This Week's Updates: Cap, the Falcon, and Bucky
Feb 6, 12
The big deal this week is the premiere issue of WINTER SOLDIER, the ongoing title featuring ex-Cap Bucky Barnes in his quest to atone for his crimes as the Soviet assassin Winter Soldier, setting him on a collision course with Doctor Doom! Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice continue their magic from earlier Cap days and the synopsis and review are here.
As for Cap himself, check out the write-ups on issues 1 and 2 of CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE FALCON, a 14-issue series from 2004-2005 facing a rogue super-soldier, a missing bioweapon, gangsters, conspiracies in high places, and M.O.D.O.K. Look here and there’s more to come.
This Week: Cap, Bucky, Kree, and Skrulls!
Jan 30, 12
The new issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY (#626) has Cap teaming up with retired Bucky Fred Davis and the original Human Torch to investigate the menace of a revived Adam II. Details here.
And Rob Johnson hits a hundred synopses with a major event: he has written up AVENGERS (1963) #93-97 which features the classic tale of the Kree-Skrull War! The Avengers are caught in the middle of this far-flung galactic conflict which by rights is the headache of Captain Marvel (Marvel’s, not the Shazam guy) and Rick Jones. Just can’t keep those Avengers guys quiet. Thanks , Rob!
This Week’s Updates: Cap and Spider-Woman
Jan 23, 12
First up we present the latest issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA (2011): it’s issue #7 and Cap is still "Powerless" (sort of) as his strength is coming and going while he must deal with the Serpent Squad and the threat of the Madbomb.
Then in NEW AVENGERS #14 and 15 (of the original series) Cap confronts Spider-Woman over her double agent status with SHIELD and HYDRA, then announces the new Avengers line-up—the one we had been reading about since issue #1! Sometime the public is the last to know!
This Week's Updates: Cap, Bucky and Other Stuff
Jan 16, 12
First up: the most recent issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY, #625 to be precise, which kicks off a story arc that focuses on a forgotten Bucky, Fred Davis. Who, you say? Fred Davis, who became Bucky after the original "died" in the War and served with the first two replacement Caps, William Naslund and Jeff Mace. He’s still alive and in danger, good thing Steve Cap is around to help.
Plus we’ve added CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #275, a classic wherein the ever-sweet Bernie Rosenthal discovers that Steve Rogers is Captain America. She’s no Lois Lane, folks.
And Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson contributes AVENGERS (1963) #85. While Cap and half the group are attending a charity event, the other half is doing deadly battle with the Squadron Supreme! Who has the better set of priorities? I vote for Rob!
This Week’s Updates: Cap and the Widow!
Jan 9, 12
CAPTAIN AMERICA #6 begins a new story arc "Powerless" wherein Steve Rogers loses the benefits of the Super-Soldier Serum, leaving Cap at the mercy of his enemies, including the new Serpent Squad! See the details here!
And Rob Johnson sends us BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #1 and 2 which relates the history of everyone’s favorite ex-Soviet seductress and features guest appearances by Bucky Barnes, the once and future Winter Soldier. Synopses and commentary can be found here and thanks again Rob for untangling the twisted Marvel continuity for us!
This Week: New Cap!
Jan 2, 12
The delayed CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 has appeared, wrapping up the "American Dreamers" story arc involving Codename: Bravo and the Land of Nowhere. Synopsis and review to be found here.
Plus, we present "Prisoners of Duty" from CAPTAIN AMERICA: THEATER OF WAR, where the focus is on Steve Rogers, out of costume, engineering a breakout from a Nazi POW camp! The great escape can be found here.
Friday Special: All Good Things….
Dec 30, 11
Great series deserve great endings: whether the one-armed man is caught, the Korean War ends, or it all turns out to be an autistic kid’s fantasy, the way a TV series ends will stick in the mind for years. And the same goes for comic books; so what did Marvel do in NEW AVENGERS FINALE to finish up the first volume of NEW AVENGERS? An epic battle? A major death? An all-new lineup? None of those, they ended with an eighteen–page speech by Captain America. What did I say? An eighteen-page speech?!? It’s one of those "Why we fight" homilies that one usually finds in war comics—and not one of the better ones, either. No problems, it’s only there to showcase some nice reprinted pages from previous issues. So it could have been worse—it could have all just faded to black as the heroes were sitting in a restaurant….
And speaking of fading to black—this is the last Friday Special, at least for the foreseeable future. I will be cutting back to updating once a week, Mondays only.
This Week: Ronin the Barbarian
Dec 26, 11
Since the regular Captain America comic seems to be having trouble lately, we've added NEW AVENGERS #11-13, which introduced the enigmatic warrior known as Ronin! This is the first one, joining the team at Cap's invitation, not Clint Barton taking over the costume. (Recall, Clint has a history of adopting other heroes' discarded identities, right, Goliath? You can see his point, as Hawkeye has been described as the hero whose superpower bcame obsolete when gunpowder was invented.) No, here we have the original, mysterious one, who kicks a lot of ninja tail and confuses Spider-Man and Iron Man. If you don't already know the secret of Ronin, check here! And if you do, look anyway! It's free!
Friday Special: Hippy Dippy Heroes!
Dec 23, 11
Cosmic Cubes need love too! That’s the message of "The Last Enchantment" in CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #7. Cap teams up with Aquarian (a/k/a Super-Hippie) to recover the omnipotent device which is cranky because of self-esteem issues. To do this they have to fight a bunch of A.I.M. guys in powder blue bucket-headed costumes instead of yellow, led by an overgrown nerd. Finally the Cube throws a tantrum until the Shaper of Worlds (half robot Skrull, half-tank) arrives to share that he was once a cranky little cube too. He then takes his little buddy and promises to hold and nurture it until it achieves its full potential as a well-adjusted Cosmic Cube. And Cap, Aquarian, and the villain all smile warmly as the Cube lives happily ever after—at least until the next one comes along and falls into the hands of the Red Skull again. The story is so full of good vibes and groovy pseudo-mysticsm it could only have come from the 1960s—except it was published in 1983. Was Ronald Reagan briefed on this?
