The first two of these three issues comprise the start of the "Korvac Saga," a ten-issue storyline in Avengers in which Captain America does not play a very prominent role, so I will primarily be highlighting character moments with less synopsis than usual. In this two issues in particular, we see Cap's first significant conflicts... Continue Reading →
Captain America #216-218 (December 1977-February 1978)
These three issues—really two, because the first is a reprint with only one new page—continue the "Who Is Steve Rogers?" storyline that began in issue #215, in which Captain America searches for information about his life before Project Rebirth. This leads into a Newfoundland adventure starting in issue #218 that eventually reveals some new... Continue Reading →
Captain America #215 (November 1977)
With this issue, the Captain America series launches an examination of "Who is Steve Rogers?", which unfortunately is not the sort of juicy existentialist dilemma that might interest us here, but merely a matter of Captain America being unable to remember anything about his life before Project Rebirth transformed him into the Sentinel of Liberty.... Continue Reading →
Invaders #19-22 (August-November 1977)
The first three of these four issues tie up the storyline from the last post, with the fourth exploring the origin of Toro (with minimal Cap content). The most interesting part may the return of a former Invader, as seen on the cover to issue #20 above... but did Lord Fallsworth get better, or... Continue Reading →
Captain America Annual #4 (1977)
This annual, published between Captain America #212 and #213, contains a self-contained story that, similar to Kirby's last annual, focuses on a strange and mysterious creature, this time not an alien from space but a mutant—which brings in Magneto, whose devious plans are contrasted with Captain America's compassion. Apparently Cap keeps on eye on the... Continue Reading →
Avengers #157-162 and Captain Marvel #50-51 (March-August 1977)
This octet of issues has very minimal Cap content, so please don't expect much synopsis here (although the stories are very good—be sure to check them out, using the links at the end of the post). Avengers #157 sees the return of the Black Knight (still in stone form due to a kiss from the... Continue Reading →
Invaders #14-15 (March-April 1977)
Roy Thomas is up to his old tricks again. These two issues introduce the British WWII team the Crusaders, who bear a striking resemblance to the Freedom Fighters, DC's team that, like the Invaders themselves, was retroactively formed from 1940s characters—in this case, Quality Comics heroes that DC acquired the rights to, including... Continue Reading →
Marvel Team-Up #52 (December 1976)
This second issue of Marvel Team-Up to co-star Captain America alongside the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man actually provides important if not essential story details between issues #203 and #204 of Cap's main title, exemplifying what I explained in the post on Marvel Team-Up #13 regarding the impressive interconnectedness of Marvel's team-up books, especially compared to those... Continue Reading →
Invaders #5-6 and Marvel Premiere #29-30 (March-June 1976)
These four issues, a crossover between Invaders and the anthology series Marvel Premiere (best known for some amazing Doctor Strange stories by Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner), introduce the Liberty Legion, yet another retconned assemblage of once-forgotten Timely Comics heroes from the 1940s, several of whom would live on in Marvel infamy. Captain America doesn't feature... Continue Reading →
Marvel Two-in-One #4-5 (July and September 1974)
This two-parter represents Captain America's second appearance in a Marvel team-up title, this time in the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing's book Marvel Two-in-One. This story also fits in between Captain America #175 and 176, after he had learned the extent of the Secret Empire's reach into the highest echalons of the American government, but before he... Continue Reading →