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Essential Captain America
Essential Captain America, Vol. 1
The return of Captain America was one of the more unexpected events of the hurly-burly nascent days of the Marvel Universe. One of the company's original characters the World War II adventurer had been in limbo for years Now that super heros were popular again, though, the red white and blue superstar was revived and given new life suspended animation being cited as the cause of his continued youth years after the end of War World II. These adventures are now collected in Marvel's tremendously popular Essential format, 500-plus page volumes collecting over 25 issues worth of pulse-pounding action! See the Sentinel of Liberty take on some of the most fearsome foes of freedom, including Advanced Idea Mechanics, the sinister super-scientists responsible for the creation of the Super-Adaptoid android and the generically manipulated monster Modok. Also on hand is the French mercenary and master of the kick-fighting discipline of Savate, Batroc the Leaper, as well as Cap's long-time nemesis, the evil Red Skull. Over two-years worth of pricelss Captain America adventures are collected here in this accessible, affordable black and white format.
Collects: TALES OF SUSPENSE #59-99 and CAPTAIN AMERICA #100-102.
Collects: TALES OF SUSPENSE #59-99 and CAPTAIN AMERICA #100-102.
528 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 1968
19 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,527 books2,300 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 4, 2020
Since I have a gazillion books in my queue that I have to review, I’m going to start making these things short and to the point.
Thank god!!!!
Shaddup, Random Goodreader!
A shallow overview:
Cap gets dog-piled by goons and assorted stooges about every other page.
Cap punches lots and lots of Nazis.
Cap foils The Red Skull’s plan to bring about the Fourth Reich a bunch of times.
Cap has a case of the guilts about Bucky getting blown up. Hold onto that one, you old war horse, it’ll come up later.
Cap gets all weird and creepy over Agent 13 (Sharon Carter, natch).
Cap whines about being a man out of time once per page. What, they didn’t have hookers in the ‘60’s?
You’ll never forget the first time: Hello, Cosmic Cube!
The first time was awkward and embarrassing: Bon Jour, Baltroc, the freakin’ Leaper. Ugh.
Kids, this volume is in black and white, which contrary to rumors, won’t make you go blind or grow hair on your palms.
Bottom Line : As Lee/Kirby collaborations go, it’s not some of their best work, but it does gain traction as it chugs along.
You tell ‘em, Cap…
Thank god!!!!
Shaddup, Random Goodreader!
A shallow overview:
Cap gets dog-piled by goons and assorted stooges about every other page.
Cap punches lots and lots of Nazis.
Cap foils The Red Skull’s plan to bring about the Fourth Reich a bunch of times.
Cap has a case of the guilts about Bucky getting blown up. Hold onto that one, you old war horse, it’ll come up later.
Cap gets all weird and creepy over Agent 13 (Sharon Carter, natch).
Cap whines about being a man out of time once per page. What, they didn’t have hookers in the ‘60’s?
You’ll never forget the first time: Hello, Cosmic Cube!
The first time was awkward and embarrassing: Bon Jour, Baltroc, the freakin’ Leaper. Ugh.
Kids, this volume is in black and white, which contrary to rumors, won’t make you go blind or grow hair on your palms.
Bottom Line : As Lee/Kirby collaborations go, it’s not some of their best work, but it does gain traction as it chugs along.
You tell ‘em, Cap…
July 20, 2018
Growing up in the 60s my comic book tastes were strictly DC. I'd see the Marvel covers and think they were too crude. DC had better artists; which was easy to say since it turned out Marvel had only two: Kirby and Ditko. Then by chance I picked up Fantastic Four 25, April 64 and was interested by the brief appearance of the Avengers. Over time I started adding more Marvels to my weekly stack. I hated Spider-Man because he was a whiny loser but liked Dr Strange for Ditko's mind-blowing artwork. If you really look at it Marvel's characters were mostly ripoffs but Stan Lee had such a brash attitude he got away with it. Shout it long enough and loud enough and people will come to believe you. It's the same way Vince McMahon pushed his WWF/E to the top even though it was then and still is complete crap.
