This issue is the first of three that, among other things, introduce a new character named Rage who will play an important part in the title going forward. Also, these issues prominently feature Iron Man, a founding Avenger if not a currently active one, who nonetheless receives the "guest-star" treatment, with prominent cover placement. (And... 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 →
Avengers #323-324 (September-October 1990)
These two issues finish "The Crossing Line," a storyline that began in issue #319, with the Avengers joining with the People's Protectorate (from Russia) and Alpha Flight (from Canada) to face terrorists who hijacked a British nuclear submarine... a situation that, as of the end of the last issue, definitely went south, as shown on... Continue Reading →
Thor #420-421 (August 1990)
These two issues of Thor are part of a larger story called "The Black Galaxy Saga," in which the God of Thunder is called to... well, you know... in response to the latest scheme of the High Evolutionary. The story began in issue #419, where a Replicoid was sent by the Celestials to gather Thor,... 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 →
Avengers #315, West Coast Avengers #56, and Marvel Comics Presents #44 (March 1990)
The issue of Avengers covered here continues the story started in the last issue featuring Sersi and Spider-Man, which ended in a rather apocalyptic fashion with the universe blinking out of existence around our small group of heroes. Also this month, we see Captain America connect with his fellow Invader, the original Human Torch, in... Continue Reading →
Avengers #314 (February 1990)
What's this—an entire post devoted to a single issue of Avengers? No minor appearances in other books connected to a crossover event? Is that even allowed? It is true, my friends (and what a relief): Avengers #314 launches a five-part story that sees Sersi of the Eternals join the Avengers, who are also joined for... Continue Reading →
Avengers #308-310 and Fantastic Four #333 (October-November 1989)
These three issues of Avengers show Captain America and his teammates trying to save their fallen comrade Gilgamesh, so they seek out those in the best position to help: his fellow Eternals. But where are they? And what does it have to do with the Negative Zone and Blastaar, , both Fantastic Four concepts, seen... Continue Reading →
Captain America #358-360 (September-October 1989)
"The Bloodstone Hunt," the story which (barely) began in issue #357, continues in these three issues (and wraps up in the next two), in shorter-than-usual installments to make room for the U.S. Agent back-ups (and the biweekly shipping schedule). Cap doesn't face a lot of significant moral dilemmas here, but it's a cracking fun story... Continue Reading →
Captain America #356-357 (August-September 1989)
These two issues complete the storyline begun in the last, in which Captain America was de-aged to fifteen years old by the Eternal Sersi to go undercover amongst teenage runaways in search of the missing sister of his ex-fiancée Bernie Rosenthal. (Got that?) But before he could look around very much, he was abducted himself... Continue Reading →