There’s a new and better artist for this arc, which loosely ties to the big Avengers Disassembled event.
Cap and Falcon continue to pursue the origin of the “Anti-Cap” from last arc. They’ve got him hostage and are negotiating with SHIELD on whether to turn him in. Cap is starting to associate Anti-Cap with Bucky…
They learn that he has contaminants in his blood that are the same as the ones in the blood of Luke Cage. With help from Wakandan scientists, they examine the blood.
When Captain America refuses to hand Anti-Cap in to them, they arrest Falcon (after determining that arresting Captain America would be too much bad publicity). I love the way Priest writes things like this–they make so much sense. His stories balance the fantastic of super-heroes with real social issues and realism.
Falcon shoots the General rather than accept arrest (knowing that the man has a bullet-proof vest). Cap and Falcon escape and now are fugitives.
Cap continues to lose his grip on reality, confusing Anti-Cap with Bucky, while he and Wanda strike up a bit of an affair.
Although the first time they start to kiss, Hank interrupts them.
They do get to lovin’ eventually, though. It seems like Wanda kisses him just to alleviate his guilt over Bucky.
Later, though, this happens:
Wanda denies that it ever happened, making us–the readers–wonder if she used her hex powers to create hallucinations? And why? Her powers do seem much more refined in this series. Like at one point she slows time.
Maybe this is not the real Scarlet Witch?
Nothing really gets resolved but at the very end we are promised that MODOK is coming.
This series continues to be confusing, but with the improved art is is much better overall.
This really isn’t part of the disassembled storyline. Priest, as he tends to do, is working on a complex multi-issue tale and, other than the banner on the cover, hasn’t really done anything to engage with that overall storyline.