This issue launches a new storyline, "The Extremists," as Captain America begins a new life without a secret identity while uncovering more and more secrets within SHIELD. It also incorporates a perspective on the history of America that is too seldom mentioned in the comic that includes its name, but which is essential to appreciating... Continue Reading →
Avengers #59-61 (December 2002-February 2003)
The first two of these three issues wrap up the "World Trust" storyline begun in the last two, in which massive portals have opened popped up around the world and swallowed world capitals, while the third serves both as an epilogue to that story and a preview of the next major storyline that begins in... Continue Reading →
Avengers #57-58 and X-Treme X-Men #18 (October-November 2002)
With these two issues—the first half of the "World Trust" storyline—we see a new writer for Avengers, Geoff Johns, who soon afterwards will become a mainstay at DC Comics on titles such as Infinite Crisis, JSA, and Green Lantern. This storyline casts a welcome spotlight on Sam Wilson, but also spends a lot of time... Continue Reading →
Captain America #4 (September 2002)
This issue begins the second half of the first storyline of volume 4 of Captain America, following our hero's surprise revelation at the end of the last issue of his secret identity. He did this in the process of admitting guilt for the death of the terrorist Faysal al-Tariq, primarily so that other terrorist groups... Continue Reading →
Captain America #2 (July 2002)
This issue continues the story on terrorism that began in the first issue of this fourth volume of Captain America, with our hero intervening in a hostage situation in the small American town of Centerville, which prompts some thoughtful insights about the nature of evil and war. Even though he had feet on the ground by... Continue Reading →
Avengers #45-46 and Thor: Godstorm #1 (October-November 2001)
These two issues continue the "Kang Dynasty" storyline that began in issue #41, and which Cap has relatively little to do with (even compared to other Avengers tales). Part of this is explained by his first appearance in issue #45, where we see he is recovering from the injuries he sustained in issue #43 while... Continue Reading →
Captain America #47-48 (November-December 2001)
These two issues complete the storyline that began in issue #45, dealing with the Red Skull's latest attempt to defeat America by exploiting its racial tensions, all against the backdrop of Captain America's friends and allies gathering for a funeral. As issue #47 opens, it is Earth's Mightiest Heroes who assemble in honor of a... Continue Reading →
Captain America #45-46 and U.S.Agent #2-3 (September-October 2001)
These two issues of Captain America start off a four-part story detailing the Red Skull's latest attempt to overthrow American democracy by stirring up racial hatred. We also have two issues from the second U.S.Agent miniseries, featuring some good interaction between Walker and Cap. Not bad for this blog's 600th post! With respect to the... Continue Reading →
Avengers #38-44 and Annual 2001 (March-September 2001)
These issues herald a new era for Earth's Mightiest Heroes and their book, as Captain America returns to the team full-time, and writer Kurt Busiek is joined by the legendary team of Alan Davis and Mark Farmer on pencils and inks (respectively) for the first six issues, the last three of which also launch "The... Continue Reading →
Captain America #33 and Spider-Woman #15 (September 2000)
With this issue, we welcome the Falcon back to the title and meet a very modern (circa 2000) threat, all while building up to Captain America's confrontation with the starry-eyed fella behind him on the cover, who was introduced behind the scenes in issue #28 and will receive the spotlight in the upcoming annual. (We'll... Continue Reading →