Anyway, on to Captain America. CA is a pure ripoff of the Shield. The Shield appeared a full year before CA and wore a red-white-and blue outfit with stripes. In his earliest appearances CA's shield was the same shape as the Shield's chestplate. Still Marvel gets credit for creating the first patriotic superhero. All Marvel heroes are overwrought, but Captain America takes it to entirely new levels. That and the way Kirby draws him looks like he's straining to take a dump. Maybe he is. Being frozen for 20 years can't be good for the metabolism.
Here you get his 'modern-day' adventures, that is those from the 60's after he first thawed. Few make sense and the physical action involving himself and his throwing shield often defy gravity and physics. But if you want action, angst, and soap opera this volume lays it on extra thick. His mindset never does get past WW2 but that pretty much applies to all of Stan Lee's 60s characters. I grw up with it so I wasn't too jarring reading it again but new readers might go WTH/F. It's nostalgia for better or worse, and if you don't pick it apart too closely you can find it enjoyable.
Anyway, on to Captain America. CA is a pure ripoff of the Shield. The Shield appeared a full year before CA and wore a red-white-and blue outfit with stripes. In his earliest appearances CA's shield was the same shape as the Shield's chestplate. Still Marvel gets credit for creating the first patriotic superhero. All Marvel heroes are overwrought, but Captain America takes it to entirely new levels. That and the way Kirby draws him looks like he's straining to take a dump. Maybe he is. Being frozen for 20 years can't be good for the metabolism.
Here you get his 'modern-day' adventures, that is those from the 60's after he first thawed. Few make sense and the physical action involving himself and his throwing shield often defy gravity and physics. But if you want action, angst, and soap opera this volume lays it on extra thick. His mindset never does get past WW2 but that pretty much applies to all of Stan Lee's 60s characters. I grw up with it so I wasn't too jarring reading it again but new readers might go WTH/F. It's nostalgia for better or worse, and if you don't pick it apart too closely you can find it enjoyable.
January 25, 2011
When I was 6 or 7 I was reading Superman and Batman. I read them in their various books for a while but when I was about 12 I found Captain America. It was 1964 or so and I had found my niche, my Comic book alter-ego. Other Marvel comics were great, I read Spiderman, I read the X-men, I liked Deardevil, but none of them (for me) approached Captain America.
I recounted this in my review of the Essential Avengers, the Avengers was (were) my second favorite comic book, why? Because for a long time from issue #4 (or 5 actually) and then often later who led them? Captain America. (Cap is actually discovered floating frozen in the ice in Avengers #4 but he takes over as leader quickly thereafter when Thor,Ironman, and Giantman decide to "take some time off".)Anyway as I have recounted elsewhere, I at one time owned a nice collection of Silver Age Comics, then my family faced, a finical challenge. (It was called the Carter administration.) I had to sell my collection, and I have often since missed them.
Why do adults (usually men) hearken back to comic books? Probably because they remind us of our youth, maybe they even carry us back to our youth. Also the heroes of that period were more sure, the threats they faced more clear cut. There was good and there was evil. Comic books (especially those of the Gold and Silver eras)carry the mythology our society is steeped in. It doesn't have to be a costumed Super Hero, it can be any of many examples of the "outside hero". The silent stranger who shows up unexpectedly, the gunslinger who turns out to be "the good guy", the U.S.Marshal, the detective, the swordsman warrior....or the super hero. With this book and others of the Essentials series we can relive those stories (even if only in black and white). I had to give it a 4 for lack of color but still it's a Marvel-ous book as are others especially for anyone who had or loved these books.
This is Captain America.
This one has black and white reprints of Tales of Suspense #59-99 and Captain America #100-102.
Enjoy.
I recounted this in my review of the Essential Avengers, the Avengers was (were) my second favorite comic book, why? Because for a long time from issue #4 (or 5 actually) and then often later who led them? Captain America. (Cap is actually discovered floating frozen in the ice in Avengers #4 but he takes over as leader quickly thereafter when Thor,Ironman, and Giantman decide to "take some time off".)Anyway as I have recounted elsewhere, I at one time owned a nice collection of Silver Age Comics, then my family faced, a finical challenge. (It was called the Carter administration.) I had to sell my collection, and I have often since missed them.
