Written by Jeff Melton

"Let's get down to business, shall we?" the Swine exclaims, firing his gun at Bucky! However, the agile young hero leaps out of the way, as the shot fires past him, cleaving a hole in the wall behind whe= re he was standing only a moment before!

"I thought you were dead?" Bucky asks, dodging another bullet by flipping backwards, to where there are medieval era weapons hanging on the wall.

"Obviously, I am not!" the Swine exclaims, while fi ring off another shot.

Bucky reaches back, without looking, and grabs a Spanish cutlass from the wall behind him. He pulls it forward, holding it in his hands and inspecting it. "Not bad," Bucky comments.

"It shouldn't be, fool!" the Swine exclaims, stopping for a moment to notice the sword that Bucky is holding in his hands. "That cutlass dates back to approximately 1500, when the Spaniards first came to the New World."

"Oh, second-hand goods, eh?" Bucky replies sarcastically.

"Yes, that does not surprise me!" the Swine sneers. "You obviously could not appreciate such fine detail. The arts will ever elude the likes of you."

"I know your torturer, and I don't appreciate his eye for art," Bucky retorts sharply. Bucky tosses a sword at the Swine, which lands on his desk. Bucky then swishes his sword through the air. "Not bad," Bucky comments, while inspecting the sword. "The weight's a little off."

"What do you know of such things, you uncultured cretin?" the Swine demands, holding the smoking gun in his hands. He is annoyed to find it empty, having unloaded all of its shells at the speedy Bucky.

"Hey, pal!" Bucky retorts with mock defensiveness. "You're talking to a guy who saw 'Sea Hawks' and 'Adventures of Robin Hood' when they first came out! Errol Flynn and I are-make that were, I guess-good friends."

"Did he teach you how to use one of these?!" the Swine asks, grabbing his sword from the desk and leaping across the table, to land just a few feet from Bucky, who has been watching the Swine's movement, but doesn't seem impressed.

"Who said he had to?" Bucky replies, smiling widely." I had the best trainer around." He then brings his sword around, tapping  it against the Swine's lightly. "But, if that's a challenge...," Bucky conti= nues, bringing his sword across his face in a warrior's salute, "...I accept= !"

"Good!" the Swine exclaims, thrusting forward with his blade. He has seen Bucky block his bullets, but he knows that he has
been trained in the finest Spanish fencing schools, and feels confident that Bucky cannot match his fencing ability. Bucky brings
his own sword up quickly, blocking his opponent's thrust. "Since my guards are incompetent, I will gladly kill you myself! I owe
that accursed mentor of yours that much...and much more!"

"Yeah, so I hear!" Bucky replies once more. "And, I'm sure he'd be all too happy to be collecting that debt himself. But, he told
me you were dead. I guess he couldn't be that lucky, huh?"

"No, he could not!" the Swine replies, irritated. He continues to fight Bucky, but is frustrated that he is unable to gain any
ground. "Where is the Black Talon?!" he thinks to himself. "Why did he not answer my summons?!"

Let's just find out, shall we? For, below them, the Black Talon is hard at work on what he believes will be his magnum opus.
On a bed of spikes lies another self-proclaimed "artist", as four hefty guards are pulling his limbs in four different directions. His
screams of agony are penetrating the halls of the dungeon, bringing terror to all of the prisoners who are waiting in line for their
"turn"!

"You fancy yourself an artist?!" the Black Talon exclaims, holding up a copy of the "artist's" latest work in his hand. He rips it in
half in front of him. "Trash! This is not art! Nor is it literature! This is garbage, made to appeal to lower level intellects! It truly
astounds me that the likes of you could reach such a large following with such an inferior work. Do not worry, I am prepared
to enlighten you with more inspiration than you could ever imagine!"

"The...pain..." the artist groans, even as he feels his body being torn apart at the sockets, while there is pain in every part of his
body, that explodes through all of his nerves at once.

"Of course," the Black Talon comments. "It is easy for you to 'write' such drivel, but it is another matter to be subjected to
something real, is it not? Well, your time is nearly up." With that, the Black Talon races his brush across the canvas, as the
nearly completed portrait takes on greater life. "Yes!" the Black Talon exclaims with pride. "The portrait reflects the sheer
beauty of my craft!" the Black Talon cackles madly, as he continues to let his artistic abilities flow into the monstrosity that he
enjoys above all others. "Already, I can tell," he says with a mad glee. "This will be the finest of my paintings. Hector will be
overwhelmed by my genius! This work must be displayed prominently...in all of the finest galleries of the world. Yes, yes!"

The Black Talon notices that his subject is near death, and so paints with greater urgency, not wanting to miss a single moment
of the piece he is working on so feverishly. The Black Talon finishes just as he hears the final death throws of his subject. He
picks up the still-wet masterwork, taking it over to the mortally wounded subject.

