These three issues reintroduce another Golden Age Timely Comics hero to the book, and Captain America has a Superman/Captain Marvel moment when he discovers a comic book character with a strikingly familiar origin to his (and I'm not talking about his own portrayal in the Marvel Universe version of Timely Comics). All of this... Continue Reading →
Avengers #154-156 and Super-Villain Team-Up #9 (December 1976-February 1977)
In these four issues, the Avengers get mixed up in the business of Atlantis, an adventure that involves both Namor the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Doom that necessitates a quick crossover with Super-Villain Team-Up (a book in which Cap will appear by himself in the next three issues). Not much Cap in this story, so this... Continue Reading →
Captain America #187-189 and Avengers #137 (July-September 1975)
This post covers the first three of the six issues of Captain America between Steve Englehart's run, which began in issue #153, and Jack Kirby's heralded return to the title with issue #193. Most of them pick up on threads from the end of Englehart's run, particularly the fate of Sam Wilson, revealed by the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #185-186 (May-June 1975)
The spotlight is on the Falcon in these last two issues of Steve Englehart's run (with a co-write from his successor John Warner on issue #186), as the Red Skull reveals secrets about him that will shake both heroes (although we see more of the effects on Captain America, for reasons that will become clear).... Continue Reading →
Captain America #183 (March 1975)
As you can guess from the cover, this is quite the eventful issue, bringing Steve Rogers' time as Nomad to a sudden end in the most painful possible—although less painful for him than for someone else. (Look at me, trying to be coy while it's right there on the cover, beautifully rendered by legendary artist... Continue Reading →
Captain America #181-182 and Avengers #131 (January-February 1975)
These two issues of Captain America—and one page from Avengers #131—show Steve Rogers adapting to his newly chosen role as Nomad, "Man without a Country" as the storyline with Viper and the new Serpent Squad continues, young Roscoe steps into some very big shoes, and a major foe returns. Oddly, the opening splash page to... Continue Reading →
Avengers #110-115 and Captain Marvel #27-28 (April-September 1973)
These half-dozen issues of Avengers (three of which are shown above) and two issues of Captain Marvel (leading to a crossover a year later) do not feature Captain America very heavily, but there are a few meaningful scenes in which he displays some moral wisdom, righteous anger at hatred, and rational suspicion. In issue #110,... Continue Reading →
Captain America #156 (December 1972)
We have reached the conclusion of "The 50s Cap Saga," the storyline which began in issue #153. To summarize (most from the last issue): the Captain America and Bucky from the 1950s, who were cryogenically frozen after they became unhinged and went from fighting Communists to attacking anyone they regarded as not "real Americans," were... Continue Reading →
Captain America #155 (November 1972)
In this installment of the current storyline (which began in issue #153), we finally learn the identity and origin of the "impostor" Captain America and Bucky. Aside from the insights we get into the other Cap's character—as well as "our" Cap's reaction to him, on which more in the next issue—this story is a classic... Continue Reading →
Captain America #149-150 and Incredible Hulk #152 (May-June 1972)
These two issues continue the romantic intrigue of the past storyline, while reintroducing Batroc and a new Stranger (not the old Stranger whom we knew so well e still called him the Stranger). These are the first two of four issues scripted by Gerry Conway, which set the stage for Steve Englehart's legendary run starting... Continue Reading →