This Week: Man-Ape, Zodiac, and Red Wolf!
Dec 19, 11
Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson sends us AVENGERS (1968) #78-82 wherein Earth’s Mightiest Heroes take on Black Panther’s arch-enemy Man-Ape (a burly dude in an ape suit) along with the Grim Reaper and some other second string baddies, then team up with Red Wolf (Native American superhero who derives his power from accumulated stereotypes, apparently) and Daredevil against Zodiac. And Captain America is with them the whole time, a rarity for this Avengers era. Thanks, Rob.
Meanwhile, what’s up with Cap’s new title? Issue #4 was a month late, ish 5 rescheduled for this month, a week after #6’s release date. And now #6 failed to ship this week. And apparently neither issue will ship next week. C’mon, I want to know what’s going on in the dream world (#5) while #6 begins "Shattered Heroes," this year’s big annoying event! (Relax, Peter. Remember, it’s only a comic book.)
Friday Special: Firefight in Hell’s Kitchen
Dec 16, 11
The classic story arc "Born Again" in DAREDEVIL #227-233 came to us courtesy of writer Frank Miller and artist Dave Mazzucchelli. In it, the Kingpin discovers that his longtime nemesis Daredevil is lawyer Matt Murdock and proceeds systematically to destroy the hero’s life. When Matt hits bottom, there is nowhere to go but up again, and he learns that a man with no hope is truly a Man without Fear. So why does it end with a crazed Super-Soldier treating Hell’s Kitchen like it’s Vietnam? The gut-wrenching character-based drama gives way to pyrotechnics and, well, superhero stuff. It’s a bizarre note to end on though if they were going to go in for superheroics, at least they chose Captain America (plus cameos by Thor and Iron Man). Cap’s commitment to shutting down rogue patriots is one of his great acts of virtue and he does admirably here. The details on ish #233 (the one with Cap) can be found here.
Joe Simon Dead at 98
Dec 16, 11
It is with a sense of loss that we announce the passing of Joe Simon, co-creator of Captain America, with Jack Kirby on Dec. 14. Mr. Simon was 98 years old and had lived just long enough to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his most famous comics creation and attend the premiere earlier this year of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, the epic movie inspired by the hero. Though never as big a name as Kirby, he had a long and respectable life and this website is in part a tribute to him.
Classic Cap: More Bloodstone, More Bucky
Dec 12, 11
This week we present CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #360-362, which completes the synopsis on the great Cap story arc, The Bloodstone Hunt. Baron Zemo races to assemble all the pieces of the fabled Bloodstone; Cap tries to stop him, Diamondback is cute, Crossbones makes his presence known, and Batroc leaps ('cause that's what Batrocs do best). And there’s an apocalyptic ending in an erupting volcano.
We also present CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #624 which gives us a summary of the career of the Winter Soldier, paving the way for Bucky’s new series to start in February. I’m looking forward to it.
Friday Special: Heroes for Hire versus…Robocop?
Dec 9, 11
The cover of POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #125 shows our two heroes struggling against an armored villain who looks oddly familiar. Don’t let the Iron Man color scheme throw you off…it’s Robocop! Yeah, he claims to be John Lumus, avenging the death of his brother, but we recognize the costume. Oh yeah, and Iron Fist dies in the end. Wait, what? Yeah, it was his turn to die in 1986, and be resurrected with an absurd explanation a little while later. This was the final issue of the series and Captain America was there.
Classic Cap: The Bloodstone Hunt!
Dec 5, 11
This week we’ve added CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968 series) #357-359 which marks the first half of one of the greatest of Cap epics: the Bloodstone Hunt! Here, in a rollercoaster ride of action that would overwhelm Indiana Jones, our favorite hero races a team of baddies (Baron Zemo, Batroc the Leaper, Machete, and Zaran) all over the world to collect the scattered fragments of the mysterious magical Bloodstone because when they are all together…what? Only Zemo knows and it can’t be anything good. And Cap is accompanied by the delightful Diamondback, that lovesick larcenous lady, while Crossbones (in his first appearance) watches from a distance hoping to snatch the gem away. Concludes next week!
And Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson contributes AVENGERS (1963 series) #75-76 which introduces the team’s enemy Arkon, the warrior king from a parallel Earth, come to ours to conquer and claim Scarlet Witch as his bride! Online dating hadn’t been invented yet so he had to come here to cause some trouble. And as we saw from Avengers Disassembled, when Wanda wants to break up, no one can reason with her! Thanks, Rob.
Friday Special: Get Ready to Rumble!
Dec 2, 11
Back in 1998, Marvel created the new Marvel Interactive imprint to market comic book-sized game equipment. Featuring several of their most popular heroes (plus a few from other companies—but not DC), the BATTLEBOOKS were the means of playing a table-top fighting game pitting one character against another. Easier to play than a Dungeons & Dragons fight (no multi-sided dice—and only two could battle at a time) but not as cool as Heroclix (but no collectible miniatures to deplete your allowance, either) BATTLEBOOKS seemed like a simpler (and cheaper at $3.99 a pop) alternative to videogames. And Captain America was a part of it.
Now excuse me, I have the sudden urge to toss this comic in my basement and go play MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3….
This Week: The Squadron Sinister! The Invaders! SHIELD!
