These three annuals, along with the Iron Man and Thor annuals the same summer, form the five-part storyline "The Terminus Factor," featuring the return of the alien conqueror Terminus, whom we saw Captain America and the Avengers fight in Avengers #257 (although it actually wasn't him... oh, never mind). Most of Cap's relevant appearances in... Continue Reading →
Captain America #376-378 (September-October 1990)
These three issues wrap up the "Streets of Poison" storyline that began in issue #372, which has seen Captain America gradually become more unhinged due to being caught in an explosion in a drug warehouse. At this point, he appears less and less himself in each issue, as well as less and less period, as... Continue Reading →
Captain America #370 and The Saga of the Original Human Torch #2 (May 1990)
In this issue, we learn if Captain America and Diamondback make it out of the collapsed sewer tunnel in which they were trapped, 1960s Batman show style, as of the end of the last issue. Unless the cover's just a huge feint, they do, and then head to the Red Skull's old haunts, where we'll... Continue Reading →
Captain America #368 (March 1990)
We continue to take a well-deserved breather from crossover event tie-ins (and very long posts!) with this focus on a single issue of Captain America—although to some extent it feels like an aftermath to "Acts of Vengeance" with Magneto prominently featured on the cover (as he was in the last issue, albeit for very different... Continue Reading →
Captain America #365-367 and Damage Control #3-4 (December 1989-February 1990)
These three issues of Captain America comprise the title's involvement in the "Acts of Vengeance" crossover (which you may have noticed blazoned across each of the covers above), in which the Marvel villains got together (under the crafty leadership of Loki) and decided they'd have a better chance against the heroes if they switched foes.... Continue Reading →
Amazing Spider-Man #323-325 (November 1989)
These three issues of The Amazing Spider-Man comprise the second half of the storyline "The Assassin Nation Plot," describing political intrigue in the fictional nation of Symkaria, which borders Doctor Doom's Latveria and is the home of the mercenary Silver Sable. Captain America becomes involved when the CIA is implicated in a political assassination, and... Continue Reading →
Captain America #363-364, Marvel Comics Presents #34, and Damage Control #1-2 (November-December 1989)
These two issues track Captain America's hunt for the Bloodstone Rachel Leighton, aka Diamondback, after Crossbones abducted her (following the destruction of the Bloodstone), and the story is split between Cap's search and Diamondback's escape. Do those wacky kids finally get together in the end? Wait and see! Plus: A bonus tale from Marvel Comics... Continue Reading →
Captain America #355 (July 1989)
This issue starts a three-part storyline that reintroduces a Captain America foe who will become much more prominent in coming years. (Hint: Like the current Baron Zemo, she's second-generation.) It also heralds a split of sorts in the title, as secondary characters receive much more attention—in the case, as highlighted on the cover, it's Lemar... Continue Reading →
Captain America #350 (February 1989)
This is it: the issue we've been waiting for ever since Steve Rogers resigned his identity of Captain America to the Commission on Superhuman Activities in issue #332 and the Commission replaced him with the former Super-Patriot, John Walker in the following issue. Whatever else happens in this issue—I'll get to it in a second,... Continue Reading →
Captain America #349 and Iron Man #238 (January 1989)
This issue of Captain America brings Steve Rogers and Lemar Hoskins together for the first time, and reunites Rogers with Flag-Smasher and ULTIMATUM, which only reminds him of the catastrophic events of issue #321... and all of this happens in the last issue before the pivotal #350. (Also, note the cover by Ron Frenz and... Continue Reading →