As the tale opens, Sam Wilson, alias "Snap" Wilson, alias the Falcon, is found guilty of drug-related crimes committed in his mysterious former life as a mobster….
A few days earlier, Captain America and the Falcon head to SHIELD headquarters uncertain of the truth of the Red Skull’s claim that the Falcon was his creation to ensnare Cap. Entering the Director’s Office, they are surprised when Co-Director Jeff Cochren orders the Falcon arrested. Falcon makes his escape but Cap takes him down with his thrown shield as he believes Sam should clear his name in a court of law. Nick Fury arrives and discovers what has been going on; he berates Cochren and forces him to apologize to Falcon and Leila. Fury offers Sam the best lawyers but the Falcon doesn’t trust the system and heads home to rest. Cap and Fury patch up their differences and Fury gives the hero a SHIELD priority badge.
In the days that follow, the media exploits the story of a superhero being tried on criminal charges. Demonstrators on both sides of the issue clash, Iron Man speaks for the Avengers with very guarded support for Sam, and the public at large remains confused. The Los Angeles underworld fears that their operations will be exposed if Snap Wilson testifies, and so they hire the Stilt-Man to kill him. In Hollywood, Ghost Rider has ended an encounter with the Trapster (in GHOST RIDER VOL. 1 #13) by sending his foe floating out of control through the air on his own anti-gravity discs. Trapster is later plucked out of the sky by the Stilt-Man who loots him of his weapons and drops him into a tree….
The Falcon’s trial begins with a parade of witnesses, police and gangsters each testifying to Sam Wilson’s criminal past while Captain America bears witness to his reformation. As Sam is about to take the stand to reveal all the secrets of the city’s underworld, Stilt-Man crashes into the courtroom, hurling the Trapster’s paste-bombs. As the baddie starts shooting with a ray gun the two heroes dodge the blasts and Falcon calls Redwing to fly in Stilt-Man’s face. Taking advantage of the distraction, the heroes take the battle to the street where they must now evade the villain’s large hydraulic feet. Cap uses his shield to stun the villain while the Falcon flies up and snatches away his helmet, leaving him vulnerable to Sam’s punches.
When they return to the courtroom, the judge finds Sam Wilson guilty of all charges but suspends sentence and turns him over to his parole officer—Nick Fury. The three friends shake hands and vow to work closely together in the future.