Nov 27, 11
Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson continues his worthy goal of chronicling all the adventures of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. And so we come to AVENGERS (Vol. 1) #69-71, wherein Kang the Conqueror (booo) and the Grandmaster (hissss) enter into a little game with the Avengers as Kang's unwilling champions. Result: the first appearances of the Squadron Sinister (#69) and the Invaders (#71)! And this is followed by issue #72 which wraps up some loose ends from the recently-cancelled NICK FURY, AGENT OF SHIELD. Thanks, Rob!
Oh yeah, today's fun fact: does the Squadron Sinister seem a bit familiar to you? It should, the members are based rather closely on the famous heroes of the Justice League: Superman (Hyperion), Batman (Nighthawk), Green Lantern (Dr. Spectrum), and the Flash (the unfortunately named Whizzer)! Eventually they would be recast as good guys (the Squadron Supreme), with Nighthawk becoming a staple of the Defenders! Remember, you heard about it here!
Friday Special: The Avenging Spider-Man!
Nov 25, 11
There’s a brand-new Spider-Man comic out now—and it isn’t ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN, which only has a brand-new Spider-Man, but is the same old comic. No, this new one is THE AVENGING SPIDER-MAN. It’s a variation on the old MARVEL TEAM-UP but this time it will focus on Spidey joining up with one of his teammates from the Avengers for a duo adventure. Issue #1 hit the stands this month and it pairs the ol’ Wallcrawler with none other than the Red Hulk! Sheesh, if there’s anyone more humorless than green Hulk…. Anyway, it’s another plan to separate Spider-Fans from another four bucks a month, and Captain America is there to witness—in the first issue, at least.
This Week: New Stuff, Cap and the Punisher!
Nov 21, 11
The delayed CAPTAIN AMERICA (2011) #4 hit the stands this week and Cap is battling the rogue commando Codename: Bravo in the latter’s INCEPTION-like fantasy world.
Then we have PUNISHER/CAPTAIN AMERICA: BLOOD & GLORY which teams the Super-Soldier with the Super-Vigilante. The unlikely duo faces off against a government conspiracy and the Punisher even learns a lesson about true patriotism from Cap (which doesn’t take considering the drift of the Punisher’s career). Watch for a strange guest appearance by the supernatural anti-hero Terror!
Friday Special: You Get What You Pay For
Nov 18, 11
Every year Free Comic Book Day sees the release of a number of special issues of favorite titles and this year there was a double treat. Since the day coincided with the release of the THOR feature to theaters, they naturally put out a Thor-related comic. Naturally. But anticipating their OTHER major film of the summer, they made sure it also featured Captain America. The two heroes meet King Arthur and Merlin—but Merlin turns out to be Loki and some serious stuff goes down. It’s an all-ages title, which means a kid’s comic but it seems I enjoy those a lot better than our Thor ‘Thusiast Arcturus Jackson, who supplied the synopsis and the snarky review. And don’t diss Cap, Jack! You don’t wanna make him thor, er, sore.
This Week: Avengers Assemble!
Nov 14, 11
Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson has sent us a few more issues of the AVENGERS (Vol. 1) to chronicle Cap’s adventures as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This time we have issue #52 (first battle with the Grim Reaper), #56 (Cap goes back in time to see if Bucky is really dead—I know, fooled him), #58 (the classic "Even an Android Can Cry") and #60 (the equally classic wedding of Wasp and Yellowjacket). And over in the Thor Library there’s more (Capless) issues from this era! Count off! One, two, free, Thor! Thanks, Rob!
Also newly added is CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #623, wherein Bucky discovers the horror of the Holocaust. It’s a somber but historically significant issue. And the long-delayed CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 arrives this week! See you in seven!
Friday Special: A Tribute to Veterans
Nov 11, 11
In the United States today is Veterans Day, one of Cap’s favorite holidays (other nations have similar observances on this date, the anniversary of the end of World War I). This is the day we pay tribute to all who have served in the armed forces of our country. It seems fitting that we look at the CAPTAIN AMERICA: THEATER OF WAR limited series entry A BROTHER IN ARMS. Here, Cap leads a team of Rangers on a dangerous mission inside Nazi Germany where we learn about the special tie that links soldiers regardless of nationality or ideology, one which makes all fighting men brothers under the skin. "Sometimes your brother is your enemy; other times your enemy is your brother...and any good soldier, no matter your friend or enemy, is truly a brother in arms."
And a hearty thanks for us at the Captain America Library to all who put their lives on the line for this country’s ideals and freedoms.
This Week’s Updates: The Cap Corps!
Nov 7, 11
The recently completed miniseries CAPTAIN AMERICA CORPS was a lot of fun: as an mysterious entity was snatching Steve Rogerses out of all the parallel timelines, a massive mess with reality was in the offering. So the Contemplator/Tath Ki/Mister Buda brings together five Captain America incarnations to enter a patriotic fascist America to solve the mystery. It’s better than the multi-Doctor episodes of DOCTOR WHO because…well, it’s not Doctor Who but Captain America. Which is what this site is all about.
Urgent News Flash: Bucky Lives!
Marvel fooled me: it looked like Bucky Barnes was killed off in FEAR ITSELF #3, ruining what Ed Brubaker was planning for the character at the end of the most recent volume of CAPTAIN AMERICA. Well, FEAR ITSELF 7.1 revealed that Bucky survived and his death announced so as to free him from all his legal troubles of the past rew years so he could set out on his mission of righting all the wrongs he had committed as the Winter Soldier—which will lead into his own series starting in 2012! The chief problem in all this? I can’t give a full synopsis since the software for the Captain America Library can’t handle an issue number with a decimal in it (which bodes ill for Marvel’s Point One initiative as well). We’ll let you know when Julio solves the problem! Meanwhile, click here for a 404 error!
