Captain America #238: Review

Oct 1979

Peter Gillis, Fred Kida

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Story Name:

Snowfall Fury

Review & Comments

Rating:

Captain America #238 Review by Peter Silvestro (February 15, 2014)

Review: This story begins a long run of guest writers stalling Steve’s new life, starting off with this James Bond-type mission. The story is a total thrill ride as Cap runs the gauntlet of obstacles to enter the mysterious Dovecote (though it’s hard to believe he escapes prehistoric birds and laser guns only to be stopped by—a big muscleman). The Dovecote is such a promising setting for an adventure, it’s a shame we see so little of it here, and it never shows up again.

Comments: Part one of two parts. This two-part story marks the only appearances of Dovecote, Snowfall, and the baddie Widowmaker. Cap loses his shield and it doesn’t (mysteriously) reappear until ish #240.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Captain America #238 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

The story opens with Captain America climbing the sheer cliff face of an icy mountain. He is attacked by guards mounted on giant hawks firing laser weapons at him. The treacherous winds cause one bird to crash into the cliff face so the commander orders them away. Cap then flashes back to the reason he is there….

Nick Fury met with Cap to ask him to investigate the sudden attacks on telepaths causing them to suffer brain hemorrhages; the only clue was that each agent has a blank metal disc in his possession. When Cap touched the discs, he saw a vision of a beautiful young woman calling herself Snowfall explaining that the discs are a focus for her mental power; she was prisoner in a place called Dovecote and appealed to Cap to rescue her. When the trance ended, Cap told Fury about Dovecote; Fury explained that it was the ultimate safe house, where anyone ca be protected for a price. And now Cap is on his way to penetrate the place’s security….

Reaching the top of the mountain, Cap eludes more guards with a miniature jet pack and borrows a snow speeder for the rest of the trip. Again he is attacked by the hawk riders and loses his shield; he then loses the speeder in a minefield. He battles guards mounted on huge prehistoric birds (Diatrymas) and leads them back to the minefield where they are destroyed. Reaching the castle he is confronted by a huge brute called the Widowmaker who is faster and stronger than Cap and beats him to the ground…..

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