Why do adults (usually men) hearken back to comic books? Probably because they remind us of our youth, maybe they even carry us back to our youth. Also the heroes of that period were more sure, the threats they faced more clear cut. There was good and there was evil. Comic books (especially those of the Gold and Silver eras)carry the mythology our society is steeped in. It doesn't have to be a costumed Super Hero, it can be any of many examples of the "outside hero". The silent stranger who shows up unexpectedly, the gunslinger who turns out to be "the good guy", the U.S.Marshal, the detective, the swordsman warrior....or the super hero. With this book and others of the Essentials series we can relive those stories (even if only in black and white). I had to give it a 4 for lack of color but still it's a Marvel-ous book as are others especially for anyone who had or loved these books.
This is Captain America.
This one has black and white reprints of Tales of Suspense #59-99 and Captain America #100-102.
Enjoy.
August 17, 2015
In a collection called "Essential" Captain America, I was hoping for something like the first issue where he made an appearance, the first time Bucky makes an appearance, some of the original World War II comics. This seems to be a collection from a later time, and was completely random, as far as I could tell. There was no over-arching theme, which would be fine, but there were many hints that these were a tribute to the original comics and not the originals. I read a few, looked at the size of the volume, and decided I'd had enough... It was amusing simply because the stories were so old-fashioned but I think I'll stick to the more modern comics.
Read
July 28, 2018Really been trying to finish all these books I started years ago. I remember putting this one down because it was TOO action packed. Cap lacks any interiority- whenever he's about to get introspective he's attacked by a million jump-suited greco wrestlers. The fight scenes certainly show off Kirby's chops (though they look better in color), but such cardboard dialogue gets a little boring after a while. Guess Stan saved all his good quips for the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. Anyway, comic book dialogue only really began to evolve when it stopped ending each sentence... with a ellipses... and an exclamation!
Eventually, completely unsure of what to with its character, the comic stalls out and starts rehashing Cap's 40's adventures, all of which I have memorized thanks to the 1966 xerographic cartoons I watched a billion times when I was a kid. When the comic restarts back in "modern" times, it finds its footing, although the focus always remains on how much of a cipher Captain America truly is:
"Only when I'm costumed do I seem to come alive- to have a mission - a purpose! But, as Steve Rogers, I'm merely a name - a hollow shell- with no roots - no real life to call my own!"
I don't think anyone's ever been able to make Captain America anything more than an uplifting metaphor, but the stories sure get more interesting from this point on.
Eventually, completely unsure of what to with its character, the comic stalls out and starts rehashing Cap's 40's adventures, all of which I have memorized thanks to the 1966 xerographic cartoons I watched a billion times when I was a kid. When the comic restarts back in "modern" times, it finds its footing, although the focus always remains on how much of a cipher Captain America truly is:
"Only when I'm costumed do I seem to come alive- to have a mission - a purpose! But, as Steve Rogers, I'm merely a name - a hollow shell- with no roots - no real life to call my own!"
I don't think anyone's ever been able to make Captain America anything more than an uplifting metaphor, but the stories sure get more interesting from this point on.
December 4, 2019
Borrowed this from the library and made the mistake of starting at the beginning; the early issues concentrate on Cap's wartime exploits, which child me would probably have found exciting, but which I now found a little repetitive. Just as it was getting interesting, I had to return it. Will maybe borrow it again sometime, but in no big hurry.
April 24, 2016
I must admit that I am a fan of Marvel's Essential format, though it took me awhile to get there. I have always preferred my superheroes in colour, well comics in general to be honest, though the rare exceptions have always existed and grown more plentiful over the years I confess. But comics intended for colour format can get dull without the colour. However, having got over that barrier after a trip down memory lane with Claremont's X-Men and the fabulous Wolfman / Colan Dracula from the 70's (the latter of which is actually quite possibly even better in b/w since it brings out Colan's illustrations so much better), I have hit the Essential wagon hard (and DC's Showcase Presents is coming along nicely as well). It's a cheap way to get A LOT of story (especially in today's market when the rule of decompressed storytelling even when it is good leaves one with very little story per volume and for one's money).