Friday Special: All White, Already!
Nov 4, 11
So what does it feel like to be Ultimately Nullified? Quasar found out in QUASAR #40 when the cosmic convenience backfired and sucked him into its sphere. So? Well, the first effect the Ultimate Nullifer has is to destroy the colorist! The Big Q finds himself in a land where everyone is a black outline on a white background except for his cosmic power—and a couple of baddies he really did not want to meet. It was an INFINITY WAR tie-in and Captain America was there.
This Week: Three from the 1940s (Kind of)
Oct 31, 11
Heads up, Pilgrims! Here we present three comic issues with 1940s settings!
First up is ALL WINNERS' SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES #5, courtesy of Rob Johnson, wherein Captain America joins a bunch of very obscure Timely heroes for some wartime adventures. Thanks for cataloging these character who haven't been seen in the comics for 65 years, Rob!
And then there's CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #622. Here Bucky proves his worth to the Invaders by rescuing them from an oddly normal-looking Arnim Zola!
Finaly we present CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #12 which has Cap and Bucky battling miniaturized criminals and Latin American revolutionaries. Plus stories featuring Father Time, crusading reporter Headline Hunter, and the debut of Stan Lee's most obscure creation, The Imp!
And id you note the irony? CAP COMICS #12 is the only one that was published in the genuine 1940s and is the only one that does not feature a World War 2 setting! Nostalgia ain't what it used to be!
Friday Special: Fear Itself, Alright Already Edition.
Oct 28, 11
Well, this year’s big epic crossover FEAR ITSELF winds down with some epic fight scenes and a lot of promotions for more comic books. Like SIEGE it was the outline of a story, flashed out with dozens of side comics to create a coherent whole. As such it seemed like a cheap pretext for getting us to buy more comics (which aren’t cheap). They promised something different and gave us a standard "good guys fight bad guys" scenario. We could have waited for the trades. Which we’ll have to read anyway to understand what was going on. On the other hand, Captain America does send chills up the spine wielding Thor's hammer and shouting "Avengers assemble!" So maybe it was worth it after sll.
This Week: The Last Ride of the Howling Commandos
Oct 24, 11
The Howling Commandos had a reunion in SECRET WARRIORS #17-19 and surprised us all by not being as old as a bunch of WW2 veterans should be (do the math: they’d all be at least 80). And then they further startled us by joining the Secret Warriors Black Team on a mission against a Hydra Base in China. And the final shocker was that many of them do not return. This elegiac tale says farewell to a team of characters who have been thrilling us in the comics since the 1960s but haven’t been much appreciated since war comics lost their appeal some time ago. And Steve Rogers attended the reunion where his exploits as Captain America were lauded.
Friday Special: Like a Boss
Oct 21, 11
EMPEROR DOOM! Just the title is enough to set your heart sideways within you. In this epic addition to the MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL series (a set of longer creator-driven works with sturdier binding), the Doomster finally achieves his greatest goal—world domination—with an easy scheme built on the unwilling participation of the persuasive Purple Man to hypnotize everyone on Earth. And it’s up to the Avengers to stop him—except that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are also under his spell…. So who is left to face Marvels’ Greatest villain? Would you believe…Wonder Man?
It’s every bit as good as it sounds, thanks to David Michelinie and Bob Hall…and Captain America plays a key role. See the details here.
This Week: Falcon, Falcon, Who’s Got the Falcon?
Oct 17, 11
In CAPTAIN AMERICA #228-230 and THE INCREDIBLE HULK #232, Cap undertook "The Search for the Falcon," when his former partner disappeared. Cap fought the Constrictor and the SHIELD Super-Agents, then, teamed with the Hulk and Marvel Man (the future Quasar), he took on the Corporation including Moonstone and the Animus. In the tunnels underneath Alcatraz, at that. Oh yeah, and he found the Falcon. Rescued him, too. The details are here.
Friday Special: Sometimes We Need a Little Help
Oct 14, 11
Earlier this year, Marvel published an online special issue called CAPTAIN AMERICA: A LITTLE HELP. In this (nearly) wordless drama, a teenager plans suicide but Cap encourages him to keep living. It was written by psychologist Tim Ursiny and designed to offer an alternative to death and despair to any young readers who may have been contemplating the same drastic action. The story ended with the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK.
If anyone out there reading this is likewise struggling with serious issues and looking at suicide as a solution, please, call the number above or talk to someone. There is no stigma in admitting we all need a little help sometimes.
This Week: Skull Session
Oct 10, 11
We’ve added the two-part tale from CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #226-227 which answers the magical question, "What could be worse than being trapped on the SHIELD Helicarrier with the Red Skull?" How about being trapped with a whole lot of Red Skulls? That’s right, Cap’s arch-enemy devises a means to transform other people into carbon copies of himself (kids, ask your grandparents what carbon copies are) and runs Cap through a gauntlet of terror. Oh yeah, and as ish #225 ended, Cap had lost his powers. Bad day all around. See the synopses here.
Friday Special: First Blood
Oct 7, 11
No, not Rambo, not even close. It’s the story of Bucky Barnes and the first time he killed a man. When Marvel restarted CAPTAIN AMERICA with a new issue #1 to coincide with the release of the movie, the old CAP title was renamed CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY and devoted to a more detailed retelling of Bucky’s origin than we had yet seen. The first issue (#620) showed the events leading up to young James Barnes’ recruitment as Cap’s wartime partner. Issue #621 gives Bucky his first taste of real action, when he and Cap uncover a Nazi plot in the heart of the USA. Needless to say, it ain’t like the movies he’s seen, and there are real consequences to killing, even to save the lives of others. Bucky learns that lesson and moves on. See the details here and look for issue #622 at your local comics shop.
