Like the previous Avengers post, this one is a catch-all of sorts, gathering all of Captain America's appearances with the team these four months—and the number of them is quite impressive, considering his reduced physical capabilities (explained in March's Captain America #425). We'll see in the Avengers storyline that he is even less active in... Continue Reading →
Captain America #425 (March 1994)
In this issue, Captain America finally learns the cause of the weakness he been experiencing the last few issues, which becomes a major concern in his life going forward (as reflected in his appearances this month in Avengers, Iron Man, and Daredevil). As his future as the Sentinel of Liberty comes into doubt, Cap has... Continue Reading →
All-New, All-Same “The Virtues of Captain America Blog” is back!
It's been a long time—a bit longer than I hoped—but I'm pleased to announce that this blog is starting up again tomorrow with Captain America #425 from March 1994. I finished the second edition of my book last week, and it was much more work than I imagined. In addition to refining the text throughout,... Continue Reading →
Taking a break for a bit…
This is difficult to say (and do), but The Virtues of Captain America Blog will be on hiatus for the first half of 2023, as work intensifies on the revised edition of my book of the same name (due out in 2024). Try as I might, I don't think I can continue to write about... Continue Reading →
Captain America #424 (February 1994)
This is the last issue of Captain America before the game-changing "Fighting Chance" storyline begins, and it sees our hero reunite with Diamondback at long last... as well as one of her former Serpent Society colleagues, in a story that reminds me of classic Spider-Man tales in which a member of his rogues gallery is... Continue Reading →
Avengers #370-371, Captain Marvel #2, Marvels #2, Thunderstrike #4, and Plasmer #3-4 (January-February 1994)
This is a catch-all post, gathering a handful of minor appearances of Captain America over these two months. We start with his very minor role in a two-part fill-in Avengers tale, followed by Monica Rambeau's second Captain Marvel comic (coincidentally, this post appearing one week after her excellent new miniseries as Photon began), the second... Continue Reading →
West Coast Avengers #102 (January 1994)
The final issue of West Coast Avengers (or Avengers West Coast, if you're so inclined) sees the team calling it a day—not entirely voluntarily, though. And as you may have guessed based on the subtle hints on the cover, this does not sit well with some of its members, most of whom immediately make plans... Continue Reading →
Captain America #423 and Marvels #1 (January 1994)
We start 1994 with a flashback issue of Captain America written by Roy Thomas—breaking Mark Gruenwald's streak begun with issue #307—telling the story of our hero's first meeting with Namor the Sub-Mariner. Fittingly, this month also sees the debut of Marvels, the landmark miniseries by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross, the first issue of which... Continue Reading →
Captain America #422 (December 1993)
Captain America #422 is very much a "day in the life" story, touching on a number of aspects of Captain America's routine, including touching base with various members of his supporting cast (as well as tangling with the "nut job" on the cover). Most important, we start to see hints of the next big challenge... Continue Reading →
Avengers #368-369, West Coast Avengers #101, X-Men #26, and Uncanny X-Men #307 (November-December 1993)
These five comics comprise the "Bloodties" storyline, a crossover event that commemorated the 30th anniversary of both the Avengers and the X-Men. The huge cast of this story necessarily minimizes Captain America's role (other than many impressive heroic poses), but a central theme of the Avengers aspect of the story deals with the obligations under... Continue Reading →