The volume at hand, the first collecting the early adventures of the revived Captain America (who re-appeared in the newly formed Marvel Universe in Avengers # 4 for those who did not know), includes all of Cap's adventures from Tales of Suspense #59–99 and Captain America # 100–102 and gives us both contemporary (read 60's) and WW2 tales about the red, white and blue wonder. Needless to say perhaps, but Cap solo (or with Bucky as in the WW2 tales) works best when battling evil Nazis like the Red Skull or Baron Zemo, or secret organisations like THEM or A.I.M. (later Hydra, which does not yet appear). The way these stories help to develop the concept of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Cap works with and for Nick Fury on occasion is also very interesting and I really hope to see an Essential collection of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future (or at the very least that the Masterworks edition that has been solicited actually hits the market).
All in all, the quality of the material vary in interest for me, but it definitely show how early Marvel's approach to superhero offered a broad palette of stories from the young life drama of Spider-Man and family squabbles of the Fantastic Four to the mysticism of Dr Strange, the technological tales of Iron Man and the much more action oriented stories of Captain America (with some clear spy thriller elements added into the mix). A fun read indeed.
The volume at hand, the first collecting the early adventures of the revived Captain America (who re-appeared in the newly formed Marvel Universe in Avengers # 4 for those who did not know), includes all of Cap's adventures from Tales of Suspense #59–99 and Captain America # 100–102 and gives us both contemporary (read 60's) and WW2 tales about the red, white and blue wonder. Needless to say perhaps, but Cap solo (or with Bucky as in the WW2 tales) works best when battling evil Nazis like the Red Skull or Baron Zemo, or secret organisations like THEM or A.I.M. (later Hydra, which does not yet appear). The way these stories help to develop the concept of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Cap works with and for Nick Fury on occasion is also very interesting and I really hope to see an Essential collection of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future (or at the very least that the Masterworks edition that has been solicited actually hits the market).
All in all, the quality of the material vary in interest for me, but it definitely show how early Marvel's approach to superhero offered a broad palette of stories from the young life drama of Spider-Man and family squabbles of the Fantastic Four to the mysticism of Dr Strange, the technological tales of Iron Man and the much more action oriented stories of Captain America (with some clear spy thriller elements added into the mix). A fun read indeed.
Read
August 2, 2011It's impossible to rate this...probably because it's so bad it's good. Kirby's drawings pop of the page with incredible motion and force, and Lee's writing is exuberant. Sure the plotlines are weak, the heroes consistently and miraculously get out of tight spots to win it all, every time, and sure it's not convincing. I deeply dislike the insular nationalism (my own fault for reading Captain America I know), and that episode where the Viet Cong general is a giant sumo wrestler? Good god. But I like how the Cap's girl never listens to his ideas on what a girl should do, and I'll confess it's all rather satisfying on one level. The Wow! Kapow! Blam! and good wins the day against evil level. I like that level from time to time.
And there was a Marvel villain named the Peerless Planner! Wow! Kapow! Urban Planners take note!
And there was a Marvel villain named the Peerless Planner! Wow! Kapow! Urban Planners take note!
January 23, 2011
If you are a fan of Captain America, you will probably like this. This is a compilation of early Captain America comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The only major drawback to the collection is that it is in black and white; however, you do get a lot of comic in this volume. I think for readers today this can be a voyage down the good old days of comics when plots were simple (and fairly cheesy at times) but usually fun. You knew clearly who the good guys and the bad guys were. And they often wrapped things up in an issue or two. Clearly these were comics for kids, but I found them good fun to read, usually one or two issues at a time. Overall, these were very entertaining, and I may look up other volumes.
April 22, 2009
Wow, this is some bad stuff.
This was a gift and I'm trying to get a feel for the real silver-age comics, but this is bad. I know Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are comic legends. However, having your villain say how nigh-inviciable he is on EVERY page is not characterization. Kirby seems like he has to get a shot of one of his futuristic weapons or circuitry boards in every issue or he'll be fired.
Maybe I'm just used to more modern stuff...and long-form comics at that.
This was a gift and I'm trying to get a feel for the real silver-age comics, but this is bad. I know Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are comic legends. However, having your villain say how nigh-inviciable he is on EVERY page is not characterization. Kirby seems like he has to get a shot of one of his futuristic weapons or circuitry boards in every issue or he'll be fired.
Maybe I'm just used to more modern stuff...and long-form comics at that.
October 24, 2020
Classic Captain America, compiling about 40 stories from the Tales of Suspense book Cap shared with Iron Man, along with the first few issues of his own comic (which took over the Tales of Suspense numbering).
