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Captain America (1968) #332-350
Captain America: The Captain
When Steve Rogers refuses to become a government operative, he is stripped of his uniform, title and shield, and a new Captain America is born! John Walker, the former Superpatriot and future USAgent-along with sidekick Bucky, the future Battle Star-does his best to fill the big shoes Rogers left behind.
Collecting:
Captain America #332-350, Iron Man #228
Collecting:
Captain America #332-350, Iron Man #228
519 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Mark Gruenwald
920 books44 followersGruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity. Before being hired by Marvel, he wrote text articles for DC Comics official fanzine, The Amazing World of DC Comics. Articles by Gruenwald include "The Martian Chronicles" (a history of the Martian Manhunter) in issue #13 and several articles on the history of the Justice League in issue #14.
In 1978 he was hired by Marvel Comics, where he remained for the rest of his career. Hired initially as an assistant editor in January 1978, Gruenwald was promoted to full editorship by Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter in 1982, putting Gruenwald in charge of The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spider Woman, and What If. During this period, he shared an office with writer/editor Denny O'Neil, whom Gruenwald considered a mentor.
In 1982, Gruenwald, Steven Grant, and Bill Mantlo co-wrote Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions, the first limited seriespublished by Marvel Comics. As a writer, Gruenwald is best known for creating the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and his ten-year stint as the writer of Captain America during which he contributed several notable characters such as Crossbones, Diamondback and U.S. Agent. He made a deliberate effort to create villains who would be specific to Captain America, as opposed to generic foes who could as easily have been introduced in another comic.
His 60-issue run on Quasar realized Gruenwald's ambition to write his own kind of superhero. However, he considered his magnum opus to be the mid-1980s 12-issue miniseries Squadron Supreme, which told the story of an alternate universe where a group of well-intended superheroes decide that they would be best suited to run the planet
In 1978 he was hired by Marvel Comics, where he remained for the rest of his career. Hired initially as an assistant editor in January 1978, Gruenwald was promoted to full editorship by Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter in 1982, putting Gruenwald in charge of The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spider Woman, and What If. During this period, he shared an office with writer/editor Denny O'Neil, whom Gruenwald considered a mentor.
In 1982, Gruenwald, Steven Grant, and Bill Mantlo co-wrote Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions, the first limited seriespublished by Marvel Comics. As a writer, Gruenwald is best known for creating the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and his ten-year stint as the writer of Captain America during which he contributed several notable characters such as Crossbones, Diamondback and U.S. Agent. He made a deliberate effort to create villains who would be specific to Captain America, as opposed to generic foes who could as easily have been introduced in another comic.
His 60-issue run on Quasar realized Gruenwald's ambition to write his own kind of superhero. However, he considered his magnum opus to be the mid-1980s 12-issue miniseries Squadron Supreme, which told the story of an alternate universe where a group of well-intended superheroes decide that they would be best suited to run the planet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 13, 2022
If you wanted to read up more about when Captain America was replaced, this is the source material for Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+. Cap refuses to do the bidding of the Commission on Superhero Affairs and walks away from the shield. He eventually returns in a black uniform as The Captain but many of the issues focus solely on his replacement John Walker as he becomes more and more out of control. There's some interesting stuff here. The appearance of the Serpent Society was fun and I love how Gruenwald just keeps adding members. There's around 20 different characters with snake motifs running around at this point. It was interesting to see the Captain running around with three sidekicks and one of their girlfriends even if Nomad is a douche.
February 26, 2018
After Steve Rogers refuses to become a government operative, he is stripped of his Shield, Uniform and Title, and a new Captain America enters the scene: John Walker, aka the Super-Patriot. But will he be able to replace a living Legend? Spoilers ahead.
Mark Gruenwald had the longest run on Captain America ever, writing the title from 1985 - 1995, and the characters and stories he created live on to this day. He introduced the Serpent Society (think of a labor-union made up of snake-themed supervillains), Cap's love interest Diamondback (also a member of the Society), the Red Skull's henchman Crossbones, and many others. His love for Cap and his world was apparent in every story he wrote, and while he may not have been the greatest writer ever, his comics are goofy, imaginative, well-paced and entertaining.
The story arc in this book is basically split in two parts: one shows how the new Captain, John Walker, tries to fill Steve Rogers shoes, but slowly loses control and eventually turns into a murderous fighting machine (after his parents are killed by a a militant censorship group). the second follows the original Cap, Steve Rogers, who resumes his fight, wearing a new uniform and calling himself "The Captain".
Because this storyline took 2 years to tell (from 1987-1989), there's really a LOT going on: Cap and his ragtag group of sidekicks (Nomad, D-Man, Falcon, and Nomad's at-the-time girlfriend, Vagabond) going up against Mutants, super-powered villains, and even Iron Man; John Walker's training to become a worthy successor; Ronald Reagan turning into a snake-man; Rogers wandering the United States in search of a new purpose; a conspiracy unfolding in the background; and so much more.
While there's a lot of classic superhero action in this one, Gruenwald made sure that other interesting themes were explored as well, like patriotism (and its dangers), racial issues, and corrupt governments. There are also some genuinely disturbing scenes, like when Walker (who possesses superhuman strength) loses it after seeing his parents getting murdered, impaling the perpetrators with their own rifles; or a battle with a group of Mutants, where he really cuts lose and beats them to a pulp with his bare hands. It really shows that being Captain America is ultimately about character, not only raw strength.
Some readers might complain that there's some overly cheesy and dated stuff in this, but i didn't really care; this was written 31 years ago, what do people expect? You get 520 pages of Captain America, fine art, character development, classic superhero battles, political satire, goofy exposition, outrageously dressed villains, and a contortionist Ronnie Reagan - what more could you ask for?!
If you're a fan of the good Captain, give this one a try - Gruenwald is up there with Waid, Brubaker and Stern when it comes to Captain America.... 5 Stars!
Mark Gruenwald had the longest run on Captain America ever, writing the title from 1985 - 1995, and the characters and stories he created live on to this day. He introduced the Serpent Society (think of a labor-union made up of snake-themed supervillains), Cap's love interest Diamondback (also a member of the Society), the Red Skull's henchman Crossbones, and many others. His love for Cap and his world was apparent in every story he wrote, and while he may not have been the greatest writer ever, his comics are goofy, imaginative, well-paced and entertaining.
The story arc in this book is basically split in two parts: one shows how the new Captain, John Walker, tries to fill Steve Rogers shoes, but slowly loses control and eventually turns into a murderous fighting machine (after his parents are killed by a a militant censorship group). the second follows the original Cap, Steve Rogers, who resumes his fight, wearing a new uniform and calling himself "The Captain".