"You are dead, but not yet!" the Black Talon comments. "It will take a few seconds for the message to reach your brain. Just in
time for you to see-in the last instant of your life-TRUE ART!" With that, the Black Talon holds up the portrait to his subject,
who sees his own death before his terrified eyes, as the life passes from his body. "Fool!" the Black Talon utters derisively. "He
could not take true art! I am not surprised."

Then, the sinister artist, holding the canvas in his hand, hears the familiar sound. "That is Hector!" the Black Talon comments.
He then turns to the guards, who back up slightly, taken aback by his madness and rage. "Dispose of that talentless cretin! I
must go! It will be a day or two before I will paint again!" With that, the Black Talon rushes up the stairs-to the relief of the
guards he is leaving behind. He throws open the door, and sees that Bucky and the Swine are engaged in a swordfight!

"Bucky!" he exclaims, surprised. "What are you doing here?! And alive?!"

"Yeah, I guess we're all full of surprises!" Bucky remarks, sending out a thrust of his own, which is barely blocked by the
Swine.

"Had I not told you, my friend?" the Swine remarks, blocking another of Bucky's thrusts, although the impact pushes him back.
Sweat is beading on his brow, his skill tested to the very limit against Bucky. "He returned some time ago."*

{* In the classic Captain America Comics #100! I should know! I wrote it!}

"Well, I shall be too happy to send him back to the grave!" the Black Talon comments.

"Gee, that's really swell of you, Talon," Bucky responds, as he kicks the Swine in the stomach, doubling him over. He then
sends the handle of the blade across his opponent's head, knocking him to the floor! "But, it's easier to say you can do
something than to actually do it! Isn't that right, Swiney? Besides, I heard that you were dead too!"

"Yes, I can see how your foolish mentor believed me dead after my fall into the boiling liquids," the Black Talon comments.
"But, I crawled out shortly after he departed. I have developed heightened endurance over the years, due to the process that
gave me my hand! It was shortly after that when I found my old friend, Hector."

{* In Captain America Comics #93 (another classic, of course)}

"Yes, my death* was likewise exaggerated!" the Swine comments, getting to his feet. "But, I chose to build my empire slowly.
These prisoners are my slaves. When they do not do what I command, my friend is all too happy to...deal with them."

{In Captain America #208 (April, 1977). An even bigger classic; but, hey, it was done by Kirby!}

"I should tell you both that I've already summoned SHIELD," Bucky says, pointing to the transmitter on his belt's star. "Your
game is up!"

"As is yours!" the Black Talon exclaims, leaping over to Bucky. He tackles Bucky, and the two grapple. "I have long wanted to
do your portrait!" he exclaims, holding Bucky tightly around the neck. "How it would please me to paint your last
moments...which would be spent in abject agony!"

"His super-strength hasn't faded any over the years," Bucky thinks to himself, while holding onto the Black Talon's wrists, trying
to pry his hands free. Then, Bucky swings his feet forward, slamming them into the Black Talon's mid-section, doubling him
over and sending him to his knees. This also causes him to drop Bucky.

"That's one portrait you'll never be able to paint, you fiend!" Bucky exclaims. "Your idea of fun and mine are two different
things! You tried it on me once,* and then again with me and Toro,** but I don't want to be in any art treasure...especially if it
means I've got to die first!"

{* In the brilliant Captain America Comics #9 (December, 1941)}

{** In the Black Talon's second appearance, in Young Allies #2 (Winter, 1942)}

"I gave you no choice," the Black Talon objects, sweeping his leg forward under Bucky's, throwing him off-balance. "You will
simply die, as you are supposed to...and supply the world with an example of my artistic genius!"

"That's not in the game plan," Bucky replies, blocking an intended blow to the head with a forearm. "At least not in mine!
Besides, I think I can do the world a lot better alive than in one of your macabre galleries!"

"Change your 'game plan', fool!" the Black Talon exclaims, kicking Bucky in the stomach, doubling him over. He then connects
to the back of Bucky's head with a two-fisted blow that sends Bucky's to his knees, his head reeling.

"Umm," Bucky thinks to himself, as he re-gains his composure. "I can't let him hit me like that again. He nearly took my head
off. If I hadn't moved at the last minute, I'd be in deep trouble right now."

Bucky leaps onto his hands, flipping backwards, sending up both of his feet into the Black Talon's chin, driving him back! "Say,
didn't you say you fell into a boiling pit?!" Bucky taunts, as he flips forward, landing on his feet in one fluid motion. "I couldn't
tell the difference! I would say that the years haven't been too kind to you, but you were always ugly as...!"

