This is perhaps the most pivotal and significant issue we've covered yet on this blog, encapsulating so many problems that Captain America has struggled with, not only since the beginning of the "Secret Empire" storyline (in issue #169) but ever since emerging from the ice as a "man out of time" in Avengers #4. Also,... Continue Reading →
These two issues close out the "Secret Empire" storyline, as all is revealed, including the identity of the evil organization's leader. This leads to a different kind of existential crisis for Captain America that culminates in the next issue and will be traced out throughout the next extended storyline. At the end of issue #173,... Continue Reading →
We have been covering the classic "Secret Empire" storyline since issue #169, and having established the main theme—Captain America struggling against an America turned against him by a coordinated media campaign and becoming an outlaw and fugitive from justice, no big deal—these two issues reveal the identity of his true foes, and introduces to... Continue Reading →
For the first time I am covering one month's issues of Captain America and Avengers together, because the Avengers issue has only a brief appearance of our hero, which seems to take place during the issue of Cap's own book. At the end of the last issue, Cap was in jail after being defeated by... Continue Reading →
This issue sees the "Secret Empire" storyline continue at full speed as Quentin Harderman and the Committee to Regain America's Principles (aka CRAP) pursue their plot, seen at the end of the last issue, to set Captain America up for murder. We also meet the true murderer, Moonstone (see on the cover to the right),... Continue Reading →
Although the seeds have been planted for several issues, Captain America #169 sees the classic "Secret Empire" storyline begin in earnest, as Cap feels the effects of the public relations campaign against him... and starts to fight back. Plus: the return of the Tumbler, who is definitely not Batroc the Leaper! Interestingly, the issue starts... Continue Reading →
This issue is a fill-in story, written by Roy Thomas and Tony Isabella before regular writer Steve Englehart's epic "Secret Empire" storyline begins, and it both recaps Captain America's current status and introduces a villain who will become a major player once he truly embraces the family business. (And before you ask, the Phoenix in... Continue Reading →
After the prelude in issue #164, we have here the main three-parter featuring Captain America and the Falcon fighting the Yellow Claw, a Fu Manchu-type villain (see also: the Mandarin) who starred in his own short-lived Atlas comic in the 1950s, who reappeared in the 1960s to fight S.H.I.E.L.D. (including behind the scenes in Strange... Continue Reading →
This issue is a prelude of sorts to a tale that sees Captain America and the Falcon facing the Yellow Claw, a villain from the 1950s who makes an appearance here after being pursued by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. in the pages of Strange Tales. But first, we introduce a new villain to the Marvel... Continue Reading →
In this issue, as the cover indicates, we meet the Serpent Squad, who are actually more imposing than their name suggests (and who become a fixture in the title for many years). More important for our purposes, we also meet a conscientious objector, who butts heads with... well, you may be surprised who. After a... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 