This issue celebrates Captain America's 50th anniversary, based on the March 1941 cover date of Captain America Comics #1. Of course, Cap didn't appear regularly for all of those fifty years, as he acknowledges at one point in the main story—and it wasn't always Steve Rogers wielding the shield—but it's still a notable date to... Continue Reading →
Captain America #381-382 (January-February 1991)
These two issues wrap up the three-part story about the "trial" of Diamondback (aka Rachel Leighton) by the Serpent Society, who accuse of her treason for consorting with Captain America. In the last issue, they convicted her to death, but their former leader Sidewinder appeared before her execution and transported her away. Meanwhile, Cap was... Continue Reading →
Captain America #380 (December 1990)
This issue launches a three-part story featuring Rachel Leighton aka Diamondback, who was mysteriously abducted from outside Avengers Mansion in the last issue... and from the cover it's clear who did it and why. Although much of the issue deals with Rachel and her former crew, there is plenty of Captain America material to cover... Continue Reading →
Captain America #379 (November 1990)
Like last month's Avengers #325, this issue of Captain America bridges a gap, this time between the twice-monthly story, "Streets of Poison," that began in issue #372, and the three-part Diamondback-centered storyline starting in the next issue (with a preview in this issue's back-up, which is touched on at the end of this post). The... Continue Reading →
Captain America Annual #9, West Coast Avengers Annual #5, and Avengers Annual #19 (September 1990)
These three annuals, along with the Iron Man and Thor annuals the same summer, form the five-part storyline "The Terminus Factor," featuring the return of the alien conqueror Terminus, whom we saw Captain America and the Avengers fight in Avengers #257 (although it actually wasn't him... oh, never mind). Most of Cap's relevant appearances in... Continue Reading →
Captain America #376-378 (September-October 1990)
These three issues wrap up the "Streets of Poison" storyline that began in issue #372, which has seen Captain America gradually become more unhinged due to being caught in an explosion in a drug warehouse. At this point, he appears less and less himself in each issue, as well as less and less period, as... Continue Reading →
Captain America #375 (August 1990)
This issue not only continues the "Streets of Poison" storyline begun in issue #372, but it also follows up on Captain America's appearance in Daredevil #283, which took place in middle of Captain America #374. (Got it?) There, Cap and Matt had a deep conversation about the state of America in 1990, but in this... Continue Reading →
Captain America #373-374 (July-August 1990)
These two issues pick up the "Streets of Poison" story begun in the last, which ended with Captain America caught in an explosion in a warehouse where he was investigating a new drug called Ice. We won't see much of the Black Widow, who, as one of the covers above suggests, "meets" Diamondback, but we... Continue Reading →
Captain America #372 and Amazing Spider-Man #335 (July 1990)
This issue of Captain America launches the seven-part "Streets of Poison" storyline, in which Cap tackles the drug war and considers the role that "performance-enhancing drugs" have played in his own life. As a bonus, we get a few panels from a Spider-Man story the same month, in which Peter tries to impress MJ with... Continue Reading →
Captain America #371 (June 1990)
After this pivotal, cataclysmic, universe-shattering issue, nothing will ever be the same... as Steve Rogers and Rachel Leighton, otherwise known as Captain America and Diamondback, go on their first date. ("As friends," wink wink.) A couple of Rachel's friends from the wrong side of the law play chaperone, but not in the way you might... Continue Reading →