"ENOUGH!" the Black Talon interjects, squaring off against Bucky. "Your antics will gain you nothing!"

Suddenly, the building shakes, and the Talon is thrown off-balance! "Who is that?!" he demands, getting back to his feet.
Before he can do so, however, Bucky is upon him. Bucky slams his foot into the Black Talon’s face, driving his head back
violently! Then, he continues his unceasing assault with another blow, this time to the mid-section, a punishing blow that sends
his foe flying across the room, smashing with tremendous force into the wall!

"Look, my friend!" the Swine exclaims, pointing outside, as the Black Talon gets up to face Bucky again. "They are here! Nick
Fury and his accursed SHIELD agents!" He throws up his fist in disgust. Soon, they will overrun the prison!"

"Then, we must escape, as per our plan!" the Black Talon agrees, kicking Bucky out of the way. He slams his foot into Bucky's
chest, driving him back with tremendous force, as the two villains disappear through a secret panel hidden behind the Swine's
wall library! Bucky gets up and rushes over to the wall, pounding on it in frustration!

"They had to get out of here somehow!" he says, agitated. He looks around the room for some clue. "There must be a secret
lever hidden somewhere, that they used to operate the passageway. Maybe on the Swine's desk?"

Rushing over to the Swine's desk, Bucky looks around fruitlessly for a clue as to where he could have gone. Then, he notices a
bust of Cortez on the desk. Bucky brushes up against it, and the head tilts back, revealing a red button. Bucky smiles. "This
must be my lucky day!" Pushing the button, he sees that the passageway opens itself up once again. He darts into it, hearing
gunfire rock the building.

Bucky continues in pursuit of the villains. It is dark, but there is a series of hurricane lamps on the walls, lighting the passage,
leading downward. It is musty and damp, and the humidity makes Bucky sweat. He marvels at the underground tunnel system,
held up with strong support beams. Bucky quickly catches sight of the villains, running down a corridor. It is an underground
cavern, and the sounds of the river can be heard pounding against it.

"I do not like retreating this way!" the Swine protests. "We should have been aware of that meddling upstart's presence here
sooner! Now, it seems that we will have to re-build all over again!"

"I can understand your hesitance, my friend," the Black Talon responds, even as they continue running. "But, there is really no
choice. With SHIELD taking over, and our forces defeated, there is nothing else we can do!" They rush forward, down
another corridor, where they can feel the cool air from the river 200 feet below, as they rush past an opening in the cavern wall.

"No matter," the Swine concedes. "We will soon reach our boat. With it, we can leave this place. Of course, we will also have
to delay killing Bucky, which is unfortunate as well."

"Did you order the art pieces delivered to our boat?" the Black Talon asks anxiously.

"Yes, I did," the Swine answers. "Those treasures could not be left behind for Fury and his group of cretins!"

"Well, well," Bucky calls out, rushing in behind the two villains. "It looks like we have two fleeing felons here!" With that, he
leaps forward, tackling the Swine and bringing him to the ground, hard! A quick jab to the jaw brings him to the edge of the
cliff. The sounds of the river can be heard below, as it breaks against a cluster of rocks.

"You young fool!" the Black Talon exclaims, backhanding Bucky, and sending him flying dangerously near the cliff. "You will
not stop our escape!"

"Actually, you won't be escaping!" Bucky counters, getting to his feet.

"Oh, won't we?" the Black Talon demands, rushing over towards Bucky, who flips up, smashing his feet into the Black Talon's
mid-section, driving him back.

"No, you won't!" Bucky exclaims, as he belts Black Talon across the face with a blow that would instantly put down a normal
man! But, the Black Talon is not a normal man, by any definition of that term. He shakes off the blow, and returns to the fight.

"Ha!" the Swine exclaims, grabbing Bucky from behind and holding him in a bear hug. "Finish him, Pascal!"

"Yes, one blow should do it!" the Black Talon agrees, as he swings forward! However, Bucky ducks under the blow, and it
hits the Swine squarely in the jaw, sending him back over the edge of the cliff, heading for the waters and the jagged rocks
below! It is dark, and they are unable to see where the Swine landed.

"Good job, BT!" Bucky comments sarcastically, even as he slams his elbow into the Black Talon's chin, driving him back. "I
couldn't have done any better myself!"

"You fool!" the Black Talon exclaims bitterly. "If Hector is dead...!"

"I'll try to remember that when I try to sleep at night!" Bucky counters, blocking a blow that was headed for his face, a blow
that he knows would have taken his head off!

"I will brook no more of your insolence!" the Black Talon exclaims, grazing Bucky in the face, and driving him to the edge of
the cliff once more! The Black Talon is upon him, holding him against the cliff's edge, while trying to squeeze the very life out of
his throat! "Although you have cost us our empire, and perhaps Hector's life, you will die now!"

