The first of these three comics focuses mainly on Dennis Dunphy's subterranean struggles and his eventual emergence into daylight, with Cap playing a lesser role—but he has a much larger one in the following two-issue crossover with Silver Sable and the Funky Bunch, which contains some fine examples of necessary moral compromise (an issue also... Continue Reading →
Captain America #416-417 and Mys-Tech Wars #4 (June-July 1993)
These two issues of Captain America wrap up the sprawling storyline begun in issue #411, which now finds Cap, Falcon, Diamondback, and Black Panther in the Savage Land in Antarctica, dealing with Ka-Zar and Zabu, multiple threats, and many narrative threads (which come together at the end). Plus, Cap makes a quick appearance in Mys-Tech... Continue Reading →
Captain America #414-415 and Iron Man #292 (April-May 1993)
These two issues continue the storyline that started in issue #411, in which Captain America, Falcon, and Diamondback infiltrated an illegal weapons expo on AIM Island to find Rachel's old foe Snapdragon, whom Rachel eventually killed in the last issue (unbeknownst to Cap). The current issues take us around the world, first to Wakanda and... Continue Reading →
Captain America #412-413 and Slapstick #4 (February-March 1993)
These two issues continue Captain America's search for his good friend Dennis Dunphy his girlfriend's archrival Snapdragon, which began in the last issue. As the first cover above notes in the corner, Shang-Chi shows up to meet Cap, setting the stage for Cap's recruiting him to his Secret Avengers years later. As a bonus, we... Continue Reading →
Captain America #411 and Thor #458 (January 1993)
Having found Rachel Leighton, aka Diamondback, in the previous story, in this issue Captain America can now turn his attention to searching for his other missing friend, Dennis Dunphy... but he doesn't. D-Man will have to wait some more, because Cap chooses instead to help Rachel hunt down one of her foes, Snapdragon, which happens... Continue Reading →
Captain America #409-410, West Coast Avengers #88, and Soviet Super-Soldiers #1 (November-December 1992)
These two issues finally reconnect Captain America with Diamondback, aka Rachel Leighton, his sort-of ladyfriend, who was abducted in issue #396 and held hostage by Crossbones, as shown in recent back-up stories (for the most part not covered here). To be fair, Cap's been busy, what with Operation: Galactic Empire, Citizen Kang, and being a... Continue Reading →
Captain America Annual #11, Thor Annual #17, and Avengers Annual #21 (October 1992)
These three annuals—plus Fantastic Four Annual #25, in which Captain America does not appear—comprise the "Citizen Kang" storyline, in which the master time manipulator puts the various heroes through their paces before bringing them together at the end for a grand showdown. (Sadly, he does not escape at the end on his time-sled Rosebud.) Most... Continue Reading →
Captain America #408 (October 1992)
This issue serves several functions: It provides the aftermath to the "Man-Wolf" storyline that began in issue #402, resolving the entire Capwolf fiasco; it wraps up one of Cap's missing-person cases; it is the title's sole "Infinity War" tie-in (thankfully); and it reunites former partners as it sets up the next storyline. (And that's not... Continue Reading →
Captain America #404 and New Warriors #26 (August 1992)
This third installment of the "Cap-Wolf" saga will stand on its own—although the reason has less to do with the throwdown shown on the cover between Captain America and some obscure X-Men member (Stabbo? Clawboy? Sergeant Snikt?), and more with what happens at the end, which dominates the next three issues and enables us to... Continue Reading →
Captain America #401 (June 1992)
This issue of Captain America serves as a coda to the "Operation: Galactic Storm" event that started in issue #398 and ended in last month's Avengers #347. It's also one of the most significant comics we've covered so far at this blog—and if you've been following along in recent posts, you can guess why. After... Continue Reading →