Decades: Marvel in the '80s - Awesome Evolutions #[nn]
In "And Who Shall Clothe Himself In Iron?", John Walker confronts the weight of his past with Val Cooper, revealing his roots as a Vietnam veteran who found purpose through the Power Broker’s experiments. With the Commission naming Super-Patriot the new Captain America, John must choose between loyalty to his manager Ethan Thurm and the path to national heroism—while only one of the Buckies can remain by his side. Written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Tom Morgan, with inks by Dave Hunt, colors by Ken Feduniewicz, and letters by Ken Lopez and Bill Oakley, this story unfolds with the grounded intensity of a pivotal moment in a legacy forged in conflict. The cover, penciled by Tom Morgan and inked by Joe Sinnott, captures the tension of that defining decision.
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John Walker reveals his backstory to Val Cooper. A former Vietnam vet, he wanted to become a hero and received his powers (along with Lemar) from the Power Broker. Instead of joining the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation to repay his debt, Ethan Thurm convinced John to take him on as a manager and, with Thurm's financial backers, mapped out a strategy to become a national hero. The Commission selects the costumed adventurer known as Super-Patriot to be the new Captain America. They require he drop Thurm as his manager and that only one of the Buckies can continue to assist him.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).