This Week: Extremes
Oct 3, 11
We’ve added a few items that could not be further apart on the family-friendly scale this week. Why? ‘Cause that’s the kind of hairpin I am.
First up is ALIAS. This was the initial offering in Marvel’s Max imprint, which promised more adult content than ever before seen, with more violence, sex, and explicit profanity than usual. ALIAS introduced Jessica Jones, a burned out former superhero who was now a bitter woman, eking out a precarious living as a cynical private eye. In her first case she is tricked into uncovering the secret identity of Captain America. Here we present synopses of issues #1 and 5, the two wherein Cap actually appears. Feel free to start a Jessica Jones Library if you want to know the rest.
As an unsuitable paring we also offer MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #8 and 12, wherein Cap is brought into this juvenile version of the Marvel Universe to fight the hordes of Hydra, with the usual light tone and comical banter that suits an "All-Ages" title.
If you don’t like the one, you’ll enjoy the other. Or maybe you’re such a comics fan that you can enjoy both on their own terms.
Friday Special: Fear Itself, Dissing Odin Edition!
Sep 30, 11
It’s the penultimate issue of this year’s epic crossover, FEAR ITSELF #6 and everyone seems mad at Odin. Captain America yells in his face; Tony Stark, who did that last issue, now contents himself with barely concealed contempt. Even Thor, the dutiful son, calls his dad on hypocrisy and deception. And on the other hand, the Serpent is out to kill him. At last with the villain you know where you stand. But let’s face it; the Great Beard of the Universe deserves it. Keep current with this month’s synopsis, right here.
This Week: Cap Finds Himself (or a Reasonable Facsimile Thereof)
Sep 26, 11
Captain America’s "Search for Steve Rogers" comes to an end in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #222-225 and it’s a strange and pointless resolution. On the other hand Cap battles a driverless Volkswagen, the Lincoln statue in Washington, and a Neanderthal super-brain called the Animus—so I guess it evens out.
And Rob Johnson sends us ALL-WINNERS SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES #4, the latest in the World War 2 epic which unites several obscure heroes from the Timely days! Thanks, Rob!
Oh yeah, CAPTAIN AMERICA #3, the new one, finally arrives. Cap dukes it out with the Ameridroid. Why doesn't he pick on someone his own size?
Friday Special: Not Ready for Prime-Time Heroes
Sep 23, 11
Once upon a time, there was a poor little comics company called Malibu. They created a number of new heroes called Ultras (since they were not allowed to use the term "superhero" by dictates of the two rulers of the land, Prince Marvel and Prince DC) and tried oh-so-hard for a market share. Then one day Prince Marvel discovered that the beautiful Malibu had a secret treasure: a state-of-the-art coloring department. So Prince Marvel courted the beautiful young company and they were married. The Prince tried oh-so-hard to introduce some of Malibu’s characters to his own well-known circle but alas, they did not fit together. So the Prince banished Malibu to the dungeons and lived happily ever after with the coloring department….
In short, Marvel’s attempt to continue the Malibu line featured a few crossovers with their own heroes, notably the Avengers, Hulk and the matter at hand: PRIME / CAPTAIN AMERICA. In this mid 90s one-shot, Cap found himself in the Ultraverse, teaming up with Prime to save President Bill Clinton from being replaced by an evil Bill from a third alternate universe. So who is Prime? Think Captain Marvel (the Shazam one) with a twist: like Billy Batson, Prime is a kid who has the magical ability to turn into an adult hero. Unlike Billy Batson, the adult form literally grows around him, based on his current ideas of what constitutes a hero, and slowly decays, putting limits on how long he can do the good-guy stuff before his body decomposes into a green mess. It sounded interesting but no one bought the comics when Marvel was promoting them any more than when Malibu was independent. Too bad—there were a couple of interesting things going on. The coloring revolution was the best thing to come out of the short-lived merger.
This Week: Everybody’s Hoid about the ‘Droid
Sep 19, 11
As the "Search for Steve Rogers" continues, Captain America follows up some clues in Newfoundland and comes face-to-face with…some serious retcons. But along with a new version of his being frozen in ice, Cap encounters ex-Nazi Lyle Dekker and his creation, that twelve-foot-tall Cap clone called the Ameridroid! It’s all in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #217-221.
And what is it about the Ameridroid? After an absence of 25 years he suddenly shows up in the new Cap comic, which we’ve helpfully synopsized for you: CAPTAIN AMERICA (2011) #3. Or we would have, had not the issue been delayed. But that’s no reason to break up the theme.
And Rob Johnson, also to tie in with the new Cap series, sends us CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE FIRST THIRTEEN, a one-shot anniversary offering focusing on the wartime romance between Cap and Peggy Carter. Thanks Rob!
Friday Special: Butt Me No Butts
Sep 16, 11
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #3 was a DARK REIGN/SIEGE tie-in; Clint Barton (Hawkeye/Goliath/Ronin) had been captured by Norman Osborn and the Dark Avengers. When the baddies learn the location of the real Avengers secret hideout, they head over there in force hoping to kick some butt.
The surprise is, that the Avengers had planned ahead: while Norman and gang are away from home, four female heroes invade the Helicarrier to rescue Clint and kick some butt.
The mission is successful and Clint apologies for his dumb move, kicking himself in the butt.
And on the last page, who should arrive but Steve Rogers—in Captain America costume, to announce that he will be leading the Avengers on a mission against Osborn and company, intending to, you guessed it, kick some butt.
It was an exciting issue, no ifs, ands, or butts about it.
