This post brings the long "Absolute Vision" storyline to its conclusion, as the synthezoid Avenger finally kicks his plan for world control into motion. (See the last post for a quick recap, because Captain America had not been in the book for a while before issue #251.) In issue #253, we see Cap still addressing... Continue Reading →
Captain America #302-304 and Uncanny X-Men #190-191 (February-April 1985)
These three issues of Captain America, written by Mike Carlin, are part of the short transition between the legendary runs of J.M. DeMatteis, which ended with issue #300, and Mark Gruenwald, which starts with issue #307 (and lasts, with the exception of one issue, to #443!). Although we won't see him much here, this story... Continue Reading →
Avengers #251-252 (January-February 1985)
This post and the next together bring the "Absolute Vision" storyline to a finish. Quick recap: As we saw in issue #233, Vision was knocked unconscious, only to be revived later by Starfox and ISAAC, the computer that runs his home planet of Titan. ISAAC's corrupting influence, combined with a malfunctioning "control crystal" implanted by... Continue Reading →
Captain America #301 (January 1985)
This issue serves as an epilogue to the "Death of the Red Skull" saga (as the subsequent trade paperback collection was titled) that began in issue #290 and ended in the last issue. In case you didn't read the last post, the Red Skull died in Captain America's arms after the hero refused to kill... Continue Reading →
Captain America #298-299 (October-November 1984)
These two issues comprise the penultimate episode in the Red Skull's most recent campaign against Captain America, which began in issue #290. The first issue is mostly the Red Skull recounting his origin story to Cap, whose reactions and responses are of more interest to us, and the battle itself starts in the second (culminating... Continue Reading →
Captain America #296 (August 1984)
This issue sees the Red Skull, Mother Superior, and Baron Zemo continue their psychological campaign against Captain America. Specifically, Cap finally faces off with Mother Superior—and, in the process, discovering who her father is—and Nomad comes to an astonishing realization (more than hinted at on the cover). You'll no doubt remember that, at the end... Continue Reading →
Captain America #295 (July 1984)
This issue continues the ongoing plot of the Red Skull, Mother Superior (his daughter), and Baron Zemo—as well as their new compartriots, the Sisters of Sin, seen on the cover to the right—against Captain America and his amazing friends. Their techniques take a distinctly psychological turn, building on what they did to Dave Cox in... Continue Reading →
Captain America #294 (June 1984)
This issue continues from the last, which ended with Captain America having been subdued by the Slayer—a.k.a. Captain America's pacifist friend Dave Cox after being transformed radically by Mother Superior and Baron Zemo—who has now turned his sights to Nomad. If that's not enough pulse-pounding action for you, Steve and Bernie have the talk after... Continue Reading →
Captain America #293 and Alpha Flight #10 (May 1984)
This issue reintroduces a character from way back when (and possibly earlier), about whom Nomad has doubts. I won't reveal now whether or not the character or any doubts about him contributed to Nomad's poor state of affairs on the issue's cover to your right, but our young friend does rub Captain America the wrong... Continue Reading →
Avengers #241-243 and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #89 (March-May 1984)
These three issues of Avengers—still just Avengers, despite the new "The Mighty Avengers" cover logo—continue to set up the "Absolute Vision" storyline that began in issue #238 (in which Captain America did not appear) and lasts through issue #254 (in which he does). We also see most of the team disappear to the Beyonder's Battleworld... Continue Reading →