The two issues represent the beginning of Steve Rogers's "retirement," after the pivotal issue #176 in which he decided, after much pointless advice from his friends, to give up being Captain America out of disillusionment with the American government. Much of these two issues is taken up by the Falcon's battle with a bad guy... Continue Reading →
For the first time I am covering one month's issues of Captain America and Avengers together, because the Avengers issue has only a brief appearance of our hero, which seems to take place during the issue of Cap's own book. At the end of the last issue, Cap was in jail after being defeated by... Continue Reading →
This issue sees the "Secret Empire" storyline continue at full speed as Quentin Harderman and the Committee to Regain America's Principles (aka CRAP) pursue their plot, seen at the end of the last issue, to set Captain America up for murder. We also meet the true murderer, Moonstone (see on the cover to the right),... Continue Reading →
After the blockbuster story in the last four issues (starting here), the pace slows a bit for this three-parter, as the loose ends of Steve Rogers' time on the police force are tied up, and he goes through a surprising physical transformation. (No, not Cap-Wolf, not yet.) The police commissioner summons Cap to an out-of-the-way... Continue Reading →
These four issues finish Roy Thomas's legendary run on Avengers—with a help from a special guest in issue #101—and sets the stage for Steve Englehart to take over with issue #105 in November (after he starts writing Captain America in September with issue #153). The special guest writer for issue #101 I alluded to above... Continue Reading →
These four issues—the last of Gary Friedrich's short run—start out with Captain America facing Hydra (for real, not the fakes of the last issue), then confront him with a classic Spider-Man villain (soon to be a legendary Daredevil villain), and back around to Cap's greatest foe (no need to be coy, he's one of the... Continue Reading →
This three-part tale is very interesting, not for the actual story, but for the fact that it features a significant disagreement amongst the Avengers regarding their role as "Earth's mightiest heroes." (Plus, we're introduced to Red Wolf and we see Red Batman Daredevil, always a welcome sight at this blog.) When we join our... Continue Reading →
In this issue, Captain America finally gets away from Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, and the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D., hopping a motorcycle (as he is wont to do from time to time), not so much to find America... as to find himself. (If you didn't "aww" at that, I'm not doing my job.) But before we... Continue Reading →
Most of this two-parter is taken up by the tale that brings the Scarlet Witch and Quicksiler back into the fold, replacing the Wasp and Yellowjacket, who are leaving on a government research trip with Bill Foster (future Goliath). Pietro, of course, makes quite an entrance—in new blue duds, which would be his standard costume... Continue Reading →
In this four-part tale, we get the return of the Red Skull and a rare example of Captain America actually using the black-and-white ethical thinking he’s so often accused of—accusations against which I defend him in The Virtues of Captain America. (You’re making me look bad, Cap!) Plus, welcome artist supreme Gil Kane to the... Continue Reading →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 