[And my apologies for the vulgar theme this week but I couldn't resist.]
This Week: Cap and Avengers
Sep 12, 11
Hey gang, this week's additions include CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #215 and 216, a survey of Cap's career leading into the "Search for Steve Rogers" story arc. And no, your eyes do not decieve you: 216 is a reprint of the goofball classic meeting of the Human Torch and the Cap impostor which has already appeared on this site.
In addition, Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson sends us AVENGERS (1963) #45-47 wherein Earth's Mightiest Heroes take on the Super-Adaptoid, Whirlwind, and Magneto. Say, did we mention that Whirlwind is the guy who started out as the Human Top? Yeah, we knew that would get you.
Friday Special: Reign, Reign, Go Away
Sep 9, 11
Hey, remember that big crossover a couple of years ago when Prince and some other pop stars seized power, hunted down the Avengers and planned to besiege Graceland? You know, it was called PURPLE REIGN.
No wait…that was the story proposal I sent Marvel that they didn’t accept…..
Okay, I’ve got it now, I’m thinking of DARK REIGN when Norman Osborn and a band of baddies seized power, hunted down the Avengers and planned to besiege Graceland. That’s it…I think.
Anyway, in DARK REIGN: THE LIST—AVENGERS, Clint Barton alias Hawkeye alias Goliath alias Ronin, was planning to assassinate Norman Osborn and the other Avengers don’t like that one bit.
The big revelation: Bucky killed Hitler. Or so he claims. Everyone knows it was the Human Torch who slew Der Fuehrer so maybe Bucky killed a clone. Or a Skrull. Or an LMD. Or maybe Steve did it. Or John Walker. Or maybe it was two other guys.
It was a DARK REIGN tie-in and Captain America was there. Or at least someone who looked like him.
Ladies and gentlemen, Bucky Barnes has left the building….
Friday Special: Reign, Reign, Go Away
Sep 9, 11
Hey, remember that big crossover a couple of years ago when Prince and some other pop stars seized power, hunted down the Avengers and planned to besiege Graceland? You know, it was called PURPLE REIGN.
No wait…that was the story proposal I sent Marvel that they didn’t accept…..
Okay, I’ve got it now, I’m thinking of DARK REIGN when Norman Osborn and a band of baddies seized power, hunted down the Avengers and planned to besiege Graceland. That’s it…I think.
Anyway, in DARK REIGN: THE LIST—AVENGERS, Clint Barton alias Hawkeye alias Goliath alias Ronin, was planning to assassinate Norman Osborn and the other Avengers don’t like that one bit.
The big revelation: Bucky killed Hitler. Or so he claims. Everyone knows it was the Human Torch who slew Der Fuehrer so maybe Bucky killed a clone. Or a Skrull. Or an LMD. Or maybe Steve did it. Or John Walker. Or maybe it was two other guys.
It was a DARK REIGN tie-in and Captain America was there. Or at least someone who looked like him.
Ladies and gentlemen, Bucky Barnes has left the building….
This Week: Earth's Mightiest-er Heroes!
Sep 5, 11
So this week we complete the Casey-Kolins epic miniseries AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES with issues 5-8. The Avengers learn the ideal of a hero is greater than any individual members. Meanwhile, Captain America deals with some unfinished business, tracking down Baron Zemo and avenging Bucky. See the details here.
Friday Special: Fear Itself, Championship Bash Edition!
Sep 2, 11
The last installment of FEAR ITSELF promised a lot of action in this issue as Thor faced the transformed Hulk and Thing in the streets of New York. Well, this issue fulfills that promise, in the modern Marvel way, which is by stretching the action across more panels than is needed. Plus, the Serpent arrives and clobbers the Avengers. You’ve heard of issues that are one long fight scene? This one is two short fight scenes, inflated to fill the issue! Surely there must be more, you ask? Well, Tony Stark yells at Odin for two pages, does that count?
It’s a better issue than I’m making it sound, check out the details here.
This Week: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!
Aug 29, 11
This week we’ve added the first four issues of AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES. To be honest, when I first heard of this miniseries I wasn’t looking forward to reading it: I had assumed it was just another unnecessary retelling of a familiar story. And was I wrong! This is the story behind the story of the formation of the Avengers. Stan and Jack’s classic work had the heroes team up with only a few conflicts; mainly they fought the bad guys (and rescued Captain America). This miniseries focuses on the untold story: the suspicion of the public, the efforts of the government to control the team, and the personality conflicts that threatened to sink the poorly defined project. And Cap turned out to be the lynchpin of the team (aw, we always knew that). Kudos to Joe Casey and Scott Kolins for their offbeat work.
Friday Special: It Could Only Be Kirby
Aug 26, 11
In CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #3 Cap took on some weirdos from outer space. This isn’t a cheat like "Operation Zero-Point" last week when Cap fought Nazi flying saucers. No, this is the real deal—with alien parasites, hunter robots, death rays, black holes, and a big purple monster. The thing is pure Jack Kirby from start to finish, with its headlong adrenaline rush, bizarre concepts, crazy characters, and the totally inappropriate choice to make this a Captain America story. I mean, really, Cap in such a heavily sci-fi tale? It boggles the mind, it reels the senses, it shatter the bonds of believability, it…
… it makes a nice change from fighting Nazis and Hydra, no matter how weird.
This Sunday would have been Jack Kirby's 94th birthday; we miss you, Jack
This Week’s Updates: A Lotta Stuff
Aug 22, 11
We’ve been adding a Lotta Stuff (which by coincidence was the name of Steve Rogers’ 9th grade English teacher) to the Captain America Library lately, starting with the new (#2) issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA! It’s part 2 of "American Dreamers" and we learn that the bad guys can enter and manipulate people’s dreams! Yeah, I know that, er, conception sounds familiar but Brubaker isn’t given to deception…at least that’s my perception. Feel free to go a little deeper, if you like.