It's a fair old mix for the hero out of time; jumping between the then modern-day 1960's and reminiscences of his war battles. Often the past preceding the modern tale, with many of his war era foes brought into the silver-age to continue their grunge matches with the star spangled avenger.
The takes of Suspense stories, being half the size, pack a lot of action into the 12-13 pages available. Meaning lots of mult-part tales that come thick and fast, action leaping from the page.
Some of the dialogue is obviously dated, but is an insight to how attitudes have changed over the 40-50 years that followed. At this point the main antagonists are German; it won't be until the second essential volume that Cap' fights communism. He does start his strong relationship with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Which means gadgets, spy tech and all the usual self-serving situations you'd expect.
A great, fun slice of action based history; just don't expect subtle character development. Limited page numbers meant it was subtle like a brick. For some this will detract, but for action lovers you get fight after fight of a clear good vs evil battle, with great art from Jack Kirby; and, as is the nature of these essential volumes, in black and white. Which works well and shows off the dynamic line work and fertile imaginations of Kirby.
It's a fair old mix for the hero out of time; jumping between the then modern-day 1960's and reminiscences of his war battles. Often the past preceding the modern tale, with many of his war era foes brought into the silver-age to continue their grunge matches with the star spangled avenger.
The takes of Suspense stories, being half the size, pack a lot of action into the 12-13 pages available. Meaning lots of mult-part tales that come thick and fast, action leaping from the page.
Some of the dialogue is obviously dated, but is an insight to how attitudes have changed over the 40-50 years that followed. At this point the main antagonists are German; it won't be until the second essential volume that Cap' fights communism. He does start his strong relationship with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Which means gadgets, spy tech and all the usual self-serving situations you'd expect.
A great, fun slice of action based history; just don't expect subtle character development. Limited page numbers meant it was subtle like a brick. For some this will detract, but for action lovers you get fight after fight of a clear good vs evil battle, with great art from Jack Kirby; and, as is the nature of these essential volumes, in black and white. Which works well and shows off the dynamic line work and fertile imaginations of Kirby.
June 22, 2018
A book filled cover to cover with Lee and Kirby Captain America yarns? 'Nuff said! This edition spans Tales of Suspense #59-99, and Captain America #100-102, comics originally published from 1964-68. It was tremendous fun rereading these stories after many years, and encountering new ones. I used to read these in the Marvel Double Feature reprint comic of the '70s, and later I assembled a respectable stack of original ToS issues, long since sold off.
I liked the early stories the best, like in Tos #59 where Cap mixes it up with gangsters straight out of a 1930's Warner Bros. movie. Kirby loved drawing gangsters in suits, fedoras, and firing tommy guns. Tos #62's "Breakout in Cellblock 10" is a sentimental favorite, one of the earliest Cap yarns I recall reading and just a fun story with a classic twist ending. That's what these early Marvels were--fun! It wouldn't be until the end of the 1960s that Cap would be afflicted by all the "who am I and how do I fit into this modern world?" navel-gazing psychobabble and the lovesick teenage pining after Sharon. Ugh.
But fear not, this opening volume is as free from that melodrama as Essential Cap Vol. 2 is full of it.
I liked the early stories the best, like in Tos #59 where Cap mixes it up with gangsters straight out of a 1930's Warner Bros. movie. Kirby loved drawing gangsters in suits, fedoras, and firing tommy guns. Tos #62's "Breakout in Cellblock 10" is a sentimental favorite, one of the earliest Cap yarns I recall reading and just a fun story with a classic twist ending. That's what these early Marvels were--fun! It wouldn't be until the end of the 1960s that Cap would be afflicted by all the "who am I and how do I fit into this modern world?" navel-gazing psychobabble and the lovesick teenage pining after Sharon. Ugh.
But fear not, this opening volume is as free from that melodrama as Essential Cap Vol. 2 is full of it.
June 1, 2021
3.5
My biggest introduction to the character of Captain America when I was just getting into comics and superheroes. This is a hefty collection with lots of issues to give you a good sense of the character's mythology in the Silver Age of Comics. The only downsides are that everything is in black and white which does detract from Steve Dikto's iconic art style and some of the stories/values have not aged quite as well in the 50+ years since these comics first appeared. Still, this was very entertaining and it's easy to see how this era of Steve Roger's stories is so beloved and influential.
