Captain America and Nomad return home after their encounter with mercenaries Zaran and Machete wherein the baddies stole Cap’s shield. He tells Bernie he is determined to get it back, while Jack blames himself for his poor performance in the battle….
Batroc and his two allies deliver Cap’s shield to the sinister Arons at Stane Industries where Dr Myron McLain, who created the mysterious alloy that the shield was constructed of, is forced to try to recreate the discovery by the threat of harm to his family….
That evening, Cap and Nomad go out again in search of the villains, splitting up to cover more ground. Meanwhile, at a nearby bar, Machete and Zaran are tired of Batroc’s constant boasting of his superiority. They bet him their shares of the fee from Stane that he can’t beat Captain America and the drunken French mercenary takes them up on it. Batroc leaps through a window to head out in search of Cap and the other two follow, hoping to laugh at their leader taking a beating….
Nomad returns to the scene of the crime but he finds no clues, despairing at his shortcomings as a superhero. Elsewhere, Batroc locates Cap and challenges him to a fight. The mercenary thinks he has the upper hand because Cap is without his shield while Cap is confused by the situation—until he realizes that his foe is drunk, making him more dangerous and reckless. Cap makes a bargain: he will let Batroc take a good shot at him if his foe reveals where his shield is. Batroc names Stane International and launches a powerful kick at the immobile hero, sending Cap flying into a wall. Cap drags himself to his feet and punches Batroc’s lights out with a single blow. Zaran and Machete take their money from their conquered leader’s pockets and run for their lives. Cap heads out to recover his shield….