Since World War II, when everyone thought he died, Captain America's sidekick, Bucky Barnes, has unwittigly served the Soviets as their deadliest undercover agent, the Winter Soldier. Now, Captain America, on a mission to prevent General Lukin from using a Cosmic Cube to bend reality to his liking, discovers that his friend is still alive in the heat of battle.

An assassin's bullet shakes up the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. in this gripping prose adaptation of the blockbuster Marvel graphic novel. As Captain America, Steve Rogers lived for his country. He was a hero, a patriot, and an inspiration to millions. He embodied the greatest ideals of the United States. But now someone has killed America's greatest hero in cold blood. In the aftermath, Cap's friends and associates are left to pick up the pieces....

Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow and the Falcon, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn.

Captain America works with S.H.I.E.L.D. until his past, long since buried, comes back to haunt him.