Dec 1983
Mazes!
by J. M. DeMatteis, Mike Zack, John Beatty, Diana Albers, Bob Sharen, Mark Gruenwald
Godwulf explains to Captain America and Deathlok what happened between 1983 and 1993. He was part of the Nth Command, an offshoot of the Brand Corporation which itself was a subsidiary of Roxxon Oil. The Nth Command used high tech equipment to get the jump on the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and the Defenders and banished them all to alternate dimensions. Other unaffiliated heroes were hunted down and dealt with in a similar manner. The Nth Command tried to take over the United States by force. Things got messy. War broke out all over the world.
Godwulf introduces them to his friends (Sage, Swashbuckler, Gentle Sam, Big Man, Iron Butterfly) who were all Nth Commandos too. Godwulf tells them about Hellinger who is now more machine than man but was once known as Harlan Ryker. Deathlok bears a special grudge toward Ryker as it was he who transformed Luther Manning into Deathlok. Hellinger believes he has evolved into Homo-Ascendant and hopes to transform the rest of the human race into beings such as he.
The time has come to deal with Hellinger. Godwulf offers to send Captain America back to 1983 but Cap decides to stick around for a little while and help Deathlok, Godwulf, and the others.
Bernie, on Long Island in 1983, worries about what has happened to Steve and why he isn’t there. Her sister tries to comfort her.
Nomad hangs out in Central Park with Scarlet, the woman he saved from muggers in the previous issue. Everything is going great until he kisses her. He has an extreme reaction to the kiss and falls unconscious. Scarlet isn’t surprised by his reaction to the kiss and starts to give him orders as he stares at her blankly.
Captain American, Deathlok, and the others launch their assault on Hellinger’s headquarters. They seem to be making progress when a trap door opens and drops all seven of them into a maze. They are picked off one by one until Captain America and Deathlok are the only ones left. They make it to Hellinger’s control room. He is ready for them and forces Deathlok to turn on Captain America.
Deathlok shoots Captain America in the back. Hellinger thinks he has won and turns to focus on his plan to dominate the world. Captain America is still conscious and urges Deathlok to fight back against Hellinger’s control. Deathlok shoots Hellinger repeatedly in the back, killing him, and then turns his gun on the control panels that surround them.
Hellinger is defeated, the others are saved. Captain America gets ready to return to 1983.
Thoughts
I thought Deathlok came back from 1991 but it seems to have changed in this issue to 1993. What gives?
Captain America’s inner monologue is featured in this issue, instead of Deathlok’s. The change was sudden. I liked Deathlok's inner dialogues with his computer. They were missed in this issue.
This issue is very wordy considering how little there is going on.
Not a great read. This was not a satisfactory conclusion to this story. Supposedly this story continues in the next issue but next issue is part of assistant editors’ month. I'm not sure what to expect.
Bullpen Bulletins
Jim Shooter repeats his announcement that the assistant editors will be in charge next month, while he and the editors are out of town at San Diego Comic Con. Anything could happen.
The Hype Box
Magik 1 (of 4) - I used to own this mini-series; I haven't read it in quite some time but I want to
Ka-Zar 29 - I bought this issue when it first came out. I love the wrap around cover. Maybe someday I will read it again.
X-Men 176 - yet another issue that I used to have
The Mighty Marvel Checklist
Daredevil 201 - I own it but have yet to read it
Falcon 2 - see DTC 1
Moon Knight Special Edition 2 - I own it but have yet to read it
Hawkeye 4 - see DTC 40
SHIELD Special Edition 1 - reprints Nick Fury stories that Jim Steranko wrote and drew
X-Men Classics 1 - reprints Neal Adams drawn X-Men stories
Micronauts Special Edition 1 - see DTC 55
Punisher 1 (Limited Edition) - I don't think this ever got printed
Dreadstar Annual 1 - reprints The Price; I own it and have read it but it has been a long time
Letters to the Living Legend
Four letters about Captain America 284 populate this letters page. The responses are mostly positive but there is also some desire to see Mike Zeck and John Beatty return.
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