Feature Story & Back-Up Story Written by Mark Gruenwald
Feature Art by Rik Levins; Danny Bulanadi; Joe Rosen; & Christie Scheele. Back-Up Art by Larry Alexander; Dan Panosian; Steve Dutro; & R. Witterstaetter.
Cover Art by Rik Levins & Danny Bulanadi
SUMMARY:
Published by Marvel Comics in March 1992, the company-wide Operation: Galactic Storm’s opening salvo is entitled “It Came From Outer Space.” A startling nightmare re: an imminent Kree invasion compels Rick Jones to contact Captain America — despite their recent estrangement. Meeting up in Benson, Arizona, Cap & Rick face off vs. the armored Warstar robot, with the Kree accomplishing its initial goal. An abduction sub-plot re: Cap’s girlfriend, Diamondback, is referenced, as she has mysteriously vanished after going to a night school computer class. Also in play is simmering animosity from Cap’s pilot, John Jameson, towards his boss re: why exactly Diamondback is on their team’s payroll.
In a back-up tale entitled “Silence of the Night,” the mercenary Skeleton Crew: Cutthroat, Jack-o-Lantern, and Blackwing, accompany Mother Night (after making bail) as her new recruits back to Red Skull’s secret HQ. As the Skull’s ‘significant other,’ Mother Night is brutally punished upon revealing to him that their ‘faked death’ scheme has been exposed.
Note: The Galactic Storm saga continues in West Coast Avengers # 80.
REVIEW:
The issue’s terrific artwork (still looking brand-new after nearly thirty years) outshines Cap’s ho-hum team-up with Rick Jones. Writer Mark Gruenwald’s feature is likely one-and-done for readers, but there’s at least some solid dialogue scenes between Cap and Peggy Carter, John Jameson, and Rick Jones.
Yet, the repugnant last page of “Silence of the Night” completely derails a decent yet quickly forgettable read. A full page depicts Red Skull’s vile beating of Mother Night, with her pleading to be killed this way, no less. Considering the issue is otherwise marketed as kid-friendly, this last-minute switch revels in shock value without legitimate merit. For dramatic purposes, depicting this domestic violence off-screen, in silhouette, or finding another subtle means would have made far more sense.
Due to this unnecessary creative choice, what would have been an average Captain America # 398 plummets in readability.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a single-page “American Graffiti” letters-and-answers column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 2 Stars
