This second issue of the miniseries Blood and Glory opens after Frank Castle's apparent assassination of Captain America at the end of the first issue, as Cap was gradually uncovering a government conspiracy involving drugs, guns, and General Navatilas, the dictator of the (fictional) South American country of Medisuela, whom forces in the American government... Continue Reading →
This three-part miniseries brings Captain America and the Punisher together for their first substantial team-up, having occasionally encountered each other in passing since they first met in Captain America #241. They don't actually meet in this first issue, although Frank definitely has an impact on Cap by the end—we do, however, get some fascinating thoughts... Continue Reading →
These three annuals—plus Fantastic Four Annual #25, in which Captain America does not appear—comprise the "Citizen Kang" storyline, in which the master time manipulator puts the various heroes through their paces before bringing them together at the end for a grand showdown. (Sadly, he does not escape at the end on his time-sled Rosebud.) Most... Continue Reading →
In this issue, Captain America searches (again) for Rachel Leighton, aka Diamondback, whom he dismissed at the beginning at issue #365 to work with the Avengers in dealing with all the Acts of Vengeance just starting up at the time. Now that he's done, and before the next line-wide crossover begins, it's time to find... Continue Reading →
This issue sees Captain America visit Madison, Wisconsin, to investigate anti-immigrant activity and to visit a certain Bernie Rosenthal... and guess who else shows up? Yes, it's John Walker, Super-Patriot, seen on the cover fighting the Sentinel of Liberty—and revealing his true power level in the process. Plus: The government starts looking into a certain... Continue Reading →
These three issues are as much (if not more) about Deathlok, cyborg super-soldier from a dystopian near-future, as they are about Captain America, so we can discuss them as a group. As the best writers do, J.M. DeMatteis finds the humanity inside this sci-fi tale of cyborgs and time travel, and connects the events to... Continue Reading →
This issue comes soon after two pivotal events in the life of Tony Stark: falling off the wagon in issue #167, then giving up the Iron Man armor and identity to his pilot Jim Rhodes at the end of issue #169. Both lead into a protracted story, lasting through issue #200 and inspiring much of... Continue Reading →
This issue leads off a three-issue storyline that welcomes back several old foes as well as one previous identity, as you can see on the cover, although it's a mystery who's under the mask. More exciting, at least for me, this issue introduces one of my favorite Captain America writers, J.M. DeMatteis, to the title.... Continue Reading →
This well-timed anniversary issue, published just several months before the 1980 United States presidential election, deals with an obvious hypothetical: Should Captain America be president? I actually dealt with this issue years ago when the Ultimate Universe version of Cap actually did become president in his world, but in a very different political context—there, the... Continue Reading →
This issue of Captain America marks the end of the story about the National Front that began in issue #231, and finally reveals the identity of its leader, the Grand Director. It also finishes Daredevil's three-issue guest appearance, including the answer to the most pressing question of 1979: Can DD actually fly a plane? The... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 