When I committed to covering all of Captain America’s appearances in Marvel Comics, I did not see this coming: two issues of the first Skrull Kill Krew miniseries (not a typo with the spelling, and yes, there was a second miniseries). What’s more, it’s written by future superstars Grant Morrison and Mark Millar, who lend their distinctive (early) touch to the proceedings.
The premise of the series, in short: The Skrulls that Reed Richards hypnotized into becoming cows back in Fantastic Four #2 entered the food supply along with an alien version of mad cow disease, with gave some people who ate the infected meat limited shape-shifting powers as well as a death sentence—and a select few of these people have decided to kill as many Skrulls as they can before they die. (This is similar to Fantastic Four Annual #17, in which the residents of a town exhibit similar effects from drinking milk from descendants of the Skrull-cows, who have even more story to them.)
Captain America—who shows no signs of the physical deterioration that was confirmed in Captain America #425 and all but killed him in last month’s Captain America #443—is mercifully excluded from the first issue of the series, and when he appears in the second, he’s apparently playing peek-a-boo with…
…not a baby. (Nonetheless, the waitress is impressed.)
After expressing admiration that Cap doesn’t act like a complete prat, Boss Hogg Senator Barton is kind enough to tell us that he and Cap are set to meet President Kurov from the fictional Baltic nation of Slovenia, after which Cap reminds the senator that he can take him over his knee any time.
The senator reminds Cap (and us) what the mission is, before Cap reveals that he eats apple pie with a spoon. (Maybe he’s a Skrull?)
The anticipated interference with said mission arrives earlier than expected when Cap and the senator get word that terrorists have hijacked Kurov’s plane, and then two men in the airport initiate their part of the plan, which includes making fun of Cap’s outfit (one aspect in particular).
Cap tries to talk the man down when the boy he was playing with earlier decides to audition to be the new Bucky, which gives Cap a chance to play “hide the shield”…
…a game he’s very good at. (He’s not so good, however, at “don’t hit me.”)
We have to assume he thanks the boy and commends his bravery, because it isn’t shown before he rushes off to take care of the rest of the terrorists (which only reinforces the waitress’s maternal intent).
At the end of the issue, Baron von Strucker arrives to abduct President Kurov and take control of Slovenia himself. This, of course, signals the involvement of Hydra in the next issue: When Cap finds Hydra agents in the airport, about to show an entitled jerk what doesn’t grow back two in its place, he once again shows his skill with his shield.
Cap patiently waits to listen in one of the agents’ orders before taking him out…
…and then has to listen to the entitled jerk (miscolored as the Hydra agent he just punched out) complain before he continues to do his job.
When Cap finds Strucker, the Nazi informs him of the bomb he activated in Kurov’s plane…
…which goes off, but not until everyone manages to deboard, including President Kurov, whom the leader of the Skrull Kill Krew, Ryder, identifies as a Skrull. But when Ryder tries to shoot him, he finds a shield blocking the way.
Ryder tries to tell Cap, however cryptically, that Kurov is not what he seems, and then catches the mighty shield, which surprises its wielder. Next, Ryder engages in a spot of political criticism…
…which doesn’t faze Cap, for obvious reasons. Ryder claims he simply doesn’t know enough, and uses a buzzword from our current day in its original meaning before disappearing into thin air.
As an epilogue, Cap touches base with Nick Fury—drawn below in a clear homage to Jim Sternako’s classic rendering of the character—who hints at Ryder’s past with SHIELD (although I can find no clue as to what this is, nor the “Christmas Island incident” Cap mentions).
ISSUE DETAILS
Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 1) #2, October 1995: Grant Morrison and Mark Millar (writer), Steve Yeowell (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Chi Wang and Digital Chameleon (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 1) #3, November 1995: Grant Morrison and Mark Millar (writer), Steve Yeowell (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Chi Wang, Chris DeFelippo, and Digital Chameleon (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected (believe it or not) in Skrulls Must Die! The Complete Skrull Kill Krew.
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #444 (October 1995), Avengers/Ultraforce #1 and Ultraforce/Avengers #1 (October 1995), and Captain America #445 (November 1995)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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