My biggest introduction to the character of Captain America when I was just getting into comics and superheroes. This is a hefty collection with lots of issues to give you a good sense of the character's mythology in the Silver Age of Comics. The only downsides are that everything is in black and white which does detract from Steve Dikto's iconic art style and some of the stories/values have not aged quite as well in the 50+ years since these comics first appeared. Still, this was very entertaining and it's easy to see how this era of Steve Roger's stories is so beloved and influential.
August 30, 2017
Bringing Captain America into the silver age was one of my favorite Marvel moves and shows how much imagination was alive in the infamous old bullpen! That being said the stories here were pretty standard for the time with a few highlights.
April 30, 2025
poor Cap can't get no booty,
bucky (giggle) is dead,
red skull just won't die,
yeah 'merica!
sitting around the Avengers house,
waiting on a phonecall?
or are the Avengers really liberals,
tired of warstories about killing Nazis & gooks.
also not a big fan of endless Kirby art.
.
bucky (giggle) is dead,
red skull just won't die,
yeah 'merica!
sitting around the Avengers house,
waiting on a phonecall?
or are the Avengers really liberals,
tired of warstories about killing Nazis & gooks.
also not a big fan of endless Kirby art.
.
August 8, 2017
If you skip the first 38 issues, total five star action. I didn't and I kind of hate myself for it.
August 29, 2018
Quick read. Doesn't quite match up to the way things are in the movie but still fun to read.
May 30, 2020
It was good to get more familiar with the Cap’s lore.
February 9, 2021
Another trip down memory lane
brilliant!
along with the first two volumes of Spidey, these took me back
to a much less complicated time
brilliant!
along with the first two volumes of Spidey, these took me back
to a much less complicated time
Read
February 22, 2021Cap gers his own mag. Many early adventures and seminal characters. Recommended.
October 2, 2021
Por contar a origem do capitão América e do caveira vermelha vale. Não Está entre as histórias mais legais. É mais uma experiência histórica
October 31, 2013
In Avengers #4, Captain America, the hero of World War II was found floating in ice in Suspended Animation. In Tales of Suspense #59, Captain America got his own series as one of two stories in Tales of Suspense magazine opposite Iron Man. In addition, Captain America took over Tales of Suspense in Issue 100 and the book was renamed Captain America and this book has Issues 100-102 plus a story from Issue 10 of the 1940s Captain America magazine.
The book goes through various stages. The first four 10 page Cap stories were set in the 1960s. These were just great stories of Captain America taking on contemporary challenges. Then from Issues 63-71, the book shifted to World War II flashbacks as writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby retold some classic Cap Stories including Cap's origin and early battle, and rewrote the first Red Skull story and several additional ones as well as inserting brand new story into the Golden age about Greymoore Castle.This was driven by Stan Lee's dedication to continuity and the thought that a hero couldn't be in one place in Tales of Suspense and another in the Avengers. At the same point in history, everyone with their own series left the Avengers except for Cap whose stories in Tales of Suspense were from the past.
However, this didn't last and the 27 of the remaining 28 10 page stories are set in the present, as are all 3 of the Captain America Magazines.
Perhaps the best to break this down is to look at the elements:
The Captain: Captain America is a great role model hero. In battle, he's selfless, determined, and never gives up. He's plucky, courageous, and humble. He's always trying to do what's right. He's the most believable idealist in the Marvel universe. The hero could be a stereotype but Lee gives him some wrinkles. Everyone he knew is dead or much much older. He struggles with the regret of losing his late partner Bucky. He desires compassion, love, and normalcy. Even at one time, he hangs up the SHIELD. Unlike with Spider-man, you don't feel it's angst or uncertainty, but the tiredness of a fighter, who still finds the strength to do the right thing. So Cap is both thoroughly admirable and thoroughly human.
The Villains: Modok and Applied Idea Mechanics feature in a few stories, as well as the Adaptoid, a robot created by AIM that can assume the identity and powers of Cap and the other Avengers. Batroc the Leaper was a Cap villain that appeared in three issues and Cap also faced off against an appaently resurrected Baron Zemo. In addition, Cap mixes it up a few times with Nazis, Commies, and with garden variety hoods.