And Rob Johnson has sent in issue #3 of ALL-WINNERS SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES, with Cap and a number of lesser-known Timely heroes adventuring during the War.
And the big story is all five issues of CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA, the miniseries designed to reinvent the terrorist organization into an occult secret society search for millennia for the secrets of immortality. This paved the way for the changes made in the new movie! Check out his odd epic by writer Jonathan Maberry and a rotating roster of artists!
Friday Special: Cap versus the Flying Saucers!
Aug 19, 11
Oh man! It was the coolest concept in years! CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR! After years of Cap battling supervillains and monsters and other comic book threats we were going to see him in some gritty and realistic wartime action! So the first offering was OPERATION ZERO-POINT in which Cap fought…Nazi UFOs? What, do we have Nazi little green (or field grey) men with little ray guns or something? Didn't Kirby do something crazy like this in ANNUAL 3 with robots and monsters from outer space and all that other Kirby stuff? Fortunately the story was the serious adventure I was hoping for, along the lines of "stopping the new enemy weapon" even if it did include a giant Nazi villain with a mechanical eye.
Check it out here!
Oh, and apropos of nothing, today is the birthday of my old friend and War Machine/She-Hulk writer Scott Benson! If you're reading this, Scott, give me a call--or at least e-mail me through this site!
This Week: More Avengers, More Assembly
Aug 15, 11
Our Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson has been busy of late writing up early adventures of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This time around he sends us AVENGERS (1963) #38, #40, #42-44 (Captain America is off battling the Red Skull in issues #39-41 but takes the time to call home in #40, so that one is here). Highlights: Hercules joins the team (unofficially), Black Widow goes on an undercover mission to China, the Sub-Mariner finds the Cosmic Cube, Diablo controls the Dragon Man, and the Red Guardian is introduced. And it doesn’t stop there! Rob has also sent in AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 where a regular rogue’s gallery appears, including the Mandarin, the Enchantress and Executioner, the Living Laser, Power Man (the original bad guy one, not Luke Cage) and the Swordsman. More headaches for our heroes!
Thanks, Rob!
Friday Special: Bantam Begins
Aug 12, 11
Wait, what? No, not him. Go back and read it again. It says BANTAM, as in rooster.
In CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #12, a new hero was introduced: as scrappy little boxer with enhanced strength who donned a costume to fight the gangsters who were muscling in on the sport of boxing. Along the way he met Cap who guided him on the path to using his powers constructively. The character was interesting and uncommon (not a lot of Puerto Rican superheroes in American comics) and I would have liked to see more of him. Unfortunately, Marvel ignored him for several years then brought him back so they could kill him. Que lastima.
Oh, and issue details are here, if you’d like to write some fan fiction. Or start the Bantam Library. Your call.
This Week: I Was a Teenage Cap!
Aug 8, 11
One of the stranger Captain America storylines appeared in CAPTAIN AMERICA #355-357; in it, Cap, on the trail of runaway teenagers, had Sersi—the Eternals’ magical minx—transform him into a fifteen-year-old and he went undercover to a creepy camp run by Mother Night and the Sisters of Sin. Weird stuff ensued and we’ve posted the details here.
And for some very early Cap fun, we cast our eyes back to 1942 and CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS, where the magic of a really young Stan Lee pits Cap against Nazi spies, stereotypical feuding hillbillies, and the Devil of the Opera. Plus stories featuring the Hurricane and Father Time, like anyone knows who they are! This one is here!
Friday Special: A Bold New Look!
Aug 5, 11
…or at least it was in 1984. In one of the most talked about surprises of the decade, Spider-Man returned from the Secret Wars epic wearing a cool black costume picked up on an alien world and the 616 Universe was abuzz over the change. And this was long before anyone suspected it was a nasty symbiote who would split off to become a major new villain, spun off into his own line of miniseries (and also spun off into another major villain—this one in red). This fashion statement debuted in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #252. It was a SECRET WARS tie-in and Captain America was there.
This Week’s Updates: Something Old-Old, Something New-Old
Aug 1, 11
What’s old-old is the final three issues of SECRET WARS, the classic 1980s epic which brought together a bunch of heroes (including Captain America, which is why we're presenting it) and villains on a remote planet and had them slug it out. And the winner is…Doctor Doom! Now that our secret war is no secret anymore (to paraphrase Doris Day), read the details of issues #10-12 here.
The new-old item is CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #620 (the retitled previous volume of Bucky Cap’s adventures) as it begins a five-part retelling of Bucky’s origin. Of course it’s set during World War 2, which makes it old even if it’s a new comic. And it’s right here.
Friday Special: Point Taken
Jul 29, 11
Earlier this year, Marvel came up with what they called their Point One Initiative: a series of introductory issues of famous comics to get new readers up to speed without being disappointed. Of course there was a CAPTAIN AMERICA issue, 615.1 to be precise; it told how Steve Rogers (the original Cap) was the nation’s top cop, new Cap Bucky was in a Russian prison and Nick Fury was pointing the way for Steve to wield the shield once more. If I may offer some pointed criticism, a mere four months—including the release of the movie and CAP #1—rendered this exercise beside the point. Reading issue 615.1 is now rather pointless. So see the synopsis here and before these puns reach the point of no return, I’ll take my leave. Point me to the exit, please?
This Week: You Mean There’s More?
Jul 25, 11
The synopsis and review for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER was added to the site on Saturday evening. Right there is cause for us to rejoice and for me to take the rest of the month off. However, we here at the Captain America Library spare no effort to fill in the gaps in the history of Captain America so applaud and send money to Julio. Meanwhile….
