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Captain America #4

Dec 2023
J. Michael Straczynski, Lan Medina

Story Name:

A Series of Unexpected Attacks


Synopsis

Captain America #4 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4.5 stars

Captain America has been challenged in the street by the Emissary, the demon-powered serial killer Henry Cavanaugh. Cap employs what he calls his “Ham Sandwich,” a method of quickly assessing an unknown opponent. As they fight, Cap decides the man is an experienced killer but as yet unfamiliar with his powers. Cap breaks his foe’s leg; the Emissary then marshals his demonic powers, taking Cap by surprise and totally changing the situation. Emissary unleashes several fiery blasts. Cap leaps through a hole in a brick wall and seals it with his shield. A blast directly at the shield flips Cap into the river, sinking out of sight….

1939: At the harbor, Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker go over their big plan. At the upcoming big Bundist rally in Madison Square Garden, a bomb will be detonated, killing 20,000 faithful Nazis. The Barons will place the blame on the Communists and the Jews, leading the USA to come to the aid of the Germans, making an unbeatable combination for the upcoming war. But the Barons don’t know that their plan has been overheard by a dockworker….

1939: A weak young Steve Rogers works hauling bricks at a construction site. He has been offered a phony job by Meyer Lansky but refuses to take it; his foreman tells him to take it easy but he declines. On his way home, he passes out. He awakens in his apartment; visiting nurse Emily Kostner examines him; he reveals his bad medical history. She orders him to take it easy, promising to look in on him later. He goes to sleep….

The present: Cap wakes up in a hospital bed. Sharon Carter tells him that his shield was so hot it raised a cloud of steam in the river that led investigators to locate and rescue him. He tells her about the demon and promises to tell her the rest after he makes a phone call….

1939: A Nazi named Rolf raises the demon Asmoday; the demon fills us in on Hell’s agenda: jealous that the Creator blessed the human race, demons are now devoted to destroying the humans. The Madison Square Garden plan is certain to succeed except for an infinitesimal aberration that he cannot identify but is likely of no importance. Ha, we know it’s Steve Rogers….

The present: Unable to reach Doctor Strange by phone, Steve calls Misty Knight and she reveals that the murdered man (last issue) was to speak at an upcoming peace conference and it sounds familiar to him. Then he asks if he can borrow the Doctor Strange doll he saw last issue….



 

Review / Commentaries


Captain America #4 Review by (December 20, 2023)

Review: A new art team takes over (though Lan Medina was inker for issue #3) and becomes a bit livelier. And Cap encounters the baddie from this story arc, the Emissary, and we gain an insight into Cap’s fighting style and his method of sizing up an opponent. The Nazi plot is finally revealed, we discover the demons’ motivations, and the prospect of Dr. Strange appearing in the next issue is teased. Very nice all around.

Comments: The title is a play on A Series of Unfortunate Events, offbeat children’s book series by Lemony Snicket. Issue includes a tribute to the late Keith Giffin, penciler for Marvel and DC, co-creator of Rocket Raccoon. Steve Rogers lists his medical history as asthma, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, heart palpitations, nervous trouble, bone deformity, scoliosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia, partial deafness, and astigmatism—plus he’s a terrible dancer; all this by 18.




> Captain America comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
DIAMOND SELECT TOYS Marvel Premier Collection: Avengers Endgame Captain America Statue, Multicolor
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Lan Medina
Lan Medina
Espen Grundetjern
Jesus Saiz (Cover Penciler)
Jesus Saiz (Cover Inker)
Jesus Saiz (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Joe Caramagna.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Baron Strucker
Baron Strucker

(Wolfgang von Strucker)
Baron Zemo
Baron Zemo

(Heinrich Zemo)
Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)