"Where is Captain America?" is the question that leads off Mark Waid and Ron Garney's first run on this title, following Mark Gruenwald's 137-issue run that ended last month. The conclusion of that issue will be recapped below, so for now I'll just say that this issue is more of a tribute to Captain America,... Continue Reading →
Avengers/Ultraforce #1 and Ultraforce/Avengers #1 (October 1995)
This two-part crossover between the Avengers and Ultraforce, the premier team of Malibu Comics—which by this point had been bought by Marvel Comics—is negligible as far as story relevance is concerned, and ambiguous in terms of how it fits into recent continuity. However, it is notable for some great art by George Pérez (co-creator of... Continue Reading →
Captain America #442 and Thunderstrike #23-24 (August-September 1995)
As Mark Gruenwald approaches the end of his long run on Captain America, he starts to revisit concepts from throughout his run (and even earlier), as well as fixing continuity glitches, as he was wont to do. Plus, the last two issues of the Thunderstrike series see Cap and the Avengers join to watch Eric... Continue Reading →
Captain America #440 and Avengers #387 (June 1995)
These issues of Captain America and Avengers comprise the first half of the "Taking AIM" crossover, in which Captain America assembles a team of heroes to help him investigate strange energy emissions from AIM Island—which have also attracted the attentions of the Red Skull. The story begins in Captain America #440 as Cap asks his... Continue Reading →
Captain America #436, Force Works #8, and Fantastic Force #4 (February 1995)
This issue wraps up the final trilogy in the long "Fighting Chance" arc, and in it we see Captain America finally succumb to the gradual deterioration of the super-soldier serum in his body, spelling a very uncertain future for the Sentinel of Liberty. (Don't expect a last-minute deus ex machina to restore him at the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #433, Avengers #380, Force Works #5, and Justice: Four Balance #3 (November 1994)
This issue of Captain America completes the third trilogy in the "Fighting Chance" arc that details Captain America's deteriorating health as his super-soldier serum breaks down. Here, Cap-with-Pouches, Diamondback, and new hero Free Spirit (Cathy Webster) are fighting their way out of Baron Zemo's castle, with the last issue ending with Cap barely escaping one... Continue Reading →
Avengers Annual #23 (1994)
In the final annual of the original run of Avengers, the team faces the dual threat of Loki and Pluto, who engage in the time-honored strategy of switching foes, with Loki taking on Hercules here while Pluto deals with the Odinson in Thor Annual #19. Captain America's failing health, consistently referenced in his appearances still... Continue Reading →
Avengers #370-371, Captain Marvel #2, Marvels #2, Thunderstrike #4, and Plasmer #3-4 (January-February 1994)
This is a catch-all post, gathering a handful of minor appearances of Captain America over these two months. We start with his very minor role in a two-part fill-in Avengers tale, followed by Monica Rambeau's second Captain Marvel comic (coincidentally, this post appearing one week after her excellent new miniseries as Photon began), the second... Continue Reading →
West Coast Avengers #102 (January 1994)
The final issue of West Coast Avengers (or Avengers West Coast, if you're so inclined) sees the team calling it a day—not entirely voluntarily, though. And as you may have guessed based on the subtle hints on the cover, this does not sit well with some of its members, most of whom immediately make plans... Continue Reading →
Avengers #368-369, West Coast Avengers #101, X-Men #26, and Uncanny X-Men #307 (November-December 1993)
These five comics comprise the "Bloodties" storyline, a crossover event that commemorated the 30th anniversary of both the Avengers and the X-Men. The huge cast of this story necessarily minimizes Captain America's role (other than many impressive heroic poses), but a central theme of the Avengers aspect of the story deals with the obligations under... Continue Reading →