For the first time I am covering one month's issues of Captain America and Avengers together, because the Avengers issue has only a brief appearance of our hero, which seems to take place during the issue of Cap's own book. At the end of the last issue, Cap was in jail after being defeated by... Continue Reading →
Although the seeds have been planted for several issues, Captain America #169 sees the classic "Secret Empire" storyline begin in earnest, as Cap feels the effects of the public relations campaign against him... and starts to fight back. Plus: the return of the Tumbler, who is definitely not Batroc the Leaper! Interestingly, the issue starts... Continue Reading →
After the prelude in issue #164, we have here the main three-parter featuring Captain America and the Falcon fighting the Yellow Claw, a Fu Manchu-type villain (see also: the Mandarin) who starred in his own short-lived Atlas comic in the 1950s, who reappeared in the 1960s to fight S.H.I.E.L.D. (including behind the scenes in Strange... Continue Reading →
This issue is a prelude of sorts to a tale that sees Captain America and the Falcon facing the Yellow Claw, a villain from the 1950s who makes an appearance here after being pursued by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. in the pages of Strange Tales. But first, we introduce a new villain to the Marvel... Continue Reading →
In this issue, as the cover indicates, we meet the Serpent Squad, who are actually more imposing than their name suggests (and who become a fixture in the title for many years). More important for our purposes, we also meet a conscientious objector, who butts heads with... well, you may be surprised who. After a... Continue Reading →
These three issues (re)introduce an important character only glimpsed once before, as well as adding new wrinkles to Captain America's relationships with both the Falcon and Sharon Carter. Issue #160 opens with Cap and Sam fighting some random thugs, and Cap reminds us of his new super-strength (picked up in the last storyline), although not... Continue Reading →
After the blockbuster story in the last four issues (starting here), the pace slows a bit for this three-parter, as the loose ends of Steve Rogers' time on the police force are tied up, and he goes through a surprising physical transformation. (No, not Cap-Wolf, not yet.) The police commissioner summons Cap to an out-of-the-way... Continue Reading →
These issues comprise the second half of Gerry Conway's short four-issue run, introducing Mr. Hyde and the Scorpion to these pages, wrapping up Captain America's brief career as a police officer, and introducing an important aspect of Cap's mighty shield. As issue #151 opens, we see who the mysterious speakers at the end of issue... Continue Reading →
These two issues continue the romantic intrigue of the past storyline, while reintroducing Batroc and a new Stranger (not the old Stranger whom we knew so well e still called him the Stranger). These are the first two of four issues scripted by Gerry Conway, which set the stage for Steve Englehart's legendary run starting... Continue Reading →
This issue sees a split (of sorts) in Captain America and the Falcon's partnership—as you may have guessed from the subtle hint on the cover—as well as Sam's new costume (also on the cover). Plus... Femme Force! We open on what is apparently a Hydra meeting, which is soon broken up by Cap and agents... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 