This is a wild story that brings together the four men who have served as Captain America at this point in time. It is a spiritual successor to Jack Kirby's magisterial Bicentennial Battles from 1976, in which the enigmatic Mister Buda sent Captain America on a time-traveling adventure; it also capitalizes on Roy Thomas's exercise... Continue Reading →
Captain America #275 and Marvel Fanfare #5 (November 1982)
This issue of Captain America revisits a number of recent storylines as well as an important topic raised in issue #269, one that remains all too relevant in the real world of today. (Cap also had a short story in the anthology title Marvel Fanfare this month that makes a valuable point, but very simply,... Continue Reading →
Avengers #224-227, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16, The Incredible Hulk #277-279, and Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3 (October 1982-January 1983)
These four issues of Avengers contain little Captain America content, ethically interesting or otherwise: The first reveals a new relationship within the Avengers, about which Cap has opinions; the next two contain an adventure in 12th century Avalon with the Black Knight; and the last one regards the new Captain Marvel, introduced in the Amazing... Continue Reading →
Avengers Annual #11, The Incredible Hulk Annual #11, and Marvel Two-in-One #92 and Annual #7 (October 1982)
This post is somewhat of a grab-bag, centered on Avengers Annual #11, written by then-regular Captain America and Defenders writer J.M. DeMatteis, followed by a few panels from assorted other Cap appearances that month, including two other annuals. (The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 from the same month—which introduced Monica Rambeau, the new Captain Marvel—is covered... Continue Reading →
Captain America #273-274 (September-October 1982)
This two-parter by regular fill-in writer David Anthony Kraft reunites Captain America with Nick Fury and his Howlin' Commandos from World War II to face a common enemy they assumed was dead—and in the end, they lose one of their own. Issue #273 opens with Cap meeting old friends and making new ones, all the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #272 (August 1982)
This issue welcomes Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, back into the book that for several years bore his name, in a story that features him and Captain America on separate adventures that test both heroes' resolve and composure in similar ways. We begin with our title hero riding in the rain through "the black heart... Continue Reading →
Avengers #221-222 (July-August 1982)
These issues are heavy on humor but light on ethically interesting content regarding Captain America, so we'll dispense with them fairly quickly. Issue #221 is a recruitment drive story, as made obvious by the cover and the opening splash page. After declaring their optimal number of members to be six, Janet asks "the boys" what... Continue Reading →
Captain America #271 (July 1982)
This issue—written by David Kraft, who wrote the Spider-Man team-up in issues #265-266, and featuring similar over-the-top dialogue and exposition—is situated in the world of professional wrestling, which turns out to be a passion of Bernie Rosenthal's but is completely alien to Steve Rogers. (Whether you're more like Bernie or Steve in this respect, you'll... Continue Reading →
Fantastic Four #243-244 and Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 and #3 (June-August 1982)
These four issues feature Captain America and his fellow Avengers alongside the Fantastic Four, plus (supposedly) every other Marvel hero at the time in Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions, the company's very first miniseries (or "limited series" as they were called then). In Fantastic Four #243, the Avengers find themselves in a mansion with... Continue Reading →
Captain America #270 (June 1982)
In this issue, we learn the identity of the man we saw briefly in issue #268, who actually represents a milestone in Marvel Comics history, and has a fascinating connection to Captain America. Also, we see Bernie Rosenthal being a hero in her own right (and in her own way). We begin with Steve and... Continue Reading →