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 →
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 #361-362 (November 1989)
These two issues finish up "The Bloodstone Hunt," a fun romp in the style of Indiana Jones and James Bond that sees Captain America and Diamondback visiting exotic locales around the world, trying to keep the powerful Bloodstone out of the hands of Baron Zemo and Batroc. As the end of the last issue, Cap... Continue Reading →
Captain America #358-360 (September-October 1989)
"The Bloodstone Hunt," the story which (barely) began in issue #357, continues in these three issues (and wraps up in the next two), in shorter-than-usual installments to make room for the U.S. Agent back-ups (and the biweekly shipping schedule). Cap doesn't face a lot of significant moral dilemmas here, but it's a cracking fun story... 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 #351 (March 1989)
This issue serves as an aftermath to last month's game-changing issue #350, a breather if you will, that reintroduces a beloved classic supporting character, reconnects Captain America with an old pal (and explains the recent tensions between them), and signals a change in the fortunes of one John Walker after his abbreviated term as the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #336 (December 1987)
After three issues without his presence (but not without his influence), Steve Rogers returns to his title, as he chooses what to do with his life now that he's longer Captain America. Meanwhile, his Partners Three, shown in floating heads on the cover, band together to look for him as well. (Does anyone remember the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #327 (March 1987)
This issue sees Captain America visit Madison, Wisconsin, to investigate anti-immigrant activity and to visit a certain Bernie Rosenthal... and guess who else shows up? Yes, it's John Walker, Super-Patriot, seen on the cover fighting the Sentinel of Liberty—and revealing his true power level in the process. Plus: The government starts looking into a certain... Continue Reading →
Captain America #321 (September 1986)
In my opinion, this is the one the most important issues of Captain America—which is appropriate, given that this is the 300th post at this blog! This is one of the issues I discuss the most in my book, because Cap's moral code is pushed to its limits at almost every step, with a jawdropping... Continue Reading →
Captain America #319 (July 1986)
This issue continues the current storyline focusing on the Scourge—see the last post for more details—but it's more notable, at least as far as I'm concerned, for the first extended interaction between Captain America and Rachel Leighton, a.k.a. Diamondback, a member of the villainous Serpent Society that has been a regular presence in this title... Continue Reading →