This is yet another issue spotlighting Captain America’s fighting abilities (and Jack Kirby’s amazing fight choreography), and also Cap’s gullibility, the vice associated with excessive trust (especially in the face of signs that he’s suspicious throughout). This isn’t any special insight on my part! It’s made quite clear on the opening splash page, both in... Continue Reading →
Tales of Suspense #61 (January 1965)
This issue finds Captain America traveling to Vietnam to negotiate the release of a prisoner of war, the first time we see Cap in a contemporary military setting (even though he isn’t in combat). As many future Cap stories do, this one shows him repaying a debt to a former colleague—in this case, one that... Continue Reading →
Tales of Suspense #60, Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #13, and Tales to Astonish #62 (December 1964)
More fighting! In this story, Baron Zemo sabotages Cap’s fitness exhibition by substituting his own henchmen for the sparring partners Cap expected to face—which Cap only realizes once they really put up a fight and start firing. This gives Cap a chance to cut lose, showing off his skills (and Kirby’s at the same time).... Continue Reading →
Tales of Suspense #59 (November 1964)
After the case of mistaken identity from the last issue, Cap finally get his own feature in Tales of Suspense (albeit slightly shorter than that of the “star” of the book, that infamous diva, Iron Man). This first story is similar to Avengers #4 in that it showcases both his grief over Bucky and his... Continue Reading →
Tales of Suspense #58 (October 1964)
Captain America guest-starred alongside fellow Avenger Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #58 before Cap’s regular feature began in #59. This issue is notable for being the first of many battles between the two heroes—and a classic cover to boot—even though this fight resulted from a ruse created by a villain rather than an ideological... Continue Reading →