We’ve added the four issue limited series CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHAT PRICE GLORY? wherein Cap battles gangster trying to take over a Captain America theme park—that features giant statues of Cap and the Red Skull. How the investors hoped to make money from an amusement park that includes swastikas in the décor is a good question (the movie makes the Red Skull the leader of Hydra instead) but it’s one I don’t have to answer. Just look here and enjoy.
And if you haven’t had enough Cap WW2 action, Rob Johnson has sent in ALL-WINNERS SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES #2. Thanks, Rob!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER!
Jul 23, 11
Saw the movie today (and if you have to ask "What movie?" you're on the wrong site). Our favorite hero lights up the silver screen in an entertaining action-filled adventure that is at once familiar--and different. Read my spoiler-laden synopsis and review under the Captain America Movie tab above.....
Friday Special: Need You Ask?
Jul 22, 11
Marvel and Paramount Pictures have already given us the most special Friday we could have asked for: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER comes out today. Go see it.
Meanwhile, let’s have a look back at Cap’s reaction to a similar situation. In CAPTAIN AMERICA Vol. 3 #1 (supplied by Kevin Hollander) he learns there is a big-budget feature film about him with a lot of publicity and merchandising—and he disapproves. Can you imagine his reaction if we had shown him RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER and said "See that obnoxious punk with the flames? He’s playing you."? He would likely not be comforted with a drink from Dunkin’ Donuts bearing a picture of his shield.
This Week: So…What’s New?
Jul 18, 11
The eagerly anticipated new CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 hit the stands this week and it looks promising. Can Ed Brubaker write a Captain America story that doesn’t revolve around Bucky Barnes after all these years? To find out, see the details and full review posted here (or to the right).
We’ve also added SECRET WARS issues #7-9 as we continue to fill in this early epic event. The big deal was the introduction of Spider-Man’s black costume in issue #8. At the time everybody thought it was just a gimmick but what grew out of it has become a mainstay of the Spidey-verse—Venom!
And this coming weekend is the event we have been waiting for since it was announced over two years ago—the premiere of the CAPTAIN AMERICA film! We hope to have a synopsis and review up on Saturday. See you at the movies!
Friday Special: Fear Itself, the Good Guys Strike Back Edition!
Jul 15, 11
This year’s epic crossover FEAR ITSELF #4 has hit the stands: Bucky is dead (again) and then comes what we have been waiting years for—Steve Rogers dons the Captain America costume and does what we’ve been waiting months for—he leads Thor and Iron Man into battle against the Serpent and his superpowered minions, the Worthy. Aside from having to buy a plethora of other comics to understand the story, the series is still worth reading: the characters (what we see of them) are put to good use and the destruction factor is high—and promising to get higher, considering what happens on the last page. What? What? Don’t leave us hanging! Well, check out the details here and mark your calendar for issue #5. Whole lotta biffin’ promised!
This Week: Drums of War!
Jul 11, 11
It’s the buildup to a major event in the Marvel Universe…just not a new one. In CAPTAIN AMERICA (2004) #22-24 Cap and company were involved in the Civil War over the Super-Hero Registration Act. But not too involved—most of these issues were actually setting up the Death of Captain America event in issue #25. The real milestone is, that with the addition of these three issues, Ed Brubaker’s complete run on Captain America is now complete on this site, so if you want to get ready for the relaunch this week, go ahead and start reading now….
Added bonus: Cap Connoisseur Kevin Hollander offers us some "Plausible Deniability" with his write-up for CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #13 …Cap, Sharon, and guest star James "Rhodey" Rhodes versus A.I.M.
Double added bonus: Avengers Aficionado Rob Johnson goes into his side interest for us: Golden Age team books. Here he gives us the brand-new ALL-WINNERS SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES #1 featuring Cap, Bucky, and the hero Young Avenger back in WW2 facing a mystery that has repercussions in the present! Thanks, Rob and Kevin!
Friday Special: Trial of the Black Panther
Jul 8, 11
In issue 30 of his 1998 series, T’Challa, King of Wakanda and the heroic Black Panther to determine whether he should be deported from the US like he was a Sicilian gangster or something. Anyway, the two big witnesses in his favor were Mister Fantastic and Captain America. Reed has the easy part: all he had to do is summarize FANTASTIC FOUR #52-54 (and if he put it in writing he could send it in to Julio’s Fantastic Four Library to get an ePass—or could, if Julio had an FF Library). Cap gets the harder task: relating the never-before-seen first meeting of Cap and T’Challa’s father T’Chaka during World War 2—and giving Marvel the idea for CAPTAIN AMERICA/BLACK PANTHER: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS a decade later, which covers the same story in more detail (and is already on this site). The later miniseries had Sergeant Fury and the Howling Commandos, Red Skull, Master Man, Warrior Woman, and more…but the Black Panther issue had the one and only Everett K. Ross, so I’d say it came out ahead. Thanks to Rob Johnson for sending in the details on this issue, which can be found here.
This Week: Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue!
Jul 4, 11
It’s Cap’s favorite holiday—Independence Day—and the final regular issue of the 2009 CAPTAIN AMERICA series is here: but the title ends on an odd note. How? Because no one appears on the cover or inside wearing the familiar Captain America outfit. The "Gulag" story arc wraps up in a satisfying fashion but Cap is out of the picture. Best they can do: Steve Rogers is on the cover dressed in blue and white; and Bucky appears in his Winter Soldier guise—which makes him a Red. Red, white, and blue. The things we have to go through to tie these updates together. Oh yeah, the issue write-up appears immediately to the right—and the new s