Because this storyline took 2 years to tell (from 1987-1989), there's really a LOT going on: Cap and his ragtag group of sidekicks (Nomad, D-Man, Falcon, and Nomad's at-the-time girlfriend, Vagabond) going up against Mutants, super-powered villains, and even Iron Man; John Walker's training to become a worthy successor; Ronald Reagan turning into a snake-man; Rogers wandering the United States in search of a new purpose; a conspiracy unfolding in the background; and so much more.
While there's a lot of classic superhero action in this one, Gruenwald made sure that other interesting themes were explored as well, like patriotism (and its dangers), racial issues, and corrupt governments. There are also some genuinely disturbing scenes, like when Walker (who possesses superhuman strength) loses it after seeing his parents getting murdered, impaling the perpetrators with their own rifles; or a battle with a group of Mutants, where he really cuts lose and beats them to a pulp with his bare hands. It really shows that being Captain America is ultimately about character, not only raw strength.
Some readers might complain that there's some overly cheesy and dated stuff in this, but i didn't really care; this was written 31 years ago, what do people expect? You get 520 pages of Captain America, fine art, character development, classic superhero battles, political satire, goofy exposition, outrageously dressed villains, and a contortionist Ronnie Reagan - what more could you ask for?!
If you're a fan of the good Captain, give this one a try - Gruenwald is up there with Waid, Brubaker and Stern when it comes to Captain America.... 5 Stars!
August 15, 2021
After watching Falcon & Winter Soldier I wanted to reread the original John Walker story where he’s hired to take over as Captain America when Steve is forced to retire.
I read a lot of this when it was originally released back in the late 80s. It’s lots of fun. It’s a long arc that fits in a lot of stuff. John Walker’s growing pains in the role of Cap. Steve forging another new identity and costume and then teaming up with Falcon, the new Nomad, and Demolition Man. The new Bucky becoming Battle Star when he realizes the costume and name of a young white kid may not be appropriate for a grown black man. And a run in with the new Serpent Society. You get a lot for your money. I love Steve’s new red white and black suit. And he gets Black Panther to make a new shield to replace the one the government took back.
Like I said, long, but a fun read.
I read a lot of this when it was originally released back in the late 80s. It’s lots of fun. It’s a long arc that fits in a lot of stuff. John Walker’s growing pains in the role of Cap. Steve forging another new identity and costume and then teaming up with Falcon, the new Nomad, and Demolition Man. The new Bucky becoming Battle Star when he realizes the costume and name of a young white kid may not be appropriate for a grown black man. And a run in with the new Serpent Society. You get a lot for your money. I love Steve’s new red white and black suit. And he gets Black Panther to make a new shield to replace the one the government took back.
Like I said, long, but a fun read.
August 14, 2021
Lasting for a total of 18 whopping issues (excluding tie-ins), Captain America: The Captain is an exciting storyline in the the titular superhero's mythos that explores themes of government corruption, patriotism, and mental health, all backed up by some decent artworks.
July 13, 2019
Took a while but I got through all of this. Have to say, some parts like dialogue ages for quite a bit. Not to mention there are times that I wish are with a better handler. D-Man despite being the ever loyal companion to Steve just feels like he's there to advance the plot. I sure am glad that Dennis gets more development in the Lockjaw comics. Seeing Falcon sure is good though, he's got stuff to do on his own. Nevertheless, I feel like he's one of the forces that pushes Steve to action. Jack Monroe as Nomad isn't that bad, but I was starting to get tired of his complaining. It's no wonder he turns into a target for ridicule more than D-Man. Vagabond meanwhile feels more like a token that only gets one chance at being notable.
As for the topics of the comics, Steve Rogers proves himself as Captain America both in and out of the costume here. He never goes against the government despite giving up the mantle as he still believes in the law. Unfortunately that also makes him a bit of a square that I feel pushes conflicts between him and Ironman. Not to mention the conflict itself is kind of unsteady. Even his partners have doubts about Steve not taking the fight to the commission. It's what drives him to find the source of a conspiracy.
The time of this publishing has quite a few things going for it. Ronald Reagan's presidency is full of controversies. For one thing, letting certain powers have autonomy does certain aspects for the worse. All through the eventual U.S.Agent, John Walker.
This guy starts off as kind of showy but gets genuine development. Thinking Steve as old fashioned is what sets him back as the new Captain America. So with training and some friendships he actually comes to respect Steve and become more heroic. Battle Star certainly earns his place, he's a hard worker and someone who genuinely believes in the good he and John can do. Which is why it's heart breaking when things start to turn ugly for John. His initial strive for heroism gets replaced by this crazed berserk rampage.
There are a few plot points that annoy me a bit; the themes of Anarchy pervade each mini-series. There's the Serpent Society with a major twist at the end that ends up going nowhere. Then there's Flag Smasher and his clash with his former crew. I feel like it could be a potential plot where Steve starts to consider other means of attack. Not that the main conflict is bad, although I do find how the numerous organizations (except the Serpents) under one leader comes out of left field. Yet I'm not too disappointed in what it turns into. For one thing, John Smith is a perfect example of businessmen influencing politics for the worse during the Reagan administration.
Finally there is how Steve Rogers is the quintessential Captain America. He inspires everyone around him and puts himself at risk to help anyone. Even just as the Captain, he finds his reason to fight the good fight. However he's still human and has a few flaws that get exploited including that general goodness. I swear this series certainly ages, but it's still worth what I put on the rating. Final score though, 3.65.
As for the topics of the comics, Steve Rogers proves himself as Captain America both in and out of the costume here. He never goes against the government despite giving up the mantle as he still believes in the law. Unfortunately that also makes him a bit of a square that I feel pushes conflicts between him and Ironman. Not to mention the conflict itself is kind of unsteady. Even his partners have doubts about Steve not taking the fight to the commission. It's what drives him to find the source of a conspiracy.
The time of this publishing has quite a few things going for it. Ronald Reagan's presidency is full of controversies. For one thing, letting certain powers have autonomy does certain aspects for the worse. All through the eventual U.S.Agent, John Walker.
This guy starts off as kind of showy but gets genuine development. Thinking Steve as old fashioned is what sets him back as the new Captain America. So with training and some friendships he actually comes to respect Steve and become more heroic. Battle Star certainly earns his place, he's a hard worker and someone who genuinely believes in the good he and John can do. Which is why it's heart breaking when things start to turn ugly for John. His initial strive for heroism gets replaced by this crazed berserk rampage.
