With these issues, Captain America returns to the Avengers for the first time since Operation: Galactic Storm ended, finding himself in the middle of a typical 90s Avengers story full of evil doppelgängers, evil space aliens, and evil jackets. (OK, maybe the jackets aren't evil... but do we really know?) It's an auspicious return for... Continue Reading →
Captain America #412-413 and Slapstick #4 (February-March 1993)
These two issues continue Captain America's search for his good friend Dennis Dunphy his girlfriend's archrival Snapdragon, which began in the last issue. As the first cover above notes in the corner, Shang-Chi shows up to meet Cap, setting the stage for Cap's recruiting him to his Secret Avengers years later. As a bonus, we... Continue Reading →
Punisher – Captain America: Blood and Glory #3 (December 1992)
This issue concludes the miniseries that brings Captain America and the Punisher together for the first time as partners, to combat a government conspiracy involving money, drugs, guns, and fascism abroad and at home. Just as the first issue ended with Frank (unsuccessfully) assassinating Cap, the second issue ended with General Navatilas, the dictator of... Continue Reading →
Guardians of the Galaxy #30-32 and Excalibur #59-60 (November 1992-January 1993)
This post is a bit of an oddball, covering two multi-issue guest appearances of Captain America, neither of them greatly significant or fitting into the regular Captain America posts (especially with Cap absent from Avengers for a while). But Guardians of the Galaxy has some nice moments between Cap and an admirer, and Excalibur... well,... Continue Reading →
Punisher – Captain America: Blood and Glory #1 (October 1992)
This three-part miniseries brings Captain America and the Punisher together for their first substantial team-up, having occasionally encountered each other in passing since they first met in Captain America #241. They don't actually meet in this first issue, although Frank definitely has an impact on Cap by the end—we do, however, get some fascinating thoughts... Continue Reading →
Captain America #402-403 (July 1992)
These two issues launch the summer of 1992's six-part biweekly storyline, "Man and Wolf"—and if you don't know what this, you can all too easily guess. It's not a particularly ethically deep story—especially compared to the last issue—but we still find things to discuss, more so in the first half than the second (which we'll... Continue Reading →
Avengers #347 and Thor #447 (May 1992)
As of this supersized issue of Avengers we arrive at the conclusion of the "Operation: Galactic Storm" event, and it does not disappoint—except for Captain America, who is very disappointed in the decisions taken by some of his fellow Avengers, which will have serious consequences for years to come (starting with next month's Captain America... Continue Reading →
Marvel Holiday Special #1 (December 1991)
"Wait a minute," you say, "are you telling me he's covering a story from a holiday special as a standalone post? Not tacked on to the end of the post for this month's issue of Captain America or Avengers, but actually dedicating an entire post to it?" My friends, it's true: The seven-page story featuring... Continue Reading →
Avengers #340 (October 1991)
Compared to most fill-in issues, Avengers #340 is very good, presenting a welcome and enjoyable team-up between Captain America and the Wasp that actually offers much of interest to this blog and its fine readers (even if the premise of the story is somewhat contrived). The issue opens at a celebration of the Avengers' public... Continue Reading →
Captain America #383 (March 1991)
This issue celebrates Captain America's 50th anniversary, based on the March 1941 cover date of Captain America Comics #1. Of course, Cap didn't appear regularly for all of those fifty years, as he acknowledges at one point in the main story—and it wasn't always Steve Rogers wielding the shield—but it's still a notable date to... Continue Reading →