This looks like a miniseries about the Avengers fighting the X-Men—and, to be sure, it is—but at its heart it's a story about Magneto and his continued struggle to try to be the hero Charles Xavier believes he is, while protecting mutantkind the only way he knows how (which is not Charles' way). There are... Continue Reading →
Avengers #278-280 (April-June 1987)
These three issues are even lighter on Captain America content than usual. Each focuses on a separate character—the Wasp, Captain Marvel, and Jarvis, respectively—as they consider some major life changes. Issue #278 opens with some not-too-bright burglars trying to loot Avengers Mansion, only to run into the Wasp—and, unfortunately for the one who thought he... Continue Reading →
Captain America #324-325 (December 1986-January 1987)
I'm covering these two issues together because a significant portion of each issue is taken up with the adventures of Nomad (last seen in issue #309), whom Captain America joins up with at the end of the story. More interesting for our purposes is Cap's ongoing confrontation of the fallout from killing an ULTIMATUM agent... Continue Reading →
Avengers #271-272, Alpha Flight #39, Eternals #12, and Power Man and Iron Fist #125 (September-October 1986)
This post covers, in very little detail, the Avengers' underseas adventure with Namor in Avengers and Alpha Flight, as well as Captain America's two minor appearances alongside the team in the final issues of Eternals and Power Man and Iron Fist. (Not a good sign to have the Avengers guest-star in your book, I guess—watch... Continue Reading →
Daredevil #233 (August 1986)
This final issue of the legendary "Born Again" storyline in Daredevil, by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, finds Captain America helping Matt Murdock battle against the Kingpin's final attempt to break him. Although the entire Daredevil story is deservedly heralded as a classic, the portrayal of Captain America in this issue is simply stunning, and... Continue Reading →
Captain America #318 (June 1986)
This issue is the first of three that focus on the story of the Scourge of the Underworld, a mysterious individual who has been killing minor villains across various Marvel titles for the last few months, including Captain America #311, in what was actually an editorial "housecleaning" mechanism designed by editor and current Captain America... Continue Reading →
Captain America #314, Avengers #264, and Secret Wars II #8 (February 1986)
This time around we cover all three of a month's appearances of Captain America in one post: Most of Cap's action in February 1986 occurs in his own title, where he struggles with issues of duty and extradimensional jurisdiction, while he features in just one page of each of this month's Avengers and Secret Wars... Continue Reading →
Captain America #312 (December 1985)
This is a significant issue for a couple reasons. First, we see Captain America get his latest idea for serving the American people off the ground. Second, a new ideologically-based villain name Flag-Smasher is introduced—yep, that's him on the cover—who will be a presence in the book for some time, prompting interesting discussions about nationalism... Continue Reading →
Captain America #310 (October 1985)
In addition to ramping up the Serpent Society storyline that has been slithering behind the scenes of Captain America since Mark Gruenwald took over as writer with issue #307, this issue also features a new development in the artistic career of Steve Rogers, which will comprise most of the coverage in this post (and the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #309 (September 1985)
This issue sees Captain America return to New York City after his adventures in England and California the last four issues, reuniting with his fiancée Bernie Rosenthal, his crimefighting partner Nomad (aka Jack Monroe), and... his boss. Which one will he still be with by the end of the issue? Read on and see! After... Continue Reading →