There are a few plot points that annoy me a bit; the themes of Anarchy pervade each mini-series. There's the Serpent Society with a major twist at the end that ends up going nowhere. Then there's Flag Smasher and his clash with his former crew. I feel like it could be a potential plot where Steve starts to consider other means of attack. Not that the main conflict is bad, although I do find how the numerous organizations (except the Serpents) under one leader comes out of left field. Yet I'm not too disappointed in what it turns into. For one thing, John Smith is a perfect example of businessmen influencing politics for the worse during the Reagan administration.
Finally there is how Steve Rogers is the quintessential Captain America. He inspires everyone around him and puts himself at risk to help anyone. Even just as the Captain, he finds his reason to fight the good fight. However he's still human and has a few flaws that get exploited including that general goodness. I swear this series certainly ages, but it's still worth what I put on the rating. Final score though, 3.65.
April 11, 2021
This starts off slow and earnest - like John Walker is taking the whole gig so dang seriously. Wonder what Gruenwald is up to? Was he just bored writing same ol same ol Steve Rogers C(r)ap? Was there some editorial mandate to retire Cap? Were they looking for a way to juice the sales figures on a flagging book?
And Cap is doing his damndest to play inside bounds, so when he steps over a line as an “outlaw” it’s frankly hilarious how tame his transgressions are.
Nomad is just a straight-up dick - jealous, possessive, abusive and dismissive of Cap’s ethics. How long til he goes full-on villain, starts backhanding ladies or murdering bystanders?
A: well, not Nomad but somehow the dick-ness sloshes over Walker about six issues after he starts to show cracks in the armour. First killing the dudes who killed his parents, then nearly murdering his jealous former buddies.
Then inexplicably backing down from his cackling loonie facial poses by issue 350 and suddenly begging Cap to take it all away from him?
Good Lord, maybe Gruenwald had pics of Stan with sheep from some late-night bullpen shenanigans, ‘cause a ten-year run on this book with the kind of writing (which feels like about 75% thought bubbles) has no other valid explanation. C’mon, someone has to have the story behind this, and the dude is dead for like 30 years now - hell at this point the Warren Commission will open the secret files before I get the kind of answer this mystery deserves.
This was a journey I had to take - watching Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a blast and it’s actually good to see how much better Marvel Studios can make these characters than their canonical reference. This is definitely the book that inspired Captain Underbite, complete with journey from “nice idiot, in over his head” to “murdering out of control psycho” - but having caught this much, I need to no further (unless I get trapped on a deserted island with a longbox of Gruenwald and Nocenti - then it’s Nocenti to kindle the fire, and Gruenwald to keep me from milking myself).
And Cap is doing his damndest to play inside bounds, so when he steps over a line as an “outlaw” it’s frankly hilarious how tame his transgressions are.
Nomad is just a straight-up dick - jealous, possessive, abusive and dismissive of Cap’s ethics. How long til he goes full-on villain, starts backhanding ladies or murdering bystanders?
A: well, not Nomad but somehow the dick-ness sloshes over Walker about six issues after he starts to show cracks in the armour. First killing the dudes who killed his parents, then nearly murdering his jealous former buddies.
Then inexplicably backing down from his cackling loonie facial poses by issue 350 and suddenly begging Cap to take it all away from him?
Good Lord, maybe Gruenwald had pics of Stan with sheep from some late-night bullpen shenanigans, ‘cause a ten-year run on this book with the kind of writing (which feels like about 75% thought bubbles) has no other valid explanation. C’mon, someone has to have the story behind this, and the dude is dead for like 30 years now - hell at this point the Warren Commission will open the secret files before I get the kind of answer this mystery deserves.
This was a journey I had to take - watching Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a blast and it’s actually good to see how much better Marvel Studios can make these characters than their canonical reference. This is definitely the book that inspired Captain Underbite, complete with journey from “nice idiot, in over his head” to “murdering out of control psycho” - but having caught this much, I need to no further (unless I get trapped on a deserted island with a longbox of Gruenwald and Nocenti - then it’s Nocenti to kindle the fire, and Gruenwald to keep me from milking myself).
June 15, 2020
An odd combination of what Gruenwald-the-Editor knows he should be doing - a big attention-grabbing event saga to rescue a comic which nobody is paying much notice to - and what Gruenwald-the-Writer actually wants to be doing, namely indulging himself with characters he found at the bottom of a Bullpen filing cabinet. Come for the stirring saga of Cap being forced to quit and take sides against his own Government! Stay for the Byzantine internal politics of the Serpent Society!
It’s a three-act story. Act One sees the good Captain fired and replaced with the none more Reaganite Super-Patriot. Act Three sees the new Captain America (whose likeable partner Battle Star is one of many characters who gets shoved aside for the finale) traumatised and murderous as the original tries to find out who’s behind it all. (The usual suspect.)
Act Two, though... Act Two is the long Serpent Society plotline, as the new Cap gets sent on a bunch of tiresome missions and the old Cap takes to the road in a van with a whole Scooby Gang of entirely useless sidekicks (affable doofus D-Man is the *best* of them, which shows the calibre here). The vibe is more like a football comic where a star player finds themselves in a team of no-hopers, as Cap’s pals are unable to fulfil even the most basic superheroic duties. And, famously, the entire winding plot winds up with Cap having to fight an almost naked Ronald Reagan who’s been turned into a snake. Like the book as a whole, it’s bizarre, inept but somehow charming anyway.
It’s a three-act story. Act One sees the good Captain fired and replaced with the none more Reaganite Super-Patriot. Act Three sees the new Captain America (whose likeable partner Battle Star is one of many characters who gets shoved aside for the finale) traumatised and murderous as the original tries to find out who’s behind it all. (The usual suspect.)
Act Two, though... Act Two is the long Serpent Society plotline, as the new Cap gets sent on a bunch of tiresome missions and the old Cap takes to the road in a van with a whole Scooby Gang of entirely useless sidekicks (affable doofus D-Man is the *best* of them, which shows the calibre here). The vibe is more like a football comic where a star player finds themselves in a team of no-hopers, as Cap’s pals are unable to fulfil even the most basic superheroic duties. And, famously, the entire winding plot winds up with Cap having to fight an almost naked Ronald Reagan who’s been turned into a snake. Like the book as a whole, it’s bizarre, inept but somehow charming anyway.
September 21, 2014
Ronald Reagan turns into a reptile. 'nuf said.
