Synopsis
In this series Revolution (Bucky Barnes) and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (or at least an LMD version of her) are building a Thunderbolts team to go after Red Skull. In #1 they recruited Destroyer (Sharon Carter) and Red Guardian, and in #2 the White and Black Widows. Now they've set their sights on 2 more.
U.S. Agent (John Walker) is the only patron of a bar in Hong Kong while his partner goes to find a sandwich, except he senses someone watching him and tells him to show himself. The stranger orders a red bean ice drink and advises the bartender to make himself scarce. USA greets Shang-Chi but notes he's not wearing his 10 Rings and wonders if he's here as Commander Hand. Shang says he's just curious to meet the famous US Agent. Bucky Barnes in his ear-piece says that flattery is the right way to go, and meanwhile he'll head for the only sandwich bar nearby to find the partner.
Walker warns Chi off of interfering in a US military op. But Shang says he knows that John and his pal are off to Latveria tomorrow morning in a pre-emptive strike on Dr Doom's secret weapons program. However he adds that the mission is a lie generated by Nazi agents in US Command working for the Red Skull. The Lukin version of RS is dead (as of #1) but another Skull has woken underneath Doomstadt, who will escape during the chaos of the raid and use the resulting international incident to further his rise to power. Walker has reason to hate Red Skull but doesn't believe this story. So they square off for a fight - kung fu vs super-soldier and shield. Kung fu wins, and Shang uses the codename Gamemaster to report back to Revolution.
Bucky finds Cpl Todd Ziller trying to get a sandwich with American cheese slices and asks him to come with him. The soldier doesn't want to do that, and then Red Skull remotely uses code phrases which trigger his transformation and take the matter out of his hands. Revolution reports this to Gamemaster and then has to run to evade the giant American Kaiju. In response Commander Hand calls on his 5 Weapons Society and Warriors Of The Deadly Hand and Warriors Of The Deadly Staff respond. He tells them to save civilians and reduce destruction while he joins Revolution fighting the monster. He has a plan.
Walker wakes up and and hurries to save his partner. He shouts to Ziller to stand down and Bucky holds off shooting the dragon to give him a chance. But Todd tells him he's not in control. And then a military jet fires a missile which just enrages the Kaiju who crushes it in 1 clawed hand. Barnes now prepares to take his shot but Shang Chi gives him the Ring Of Kaufu (as far as I know not 1 of the 10 Rings) which he found in the vaults of his father Zheng Zu. A person can only use its power once, and according to legend Kaufu was a giant. So Bucky dons the bracelet and grows to match the high-rise size of American Kaiju.
They clash and Revolution judo throws Kaiju to a beach, knocking over some stuff on the way. The enraged dragon attacks but Barnes wraps his malleable cyborg arm around his muzzle and then expands it into a bag to smother him. Shang-Chi urges him to finish him off, but Bucky sees Steve Rogers' face - and a thrown shield hits him in the forehead. Looking down he sees John Walker silently pleading for his partner's life. So he frees Kaiju's head and KO's him with a giant punch.
Later US Agent watches the now-human Todd Ziller taken away in an ambulance. Bucky commends him for stopping him killing the man. Walker says Todd would have done the same for him. He now accepts that Chi's story was true and there's a new Red Skull in action. Bucky says he thinks he's an old Skull and John agrees to join their team to go get him in Latveria. Bucky reports back success to Val de Fontaine.