This issue of Captain America completes the third trilogy in the "Fighting Chance" arc that details Captain America's deteriorating health as his super-soldier serum breaks down. Here, Cap-with-Pouches, Diamondback, and new hero Free Spirit (Cathy Webster) are fighting their way out of Baron Zemo's castle, with the last issue ending with Cap barely escaping one... Continue Reading →
Captain America #431, Avengers #378, and The Incredible Hulk #421 (September 1994)
This issue of Captain America launches a new three-part storyline under the broader "Fighting Chance" arc that began in issue #425, following the decline of Steve Rogers' health as his super-soldier serum breaks down. Here we meet a new character (seen as the cover), inspired by Captain America, who will eventually help him accommodate his... Continue Reading →
Captain America Annual #13 (1994)
This annual contains two stories, each significant for its own reasons. The first is a Roy Thomas-penned extravaganza involving all the Captains America to date, including the two he introduced in What If? #4 to clear up the appearances of Cap and Bucky in the Golden Age comics after their early 1945 deaths (a concept ... Continue Reading →
Marvel Holiday Special 1994
This Marvel stocking stuffer not only features a very poignant short story about Captain America by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake—who collaborated on a fantastic Spectre run earlier in the decade, as well as much other amazing work by each—but also a beautiful George Pérez cover (as you see to the right or above). The... Continue Reading →
Captain America #429 and Quasar #60 (July 1994)
This issue continues the storyline in which Captain America faces off against the Americop, a man presuming to be a police officer who takes the law into his own hands (or the Punisher with a badge, real or not). At the same time, Cap is dealing with his diminishing strength and stamina as the super-soldier... Continue Reading →
Captain America #426-427 (April-May 1994)
These two issues complete the tale of the mysterious new Super-Patriot posing as Captain America to ruin his reputation—alongside another person, Dead Ringer, who duplicates the appearance and abilities of dead villains—as well as the opening story in the longer "Fighting Chance" arc about Cap's deteriorating physical condition as the super-soldier serum in his system... Continue Reading →
Iron Man #302-304 (March-May 1994)
These three issues of Iron Man are part of the "Crash & Burn" storyline, in which Tony Stark has to defend himself and Stark Enterprises against allegations of illegal behavior due to Stane International, which Stark absorbed as part of a bad deal with Justin Hammer (in issue #283). Over six issues, Tony faces a... Continue Reading →
Captain America: The Medusa Effect #1 (March 1994)
This oversized one-shot (64 pages!), written by Invaders scribe Roy Thomas, is a fairly routine wartime adventure that takes place in January 1943 and fleshes out the backstory of both Barons Zemo—and the complex woman behind them. Our story begins with Captain America and Bucky sneaking into an apartment and fighting Nazis they find there,... Continue Reading →
Captain America #424 (February 1994)
This is the last issue of Captain America before the game-changing "Fighting Chance" storyline begins, and it sees our hero reunite with Diamondback at long last... as well as one of her former Serpent Society colleagues, in a story that reminds me of classic Spider-Man tales in which a member of his rogues gallery is... Continue Reading →
Avengers #368-369, West Coast Avengers #101, X-Men #26, and Uncanny X-Men #307 (November-December 1993)
These five comics comprise the "Bloodties" storyline, a crossover event that commemorated the 30th anniversary of both the Avengers and the X-Men. The huge cast of this story necessarily minimizes Captain America's role (other than many impressive heroic poses), but a central theme of the Avengers aspect of the story deals with the obligations under... Continue Reading →