July 12, 2022
Picked up this graphic novel after watching "Falcon and the Winter Soldier". Steve Rogers refuses to become a government operative and a new Captain America (John Walker) takes up the uniform and shield. I used to find Captain America as a milk toast boring character, this storyline tackles the question of Steve Rogers' naivety and learning that his ideals are worth more to him than blind loyalty to American institutions. Contrast that with the hyper nationalism of John Walker, who embodies all of the virtues (and pitfalls) of 'Murica. Relatively nuanced for 1987-1989.
May 6, 2016
Mark Greenwald had either the longest, or one of the longest, runs on Captain America. Although there was an inherent corniness to some of his stories, there was also a strong emotional punch. Both those aspects of his writing exist in this storyline.
In this case, a shadowy government agency claims ownership over Captain America, including the name, the uniform, and the shield. The agency summons Steve Rogers to a meeting, and gives him an ultimatum: either follow their direct supervision or he's out. Rogers, who believes in standing for the ideals of America while not necessarily the policies of any given administration, quits. Recognizing how valuable Captain America is as a symbol, the agency then appoints a new Captain America.
The story then follows the new Captain America learning the ropes and shows what Steve Rogers is up to in retirement. Of course Rogers can't stop being a hero, so he takes on a new identity. Meanwhile, the new guy, John Walker, isn't handling things as well as expected as Cap.
This volume is over 500 pages, and there are a ton of fun stories, including multiple clashes with the Serpent Society, Rogers clashing with Iron Man, who is going through his own problems, a battle with President Ronald Reagan, and ultimately new Captain America versus old Captain America. Gruenwald also has a secret villain who I won't spoil, who is handled extremely well.
As I mentioned earlier, the stories are fun, but can be extremely corny. Steve Rogers embodies the term "overgrown boy scout", and one of his partners, D-Man, has numerous groan worthy scenes, not the least of which is his costume, which is an unholy merger of Daredevil's and Wolverine's costumes. But there are plenty of powerful sequences, particularly seeing Steve Rogers losing his whole identity when he quits, and in the second half of the book as John Walker starts to lose control.
Although this is neither the first nor the last time Steve Rogers has given up the shield, it is a well written, well paced story that is worth reading.
In this case, a shadowy government agency claims ownership over Captain America, including the name, the uniform, and the shield. The agency summons Steve Rogers to a meeting, and gives him an ultimatum: either follow their direct supervision or he's out. Rogers, who believes in standing for the ideals of America while not necessarily the policies of any given administration, quits. Recognizing how valuable Captain America is as a symbol, the agency then appoints a new Captain America.
The story then follows the new Captain America learning the ropes and shows what Steve Rogers is up to in retirement. Of course Rogers can't stop being a hero, so he takes on a new identity. Meanwhile, the new guy, John Walker, isn't handling things as well as expected as Cap.
This volume is over 500 pages, and there are a ton of fun stories, including multiple clashes with the Serpent Society, Rogers clashing with Iron Man, who is going through his own problems, a battle with President Ronald Reagan, and ultimately new Captain America versus old Captain America. Gruenwald also has a secret villain who I won't spoil, who is handled extremely well.
As I mentioned earlier, the stories are fun, but can be extremely corny. Steve Rogers embodies the term "overgrown boy scout", and one of his partners, D-Man, has numerous groan worthy scenes, not the least of which is his costume, which is an unholy merger of Daredevil's and Wolverine's costumes. But there are plenty of powerful sequences, particularly seeing Steve Rogers losing his whole identity when he quits, and in the second half of the book as John Walker starts to lose control.
Although this is neither the first nor the last time Steve Rogers has given up the shield, it is a well written, well paced story that is worth reading.
May 23, 2016
This volume collects issues #332—350 and Iron Man #228. The material is written by Mark Gruenwald (with David Michelinie and Bob Layton being responsible for the Iron Man issue) and primarily pencilled by Tom Morgan and Kieron Dwyer, with additional art from Mark D. Bright, Layton and John Byrne.
I have already expressed my feeling of being somewhat underwhelmed by my first encounter with material from Gruenwald's run on Cap in my reviews of Fighting Chance 1: Denial and Fighting Chance 2: Acceptance . As I stressed in those reviews, much of what failed in my eyes was connected to the art, and even a quick glance at this rather hefty volume immediately reveals that that is not an issue here. In fact, the art is quite superb and represents fine superhero storytelling.
However, it is not only the art that is better. It would seem as if Gruenwald this much earlier in his run (which started with issue #307) had a much fresher approach to the character, and this long arc in which Captain America ceases to be Captain America (instead becoming the Captain) and another Gruenwald character, the Super-Patriot a.k.a. John Walker, is recruited to don the red, white and blue is clear evidence of this. The storyline builds slowly, interweaving smaller stories into a larger whole, alternating between following Cap (i.e. Steve Rogers) and his friends on the one side, and Walker and his sidekick Battlestar towards the joint conclusion. On the way, we see the villainy of the Serpent Society, Flag Smasher and many more.
Highly recommended Captain America material, right up there with Roger Stern and John Byrne's War and Remembrance and Ed Brubaker's ongoing run.
I have already expressed my feeling of being somewhat underwhelmed by my first encounter with material from Gruenwald's run on Cap in my reviews of Fighting Chance 1: Denial and Fighting Chance 2: Acceptance . As I stressed in those reviews, much of what failed in my eyes was connected to the art, and even a quick glance at this rather hefty volume immediately reveals that that is not an issue here. In fact, the art is quite superb and represents fine superhero storytelling.
However, it is not only the art that is better. It would seem as if Gruenwald this much earlier in his run (which started with issue #307) had a much fresher approach to the character, and this long arc in which Captain America ceases to be Captain America (instead becoming the Captain) and another Gruenwald character, the Super-Patriot a.k.a. John Walker, is recruited to don the red, white and blue is clear evidence of this. The storyline builds slowly, interweaving smaller stories into a larger whole, alternating between following Cap (i.e. Steve Rogers) and his friends on the one side, and Walker and his sidekick Battlestar towards the joint conclusion. On the way, we see the villainy of the Serpent Society, Flag Smasher and many more.
Highly recommended Captain America material, right up there with Roger Stern and John Byrne's War and Remembrance and Ed Brubaker's ongoing run.
October 5, 2013
Alright. Once again, I read this in issues and I started a few issues before this collection begins, so I will try to keep plot details minimal. Steve Rogers loses the right to use the Captain America name and costume and a former (recent) Cap antagonist is chosen as his replacement. The book then goes into some parallel stories about Walker Cap and Steve Cap that culminate in Steve getting back his Shield and costume.
