Bernie Rosenthal, captured by the
right-wing urban terrorist group the Watchdogs, is to be used by them
as bait in a trap for traitor Mike Farrel and taken to their Vermont
lodge for safekeeping….
Captain America, pondering how to
locate Bernie, receives a visit from USAgent, the former, failed Cap
who has a vendetta against the Watchdogs for killing his parents. The
Agent wants to join Cap in the hunt for the villains but Cap refuses
because the Agent is too reckless in action. Avengers aide Fabian
discovers a connection between the disappearances of several artists
of questionable morals and deduces that the Watchdogs’ next target
will be avant-garde painter Enrique Parquer. An undercover Cap heads
over to the art gallery propose setting a trap for them but Parquer
refuses….
Mike Farrel, on the run from (he
thinks) the police, approaches his Watchdog pal Stuart for help. Mike
overhears Stuart calling in the Watchdogs and realizes he’ been
betrayed. Stuart conks Mike on the head and takes him prisoner.
Cap sees the Watchdogs kidnap Parquer
and follows as they head to the lodge. There, the prisoners are being
brainwashed into parroting patriotic slogans. Cap infiltrates the
building hoping to free the hostages quietly but USAgent crashes
through the front door and takes on the gang, having to remind
himself that he doesn’t kill anymore. Cap and the Agent link up as
the prisoners are free and the baddies are vanquished. Then Mike
Farrel drops the bombshell: he reveals that he was one of the
Watchdogs and asks to be arrested with the rest of them.
2. “Snake Heist” 3/5
Writer: Mark Gruenwald. Pencils: Mark
Bagley, Dan Panosian. Inks: Dan Panosian. Colors: Nel Yomtov.
Synopsis: Diamondback, Asp, and Black
Mamba are taken prisoner by the Serpent Society villains Anaconda,
Rock Python, and Puff Adder, taking off in the Serpent Saucer. As
Diamond tries to figure out what to do, the ship is brought to a halt
and a pair of metal tentacles rips through the floor and tosses the
two male Serpents overboard. Diamond then discover that her rescuer
is a bizarre creature called M.O.D.A.M….