Issue(s): Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #15
Cover Date: Aug 93
Title: "Vipers in our midst"
Credits:
Gregory Wright - Writer
Steven Butler - Penciler
Pam Eklund - Inker
Lynaire Brust - Assistant Editor
Craig Anderson - Editor

Review/plot:
In Dead Man's Hand, there was a Viper who acted very out of character. In the 80s, in response to complaints about something like that, we might have seen a footnoted explanation a few issues later. In the 2010s, we'd probably get a "Shut up, loser! Who cares about continuity?!". But in the 90s, it becomes the basis for a two-part crossover with Silver Sable and Captain America after starting the revelation in a different book that got cancelled (Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD #45).

The story starts with Silver Sable and the Wild Pack taking down what turns out to be one of several Viper duplicates that they've been hunting.

Note Sable ruling out that this is the real Viper based on how she doesn't dodge her chai.

A more super-power oriented Wild Pack team is hunting another duplicate.

I love that the Tiger Man (Man-Eater) that they rescued in Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #8-9 is now part of the team. Also there is "Don't Call Me the" Fin, from Nextwave.

Meanwhile, Captain America has learned about Silver Sable's job and is investigating the person who hired her. Sable is aware that the person she's working for is mysterious and probably not on the up and up, but they paid in advance and she feels Viper is a worthy target so it doesn't matter. While Cap is investigating, we learn that the Viper duplicates are called Pit-Vipers, and that the real Viper employs them to commit acts of anarchy in her name.

The real Viper is working on a scheme of her own, but with the Wild Pack after her duplicates, she decides to kill off another Pit-Viper, the one that appeared in Dead Man's Hand, because she "foolishly tried to ally herself with the Punisher" and "was responsible for tipping off SHIELD to my activities in Moscow". So Viper wants Pit-Viper 12 dead before she causes any more trouble.

Captain America is in New York where Pit-Viper 12 is. Crippler has been staking her out as well. Cap catches the Pit-Viper, but she's then assassinated by the real Viper.

Sable's Wild Pack team then shows up, allowing a reunion between Cap and Battlestar.

Note that the real Viper does avoid Sable's chai.

The issue (or rather the main story) ends with Viper captured and Cap telling Sable not to kill her, and revealing that she's been hired by the Red Skull.

This issue also introduces Samantha Powell, sister to the racist Wild Pack member Doug. Doug has been getting 'less racist' since Battlestar saved his life recently. The dialogue around that is kind of clunky though. "I'm just starting to be less racist so I don't want my sister dating a black man yet."

The idea that Silver Sable has posed for a nude magazine is actually going to be an upcoming plot. Seriously.

Speaking of clunky dialogue, here's Baron Strucker telling the audience "Ha ha, yes, I am still alive!". He also gets a replacement hand since he lost his along with the Satan Claw.

I actually enjoy the main story. It's better than average for this book. Never let it be said that a continuity fix can't be the basis for a fun story.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Continues directly in Captain America #419. Placing these before the start of Infinity Crusade.

References:

• Doug Powell has been softening his racist stance towards Battlestar since Battlestar rescued him in Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #11-12. This is also the arc where Nextwave failed to retrieve Hydra's battlestation.
  
• Pit-Viper 12 appeared in the Dead Man's Hand issues of Punisher War Journal, beginning with Punisher War Journal #45.
  
• Viper says that it was Pit-Viper 12 who tipped off Nick Fury in Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD #45. That's also the arc where Baron Strucker seemingly died.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A