These three issues are as much (if not more) about Deathlok, cyborg super-soldier from a dystopian near-future, as they are about Captain America, so we can discuss them as a group. As the best writers do, J.M. DeMatteis finds the humanity inside this sci-fi tale of cyborgs and time travel, and connects the events to... Continue Reading →
Captain America #270 (June 1982)
In this issue, we learn the identity of the man we saw briefly in issue #268, who actually represents a milestone in Marvel Comics history, and has a fascinating connection to Captain America. Also, we see Bernie Rosenthal being a hero in her own right (and in her own way). We begin with Steve and... Continue Reading →
Avengers #192-196 and Daredevil #164 (February-June 1980)
These six issues—only one of which even has Cap on the cover—have very little ethically interesting Captain America content, but they do include the Falcon leaving the Avengers, the new Ant-Man meeting the team for the first time, the introduction of the Taskmaster, a badly beaten Man without Fear, and Cap confronting a new and... Continue Reading →
Captain America #216-218 (December 1977-February 1978)
These three issues—really two, because the first is a reprint with only one new page—continue the "Who Is Steve Rogers?" storyline that began in issue #215, in which Captain America searches for information about his life before Project Rebirth. This leads into a Newfoundland adventure starting in issue #218 that eventually reveals some new... Continue Reading →
Captain America #174-175 (June-July 1974)
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 →
Captain America #171 and Avengers #121 (March 1974)
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 →
Avengers #116-118 and Defenders #10-11 (October-December 1973)
These five issues, plus Defenders #8 and #9 and an epilogue to Avengers #115 (in which Captain America does not appear), comprise the "Avengers/Defenders War," by all accounts the first extended crossover between two different comics titles, in that the story went back and forth in each titles over four months, amounting to a biweekly... Continue Reading →
Avengers #85 and 88, Sub-Mariner #35, Iron Man #39, and Amazing Adventures #8 (February-September 1971)
This post covers a smattering of comics containing all of Captain America's appearances with the Avengers in 1971. Most feature Cap in only several panels, with only Avengers #88 among them counting him as a main character. (The Falcon appears in two of them also, even though he would not be made a full members... Continue Reading →
Captain America #133 (January 1971)
In this issue, we learn what truly motivates MODOK's hatred of Captain America, see some welcome confirmation of Cap and Falcon's friendship and their new partnership, and get an important message about those who claim to support you in your time of need. (Thanks, MODOK!) The issue opens with MODOK's origin, which doesn't add much... Continue Reading →
Avengers #75-76 (April-May 1970)
Most of this two-parter is taken up by the tale that brings the Scarlet Witch and Quicksiler back into the fold, replacing the Wasp and Yellowjacket, who are leaving on a government research trip with Bill Foster (future Goliath). Pietro, of course, makes quite an entrance—in new blue duds, which would be his standard costume... Continue Reading →