In this issue, we meet Steve Rogers's new superhero identity, which he doesn't adopt until halfway through the comic but is spoiled nonetheless on the cover and the splash page. (Sigh.) Note the language in the exposition below—"the rubble that is politics, 1974"—not far from the language used today. His current disillusionment with politics and... Continue Reading →
In this issue we meet the Golden Avenger, a familiar-looking fella who seems to have it out for Steve Rogers (and also seems to know he used to be Captain America, hmm). But there's more to this encounter than meets the eye, and it ends up changing Steve's views on being a costumed hero. Also,... Continue Reading →
The two issues represent the beginning of Steve Rogers's "retirement," after the pivotal issue #176 in which he decided, after much pointless advice from his friends, to give up being Captain America out of disillusionment with the American government. Much of these two issues is taken up by the Falcon's battle with a bad guy... Continue Reading →
This two-parter represents Captain America's second appearance in a Marvel team-up title, this time in the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing's book Marvel Two-in-One. This story also fits in between Captain America #175 and 176, after he had learned the extent of the Secret Empire's reach into the highest echalons of the American government, but before he... Continue Reading →
These three issues of Avengers fall between Captain America #125 and #126—that is, between the end of the "Secret Empire" storyline, in which he was confronted with how high corruption could go in the American government, and the beginning of the next storyline, in which... well, I won't spoil that for you. As such, the... Continue Reading →
This is perhaps the most pivotal and significant issue we've covered yet on this blog, encapsulating so many problems that Captain America has struggled with, not only since the beginning of the "Secret Empire" storyline (in issue #169) but ever since emerging from the ice as a "man out of time" in Avengers #4. Also,... Continue Reading →
These two issues close out the "Secret Empire" storyline, as all is revealed, including the identity of the evil organization's leader. This leads to a different kind of existential crisis for Captain America that culminates in the next issue and will be traced out throughout the next extended storyline. At the end of issue #173,... Continue Reading →
We have been covering the classic "Secret Empire" storyline since issue #169, and having established the main theme—Captain America struggling against an America turned against him by a coordinated media campaign and becoming an outlaw and fugitive from justice, no big deal—these two issues reveal the identity of his true foes, and introduces to... Continue Reading →
For the first time I am covering one month's issues of Captain America and Avengers together, because the Avengers issue has only a brief appearance of our hero, which seems to take place during the issue of Cap's own book. At the end of the last issue, Cap was in jail after being defeated by... Continue Reading →
This issue sees the "Secret Empire" storyline continue at full speed as Quentin Harderman and the Committee to Regain America's Principles (aka CRAP) pursue their plot, seen at the end of the last issue, to set Captain America up for murder. We also meet the true murderer, Moonstone (see on the cover to the right),... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 