This issue of Captain America completes the third trilogy in the "Fighting Chance" arc that details Captain America's deteriorating health as his super-soldier serum breaks down. Here, Cap-with-Pouches, Diamondback, and new hero Free Spirit (Cathy Webster) are fighting their way out of Baron Zemo's castle, with the last issue ending with Cap barely escaping one... Continue Reading →
Punisher War Journal #65-66 (April-May 1994)
These two issues of Punisher War Journal—just one of Frank Castle's three ongoing titles on this time—feature Captain America in a role that's becoming familiar: being called, either by his own sense of duty or by an external authority, to apprehend a rogue anti-hero (as he did with Nomad not long ago). Here, of course,... Continue Reading →
Captain America #423 and Marvels #1 (January 1994)
We start 1994 with a flashback issue of Captain America written by Roy Thomas—breaking Mark Gruenwald's streak begun with issue #307—telling the story of our hero's first meeting with Namor the Sub-Mariner. Fittingly, this month also sees the debut of Marvels, the landmark miniseries by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross, the first issue of which... Continue Reading →
Avengers #368-369, West Coast Avengers #101, X-Men #26, and Uncanny X-Men #307 (November-December 1993)
These five comics comprise the "Bloodties" storyline, a crossover event that commemorated the 30th anniversary of both the Avengers and the X-Men. The huge cast of this story necessarily minimizes Captain America's role (other than many impressive heroic poses), but a central theme of the Avengers aspect of the story deals with the obligations under... Continue Reading →
Ghost Rider – Captain America: Fear (October 1992)
This one-shot brings Captain America together with the latest Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch) for the first time (Cap having faced the O.G.R., Johnny Blaze, in Avengers #214). Although this story focuses more on the newer hero, it does provide some insights into Cap's feelings on a number of issues (as well as some incredible pencil-work... Continue Reading →
Infinity War #3-4, Fantastic Four #367-368, Quasar #37-38, and Marc Spector: Moon Knight #41 (August-September 1992)
The second pair of issues of Infinity War see our heroes take the fight against the Magus to other galaxies and dimensions, led by Captain America—and we get different perspectives and additional insight from the tie-in issues, of which I've inserted coverage at the appropriate points. But first, we need to answer a question: What... Continue Reading →
Captain America #401 (June 1992)
This issue of Captain America serves as a coda to the "Operation: Galactic Storm" event that started in issue #398 and ended in last month's Avengers #347. It's also one of the most significant comics we've covered so far at this blog—and if you've been following along in recent posts, you can guess why. After... 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 Annual #20, Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #1, and West Coast Avengers Annual #6 (September 1991)
These three annuals include the beginning, middle, and end of the five-part crossover story "Subterranean Wars," in which the Deviants attack other underground races (such as the Lava Men and the Moloids), a battle that draws in the Avengers and other heroes across the Marvel Universe. Captain America's involvement in this "event" is very slight—he... 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 →