These two issues continue the “Kang Dynasty” storyline that began in issue #41, and which Cap has relatively little to do with (even compared to other Avengers tales). Part of this is explained by his first appearance in issue #45, where we see he is recovering from the injuries he sustained in issue #43 while he assures the military brass that it’s merely a flesh wound and he’ll be back in fighting shape in no time.
While physically he may be sidelined, Cap’s strategic mind is as sharp as ever in anticipating Kang’s next moves and the motivations behind them.
Although things look bad with Kang’s impending fullscale invasion of Earth and all, Cap and the Wasp remind the good general that the ends do not justify the means when he suggests a particularly problematic means—and then puts the responsibility on the Avengers to give him a reason not to use it.
By issue #46, Cap is up and around, having shed the head bandages (that may have also been used to cover his torn cowl from Captain America #48).
Cap reports to Janet on preparations for his “squad”—including Jack of Hearts, who joined the team in issue #43—and lays out the dual concerns of fighting Kang and preventing the U.S. government from using their Sentinels.
He continues in familiar leadership mode as he coordinates Tony’s research efforts with their need to meet Kang where he is…
…and remains resolute and optimistic with Jack and the others as Kang makes his position crystal clear.
This storyline will continue in the next Avengers post, but we have one more comics to discuss here. Thor: Godstorm is a three-part miniseries that features homages to the classic Stan Lee/Jack Kirby run on the character, and the first issue guest-stars the mighty Avengers, written in Lee’s inimitable style by current Avengers scribe Kurt Busiek and drawn with Kingly panache by Steve Rude. Below, we see Cap handling crowd control while the team decides how to face… the Weather-Maker!
Rude even replicates some of Kirby’s classic battle poses, such as Cap’s judo-esque move below. (Of course, Carstairs may not have heard of him, given that this story occurs soon after Cap’s defrosting, unless he heard war stories from his parents.)
Cap also reminds Weather-Maker that the Avengers are a team, which makes it five against one…
…and he even rubs it in a bit before throwing his shield (vertically, ugh) and then protecting the villain’s hostage from the backlash.
ISSUE DETAILS
Avengers (vol. 3) #45, October 2001: Kurt Busiek (writer), Manuel Garcia (pencils), Bob Layton (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings and Albert Deschesne (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 3) #46, November 2001: Kurt Busiek (writer), Manuel Garcia (pencils), Bob Layton (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings and Albert Deschesne (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in Avengers Assemble Volume 5.
Thor: Godstorm #1 (November 2001): Kurt Busiek (writer), Steve Rude (pencils), Mike Royer (inks), Gregory Wright (colors), John Costanza (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in Thor: Godstorm.
PREVIOUS ISSUES: Avengers #38-44 (March-September 2001)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #46 and U.S.Agent #3 (October 2001), Captain America/Nick Fury: The Otherworld War (October 2001), Captain America #47 (November 2001), and Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (November 2001).
NEXT ISSUE(S): Avengers #48 and 50 (January and March 2002)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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