Story
begins with the forging of Captain America’s shield, followed by Cap listing
what he stands for and over and above all is the American Dream. Desiring to be
close to the people he defends, Steve moves into the Brooklyn apartment he grew
up in and jogs 32 miles around Manhattan daily, carrying the shield for all to
see. He studies computer-generated art at a community college and makes friends
wherever he can. At night, he is part of the Radio Company, a group of older
folks meeting via radio; one of the gang is Roger Aubrey, the WW2 hero called
the Destroyer. Suddenly they pick up a strange numerical broadcast and set to
work deciphering it. It’s a message, announcing an “opening move,” a terror
attack on New York City during the July 4th parade which is the next
day….
The
following day, Captain America and Winter Soldier stand guard, watching the
parade go by. They spot a fireworks barge on the River and detect an antimatter
explosive on board and a man dressed like the Destroyer. Cap slings the shield
and conks the guy before swinging down to face him head on. He fires a deadly
form of lightning at Cap whose shield protects him. The bad guy leaps to the
top of a dirigible where Bucky was standing guard with a sniper rifle and he
battles Bucky; Cap orders the balloon carriers to release the dirigible. The
villain’s strength and energy weapons are taking a toll on Bucky but when Cap
arrives, the baddie turns his attention to him and Bucky shoots at him but Cap
intervenes because he doesn’t want anyone to die. Cap punches him out and finds
a strange crystal on him; the baddie announces he’s dying and tells him the
shield is not Cap’s symbol but “theirs.” And then he dies from a flare-up of internal
energy. Cap goes home in a grim mood but Bucky returns to an apartment where he
colors in one point on a pentagram and notes, “four more to go….”
A
caped mystery villain records a message for his opponents in the “game” that he
has put Captain America on the board and his goal is revolution….