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To prevent the sonic cancer from destroying the Earth, Captain America must rush Tony Stark's nullifier to Wakanda to intercept and change the frequency of the “cancer” but it will mean the destruction of Cap's already damaged shield. As Cap flies toward Wakanda, a pink turbulence (which we recognize as Klaw from last issue) streaks past the Quinjet. Cap lands and sets up the nullifier and then discovers that a herd of horned and tusked pink creatures is upon him; he uses his new energy shield to tear up the ground, forming a barrier that divides the animals—which reform and attack Cap in its true form: Klaw. Klaw, knowing that Vibranium is his only weakness, sees the opportunity to destroy all of it forever—even though it will leave the world seriously ruined. Cap battles him and discovers that the sonic cancer has made the villain stronger than ever; getting bored, Klaw just destroys the nullifier. As the sonic wave arrives, Klaw soaks it up, becoming the loudest sound on Earth and able to destroy all Vibranium himself. Cap picks up his broken shield (duct-taped together) and defends himself against the villain's attack. Klaw hits the shield with his full force—and the shield is suddenly whole again. By absorbing the sound wave, Klaw inadvertently did the work of the nullifier, realigning the shield's Vibranium molecules and solving the whole problem. When Cap's shield hits Klaw, the villain breaks up into millions of tiny pieces—echoes--that are scattered to the winds. Cap is satisfied: “Mission accomplished.”
Comments: Part three of three parts. Title is a baseball term, applied literally to this story. Cap's broken shield appears to be held together by duct tape, showing that even a genius like Tony Stark depends on its usefulness. The civil war in Wakanda is seen in BLACK PANTHER VOL. 3:1-12 (Christopher Priest's classic run). Cap remains in Wakanda for the events of BP #12 just mentioned.
Review: A pretty cool conclusion to the story arc is done with quite a bit of tongue in cheek and some spectacular art effects. And the sight of the shield held together by duct tape is maybe the best joke of all.
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