Captain America #149

May 1972

Gerry Conway, Sal Buscema

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Story Name:

All the Colors of…Evil!

Synopsis

Captain America #149 synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Rating:

On a late night patrol, the Falcon spies a kidnap victim being hustled into a minibus and sends Redwing to trail the vehicle while he follows behind; what the hero does not see is that in an alley the minibus sheds its shell to reveal a Volkswagen Beetle, which the Falcon does not connect with the vehicle he’s pursuing. At SHIELD HQ, Nick Fury suggests that Captain America make a full-time commitment to the spy organization; Cap declines out of loyalty to ex-partner the Falcon. Fury loses his temper and orders Cap out of the building, then broadcasts a message that SHIELD personnel no longer cooperate with him, especially Agent 13—Sharon Carter. A dejected Cap leaves the building and heads to the police station as Steve Rogers. There, an irritable Sgt. Muldoon tells him that, through the intercession of some big shot, he has been assigned to a patrol car. Out on the streets, Steve recognizes a man walking along but can’t place him. This suspicious fellow is a disguised Batroc the Leaper who has been hired with his gang by an anonymous client for a criminal enterprise. Falcon returns to his office and changes back to Sam Wilson just as Leila arrives; together they interview the mother of the latest child taken in a rash of kidnappings in Harlem. Since Sam can’t tell her he is investigating as the Falcon, Leila accuses him of doing nothing to help her people and walks out. Cap drops by to enlist Falcon’s help in tracking down the mystery man but Falcon tells his ex-partner that he is busy with his own mission so Cap leaves. The Avenger heads to the address where he saw the suspicious figure earlier and breaks in. He is attacked by Batroc and his gang and is quickly overpowered. Elsewhere, the Falcon questions a local stoolie and is sent to the hideout of the kidnappers; after brawl he captures one of the gang, rescues the child and is directed to an address for their employers. Back at the other hideout, Batroc shows Cap his employer’s work: the missing children sealed inside glass tubes. As Cap struggles to escape the Falcon breaks in and together the two heroes clean house. A desperate Batroc hits a switch and suddenly his employer appears, to the shock of all, including the French villain…the cosmic being known as the Stranger!