Captain America #349: Review

Jan 1989

Mark Gruenwald, Kieron Dwyer

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Story Name:

Icecap

Review & Comments

Rating:

Captain America #349 Review by Peter Silvestro (July 13, 2013)

Review: Epic issue benefits from the interplay between Cap and his nemesis Flag-Smasher (an underused villain) and the very likeable D-Man. The shocking ending is very well done though from the standpoint of the next century hero deaths have become a joke. Still, the story is fast-paced and thrilling. But see what’s coming next.

Comments: Part eighteen of The Captain saga which will run until issue #350. Story continues from AVENGERS ANNUAL #18, which featured Cap’s involvement in the ATLANTIS ATTACKS story arc; this story can be read without it. D-Man returns in issue #384.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Captain America #349 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Late one night, The Captain comes ashore on the Hydro-Base, former headquarters of the Avengers, in search of hs missing teammates. He is attacked by a figure in the dark who turns out to be his partner D-Man, who came here to find Cap after being released by the Commission. Needing a team, Cap makes a stunned D-Man an Avenger—then a copter arrives and Battle Star, partner to the new Captain America, disembarks. Recognizing him as an enemy he fought (issue #344), D-Man attacks the newcomer but Cap quickly breaks up the fight. Battle Star explains that he needs the original Captain America to rescue the new Cap (John Walker) who is being held hostage in the Arctic by Flag-Smasher….

At Ice Station Able, Flag-Smasher has Cap in chains and suspended to the waist in icy water—then he is interrupted by the arrival of a squadron of ULTIMATUM agents who have been on his tail. Meanwhile, Cap and his two sidekicks fly a borrowed Quinjet to the Arctic and find the base under attack. Leaving D-Man at the controls, Cap and Battle Star drop to the ground and engage the enemy. As the latter keeps the invaders engaged, The Captain enters the building and confronts Flag-Smasher. Cap proves his identity by reciting the villain’s parting words at their previous meeting (issue #322) and Flag-Smasher explains how he quit ULTIMATUM after he learned his anarchic organization was being secretly funded by the Red Skull. Now the Skull is planning to set off a Doomsday Machine and Flag figures only Captain America can stop it. [Outside, Battle Star rescues his Cap from the icy prison.] Believing the villain to be in earnest, Cap and his villainous ally join D-Man in the Quinjet and head to the ULTIMATUM base. Cap regains his original shield from Flag-Smasher and the two assault the building. They reach the Doomsday Machine (designed to emit an electromagnetic pulse which will destroy all electrical systems in the world) and discover that neither has the scientific know-how to stop it. Cap calls D-Man and instructs him to crash the Quinjet into the main part of the building while parachuting to safety. The sidekick sets the craft on course but the ship is attacked by two enemies who plant a bomb on the roof. The hero goes up to fight them but can’t remove the bomb in time. The ship explodes then crashes into the enemy base. Cap screams, having flashbacks to the death of Bucky, and searches for his fallen comrade—but he can find no trace of him….