The Terror And The "Team"

 

Previously, we've witnessed the machinations of Mister Kline, the figure in shadows who sought to manipulate the lives of Tony Stark, Matt Murdock, and even Franklin "Foggy" Nelson during the years 1971-72, and who made use of a number of operatives to deal with interference from Daredevil, the Black Widow, and Iron Man. Kline, having finally been revealed as an android named the Assassin, met his end at the hands of future beings who appeared following a final battle with Daredevil, which at last brought the saga of Mister Kline to a close.

As for his operatives, their fate was a mixture of defeat, death, and betrayal by Kline himself. Two such men, the super-criminals known as the Scorpion and Mister Hyde, each appeared to die under mysterious circumstances; yet if that was so, then how is it that, five months later (our time), we discover those very men in an abandoned cavern, alive and seemingly escaping captivity?

We readers learn that both men had been captured by Kline in order for android duplicates of them to carry out his instructions--but Captain America, who as Steve Rogers was recently attacked by the pair, is confronted with the question of how both men have turned up alive and at large, and for reasons unknown were demanding information from him regarding S.H.I.E.L.D. As for our two ruffians, having no clue that it was Kline who was responsible for their abduction, they've come to the conclusion that only one organization could have been responsible for incarcerating them.

And that leads them to track down one hero in particular--but thanks to a new partnership, they'll find it's no longer two against one!  Or will they?

I remember coming aboard the Captain America and the Falcon title in late '72, about mid-point of Steve Englehart's story of the Cap of the 1950s--and though eventually I was able to work my way back through the book and read tales produced by Stan Lee, John Romita, Gene Colan, and Jack Kirby, this two-part tale drawn by Sal Buscema (as well as the preceding story featuring Batroc and the pseudo-Stranger) was skipped for whatever reason. (Possibly because at the time I had very limited exposure to Mister Hyde and wasn't particularly interested in following his exploits.) Yet all in all, the story here by Buscema and Gerry Conway does a splendid job of giving the reader a preview of Buscema's future treatment of both Cap and the Falcon, in addition to their respective circle of characters. In Cap's case, that would still be Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, and other members of S.H.I.E.L.D., who have probably overstayed their welcome by this point--while the Falcon's activities in Harlem would include activist Leila Taylor, Rafe Michel, and his first dealings with the racketeer Morgan (who debuts in this arc).

But for those who can claim to be fans of either/both Hyde and the Scorpion, these two have some lost time to make up for in their misguided efforts to take revenge on SHIELD for their imprisonment--and first on their list is the abduction of Sharon Carter, whose status as a female first and a SHIELD agent second assures her of being taken hostage but who fortunately has two heroes springing to her defense.

By this time, the Falcon has crossed paths with a fence by the name of "Smasher" Kreel, who was hired to deliver a truckload of chemicals to Hyde--and so when Falc and Cap regroup and begin to track their prey, Cap gets an idea of just how valuable this partnership with his friend can be in such a situation. Soon enough, they hit pay dirt, though they're in no mood to stop there.

A well-paced battle thus far, yet we unfortunately hit a snag in the final clash which now involves only Cap facing both villains alone, with the Falcon inexplicably choosing to sit it out (to the consternation of Sharon, who implores him to help). The reasoning seems to be centered on Cap needing to prove something to himself, though there's no buildup (at least that I can see) which would explain why that is, leaving us to take Conway's word on the subject even lacking justification. It also leaves one question hanging in the air: "Aren't these two a team?"

Not that Buscema is complaining, as he gives a tour de force of Cap in action against two formidable opponents.

I would have doubted Cap's ability to knock out Hyde with a single punch even if he wasn't as fatigued as he is here. As it is, I'm actually a little surprised he wasn't falling on the floor next to Hyde after delivering it.

At any rate, the Scorpion and Hyde come full circle--furious at being captured, rendered unconscious, and imprisoned for months, and now recaptured and delivered to the authorities to eventually undergo arraignment and trial, leading to incarceration at a bona fide state-run slammer where they'll be awake every day to enjoy the perks of prison life such as license plate stamping and stints in the laundry facility. (Signing up for anger management classes wouldn't be a bad idea, either.)