Issue(s): Nomad #3
Cover Date: Jul 92
Title: "The agents of questionable ethics"
Credits:
Fabian Nicieza - Writer
S. Clarke Hawbaker - Penciler
Mark McKenna - Inker
Mike Lackey - Assistant Editor
Glenn Herdling - Editor

Review/plot:
The task force comprised of Andie Sterman, Jack Norriss, and USAgent catch up with Nomad. They're supposed to just be tracking him and waiting for a good opportunity to capture him, but USAgent jumps the gun and confronts him directly for a fight.

Which, of course, happens while Bucky is strapped to Nomad's back.

Nomad escapes by firing his shotgun, which is loaded with blanks, near USAgent's ear, which temporarily stuns him.

This is all happening in Los Angeles, and after escaping USAgent, Nomad goes to a bar where he's developed a little network of helpers. There is Horizon, Pretty Boy, and Legs, and maybe the unnamed bartender is part of it too.

The MCP doesn't list Pretty Boy as a character (i mean, other than the Reaver), but he may just be under their radar. Legs has several appearances. Horizon only one more.

Anyway, they agree to help Nomad with the fact that USAgent is after him. But their help really doesn't amount to much. Horizon acts as a decoy and Legs holds Bucky.

Meanwhile, a SHIELD agent named Jeremiah Albuquerque (his only appearance) approaches Sterman's group. And the upshot of that is instead of trying to catch Nomad, they convince him to help them by going after the Slug. Which is really a no brainer.

It's funny, but after the build up in the first two issues, i was expecting something more epic for when Sterman's group finally caught up to Nomad. This is actually really anticlimactic. Which, i suppose, is an innovation in its own right. Andie and Jack will appear in this series again, but not until issue #22. USAgent won't be back.

No Mountain Dew product placement in this issue. But there is this cheesecake which a later lettercol will admit was completely gratuitous.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: USAgent shouldn't appear anywhere between last issue and this one. The Slug thing leads into the Dead Man's Hand crossover and therefore Daredevil #307 takes place before next issue.

References:

• Nomad is wanted after the events of Nomad #4 (previous series).
  
• Nomad tells USAgent that he worked for the government once before, but they "pumped me full of drugs" and "taught me the world according to Nixon". That's a reference to Captain America #153-156.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Did U.S.Agent douse his shield with Pym particles before this story?

@AF - I know, right? That was my first thought - "jesus, that thing is HUGE!"

I don't understand the love for Hawbaker on here; his layouts are really weird and (imo) distracting...