This issue is one long, elaborate dance, which Remender choreographs beautifully, with everyone playing his or her role to perfection.
We have Shen finding a way to take down "Shocky Dan," the HYDRA goon from last issue, and using his electrical gauntlets to even the odds between him and the Winter Soldier. But, Bucky is Bucky, and he manages to wound Shen, driving him to inject himself with Nick's Infinity Formula to save his life (and allow him to save Mila). But, Bucky is literally shocked to his senses for a moment, sparing Shen's life after memories of Steve talking about mercy for a defeated enemy float to the top of his consciousness. "The Drain" exploits this flicker of a forgotten self, using Bucky's weakened defenses to get past the Soviet's conditioning and trying to get him to kill himself as they fall from the train (as a result of Mila pushing them out the door). Everyone with his or her own weakness and own strength, working with, and against, each other. It's just so well done. In the end, Shen and Mila are on the train when it explodes, and I wonder how much longer Mila is going to be with us. (Remender jettisoned her husband earlier, by having the Drain himself recognize him as dead weight.)
This story will clearly end with Shen at least fueled by the Infinity Formula, if not already on the path to becoming the Iron Nail, all of it flowing organically from the action. Great stuff.
***** (five of five stars)
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