This is part of Mark Gruenwald's sprawling decade-long run on Captain America. The pencils are primarily Kieron Dwyer, but I know Tom Morgan did some of the first issues in the collection, and I think there were some fill-ins in the later issues. Al Milgrom inked the Dwyer part of it, while Dave Hunt inked the Morgan parts.
I really like the story that Gruenwald told here. I hear that the latter half of his Cap run is weaker than the earlier half, but I really have been enjoying what I've read so far. It took Captain America, really explored what made Steve Rogers a hero while stripping away his name, and it showed a more Reagan-era new Captain America in John Walker. I thought it was an interesting journey and I know that John Walker has stuck around as a character. The supporting cast in these issues are some of Cap's stable of companions while fleshing out D-Man (a character who may have only appeared once before this), and Diamondback.
The pencils and inks for these issues are really solid, and the storytelling through the art flowed really well panel-to-panel. One thing really stuck out to me as good. The colors, which normally are something I don't notice from comics in this era are really vivid and bright. It is refreshing to see such a bright color palette because recently, I feel like things are much more dark brown and black.
I plan on continuing the Gruenwald run as long as I can.
This is part of Mark Gruenwald's sprawling decade-long run on Captain America. The pencils are primarily Kieron Dwyer, but I know Tom Morgan did some of the first issues in the collection, and I think there were some fill-ins in the later issues. Al Milgrom inked the Dwyer part of it, while Dave Hunt inked the Morgan parts.
I really like the story that Gruenwald told here. I hear that the latter half of his Cap run is weaker than the earlier half, but I really have been enjoying what I've read so far. It took Captain America, really explored what made Steve Rogers a hero while stripping away his name, and it showed a more Reagan-era new Captain America in John Walker. I thought it was an interesting journey and I know that John Walker has stuck around as a character. The supporting cast in these issues are some of Cap's stable of companions while fleshing out D-Man (a character who may have only appeared once before this), and Diamondback.
The pencils and inks for these issues are really solid, and the storytelling through the art flowed really well panel-to-panel. One thing really stuck out to me as good. The colors, which normally are something I don't notice from comics in this era are really vivid and bright. It is refreshing to see such a bright color palette because recently, I feel like things are much more dark brown and black.
I plan on continuing the Gruenwald run as long as I can.
March 6, 2016
Looking at the story as a whole, i give this collection 4 stars. While there is definitely a lot of 80's cheese in the mix, it is highly enjoyable - I am taking into account the time period and I am definitely awarding points for what I was felt very consistent and solid art. Cap looked like Cap SHOULD look to me - that rock like face, very tough and almost stern in uniform. He looks so casual when occasionally shown in civilian clothes in comparison to his normal costume! This is definitely an ongoing trade in a very long run by a writer, but I didn't feel you needed a ton of data to enter - Captain America is like a rock, his basic characterisation doesn't change a ton. Since reading Ed Brubaker excellent Captain America run I've been guided to a quite a few good collections of Cap stories (I especially enjoyed Steve Engleharts issues from the mid 70s) but this one is a very solid collection and if you are a big Marvel fan or enjoy Captain America in the current comics, I would recommend you check this out. Actually Sam Wilson (who at this point in time is carrying the shield) features quite heavily at times in the story and I personally enjoy the character who is also featured more heavily (and in a much more 70's influenced way) in the Englehart run. Overall, take a trip in time for a good read!
December 29, 2018
This was my first purchase of what will be an annual celebration of the memory of Stan Lee and what a great start. I was a little surprised by the price of this at first, not realizing how many comics are in this. There is a ton of story in here, pretty much the entire storyline from Steve Rogers handing over the role of Captain America to the point of him taking it back again. As a kid I had owned the famed 350th issue in which Rogers and John Walker finally face off but had never read the issues leading up to that. There are definitely some cringe-worthy, cheesy moments in here but come on, it's a comic book. Lighten up. I was particularly intrigued to see that T'Challa was the one who gave Rogers the shield he used while he was "The Captain." I had never known that before. Overall, great book.
June 26, 2020
This is my 2nd time reading these stories as I read them in individual issues as a kid when it originally came out. I remember how shocked and horrified I was to think that the Government would take away the costume and shield of America's greatest superhero and give it to a chump. Reading it with older, more experienced eyes I totally get it. This era of Captain America and the Avengers is some of the best stuff Marvel ever put out. The stories are fun and full of some of CA's greatest friends and foes. And even though Walker is a second rate CA, it's fun to see his origin and how he grows (and fails) trying to live up to the legend that is Captain America. I loved Walker when he gets reintroduced as US Agent in the future, and can't wait for them to release those issues in a collection. As for now, I will enjoy rereading this whenever I need to take a trip down memory lane.
January 22, 2017
La lunga saga del Capitano e l'arrivo del futuro USAgent, scritte dal mai troppo compianto Gruenwald, con il crossover con la prima guerra delle armature , è un classico di Capitan America. Gru amava il personaggio e lo mostra in ognuna delle storie qui raccolte. A prima lettura possono apparire letture di puro svago, ma molte delle cose che accadono, molti degli eventi che Gru mette in scena sonopiù profondi di quanto sembra e onestamente mi trovo a ripensarci ogni 4 anni, a ogni elezione presidenziale americana.
September 27, 2011
I really enjoyed this one. It was the first Captain America comic that I'd ever read (after having seen the movie), but I didn't feel lost for having come in halfway through. It's an 80s comic so there's a retro feel to it but at the same time, it wasn't horribly stagnant. A fun read for anyone who likes the character and the franchise, because this one really looks into the man behind the red-white-and-blue mask.
February 3, 2017
Steve Rogers as the Captain? John Walker wearing the original costume? This collection of 80's Cap issues is a fun, action-packed read that seems esp. relevant these days given the conclusion of Captain America: Civil War.
September 6, 2018
This book was pure nostalgia for me. I started reading Cap comics somewhere in the 350s so I had some back issues featuring The Captain. This proved that Steve Rogers will always be Cap. Weather it's Sam Wilson, Bucky, or whoever, Steve will always be back.
March 3, 2021
I recently read every Captain America comic published from the time of my birth (late 70s) up until the 90s reboot. This is easily the standout storyline.
March 13, 2021
This is the crown jewel in Mark Gruenwalds run on Captain America!! Kieron Dwyer's art work is amazing!
September 11, 2024
Mark Gruenwald is a legend.
