Captain Atom (Volume 2) #20 is an issue of the series Captain Atom (Volume 2) with a cover date of October, 1988.
Synopsis for "The Silver Age"
While working at the Starshine Stone's store, Nathaniel is unexpectedly paid a visit by Henry Yarrow, a private detective who has been investigating to clear Nathaniel's innocence. The detective had undergone plastic surgery to protect his identity after the attempt on his life. Yarrow brings some news to Nathaniel on a recent development in his investigation, which points his lead to Lester Bryant, a two-star General who was present at Nathaniel's court-martial. Bryant has since become the chairman of the board of Zyco Corp, a research and development tech corporation. According to the confession of a bitter employee, there is a code book in Bryant's safe inside his office that incriminate him as one of the leaders of the Vietnam drug ring.
However, Zyco Corp is surrounded by a tight security in fear of industrial espionage. Yarrow was unable to access Bryant's office and is leaving the rest to Nathaniel to how to proceed. Nathaniel knows a person who can get him inside Zyco Corp.
Captain Atom approach Blue Beetle, whose public identity of Ted Kord previously owns Kord Industries that became a recent acquisition of Zyco Corps and thus having him access to the company. But Beetle is not on friendly terms with his fellow superhero since he joined the JLI. Against his better judgement, Nathaniel is able to gain Kord's trust by showing him the "Captain Atom Blue Beetle Covert Casebook" which allege Captain Atom having been friends and allies with Kord's predecessor and mentor Daniel Garrett, the original Blue Beetle.
Kord arrange a meeting with Bryant to accept Kord Industries' merger with Zyco Corp. Unbeknownst to Bryant, Kord has his micro cufflink-camera to take recordings of Bryant's office including his wall safe. Also, Kord has planted a bug under Bryant's private phone that record the chairman's every conversation. Lastly, Kord has planned a dinner date with Bryant's secretary Laura Devon to gleam any more information.
That night, Bryant is suspicious of Ted Kord's uncharacteristic business proposal after his security system detected his cufflink-camera. He talks to an associate in his private phone regarding Kord and believes that this is a case of industrial espionage. His associate, however, believes that there is more than mere industrial espionage and orders Bryant to permanently deal with Kord.
Kord and Miss Devon are almost run over by a taxi cab. Captain Atom, who has been watching them, catches the driver. Kord knows that was a contract on his and Devon's lives, and is able to convince Devon to help him to turn against her boss.
After escorting Devon to the police, Blue Beetle and Captain Atom examine the tapes and finds out that Zyco's prototype exploratory submarines are being outfitted with experimental military-grade weapons. This fits into Devon's confession as Bryant has leased two similar prototypes to a major drug ring that operates in the Gulf of Mexico and are scheduled on a trial run tonight.
Captain Atom and Blue Beetle intervene in stopping the submersibles from destroying a cruise ship. The heroes capture the pilots and the submersibles are destroyed, much to Beetle's disappointment who wants to keep them intact.
The duo return to the JLI Embassy to eavesdrop on Bryant's phone-line. Bryant's associate - whose voice is distorted - is displeased by the superheroes' interference and decide that Bryant has become a major liability before a explosion is heard. Captain Atom and Beetle immediately travel to Zyco Corp where Bryant's office is bombed along with its occupant. The explosion has also thoroughly vaporized the safe and the evidence to clear Nathaniel.
Though Nathaniel's lead is now back to a dead end, Blue Beetle has overgrown his distrust of Captain Atom and now consider him as a friend. But Nathaniel knows in his heart that he doesn't deserve a friend like Beetle.
Appearing in "The Silver Age"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Lester Bryant (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Laura Devon (First appearance)
- Henry Yarrow
Locations:
- New York
- Zyco Industries (First appearance)
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
Captain Atom, Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett), and Doctor Spectro appear in the "Captain Atom Blue Beetle Covert Casebook." The casebook is part of the lie made up for the Captain Atom Project. Their appearances are not in continuity.
See Also