Captain America #347
Vengeance
Captain America shows up at the home of Hector Lennox. When Hector’s mother answers the door, he tells her to pass along a message that he will kill her son the next time he sees him. Concerned for her son’s safety, she decides to call him and tell him about the threat on his life.
Her son, aka Right-Winger, is currently in a sparring match with his partner Jerome Johnson, aka Left-Winger. When the call comes in it is answered by their agent, Ethan Thurm. Hector is furious to hear that John Walker is threatening him through his sixty year old mother and vows to get even with him. Ethan figures John has gone over the edge due to the fact that his parents were murdered after they publicly revealed his secret identity on national television.[1]
Meanwhile, the Commission on Superhuman Activities are holding a meeting to discuss what to do about John Walker, who has been an utter failure as their new government backed Captain America. Noticeably absent is Douglas Rockwell, the head of the commission. This is because he is in the holding cell interrogating Steve Rogers, who refuses to talk without a lawyer.[2] Steve is fairly certain that none of Rockwell’s actions have been officially sanctioned by the President. Although he is absolutely right, Douglas dismisses his deduction as nothing more than paranoia. Left alone with his thoughts, Steve wonders who is behind all of this and why.
In Philadelphia, Captain America next pays a visit to the mother of Jerome Johnson. She doesn’t know where her son is and tells him to deliver his message to Jerome’s deadbeat father, as she doesn’t care. Without a single word, John heads off to do just that.
At that same moment, Lamar Hoskins — aka Battlestar — is wondering what his partner is up to and wishes he could be there for his friend. However, he is in the middle of a test to finally get his high school diploma. While a thousand feet over Nevada, Hector, Jerome and Ethan are heading to intercept Captain America before he can threaten Jerome’s father.
Meanwhile, in Algeria, a militia have fought their way into a maximum security prison to free Albert Malik, the communist Red Skull of the 1950s.[3] Escaping in a waiting helicopter, Malik has decided to take over the Red Skull identity after hearing how the original died recently.[4] However, before he can even start any brand new schemes the pilot — actually the Scourge of the Underworld in disguise — shoots him through the chest with an explosive shell. As Malik’s body falls out of the chopper he proclaims that justice has been served.[5]
Back in the United States, Douglas Rockwell contacts his mysterious master for further guidance. He is under a lot of pressure from the rest of the Committee. The man behind the plot against Steve Rogers tell Rockwell to keep stalling for time and ends the call. He then gets a call back from the Scourge who eliminated Albert Malik. The news pleases him so much he begins to laugh.
At that same moment, at an oil field in Dallas, Texas, Captain America comes to deliver his message to Jerome’s father. However, before he can he is ambushed by Left-Winger and Right-Winger. This pleases John because he can kill them right then and there. However, the two Wingers aren’t going down without a fight. Although the two have the same level of strength as Captain America, they are no match for his savagery. He quickly knocks the pair out and then leaves them tied up to an oil tank set to explode. Walking away from the scene, John Walker smiles when the tank explodes, but this smile quickly melts away to an emotionless gaze.[6]
Recurring Characters
The Captain, Captain America, Battlestar, Right-Winger, Left-Winger, Scourge of the Underworld, The Commission (Henry Gyrich, Valerie Cooper, Raymond Sikorski, Adrian Sammish, Lewis Haywerth, Douglas Rockwell), “John Smith”
Continuity Notes
Hector, Jerome, and Ethan used to work with John Walker when he was active as the Super-Patriot, circa Captain America #327. When John accepted the role of Captain America in issue #333, the three men were left out of the deal because they couldn’t pass a security screening. Furious over this, Hector and Jerome exposed John’s identity on TV in issue #341. This prompted the Watchdogs to kidnap and murder John’s parents in Captain America #345.
Steve was forced to retire as Captain America in Captain America #332 when he refused to work exclusively for the government. He started fighting crime as “The Captain” in issue #337 until he turned himself in to the authorities in issue #345.
Malik has been incarcerated since his capture in Solo Avengers #6.
The Red Skull was believed to have died of old age back in Captain America #300. However, as we’ll learn in issue #350, he survived after his mind was transferred into a body cloned from Steve Rogers DNA. In fact, the original Skull is revealed to be Douglas Rockwell’s master.
As of this writing (December, 2021) Albert Malik has remained dead. How he could even be alive right now is unexplained. See below.
Although we’re led to believe that Left and Right-Winger die here, we discover next issue that they actually survived this encounter. This proves to be a small mercy, as due to their disfigurement, the pair would later commit suicide, as revealed in Captain America #383.
Topical References
Mrs. Lennox is depicted watching Wheel of Fortune on a CRT television. Both the TV show and the TV should be considered topical. The TV because this is obsolete technology, and Wheel because it is a real world game show.
How Could Albert Malik Still Be Alive?
Albert Malik has been active since the 1950s, as seen back in Young Men #24. As the Sliding Timescale pushes the Modern Age forward in time, it becomes increasingly impossible to explain how Albert can still be alive without some means of slowing, stopping, or suspending his aging process.
Marvel has yet to provide an official explanation as of this writing in December, 2021. A possible explanation could be gleaned from Captain America Annual #13. This story was a flashback tale about the Communist Red Skull and his obsession with the learning the secret about his Nazi counterparts plans, particularly “Der Tag”, the fated day when the Nazis would conquer the world. This gave Malik access to the original Red Skull’s diary which could have imparted some secrets about the suspended animation process that kept the Skull young and vital until the Modern Age. Perhaps Malik was able to recreate the process to some effect so he too could have survived until the Modern Age.
