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Captain America #279

Mar 1983
J. M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck

Captain America #279 cover

Story Name:

Of Monsters and Men


Synopsis

Captain America #279 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

In a neighborhood diner, Captain America tells Bernie Rosenthal that the Steve she spent the night with (driving around in a car as made clear last issue) is an impostor, the mutant Primus. Primus in return tells her that Cap is really the Chameleon in disguise and the battle is on. His chilling laugh clues Bernie in on which one is the impostor so Primus drops the disguise and takes off with Bernie. Cap pursues but the monster transforms into a spacecraft and flies away at top speed….

Cap contacts Iron Man who rigs up a device to track Primus’ whereabouts. Nick Fury calls in and Cap berates him over the near massacre of mutates last issue. Fury has some bad news though—Michael Bech has died from his injuries. A bitter Cap brushes off Iron Man and leaves….

Interlude: The wife of a wealthy New York businessman looks in on her husband to find out why he did not come down to breakfast. She discovers him dead, crows picking at his body….

At a deserted summer camp in Lakewood, New Jersey, Primus is holding Bernie prisoner. The android tries to justify his actions by claiming that he was going to join Baron Zemo in creating a new perfect world of mutates and men and to prove his worth to Zemo he would help kill Captain America. Primus now wants Bernie to be his friend—and he can even be Steve Rogers if she wants it. Cap arrives at this point and punches out his enemy. They battle outside with the much stronger Primus gaining the upper hand as Cap tries to convince him Zemo was only using him. Bernie leaps on Primus’ back to slow him down and he finally gets the idea that he isn’t the good guy in this scenario; Primus transforms into a rocket and flies off to rethink matters….

At Michael’s funeral, Steve blames himself for what happened but Arnie Roth tells him "It’s not all about you," that Cap does what he can for justice and he is not responsible for everything that happens. The two men part friends….

Prologue to next issue: A young woman is found dead, trussed up on a lamppost in Central Park and being pecked at by crows. A lurker in the bushes announces that the Scarecrow is back….


 

Review / Commentaries


Captain America #279 Review by (December 13, 2014)
Review: Now this was a nice little tale. Yes, it’s an “artificial being questions its humanity” story but kudos to J.M De Matteis for resisting the impulse to think he’s writing Shakespeare. Plus, Bernie comes across refreshingly well as a normal woman pushed to the limit. The best part: the use of few words in a panel or page to let the action speak for itself; recall that this was uncommon during this time and it made an impact. Now it’s standard practice for decompressed stories but in 1983 this was amazing. Kudos to Zeck and Beatty.

Comments: Epilogue to the previous three-part story and (at the end) prologue to the next issue. Primus, introduced in CAP #209, returns in NEW WARRIORS #3 as an ally of the Mad Thinker.


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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Mike Zeck
John Beatty
Bob Sharen
Mike Zeck (Cover Penciler)
John Beatty (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)


Characters

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)
Iron Man
Iron Man

(Anthony Stark)
Nick Fury
Nick Fury

(Nicholas Fury)


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