This issue is the first of two "day in the life" issues, with Captain America dealing with more down-to-earth problems in both his professional and personal lives. But this shouldn't be taken to suggest that these are easy days for him—this is an incredibly heavy issue of Captain America, with plenty of emotional turmoil for... Continue Reading →
Iron Man #172 (July 1983)
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 →
Avengers #233-234 and Fantastic Four #256 (July-August 1983)
Despite the threat of Annihilus that brings the Fantastic Four into our story (however briefly), these issues are more "slice of life" stories as far as Captain America and this blog are concerned, so this will be a brief post. (More time to catch up on any you might have missed!) Avengers #233 opens with... Continue Reading →
Avengers #231-232 (May-June 1983)
As is typical during this period of Avengers, these two issues have spotty Captain America content, especially of the ethically interesting variety, but we nonetheless find things to talk about, usually in the form of meaningful interpersonal moments between Cap and his teammates. In issue #231, Avengers past and present are gathered in memory of... Continue Reading →
Captain America #281 (May 1983)
With this issue we begin a three-part storyline featuring Captain America fighting the menace of Viper—originally known as Madame Hydra when introduced in issue #110—and the return of an old enemy who wants to turn over a new leaf, which is the more important aspect of these issues as far as we're concerned. (Oh, and... Continue Reading →
Marvel Team-Up #128 (April 1983)
This issue of Spider-Man's team-up book ties into the current storyline in the Captain America title even more than usual, thanks to J.M. DeMatteis having written both. Specifically, Cap has a heart-to-heart talk with S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Gail Runciter that will be referenced in his own book, making this comic an important part of DeMatteis's run... Continue Reading →
Captain America #279 and Marvel Team-Up #127 (March 1983)
This issue of Captain America wraps up the dangling storyline from the battle with Baron Zemo the Younger that ended in the last issue: namely, the one where Cap has to stop the shapeshifting creature Primus from stealing his life, starting with romancing his girlfriend, Bernie Rosenthal. After Cap deals with Primus, he has to... Continue Reading →
Avengers #228-230 (February-April 1983)
These three issues wrap up the tale of Hank Pym's struggles since issue #212, and even if Captain America is only tangentially involved in this, we still see plenty of him, especially as he gives emotional support and encouragement to his fellow Avengers. Here's the opening splash page of issue #228, just to remind you... Continue Reading →
Captain America #278 and Marvel Two-in-One #96 (February 1983)
This issue of Captain America concludes the storyline with Baron Zemo that started in issue #276, although it leaves one thread to be resolved in the next issue (as we'll see on the final page of the main story). It also wraps up the back-up storyline dealing with Sam Wilson's struggles with his past persona... Continue Reading →
Captain America #277 and Fantastic Four #250 (January 1983)
This issue of Captain America continues the story started in the last issue, after Cap traveled to a castle in Mexico to find his childhood friend Arnie Roth and his boyfriend Michael Bech and was confronted by a number of his enemies, two of whom are presumed to be dead. In the same issue, we... Continue Reading →