I suppose I was expecting the usual line between right and wrong to be just as clear-cut. So what happens? I end up more confused than ever. 
Captain Atom (Volume 2) #21 is an issue of the series Captain Atom (Volume 2) with a cover date of November, 1988.
Synopsis for "The Captain's Word is Law!"
After attending a Grateful Dead concert with Starshine, Nathaniel goes on a week-long "vacation". In reality, Nathaniel has become a mercenary to pay off his debts. He is under the employ of a man dubbed "The Ancient Mariner", who hired him to find his son Billy, who was declared dead after joining a rebel group opposing a communist-back government in Central America.
Nathaniel and along with two other ex-soldiers, Witman Halsy and Dwight Crane, are parachuted into the country and meet up with the freedom fighters. When the mercenaries are sent on a patrol they find a blown up rebel jeep and its passengers dead. Halsy is certain that the jeep must have run over a landmine, but Nathaniel knows in his guts that it was something else. Upon examining the bodies, they find among them to be Billy. After securing Billy's corpse, the mercenaries decide to make good use of the four-day wait for their transport plane in which they get to know more about the rebels and helping them with their expertise.
The mercenaries assist the rebels in taking out a government tank and capturing a soldier. Halsy soon begins torturing their prisoner for information much to Nathaniel's disgust. Nathaniel could do nothing to stop it, especially from learning that both sides in this conflict are equally brutal and cruel. The prisoner subsequently dies but not before providing information on government forces using an abandoned gas station as a temporary base.
The rebels and mercenaries soon launch an attack on the gas station. During the intense firefight, Halsy use a flamethrower to burn down the station. A government soldier, whose body is on fire, charge out of the burning building and firing his weapon, which hits Nathaniel and rendering him unconscious. Another person also comes out of the fire and suddenly obliterates Halsy and Crane.
Nathaniel later regains conscious and finds out to his surprise that he is taken prisoner by Plastique. The former Quebec terrorist is working for the communist government and she is quite surprise to see Captain Atom selling his service for the rebels. Plastique takes the opportunity to point out their situation is no different and nor is it black and white. Nathaniel admits that he was expecting for a usual line between right and wrong when he joined in this war, but only to be more confused than before. However, Nathaniel has seen enough travesties in this country and decide to do everything in his power to set things right. But Plastique warns him that he, as a superhero, cannot allow himself to get involve in this war as there will be severe consequences. When Nathaniel doesn't listen, Plastique attacks him. Captain Atom and Plastique fight in the skies until the latter is defeated. Unknown to Captain Atom, a helicopter carrying a documentary crew had just recorded this entire battle.
The documentary footage is instantly put on public television, as millions of viewers are watching Captain Atom actively attacking government and rebel forces. General Eiling and Dr. Megala are among those watching. The General is rather pleased by this development while Megala frets over the political repercussions that will resonate from Captain Atom's reckless act and urging to have him force back to the United States before the situation could get any more worse.
Meanwhile, Amanda Waller is already planning ahead for the capture of Captain Atom with the help of her operative Nightshade.
Appearing in "The Captain's Word is Law!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Plastique
- Doctor Spectro (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Wade Eiling
Other Characters:
- "The Ancient Mariner" (First appearance)
- Billy (Single appearance; dies)
- Mercenaries
- Witman Halsy (Single appearance; dies)
- Dwight Crane (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also