This issue of Avengers sees Captain America and his fellow Invader, Namor the Sub-Mariner, meet once again, brought together by the most pedestrian of circumstances that nonetheless prompts some interesting discussions. Also, we have the latest installment of Secret Wars II, for what it's worth. (If you've read our previous coverage of this series, you... 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 Annual #14 and Fantastic Four Annual #19 (November 1985)
These two annuals represent a unique experiment on the part of writers Roger Stern and John Byrne (who also handles pencils or breakdowns): They represent two separate stories that intersect in the third act, at which the issues cover the same events from each team's point of view, with several panels and pages effectively duplicated... Continue Reading →
Marvel Fanfare #18 (January 1985)
This issue is notable for being (if I'm not mistaken) the only Captain America story pencilled by Frank Miller (who also drew the front and back covers you see above). Inspired by a story by Roger McKenzie, this comic is credited to Miller and Roger Stern—of the classic Stern/Byrne run on Captain America starting with... Continue Reading →
Captain America #280 (April 1983)
This issue sees Captain America take on the Scarecrow, whom he last fought in Captain America Annual #6, and also confront the mysterious Coalition for an Upstanding America, who have been placing posters with his image on them around the city for the last few issues. After we see Scarecrow kill a man in his... Continue Reading →
Captain America #275 and Marvel Fanfare #5 (November 1982)
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 →
Captain America #273-274 (September-October 1982)
This two-parter by regular fill-in writer David Anthony Kraft reunites Captain America with Nick Fury and his Howlin' Commandos from World War II to face a common enemy they assumed was dead—and in the end, they lose one of their own. Issue #273 opens with Cap meeting old friends and making new ones, all the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #267 (March 1982)
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 →
Captain America #264 (December 1981)
This issue contains a fascinating done-in-one story*, based on a mystery that gradually builds, with an important message at its conclusion. Before we start: Lest the presence of the Falcon's name is the cover logo get his many fans excited, this is unfortunately a one-time thing. Also, the old-timey X-Men costumes will be explained! *... Continue Reading →
Captain America #263 (November 1981)
This issue wraps up the three-part story begun in issue #261, which finds Captain America in Los Angeles to investigate a new Nomad, only to find himself battling a terrorist group called the Nihilist Order and his old foe the Ameridroid (who killed Nomad in the last issue), all under the control of a mysterious... Continue Reading →