After Kirby, I'd say that Gruenwald contributed the largest part to the mythos of one of my fav Marvel characters, and this reflects that. USAgent, Vagabond, Demolition Man, and Nomad (Jack Monroe) are all characters that were built up or created by Gruenwald's world building of the sentinel of liberty.
Unfortunately a lot of his stories are hindered by the old ways of comic book writing. It's hard to argue with adults back then that comics were targeted at kids mostly, because I can't imagine an adult being able to take a lot of this writing super seriously. Oftentimes, Gruenwald just explains what's happening on the page as its happening in the form of a thought bubble, or sometimes even the characters exclaiming it aloud. It's a reflection of what superhero comic tropes used to look like where they'd go on wordy spiels about the events taking place. I actually just decided to skip thought bubbles towards the end of the book since they weren't usually necessary or additional to the plot.
It also just covers a lot of great art. I really liked Kieron Dwyer's art when he appeared, and some of the other artists were decent. I especially liked the issue where the president turns into a lizard person along with the rest of D.C. It does reek of an 80s comic aesthetic, which isn't my personal fav, but obviously someone enjoys it. And its not like its horrible, but the characters seem stiff, the backgrounds aren't super detailed and just have weird lines everywhere, and it just overall it doesn't work for my tastes a lot of the time.
There is some issues of sexism in this book. Viper, Vagabond, and Diamondback all seem pretty sexual in a lot of ways, and Diamondback and Vagabond's biggest personality traits is their crush on some of our male protagonists. I can't say that Gruenwald is entirely responsible for this since the book was created at a time where comics struggled to write female characters (since most writers were male at the time), but it definitely dates the book in that aspect. The good news is that they're not in the book as much as some of the other protagonists, but it is very noticeable when they are around. Every thought bubble is about how hot or dreamy a man is unfortunately.
There's some cool ideas in here. Cap not wanting to conform to the government's control of his superheroics, the introduction of a crazed patriot taking the role, and ultimately proving why Steve is the only one who can truly embody that role. I like the ideas here, and I like that he was open to changing things based on fan reaction, like renaming Lemar to Battle Star since Bucky is actually a racist term used on black men in the South. Gruenwald was great about listening to real criticism but not sacrificing his story to the complaints fans may have had at the time.
Because of his determination, this is seen as a classic in the Cap mythos. Deservedly I would say. Because of some of the hinderances of the writing at the time, I doubt I'll go back to this very often. Its a little too long for me to justify rereading the stilted dialogue frequently, but I do think ultimately its a good comic.
After Kirby, I'd say that Gruenwald contributed the largest part to the mythos of one of my fav Marvel characters, and this reflects that. USAgent, Vagabond, Demolition Man, and Nomad (Jack Monroe) are all characters that were built up or created by Gruenwald's world building of the sentinel of liberty.
Unfortunately a lot of his stories are hindered by the old ways of comic book writing. It's hard to argue with adults back then that comics were targeted at kids mostly, because I can't imagine an adult being able to take a lot of this writing super seriously. Oftentimes, Gruenwald just explains what's happening on the page as its happening in the form of a thought bubble, or sometimes even the characters exclaiming it aloud. It's a reflection of what superhero comic tropes used to look like where they'd go on wordy spiels about the events taking place. I actually just decided to skip thought bubbles towards the end of the book since they weren't usually necessary or additional to the plot.
It also just covers a lot of great art. I really liked Kieron Dwyer's art when he appeared, and some of the other artists were decent. I especially liked the issue where the president turns into a lizard person along with the rest of D.C. It does reek of an 80s comic aesthetic, which isn't my personal fav, but obviously someone enjoys it. And its not like its horrible, but the characters seem stiff, the backgrounds aren't super detailed and just have weird lines everywhere, and it just overall it doesn't work for my tastes a lot of the time.
There is some issues of sexism in this book. Viper, Vagabond, and Diamondback all seem pretty sexual in a lot of ways, and Diamondback and Vagabond's biggest personality traits is their crush on some of our male protagonists. I can't say that Gruenwald is entirely responsible for this since the book was created at a time where comics struggled to write female characters (since most writers were male at the time), but it definitely dates the book in that aspect. The good news is that they're not in the book as much as some of the other protagonists, but it is very noticeable when they are around. Every thought bubble is about how hot or dreamy a man is unfortunately.
There's some cool ideas in here. Cap not wanting to conform to the government's control of his superheroics, the introduction of a crazed patriot taking the role, and ultimately proving why Steve is the only one who can truly embody that role. I like the ideas here, and I like that he was open to changing things based on fan reaction, like renaming Lemar to Battle Star since Bucky is actually a racist term used on black men in the South. Gruenwald was great about listening to real criticism but not sacrificing his story to the complaints fans may have had at the time.
Because of his determination, this is seen as a classic in the Cap mythos. Deservedly I would say. Because of some of the hinderances of the writing at the time, I doubt I'll go back to this very often. Its a little too long for me to justify rereading the stilted dialogue frequently, but I do think ultimately its a good comic.
December 28, 2017
I've been reading comics for probably over 40 years now. I took huge breaks here and there, but always come back to them. These are from around the time I was graduating High School. I guess I wasn't reading around then because I don't remember anything about this.
It's fun to go back to the old comics sometimes. The language, the imagery, the ridiculous costumes, the political incorrectness. It kind of puts things in perspective.
Anyway, this story arc started and wrapped up nicely and of course left you with a good idea what was coming next. It was pretty dark and interesting how it kind of mirrored some of the questions that pop up in the Civil War comics, about working for the government and how that can be a bad thing.
It's fun to go back to the old comics sometimes. The language, the imagery, the ridiculous costumes, the political incorrectness. It kind of puts things in perspective.
Anyway, this story arc started and wrapped up nicely and of course left you with a good idea what was coming next. It was pretty dark and interesting how it kind of mirrored some of the questions that pop up in the Civil War comics, about working for the government and how that can be a bad thing.
January 23, 2023
Very impressed with this book - you have the basis for the "Falcon and Winter Soldier" miniseries here.
Steve Rogers is replaced by a volatile superhero who has some issues - here he simply gets replaced by a government panel (secretly run by a villian of course) and becomes the US Agent.
This is a mature storyline for late 80's Marvel, i was impressed how the individual issues flowed together. This was after the Jim Shooter era where "every story needs to resolve after 22 pages" and Gruenwald has a ball extending this out over a year (in comic form).
