped off at that location. Diamondback quickly fills them in on the situation. Steve then has Vagabond stay behind with Sidewinder until an ambulance arrives while he and the others go back with Diamondback to stop Viper and the others.
Back at the Serpent Society’s headquarters, those still loyal to Sidewinder are strung up and tortured until they agree to accept Viper as his new leader. The only hold outs are Bushmaster and Black Mamba and when they continue to join her, Viper bites them with her venom coated fangs. The other members of the Serpent Society have all signed on and are now busy loading their Serpent Saucers with canisters containing an unknown agent. Viper orders Copperhead to take the canisters to their destination. She also sends Black Racer to check the local hospitals for Sidewinder in order to finish him off.
Not long after this, Diamondback returns with the Captain and his allies.[4] While Diamondback, D-Man, Nomad, and the Falcon deal with the Serpents loading the chemicals, the Captain goes off to find the Viper. After dispatching Puff-Adder, the Captain is joined by Diamondback who wants to help him rescue whatever Serpents that are still loyal to Sidewinder. They find Viper and some of her cohorts, who are now torturing Cottonmouth and Asp.[5] Although they free the two captives, they quickly discover that Cottonmouth has switched sides. Meanwhile, Vagabond is riding in an ambulance with Sidewinder when they are attacked by Black Racer. Despite this surprise attack, Vagabond manages to hold her own and knocks out the Serpent before she can finish off Sidewinder.
Back at the scene of the battle, the remaining snakes are taken down by Cap and his allies. However, the Viper has managed to escape. With Bushmaster, Black Mamba, and Asp poisoned, Cap wants to get them medical attention as soon as possible so they can track down Viper and stop whatever her evil scheme is.
Recurring Characters
The Captain, Captain America, Serpent Society (Viper, Slither, Coachwhip, Sidewinder, Fer-de-Lance, Puff Adder, Bushmaster, Black Mamba, Copperhead, Boomslang, Black Racer, Rattler, Anaconda, Rock Python, Cottonmouth, Asp, Slither), Falcon, Nomad, Demolition Man, Vagabond, Diamondback, Black Panther, M’Daka
Continuity Notes
Vagabond states here that Jack promised to train her how to fight since they first met up together. This would have been around Captain America #325 when he agreed to help save her brother from the Slug.
Mention is made of how Steve is no longer Captain America. The US government took away his costume and shield when he refused to work exclusively for them. See Captain America #332.
Captain America’s original shield was created using a synthesis of both Vibranium and Adamantium, a process that has yet to be replicated per Captain America #303. Tony Stark made Steve a shield to replace his old on in Captain America #339. However, Steve gave it back when he didn’t agree with how Iron Man was going around and bricking every piece of Starktech that wasn’t in his control. See Iron Man #225-231 and Captain America #340-341.
Steve recounts fighting Anaconda in the past (Captain America #310) and how he recently fought some of the new additions back in Las Vegas (Captain America #337-338)
Cap also remembers fighting Slither in the past. He is referring to when he fought the reptile man and his allies in Magneto’s Mutant Force back in Captain America Annual #4.
