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 #320 (August 1986)
This issue concludes the three-part "Scourge of the Underworld" storyline, as Captain America finally comes face-to-face with the man who's been killing villains across the Marvel Universe (and in many titles) for the past year. (See the post on issue #318 for more background on the Scourge concept.) However, we open with Cap facing off... Continue Reading →
The Incredible Hulk #320-323 (June-September 1986)
The story in these four issues has a very simple premise: After being split from Dr. Bruce Banner in issue #315, the Hulk has become a being of pure rage with no moderating intellect or rationality, and as a result is now more uncontrollably violent than ever. Both Avengers teams now have to confront the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #317 and Marvel Fanfare #26 (May 1986)
This issue concludes Captain America's "team-up" with Hawkeye, which started in the last issue, this time focusing on some of the Avenging Archer's foes (although we see very little of them in this post). More important for Cap, we get resolution to his relationship with Bernie Rosenthal, which has been rocky for a while, and... Continue Reading →
Captain America #316 (April 1986)
This is the first of two self-contained issues that share two features: They both feature Captain America's "favorite" former Avengers teammate, Hawkeye, and they both highlight the precarious state of Cap's relationship with his fiancée, Bernie Rosenthal. Also, this issue marks the return of the Armadillo, last seen breaking into (coincidentally) the West Coast Avengers'... 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 #313 (January 1986)
This issue brings Captain America in contact with several more members of the Serpent Society—including one that he will get to know much better in later issues. It also lands him a new teen sidekick of sorts, one very much up-to-date with the computer lingo of 1986 (which the editors kindly explain). After a few... 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 →
Avengers #261, Secret Wars II #5, and Amazing Spider-Man #270 (November 1985)
This issue of Avengers is both the aftermath of their recent adventures with the Skrulls in issues #259-260 and the recent Avengers and Fantastic Four annuals, as well as the title's second Secret Wars II crossover, a more substantial encounter with the Beyonder than his sudden surprise appearance in the first (issue #260). This is... Continue Reading →
Captain America #311 (November 1985)
Judging from the cover, you'd think this issue centers on Captain America fighting the Thinker's Awesome Android, but that is almost an afterthought, at least as far as we're concerned. After a glimpse of a killer targeting supervillains across the Marvel Universe (no, not him), we will focus primarily on Steve Rogers' latest artistic gig:... Continue Reading →