This stands next to the 1980 Byrne run as my favorite run. Highly recommended
Steve Rogers is replaced by a volatile superhero who has some issues - here he simply gets replaced by a government panel (secretly run by a villian of course) and becomes the US Agent.
This is a mature storyline for late 80's Marvel, i was impressed how the individual issues flowed together. This was after the Jim Shooter era where "every story needs to resolve after 22 pages" and Gruenwald has a ball extending this out over a year (in comic form).
This stands next to the 1980 Byrne run as my favorite run. Highly recommended
February 10, 2018
It was all the rage in the late 80s and early 90s to replace your hero with a pale replica, usually as a way of proving why the original hero was still relevant in the present day. This storyline was one of the first, and it holds up pretty well. It boasts a large cast and some interesting developments in the lives of Cap and his supporting cast, although I'll always dislike that it holds the beginning of the end of the Serpent Society.
November 20, 2022
A tale of two halves. The first half of the book is extremely slow almost to the point of me wanting to stop reading. However, I am glad I powered through. Three second half begins to get really good especially when John Walker encounters some difficulties in being captain america.
March 4, 2025
This goes way harder than I expected - I guess intense eighties comic book writing made it to the hallowed pages of Captain America!
January 8, 2023
Cuando se habla de los escritores "definitivos" de ciertos personajes, todo el mundo sabe que Chris Claremont lo es en los X-Men, Peter David en Hulk o Walter Simonson en Thor. Sin embargo en el caso de Captain America son dos los escritores considerados por casi todos como los que mas han destacado narrando las aventuras de este súperheroe. Los aficionados mas jóvenes dirán Ed Brubaker, los de la vieja escuela, Mark Gruenwald. Y es que Mark, a lo largo de un poco mas de ciento treinta números, en un periodo que abarcó mas de diez años dejó una huella imborrable en el personaje, creando personajes que aún ahora vemos en los cómics como Crossbones o la Serpent Society, en historias tan destacadas como Scourge of the Underworld o la que venimos a comentar hoy, The Captain.
A mediados de la década de los ochenta uno de los "trucos" que se le ocurrieron a Marvel para atraer nuevos lectores a sus títulos fue el cambiar la identidad secreta debajo del uniforme de sus personajes mas emblemáticos. Después de el éxito obtenido con Jim Rhodes tomando el manto de Iron Man y Beta Ray Bill como un nuevo Thor, Mark Gruenwald decidió hacer lo mismo con Captain America (curiosamente Mark fue editor tanto de Iron Man como de Thor cuando estas decisiones fueron tomadas). Para sustituir a Steve Rogers como Captain America, a Mark se le ocurrió un personaje diametralmente opuesto a este, un anti héroe (un concepto muy de moda en esa época) que había creado no mucho tiempo antes, John Walker, mejor conocido como Super Patriot. Y digo diametralmente opuesto, porque sencillamente así es John Walker. Mientras Steve era una "rata de ciudad", nacido en Brooklyn, John Walker era un sureño campirano, con ideas y actitudes muy diferentes a las de Steve.
The Captain, la historia que vengo a comentar (cosa que no he hecho y ya voy en el tercer párrafo) narra el ascenso y la caída de John en el puesto de Captain America. Pero ¿como es que se hizo de el puesto en un principio? Pues bien, al comienzo de la historia, en el histórico número 332 de Captain America, el gobierno de EUA le quita el uniforme a Steve Rogers, pues a el no le parece justo que este controle sus acciones. Una vez que entrega el uniforme y el escudo, ellos deciden buscar a su sucesor. Después de analizar a los diferentes candidatos (entre ellos, el infame Nuke de la saga Born Again de Daredevil), el consejo de políticos decide que el mejor candidato es Super Patriot, que recientemente había frustrado un atentado terrorista en Washington.
En John Walker, Mark Gruenwald crea un personaje muy especial. O lo amas (si eres por ejemplo Donald Trump) o lo odias, no hay puntos medios. John es un personaje con un temperamento muy fuerte, de mecha muy corta y con sus "valores" muy arraigados. Lo único que le falta es ser racista. Y comento lo de mecha muy corta porque a lo largo de los números que constituyen esta historia lo vemos en muchas ocasiones perder la cabeza, cada vez mas, hasta que llega a un punto sin vuelta atrás, el asesinato de dos de sus antiguos compañeros.
Sin embargo Mark Gruenwald no se olvida de Steve Rogers y narra paralelamente sus aventuras primero sin un uniforme y después con uno negro y bajo el seudónimo de The Captain. Con esta nueva identidad y la ayuda de Nomad y D-Man, The Captain se enfrenta a diferentes adversarios como la Serpent Society e incluso amigos como Iron Man (que en ese tiempo también tenía sus propios problemas ya que en su título se desarrollaba la saga de Armor Wars
Quizás el punto mas flojo es el arte que se divide entre Tom Morgan en los primeros números y después Kieron Dwyer, ambos cumplidores pero ninguno de los dos particularmente destacados. Sin embargo si me tuviera que quedar con alguno de los dos lo haría con el primero. Eso, si, las secuencias de acción de ambos son bastante dinámicas y en general quedan muy bien con el tipo de historia que se esta contando.
En conclusión, una historia un tanto larga, pero en general bastante dinámica, con un enfrentamiento contra la Serpent Society muy bueno y cuyos últimos tres números con la confrontación entre John y Steve además de la revelación de quien esta detrás de el despido de este último del puesto son de mis favoritos. Si les gusta la acción y son fanáticos de cualquiera de estos dos personajes esta es una historia que no pueden dejar pasar.
A mediados de la década de los ochenta uno de los "trucos" que se le ocurrieron a Marvel para atraer nuevos lectores a sus títulos fue el cambiar la identidad secreta debajo del uniforme de sus personajes mas emblemáticos. Después de el éxito obtenido con Jim Rhodes tomando el manto de Iron Man y Beta Ray Bill como un nuevo Thor, Mark Gruenwald decidió hacer lo mismo con Captain America (curiosamente Mark fue editor tanto de Iron Man como de Thor cuando estas decisiones fueron tomadas). Para sustituir a Steve Rogers como Captain America, a Mark se le ocurrió un personaje diametralmente opuesto a este, un anti héroe (un concepto muy de moda en esa época) que había creado no mucho tiempo antes, John Walker, mejor conocido como Super Patriot. Y digo diametralmente opuesto, porque sencillamente así es John Walker. Mientras Steve era una "rata de ciudad", nacido en Brooklyn, John Walker era un sureño campirano, con ideas y actitudes muy diferentes a las de Steve.
