Marvel fans will recognize this run of issues as the latter part of the Kree-Skrull War, the first major galactic story featuring the Avengers (and Captain America), which began in Avengers #89 (without Cap). The story is enormously influential, often referenced in other comics, but is also convoluted, incorporating many plot threads about Mar-Vell... Continue Reading →
This extra-length issue brings us a story of racial tension stoked by an external force (as we see often in this early 1970s era of social relevance in comics), with Captain America and the Falcon in the middle of it. More interesting, we see their own relationship reflect some of the more general conflicts happening... Continue Reading →
In this issue, we learn what truly motivates MODOK's hatred of Captain America, see some welcome confirmation of Cap and Falcon's friendship and their new partnership, and get an important message about those who claim to support you in your time of need. (Thanks, MODOK!) The issue opens with MODOK's origin, which doesn't add much... Continue Reading →
This issue, Captain America is still reeling from the betrayal he thinks he suffered at the hands of his beloved Sharon Carter and his "beliked" Nick Fury in the last issue, although we know he was just too hurt and impatient to wait for the quite reasonable explanation Sharon would have offered. Luckily for him,... Continue Reading →
Don't let the cover, featuring Spider-Man's foe the Scorpion, fool you—the first five pages of this issue are dense with existential introspection and political musings that could keep us busy for days (and which I quoted quite a bit in my book). And later, we see a good old-fashioned fight with an injured Cap... and... Continue Reading →
This standalone issue lets us see Captain America through someone else's eyes; reveals the compassion of an accidental villain; and gives Cap his first exposure to an alternative, version of himself—a man similarly modified by science but with less benevolent intentions and successful results. The issue opens with Silas X. Cragg, one of the "nameless... Continue Reading →
This issue begins an on-and-off period of self-questioning for Captain America along several angles, including continued angst about his own identity and purpose in life, as well as more outward-looking concern with the state of American society (befitting the time and the increasing social consciousness of comics). You have to hand it to Stan Lee,... Continue Reading →
Here we start to discuss the legendary Jim Steranko's all-too-short run on Captain America, including plotting, pencils, and colors on issues #110, 111, and 113 (with Jack Kirby doing his last work on the book for almost a decade with issue #112). In his short time on the book, Steranko put his distinct and unforgettable... Continue Reading →
These four issues are rather uneventful in terms of Captain America's ethics, so I'll discuss them as a batch. They do, however, include Batroc the Leaper, the introduction of Dr. Faustus, and Paste-Pot Pete the Trapster, so there will be some cool villains to see (as well as the Trapster). Issue #105 opens, like Tales... Continue Reading →
With this post we reach the end of Captain America's run in Tales of Suspense and the beginning of his first self-titled book (continuing the previous title's numbering while co-star Iron Man gets his own #1). And this four-part story features the first appearance of Black Panther outside the Fantastic Four book, and leads directly... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 