"I don't...think...so!" Bucky utters, barely audibly. At that time, Nick Fury, Dum Dum, Gabe Jones, and Jasper Sitwell rush into
the clearing. Bucky continues his movement forward, kicking the Black Talon in the chest...sending him flying forward! Even as
the Black Talon is in the air, Nick and his men open fire on him! The force of Bucky's kick sends the fiend over the edge of the
cliff!

Bucky gets up slowly, rubbing his neck. "Whew!" he comments. "I wouldn't want to go through that every day!"

"Hey, kid," Dum Dum remarks. "Where's the Swine?"

"How'd you know it was the Swine?" Bucky asks, walking over to them.

"The natives," Sitwell responds. "They proved to be most helpful to us after we received your signal. It was a simple matter to
deduce..."

"Yeah, yeah," Dum Dum remarks. "You eggheads are all the same!"

"Get back to the old walrus' question, Barnes," Nick Fury interjects. "Where's the Swine, and what's the Black Talon's stake in
all of this?"

"The Swine went the way of the Black Talon," Bucky replies.

"Too bad," Gabe responds, getting out his trumpet. "I wanted to show him real art!"

"Yeah, well," Bucky replies, shaking his head. "I think I've seen enough art to last me a while. Besides, Gabe, I don't think he'd
like your kind of art. You should see the kind of grisly stuff he does like. The Black Talon was his torturer!"

"Somehow, that makes sense," Nick comments. "He had plenty of 'subjects' here. These are some'a the meanest bunch of
criminals you ever saw!"

"And the Swine called them his slaves!" Bucky remarks. "Just think! I wonder how long it took for him to break their wills!"

"I don't know," Nick comments. "But, I guess they didn't want to be put on the Talon's table."

"Can't say I blame them for that!" Dum Dum chimes in.

"Let's head upstairs," Nick says to Bucky and his men. "We'll get the boys to drag up their bodies."

"Yeah, that sounds good," Bucky replies. "Besides, we need to shoot across the border so I can get my payment!"

"The usual?" Dum Dum asks.

"And how!" Bucky replies enthusiastically. "The food here stinks! Maybe the poor bums were so starved they couldn't resist!"

"Perhaps," Sitwell adds. "There have been studies to suggest that..."

"Sure, sure," Dum Dum interjects. "I'm with Bucky. All this talk's makin' me hungry too!"

"All right, all right," Fury says, mocking annoyance. "You two can't go five minutes without some food! I don't know why I put
up with ya!"

"That's funny, Fury," Bucky jokes. "I was just wondering the same thing-why we put up with you!"

THE END...FOR NOW.

This series is respectfully dedicated to Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, without whom we wouldn't have comics as we know and love them today! For their many creations, these two cannot receive enough honors.

BUCKY GRAMS

I have one letter to print, and I'll get to it in a moment, but I'd just like to say that it was a blast to write Bucky. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to do so again in the near future. In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoyed this series, and that everyone can see (that didn't already realize) how viable Bucky can be in Cap continuity. I look forward to your comments, as always, at my e-mail address mail to: jx2melton@aol.com.

Bucky #1 was a pretty good lead-off issue to a mini-series that looks promising. The dialogue exchange between Bucky and
Nick Fury was pretty believable. I know that they were only tossing barbs at each other, but who do you believe would be the
better fighter? I would take Fury, since he's pretty close to Cap's level anyway. Even Cap wouldn't have an easy win over
Fury.

How old is Bucky? Is he still in his early teens? Probably not, since he was at the bar. I'd estimate his age to be in his early
20's. Am I right?

The fight scene was well written. Anyone who fought beside Cap wouldn't have too much trouble with a bunch of drunk
Mexicans. This came off as believable.

This business at the prison looks sinister. I can't guess what's going on here, but I guess I'll know next issue. A fine first issue.

Joe Christiano

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Bucky's a great character, who certainly deserves his own mini-series. As for your questions: 1) I would think a fight between Bucky and Nick Fury would be a tough one. Nick is pretty close to Cap's level, as you suggested, and a grown-up Bucky wouldn't be too far off either. I think it could go either way. 2) Bucky's age. I'd say that Bucky was 13 or 14 when he became Bucky in 1941. Now, by Marvel's retconned continuity (where he perished in 1945), that would make him 17 or 18 (not that it would prevent him from drinking where he was drinking in #1, probably). However, I'm using the non-retcon continuity of the Golden Age, where Bucky was still active until 1949.That would put his age at 22 or 23, which is where I see him, personally. Again, I hope everyone enjoyed the ride. Thanks to Barry and Mark for giving me the opportunity.

Jeff Melton
 

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