Captain America #351 "Changing of the Guard"
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Breakdowns: Kieron Dwyer
Finishes: Allen Milgrom
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Letterer: Jack Morelli 

Recently returned as leader of the Avengers, Captain America comes across files pertaining to the demise of SHIELD and meets with Peggy Carter to learn of what has become of Nick Fury. Coincidence drives to a SHIELD Central and find Fury, Dum Dum, and Gabe shutting down the main computers. Suddenly the weapons in the armory rum amuck and begin to attack Fury and Cap. Together they put down the machines and destroy the main computer core which is infected with an intelligence, which Cap theorizes is really Machinesmith.

• Continuity Notes
• Cover appearance
• Appearances by Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones and Peggy Carter
• Only a select group of people knew of SHIELD's demise and the reasons why
• References made to Sharon Carter's death and the Nick Fury Vs SHIELD miniseries
• Fury, Dum Dum, and Gabe spent several months following the end of SHIELD closing all its branch offices
• When asked, Fury said he is considering rejoining the CIA or becoming a private eye.
• Reprinted in Captain America: Scourge of the Underworld

Review
Lightweight diversion brings together Fury and Cap following major storylines with serious impact on them both (Fury had just shut SHIELD down and Steve Rogers had returned to his identity as Captain America). The bookends of the issue mainly deal with the various Cap storylines in progress, however the bulk takes place at SHIELD Central where both heroes take another opportunity to fight side by side. The story is fast and fun with a host of familiar faces, however its worth noting that Nick Fury's upbeat mood is in stark contrast to his brooding self in both the miniseries and the title series that would follow. Also continuity is made shaky as Nick Fury's trip around the world shutting down the various SHIELD branch offices clashes with his one year sabbatical in Nova Scotia with Kate. 

Rating: