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 →
Captain America: Red, White and Blue (2002)
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 →
Captain America #6 (December 2002)
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 →
Captain America #5 (October 2002)
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 →
Captain America #3 (August 2002)
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 →
Captain America #2 (July 2002)
This issue continues the story on terrorism that began in the first issue of this fourth volume of Captain America, with our hero intervening in a hostage situation in the small American town of Centerville, which prompts some thoughtful insights about the nature of evil and war. Even though he had feet on the ground by... Continue Reading →
Captain America #1 (June 2002)
This issue launches the fourth volume of Captain America, this one under the Marvel Knights imprint, which by this point had already featured groundbreaking re-imaginings of Daredevil and Black Panther. The intent was to ground the stories of Captain America more firmly in the real world—and nothing was more current in the United States of... Continue Reading →
Captain America #47-48 (November-December 2001)
These two issues complete the storyline that began in issue #45, dealing with the Red Skull's latest attempt to defeat America by exploiting its racial tensions, all against the backdrop of Captain America's friends and allies gathering for a funeral. As issue #47 opens, it is Earth's Mightiest Heroes who assemble in honor of a... Continue Reading →
Captain America #45-46 and U.S.Agent #2-3 (September-October 2001)
These two issues of Captain America start off a four-part story detailing the Red Skull's latest attempt to overthrow American democracy by stirring up racial hatred. We also have two issues from the second U.S.Agent miniseries, featuring some good interaction between Walker and Cap. Not bad for this blog's 600th post! With respect to the... Continue Reading →
Captain America Annual 2001
This annual is a standalone story that does not occur at any particular time relative to the current run of the title (although it was released the week before issue #47). But it can be placed squarely in real time, given the identification of the U.S. president, George W. Bush, and reference to his just... Continue Reading →