These two issues introduce a familiar face to the World War II era: the mighty Thor, visiting Midgard (Earth) as he had been doing for centuries, but rarely this close to his eventual banishment there in the form of Dr. Donald Blake in August 1962's Journey into Mystery #83. We also meet another familiar face—albeit... Continue Reading →
Marvel Two-in-One #42-43 (August-September 1978)
This second of three team-ups of Captain America and the Thing in the pages of Marvel Two-in-One is no less wild than their first (in 1974's issues #4-5), but it does have more meaningful content relevant to Cap's ethics (if somewhat dodgy at times, as we shall see). We'll skip the opening one-page splash of... Continue Reading →
Captain America #219-221 (March-May 1978)
These three issues finish out the "Newfoundland Saga," as Captain America solves the greatest mystery of his life: How he fell into the English Channel in 1945 but was discovered in Newfoundland in 1964. (Never mind the fact that we are also in the middle of "Who Is Steve Rogers?", in which he also investigates... Continue Reading →
Invaders #26-28 (March-May 1978)
These three issues focus more on Bucky than Captain America, but the historical background is of such importance that I'll feature many panels without Cap nonetheless. (Fair warning: Some of the images and terms in this post are very disturbing, and the reason why will be clear very soon.) Also in these issues, two... Continue Reading →
Invaders #16-18 (May-July 1977)
These three issues reintroduce another Golden Age Timely Comics hero to the book, and Captain America has a Superman/Captain Marvel moment when he discovers a comic book character with a strikingly familiar origin to his (and I'm not talking about his own portrayal in the Marvel Universe version of Timely Comics). All of this... Continue Reading →
Avengers #147-149 (May-July 1976)
These three issues finish the Serpent Crown storyline begun in Avengers #141 and interrupted by the two-part fill-in story in issues #145-146. This second half of the story actually brings in the Serpent Crown itself and its implications for the politics on the Squadron Supreme's world (and its links with the Avengers' own). Issue #147... Continue Reading →
Captain America #195-197 (March-May 1976)
These three issues continue Jack Kirby's "Madbomb" storyline that he began in issue #193 upon his return to writing and drawing the character he co-created in 1940. Just in case you didn't read the last post on this series—and if so, why not?—Captain America and the Falcon are looking for Madbombs, devices that emit mental... Continue Reading →
Captain America #184 (April 1975)
This issue is the first of Steve Englehart's final story, taking up his last three issues on Captain America, after a run that took the title to a higher level in terms of ethical substance (and sales). It features Cap and Falcon facing off against the Red Skull, allows Cap to get off his chest... Continue Reading →
Captain America #181-182 and Avengers #131 (January-February 1975)
These two issues of Captain America—and one page from Avengers #131—show Steve Rogers adapting to his newly chosen role as Nomad, "Man without a Country" as the storyline with Viper and the new Serpent Squad continues, young Roscoe steps into some very big shoes, and a major foe returns. Oddly, the opening splash page to... Continue Reading →
Marvel Two-in-One #4-5 (July and September 1974)
This two-parter represents Captain America's second appearance in a Marvel team-up title, this time in the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing's book Marvel Two-in-One. This story also fits in between Captain America #175 and 176, after he had learned the extent of the Secret Empire's reach into the highest echalons of the American government, but before he... Continue Reading →