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Captain America #419

Sep 1993

Mark Gruenwald, Rik Levins

Story Name:

Television Blind

Synopsis

Captain America #419 synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Rating:

Continued from SILVER SABLE & THE WILD PACK #15

The Red Skull muses on his failed alliance with Viper; he thought she was evil enough but she turns out to love chaos for the sake of chaos and the Skull has actual goals. So the Skull has secretly hired Silver Sable to capture Viper—and to make added sure she is stopped he has also tipped off Captain America....

Now Cap is having to prevent Silver from killing Viper, while informing her that her mystery client is the Red Skull, which does not sit well with the former Nazi-hunter. Viper will not reveal why the Red Skull wants her out of the way so they follow the Skull's instructions to deposit Viper on a mesa in the American Southwest and retreat 50 miles away—but Cap and Viper have planted bugs on the villainess so they can learn about her sinister scheme. Soon, Iron Monger arrives on the mesa and verifies her identity. Red Skull, via a viewscreen, questions Viper about her plot. She refuses to reveal her plan so the Skull has Iron Monger break one of her legs. Under duress she tells of her scheme to broadcast a signal that would blind every television viewer in the United States—but she won't disclose the location of the broadcast device. Before Iron Monger can break her other leg, her back-up team, the Fangs—Bludgeon, Heat-Ray, Razorblade, and Slither—come to her rescue. They blast Iron Monger and carry their boss off to her secret broadcasting station. Cap and Viper pursue along with Battle Star so Viper sends out the Fangs to stall them until her broadcast goes out. Cap uses his shield to ricochet Bludgeon's gun blast to take out Heat-Ray. Slither enfolds Silver in his coils and she uses her chais to staple him to the ground. Cap and Battle Star team up to toss the prickly Razorblade onto the shirtless Bludgeon (owie!). Cap scoops up Bludgeon's huge gun and destroys the broadcast tower. As Viper exults in her victory, the lights suddenly go out on her....

Review / Commentaries

Captain America #419 Review by Peter Silvestro (January 8, 2017)

Comments: Story continued from SILVER SABLE & THE WILD PACK #15—though nothing in the issue indicates this. Viper teamed up with the Red Skull in issues #494-497. This Iron Monger is an unidentified flunky wearing Obadiah Stane's armor, introduced in IRON MAN #212. Sole appearance of the Fangs, though each of the members was previously seen in the comics; only Slither, part of the Mutant Force, would be seen again.

Review: Conclusion of the two-part Viper story is quite satisfying with a lot of action and that picture of the Red Skull on page 2 to provide nightmare fuel for even the strongest of hearts. And I've noted that Levins and Bulanadi have slowly adapted their styles to echo the Jim Lee/Rob Liefeld look that defined the 90s Marvel; It's not an improvement. Sadly, the issue includes one of the stupidest lines I can recall: Razorblade: “All I have to do is land one swipe, shield boy, and you're shredded wheat!” Cap: “If you think I'm going to let you, mister, you're full of corn flakes!” Whaaaa?

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Mark Gruenwald

Rik Levins

Danny Bulanadi

George Roussos

Rik Levins (Cover Penciler)
Danny Bulanadi (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)

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Captain America #419

Television Blind

Synopsis

Review / Commentaries