This issue launches a new storyline, "The Extremists," as Captain America begins a new life without a secret identity while uncovering more and more secrets within SHIELD. It also incorporates a perspective on the history of America that is too seldom mentioned in the comic that includes its name, but which is essential to appreciating... Continue Reading →
This collection, published on the first anniversary of September 11, featured a number of new stories celebrating Captain America (and, by extension, America itself, I would assume), plus reprinting similar stories from Captain America (vol. 3) #50 (including the tale of his "death"). To be honest, they are a mixed bag, some being more parody... Continue Reading →
These two issues, along with Thor (vol. 2) #58, comprise the "Standoff" storyline (not to be confused with 2016's "Standoff!" storyline that set the stage for the following year's "Secret Empire" event, which was thoroughly discussed in the updated edition of my book). Besides having some touching moments between Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor—not... Continue Reading →
The first two of these three issues wrap up the "World Trust" storyline begun in the last two, in which massive portals have opened popped up around the world and swallowed world capitals, while the third serves both as an epilogue to that story and a preview of the next major storyline that begins in... Continue Reading →
With these two issues—the first half of the "World Trust" storyline—we see a new writer for Avengers, Geoff Johns, who soon afterwards will become a mainstay at DC Comics on titles such as Infinite Crisis, JSA, and Green Lantern. This storyline casts a welcome spotlight on Sam Wilson, but also spends a lot of time... Continue Reading →
This issue wraps up the first arc of the fourth volume of Captain America as our hero has traveled to Dresden to investigate the source of the mysterious and advanced CATtags that have shown up on Middle Eastern terrorists and SHIELD agents alike. Once he got there, at the end of the last issue, he recalled the... Continue Reading →
This issue finds Captain America pondering the nature and purpose of modern warfare, the lengths nations go to advance in war, and the role of military technology—including himself—as the aftermath of his fatal interaction with the terrorist Faysal al Tariq in the small town of Centerville continues. At the end of the last issue, Cap... Continue Reading →
This issue begins the second half of the first storyline of volume 4 of Captain America, following our hero's surprise revelation at the end of the last issue of his secret identity. He did this in the process of admitting guilt for the death of the terrorist Faysal al-Tariq, primarily so that other terrorist groups... Continue Reading →
These two issues of Avengers close out Kurt Busiek's run, which began with the first issue of this volume. The first serves as an epilogue to the epic Kang Dynasty storyline that ended with the last issue, dealing with, among other things, Carol Danvers' court martial hearing for killing the Master and a dedication to a fallen... Continue Reading →
This issues wraps up the first half of the first arc of the fourth volume of Captain America, which began with our hero reacting to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, before moving several months ahead to another incident in the town of Centerville, which we learn in this issue is the location of... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 