On the surface, this issue seems like an editorially-mandated lead-in to a series based on a toy line—which it most certainly is—but there is still plenty to talk about in terms of Captain America's ethics, thanks to masterful writing on the part of J.M. DeMatteis (complementing the beautiful line-work of Mike Zeck). We start our... Continue Reading →
These six issues contain minimal Captain American content for our purposes, so I'm bundling them all together for your convenience—and value! As I do in these cases, there will be less story synopsis than stories in which Cap is the focus, though I encourage you to seek out the full stories in the links at... Continue Reading →
Roy Thomas is up to his old tricks again. These two issues introduce the British WWII team the Crusaders, who bear a striking resemblance to the Freedom Fighters, DC's team that, like the Invaders themselves, was retroactively formed from 1940s characters—in this case, Quality Comics heroes that DC acquired the rights to, including... Continue Reading →
In these four issues, the Avengers get mixed up in the business of Atlantis, an adventure that involves both Namor the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Doom that necessitates a quick crossover with Super-Villain Team-Up (a book in which Cap will appear by himself in the next three issues). Not much Cap in this story, so this... Continue Reading →
Amongst the 22 regular issues of Captain America that Jack Kirby write and drew in 1976 and 1977, he also produced two annuals and the massive Bicentennial Battles Treasury Edition. (If you think this is a lot of output, consider that this was not the only book Jack was writing and drawing at the time.)... Continue Reading →
These two issues close out the "Secret Empire" storyline, as all is revealed, including the identity of the evil organization's leader. This leads to a different kind of existential crisis for Captain America that culminates in the next issue and will be traced out throughout the next extended storyline. At the end of issue #173,... 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 →
These half-dozen issues of Avengers (three of which are shown above) and two issues of Captain Marvel (leading to a crossover a year later) do not feature Captain America very heavily, but there are a few meaningful scenes in which he displays some moral wisdom, righteous anger at hatred, and rational suspicion. In issue #110,... 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 →
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 