These two issues comprise the first half of the "Man without a Country" storyline, the first time in years that our hero has found himself on the wrong side of the United States government. At the end of the first "Secret Empire" storyline, Steve Rogers resigned the Captain America identity out of disgust with his... Continue Reading →
Prime/Captain America #1 (March 1996)
This team-up/crossover between the Marvel and Malibu Universes is a follow-up of sorts to the recent meeting between the Avengers and Ultraforce, and is notable for the interior and cover artwork by Norm Breyfogle, one of my favorite Batman artists. As well as Prime from the Ultraverse, this issue also introduces a new patriotic hero,... Continue Reading →
Captain America #449, Avengers #396, Iron Man #326, and Thor #496 (March 1996)
These four issues compromise the "First Sign" crossover that was meant to fully bring the "Avengers Prime" back into the team after they were all brought into the aftermath of "The Crossing." (Why is the Iron Man cover missing above? Cap ain't on it, of course!) Fair warning: Most of the interesting material with Captain... Continue Reading →
Avengers #395, Avengers: Timeslide #1, Iron Man #325, and Age of Innocence: The Rebirth of Iron Man #1 (February 1996)
Oh boy... this one's gonna take some explaining. Since the Avengers found Captain America missing and presumed dead at the end of Captain America #443, they (and the poor readers) had to endure "The Crossing," a mini-event between their own title, Force Works, Iron Man, and War Machine, that involved many interweaving events. Most important... Continue Reading →
DC Versus Marvel/Marvel Versus DC #1-4 (February-May 1996)
This four-issue miniseries was the first large-scale crossover between Marvel Comics and DC Comics, following meetings of individual heroes such as Superman and Spider-Man and Batman and the Hulk. Soon to be outdone by JLA/Avengers in 2003, DC Versus Marvel (and vice versa) was a glorified Contest of Champions, much like the recent Avengers/Ultraforce crossover,... Continue Reading →
Captain America #448 (February 1996)
This issue concludes Mark Waid and Ron Garney's first extended storyline in Captain America, which began in issue #445. So far, our hero was revived by Sharon Carter (whom he had long believed to be dead) and the Red Skull (who provided the blood transfusion that saved him), all to save the world from the... Continue Reading →
Captain America #447 and The Savage Hulk #1 (January 1996)
This issue continues "Operation Rebirth," the first full storyline in Mark Waid and Ron Garney's first run on Captain America, which finds our hero fighting alongside Sharon Carter—who has been alive this whole time, as explained in the last issue—and the Red Skull, who gave him a blood transfusion to save his life so he... Continue Reading →
Captain America #446 (December 1995)
This second issue of Mark Waid and Ron Garney's first extended storyline on Captain America finds our hero working very uncomfortably alongside his greatest foe, the Red Skull, and his former love, Sharon Carter, who he (and we) had believed dead since issue #237—and we learn exactly how she has been alive all this time... Continue Reading →
Captain America #445 (November 1995)
This issue reveals (finally) what happened to Captain America after he appeared to die and then disappeared in issue #443, his still body glimpsed only at the last page of issue #444, along with two shadowy figures whose identities are revealed here as well. All in all, this is the proper first issue of Mark... Continue Reading →
Skrull Kill Krew #2-3 (October-November 1995)
When I committed to covering all of Captain America's appearances in Marvel Comics, I did not see this coming: two issues of the first Skrull Kill Krew miniseries (not a typo with the spelling, and yes, there was a second miniseries). What's more, it's written by future superstars Grant Morrison and Mark Millar, who lend... Continue Reading →