Late at night at the United Nations, a villain on a jetcycle
swoops down and with a mace smashes all of the flagpoles in front of the
building. Guards appear and he announces himself as Flag-Smasher, opposed to
the concept of nationalism. He hurls a grenade at the guards and flies off….
At home, Steve Rogers receives a huge check for back pay
from the US Army; talking it over with fiancée Bernie Rosenthal, he recalls the
boy whose letter alerted him to the presence of the Awesome Android in rural Ohio
(last issue). Steve thinks that there should be some easier way for people to
contact Captain America.
Together they hash out plans for a nationwide hotline to allow people to get in
touch with the hero….
Meanwhile on the coast of Maine,
serpent-baddies Bushmaster and Diamondback are exploring a cliff-face former
A.I.M. base in search of MODOK. They encounter automated traps but the place is
otherwise deserted. They plant a time bomb to destroy the place and take off….
That night, Flag-Smasher smashes a flag manufacturer because
his name says so….
Cap checks out the finished call-center in downtown Brooklyn,
put together in only two weeks through the generous support of corporations and
private citizens. Cap announces a press conference to kick off the site;
watching on TV is Flag-Smasher, who reviews his origin for our benefit. His
father was a diplomat devoted to world peace, and his son wanted to follow in
his footsteps. When dad was killed in a senseless riot at a demonstration, son
blamed the concept of nationalism and separatism, and devoted himself to
bringing world unity through violence….
At the well-attended press conference, Captain America
launches his citizen’s hotline, making it easier for the public to get in touch
with the hero who embodies American ideals. Flag-Smasher crashes the event, destroying
the flag behind Cap with incendiary bullets. Cap shoots down the jetcycle with
his shield and the villain holds Cap and the crowd at bay with his gun while
announcing his manifesto to the world. Cap insists F-S’s goals do not justify
violence. When someone in the crowd calls him a commie, he goes berserk. Just
then a SWAT team outside calls on Flag Smasher to surrender; Cap seizes the
opportunity to assault the distracted villain and knock him cold. Cap explains
to the crowd (and the readers) that diversity of ethnic origins is what makes America
great and secretly swears to never make a public address again.