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Captain America #314

Feb 1986
Mark Gruenwald, Paul Neary

Story Name:

Asylum


Synopsis

Captain America #314 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3 stars

In another world, hero Nighthawk meets with Professor Imam, Wizard Supreme, and asks to be sent to the world he visited previously in hopes of recruiting heroes to aid the forces of good in his troubled world. Imam sends him off and Nighthawk materializes on a trampoline in use by Captain America. The sudden surprise leads to a brief battle before matters are sorted out. Nighthawk explains how the Avengers have twice visited his world (AVENGERS #85 and #147-148) and now he has come for their help. It seems the Squadron Supreme, heroes of his world, rule with an iron fist, brainwashing everyone who does not go along with the program; Nighthawk wants someone to return with him to aid the rebellion against them. Cap puts the matter before the assembled Avengers but the team decides that this is not any of their business. Cap breaks the bad news to Nighthawk and then tries contacting some of the other superhero teams. Cap’s hotline shows a call about sightings of a flying carpet; Nighthawk goes with him to investigate. Nighthawk discovers some clues that Cap misses and goes off on his own. Cap, surprised by his disappearance, stops by the Marvel Comics offices as Steve Rogers to talk to his editor Mike Carlin. An off-screen chat with a Marvel writer convinces Steve that Cap should get involved. At home, Bernie breaks the news that she got great scores on the LSAT (the law school entrance exam) and wants to celebrate; Steve, however, has something to do as Cap….

 

Nighthawk has traced three villains from his world—Remnant, Mink, and Pinball—to a classy nightclub. Entering, he is spotted by the baddies and a fight breaks out in the alley. Remnant (a carpet-themed crook) and Mink (a fur-clad sexpot) take off on their flying carpet and Nighthawk hooks on for a ride, dragging Pinball (an actual big round rubber ball of a man) behind him. They crash through a window into a room with a gigantic prop typewriter where the battle continues. Captain America arrives and demands they all surrender. When the villains are subdued, they explain that they have come to this world (i.e. 616) seeking asylum. Cap persuades them that as they are citizens of another world he cannot guarantee their reception. The baddies decide to return with Nighthawk to join the resistance. Cap volunteers to come but by now Nighthawk agrees that the matter is none of Cap’s affair, and they depart for home….


 

Review / Commentaries


Captain America #314 Review by (July 18, 2015)
Comments: Tie-in to the SQUADRON SUPREME limited series; this story takes place between issues #6 and 7 of the miniseries. The Avengers appearing are Wasp. Hercules, Black Knight, Captain Marvel (Photon), Mr. Fantastic, and Invisible Woman.

Review: An okay one-shot story that ties into another epic event but can be enjoyed (mostly) without the larger context. The story does show signs of awkward writing, such as Cap being talked into aiding the other cause by a conversation that we never see, or Nighthawk so casually rejecting Cap’s help in the end, rendering the whole ethical debate completely moot. They only had so many pages to devote to any one matter and it still ties into the ongoing Bernie/Marvel artist stories. The most interesting aspect is the echoes of 1950s Batman comics where odd-themed villains and especially oversized props were hallmarks. (Oh, in case you didn’t know, the Squadron Supreme is based on DC’s Justice League with Nighthawk the stand-in for Batman.) And Cap’s easy downing of Pinball, knocking the wind out of him with a tossed shield, is epic.


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Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Paul Neary
Dennis Janke
Ken Feduniewicz
John Byrne (Cover Penciler)
Dennis Janke (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)