Captain America 370 - Acts of Vengeance Aftermath

The cover of this issue is fantastic. It really reinforces the sense of creepiness to the Skull's country house. It would have made for a great Halloween issue, but it came out at the wrong time of year. Inside we get the conclusion to the search for the Red Skull in a full-length story.

Captain America #370

Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciler: Ron Lim
Inker: Danny Bulanadi
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Colourist: Steve Buccellato
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Who--?: Tom DeFalco

Crossbones continues the search for the Red Skull, trying less conventional methods and turning to a psychic, Tristram Micawber. It's a bold approach but it works, though we could perhaps have done without the information that the Skull and Mother Night are sleeping together. When found the Skull is a shadow of himself, physically weakened and mentally broken, and he demands "take me home to die". Skull House is a far cry from the Skull's modern office, representing the Skull’s old ways very much, especially with a hall that serves as a museum of the Skull's struggles with costumes, Sleeper models and more, all reinforcing his days of following Nazism. But what he wants to see the most is Captain America.

Cap and Diamondback are debriefing at the Avengers temporary headquarters, with the complication of Cap's day duties getting in the way. There's still uncertainty and suspicion as Diamondback wonders if Cap has sneaked off when in fact he's been taking a very long time with the architect (Eric Masterson) for building a new mansion. Meanwhile she, who's being drawn a little older now, winds up playing poker with the Avengers support crew, a subtle sign of how she's entering Cap's life. Then when information about the Skull comes in, Diamondback insists on coming along. It's probably not the date anyone would choose but she proves her worth in dealing with the house's automated defence systems. There we get what could have been the final meeting between old foes.

For quite some time Captain America has refused to accept the claims of this man that he is the original Red Skull returned in a new body, but all that comes to a climax as the two meet up close. In an encounter where more is shown than said, the true hatred flashes, revitalising the Skull's spirit and convincing Cap that this truly is his enemy of old. It's a strong moment of closure that reaffirms the conflict between the two.

Overall this storyline has been an excellent example of how a series can use a crossover to develop a strong storyline amongst its regular characters, rather than just going through a few issues and then completely forgetting about them. However it's a pity that the fates of several lesser characters are left uncertain. The Controller has been locked in a loop when one of his own control discs was applied. The Voice had severe wounds to his throat. Micawber collapses when the bunker is found, having just foreseen death, and there's no medical examination. The Controller was not seen again for three years, the Voice for twenty and Micawber not at all so it's a pity these loose ends are left to what is otherwise a strong tight arc.

Captain America #370 has been reprinted in:

• Captain America Epic Collection: The Bloodstone Hunt (2018)