The Captain, la historia que vengo a comentar (cosa que no he hecho y ya voy en el tercer párrafo) narra el ascenso y la caída de John en el puesto de Captain America. Pero ¿como es que se hizo de el puesto en un principio? Pues bien, al comienzo de la historia, en el histórico número 332 de Captain America, el gobierno de EUA le quita el uniforme a Steve Rogers, pues a el no le parece justo que este controle sus acciones. Una vez que entrega el uniforme y el escudo, ellos deciden buscar a su sucesor. Después de analizar a los diferentes candidatos (entre ellos, el infame Nuke de la saga Born Again de Daredevil), el consejo de políticos decide que el mejor candidato es Super Patriot, que recientemente había frustrado un atentado terrorista en Washington.
En John Walker, Mark Gruenwald crea un personaje muy especial. O lo amas (si eres por ejemplo Donald Trump) o lo odias, no hay puntos medios. John es un personaje con un temperamento muy fuerte, de mecha muy corta y con sus "valores" muy arraigados. Lo único que le falta es ser racista. Y comento lo de mecha muy corta porque a lo largo de los números que constituyen esta historia lo vemos en muchas ocasiones perder la cabeza, cada vez mas, hasta que llega a un punto sin vuelta atrás, el asesinato de dos de sus antiguos compañeros.
Sin embargo Mark Gruenwald no se olvida de Steve Rogers y narra paralelamente sus aventuras primero sin un uniforme y después con uno negro y bajo el seudónimo de The Captain. Con esta nueva identidad y la ayuda de Nomad y D-Man, The Captain se enfrenta a diferentes adversarios como la Serpent Society e incluso amigos como Iron Man (que en ese tiempo también tenía sus propios problemas ya que en su título se desarrollaba la saga de Armor Wars
Quizás el punto mas flojo es el arte que se divide entre Tom Morgan en los primeros números y después Kieron Dwyer, ambos cumplidores pero ninguno de los dos particularmente destacados. Sin embargo si me tuviera que quedar con alguno de los dos lo haría con el primero. Eso, si, las secuencias de acción de ambos son bastante dinámicas y en general quedan muy bien con el tipo de historia que se esta contando.
En conclusión, una historia un tanto larga, pero en general bastante dinámica, con un enfrentamiento contra la Serpent Society muy bueno y cuyos últimos tres números con la confrontación entre John y Steve además de la revelación de quien esta detrás de el despido de este último del puesto son de mis favoritos. Si les gusta la acción y son fanáticos de cualquiera de estos dos personajes esta es una historia que no pueden dejar pasar.
February 11, 2024
The gist- (with spoilers in this paragraph)- Steve Rogers, a/k/a Captain America, is called before a committee who informs him that since the Government paid for the Super Soldier Serum, costume, shield, and came up with the name Captain America, then the Government owns Captain America. They then offer him a job to carry out their missions. Rogers decides that he serves America as a whole and not just the wants and needs of this committee and quits. This causes the Government to seek out a replacement Captain America. Enter John Walker, formerly known as the Super-Patriot, who is more than a little unhinged. Cracks in his sanity are almost immediately apparent, and as time goes on he shows more and more ticks until he completely snaps after watching his parents get murdered in cold blood right in front of him at the hands of the Watchdogs.
Steve Rogers continues being a superhero, and since he can no longer legally be Captain America or wear red, white, and blue, becomes the Captain. He has a loose knit entourage of crime fighters with him, including the Falcon, Nomad, D-Man (Demolition Man), and Vagabond. D-Man's costume is dreadful, being a hybrid of Daredevil's quickly aborted original costume and Wolverine's headgear. Just a terrible, terrible costume design. He is a super-powered former wrestler who bankrolls many of this ragtag group's exploits, including Cap's new costume. Captain America gets a new shield from Tony Stark (Iron Man) which is made of adamantium. I won't go into the whys and wherefores of it, but this gift is short-lived, as Rogers gives it back under protest. Then the Black Panther (T'Challa, ruler of Wakanda) gives him a shield made of vibranium.
The Serpent Society are recurring antagonists throughout this book, as are the Watchdogs, Left-Winger and Right-Winger. The Flag Smasher arc is good, ditto the return of the Red Skull. The late Mark Gruenwald really turned things upside down without making it feel disjointed or off-putting. The art is mostly solid throughout this book as it rotates between the stable of artists listed above.
I bought issues 334 and 337 off of the stand back in 1987. They didn't make a whole lot of sense to me at the time, since they were both parts of a larger epic. I am glad that Marvel is reprinting these “lost” classics and putting them back out there for modern audiences to discover, and for us older fans to get a chance to experience as well.
Steve Rogers continues being a superhero, and since he can no longer legally be Captain America or wear red, white, and blue, becomes the Captain. He has a loose knit entourage of crime fighters with him, including the Falcon, Nomad, D-Man (Demolition Man), and Vagabond. D-Man's costume is dreadful, being a hybrid of Daredevil's quickly aborted original costume and Wolverine's headgear. Just a terrible, terrible costume design. He is a super-powered former wrestler who bankrolls many of this ragtag group's exploits, including Cap's new costume. Captain America gets a new shield from Tony Stark (Iron Man) which is made of adamantium. I won't go into the whys and wherefores of it, but this gift is short-lived, as Rogers gives it back under protest. Then the Black Panther (T'Challa, ruler of Wakanda) gives him a shield made of vibranium.
The Serpent Society are recurring antagonists throughout this book, as are the Watchdogs, Left-Winger and Right-Winger. The Flag Smasher arc is good, ditto the return of the Red Skull. The late Mark Gruenwald really turned things upside down without making it feel disjointed or off-putting. The art is mostly solid throughout this book as it rotates between the stable of artists listed above.
I bought issues 334 and 337 off of the stand back in 1987. They didn't make a whole lot of sense to me at the time, since they were both parts of a larger epic. I am glad that Marvel is reprinting these “lost” classics and putting them back out there for modern audiences to discover, and for us older fans to get a chance to experience as well.
November 18, 2025
Bold and politically charged storyline that explores Steve Rogers' moral compass and what it means to truly embody the American ideal.
After refusing to follow questionable government orders, Cap gives up the shield, and John Walker is introduced as the new, more aggressive Captain America.
It's a gripping and rich arc that holds up well and adds depth to Cap's mythos.
After refusing to follow questionable government orders, Cap gives up the shield, and John Walker is introduced as the new, more aggressive Captain America.
It's a gripping and rich arc that holds up well and adds depth to Cap's mythos.
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