These two issues comprise the penultimate episode in the Red Skull's most recent campaign against Captain America, which began in issue #290. The first issue is mostly the Red Skull recounting his origin story to Cap, whose reactions and responses are of more interest to us, and the battle itself starts in the second (culminating... Continue Reading →
This issue sees the Red Skull, Mother Superior, and Baron Zemo continue their psychological campaign against Captain America. Specifically, Cap finally faces off with Mother Superior—and, in the process, discovering who her father is—and Nomad comes to an astonishing realization (more than hinted at on the cover). You'll no doubt remember that, at the end... Continue Reading →
This issue reintroduces a character from way back when (and possibly earlier), about whom Nomad has doubts. I won't reveal now whether or not the character or any doubts about him contributed to Nomad's poor state of affairs on the issue's cover to your right, but our young friend does rub Captain America the wrong... Continue Reading →
In this post, we're looking at the entire 12-issue Secret Wars series, the first major line-wide crossover event in comics, which expanded significantly on the model of 1982's Contest of Champions and cast the mold for the subsequent annual crossover event comics at both Marvel and DC. (You can read more on the origin and... Continue Reading →
This issue follows up on the final panels of issue #290, when a strange bird surprised Captain America and Nomad; here, we learn the secret behind the bird as we are introduced to a new character who, for a short time, was poised to assume a prominent role in the Marvel Universe. Whether he does... Continue Reading →
This fill-in issue follows up on two previous stories, way back in Tales of Suspense #83 and Captain America #169, all wrapped up in a cover by John Byrne, which seems like an homage to Jack Kirby's cover to Tales of Suspense #76, albeit with the Tumbler—or a Tumbler—in place of his conceptual cousin, Batroc... Continue Reading →
This issue sets up the storyline which will take us through issue #300 (after a quick fill-in next issue), and deals mainly with the private lives of Steve Rogers and his friends. It introduces one character (Seen on the striking cover by John Byrne) who will become a very important figure in coming years, as... Continue Reading →
These three issues are as much (if not more) about Deathlok, cyborg super-soldier from a dystopian near-future, as they are about Captain America, so we can discuss them as a group. As the best writers do, J.M. DeMatteis finds the humanity inside this sci-fi tale of cyborgs and time travel, and connects the events to... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 