This issue follows up on the final panels of issue #290, when a strange bird surprised Captain America and Nomad; here, we learn the secret behind the bird as we are introduced to a new character who, for a short time, was poised to assume a prominent role in the Marvel Universe. Whether he does... Continue Reading →
This fill-in issue follows up on two previous stories, way back in Tales of Suspense #83 and Captain America #169, all wrapped up in a cover by John Byrne, which seems like an homage to Jack Kirby's cover to Tales of Suspense #76, albeit with the Tumbler—or a Tumbler—in place of his conceptual cousin, Batroc... Continue Reading →
This issue of Captain America revisits a number of recent storylines as well as an important topic raised in issue #269, one that remains all too relevant in the real world of today. (Cap also had a short story in the anthology title Marvel Fanfare this month that makes a valuable point, but very simply,... Continue Reading →
This issue—written by David Kraft, who wrote the Spider-Man team-up in issues #265-266, and featuring similar over-the-top dialogue and exposition—is situated in the world of professional wrestling, which turns out to be a passion of Bernie Rosenthal's but is completely alien to Steve Rogers. (Whether you're more like Bernie or Steve in this respect, you'll... Continue Reading →
This issue is one of my favorite from J.M. DeMatteis's several years as the writer of the title, in which he address Captain America's understanding of and relationship with the American dream. This story represents another epiphany for Cap, similar to Stan Lee's later stories (such as issue #122) and the end of Steve Englehart's... Continue Reading →
This issue returns us to Captain America's status quo in Brooklyn Heights after adventures and remembrances kept him in England since issue #253 (excepting the origin issue #255). It also welcomes back one of my favorite Cap artists, Mike Zeck, on both interiors and the cover. Best of all, this issue pays tribute to some... Continue Reading →
In this issue, Captain America meets Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, in one of Frank's earliest appearances outside of Amazing Spider-Man, two years before he appeared in Daredevil and six years before he got his first title. Accordingly, we get our first look at the differences between the two men, which we will see from... Continue Reading →
These three issues focus more on Bucky than Captain America, but the historical background is of such importance that I'll feature many panels without Cap nonetheless. (Fair warning: Some of the images and terms in this post are very disturbing, and the reason why will be clear very soon.) Also in these issues, two... Continue Reading →
Amongst the 22 regular issues of Captain America that Jack Kirby write and drew in 1976 and 1977, he also produced two annuals and the massive Bicentennial Battles Treasury Edition. (If you think this is a lot of output, consider that this was not the only book Jack was writing and drawing at the time.)... Continue Reading →
In this post we cover the last three issues before Jack Kirby takes over with issue #193. In the first two issues by short-lived regular writer Tony Isabella (with Bill Mantlo helping on the second), we resolve the situation with the Deadly Nightshade begun in issue #189, and we see how the Falcon accounts for... Continue Reading →