And then there is the Red Skull. Of 44 stories in the book, Cap faces the Red Skull twelve times and spends three more issues battling the Skull's sleeper robots when the Skull was believed to be dead. While I think most of the villains were good, it was the Skull that made the book.
In so many ways, Skull is the perfect counterpoint to Captain America, an almost exact opposite. The two figures are perfect for a match up of good v. evil. They are polar opposites and they're battles are nearly perfect. His plans, ambitions, and arrogance know no bounds. Their's was a rivalry for the ages and its on full display here. We also get to see the introduction of the cosmic cube.
The Supporting Cast, Guest Stars: Cap's fellow Avengers show up for a few cameos. The big recurring guest star is Nick Fury who helps get Cap into a few adventures. In addition, he meets Agent 13 a female Agent of SHIELD who isn't quite well-developed early on. They're both in love with each other, but she insists that SHIELD and their duty must always come first. So yeah that romance is doomed.
The big highlight in terms of guest heroes is a team up with Black Panther in Tales of Suspense #97-Captain America #100 that led to the Black Panther joining the Avengers.
The book is not perfect by any means. There are a few plot holes. For example, under the Red Skull, the Nazis built Doomsday robots (the Sleepers) that would devastate the Earth in 20 years if the Nazis lost. The last of these could literally destroy the Earth. My question. Why didn't they use this during the war? There's also the writer's not giving Agent 13 a name for the longest time. Maybe the coming of Get Smart made them finally identify her as Sharon Carter so they wouldn't look like they were copying them.
However, for the era, this is a minor point. When Cap stories were good, they were amazing, exciting, and inspiring. When they were off little. They still weren't that bad. Plus you have the art of Jack Kirby on most pages, plus Stan Lee wrote all of them making this just a great product for its time and a wonderful read for fans of the Shield-slinger.
The book goes through various stages. The first four 10 page Cap stories were set in the 1960s. These were just great stories of Captain America taking on contemporary challenges. Then from Issues 63-71, the book shifted to World War II flashbacks as writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby retold some classic Cap Stories including Cap's origin and early battle, and rewrote the first Red Skull story and several additional ones as well as inserting brand new story into the Golden age about Greymoore Castle.This was driven by Stan Lee's dedication to continuity and the thought that a hero couldn't be in one place in Tales of Suspense and another in the Avengers. At the same point in history, everyone with their own series left the Avengers except for Cap whose stories in Tales of Suspense were from the past.
However, this didn't last and the 27 of the remaining 28 10 page stories are set in the present, as are all 3 of the Captain America Magazines.
Perhaps the best to break this down is to look at the elements:
The Captain: Captain America is a great role model hero. In battle, he's selfless, determined, and never gives up. He's plucky, courageous, and humble. He's always trying to do what's right. He's the most believable idealist in the Marvel universe. The hero could be a stereotype but Lee gives him some wrinkles. Everyone he knew is dead or much much older. He struggles with the regret of losing his late partner Bucky. He desires compassion, love, and normalcy. Even at one time, he hangs up the SHIELD. Unlike with Spider-man, you don't feel it's angst or uncertainty, but the tiredness of a fighter, who still finds the strength to do the right thing. So Cap is both thoroughly admirable and thoroughly human.
The Villains: Modok and Applied Idea Mechanics feature in a few stories, as well as the Adaptoid, a robot created by AIM that can assume the identity and powers of Cap and the other Avengers. Batroc the Leaper was a Cap villain that appeared in three issues and Cap also faced off against an appaently resurrected Baron Zemo. In addition, Cap mixes it up a few times with Nazis, Commies, and with garden variety hoods.
And then there is the Red Skull. Of 44 stories in the book, Cap faces the Red Skull twelve times and spends three more issues battling the Skull's sleeper robots when the Skull was believed to be dead. While I think most of the villains were good, it was the Skull that made the book.
In so many ways, Skull is the perfect counterpoint to Captain America, an almost exact opposite. The two figures are perfect for a match up of good v. evil. They are polar opposites and they're battles are nearly perfect. His plans, ambitions, and arrogance know no bounds. Their's was a rivalry for the ages and its on full display here. We also get to see the introduction of the cosmic cube.
The Supporting Cast, Guest Stars: Cap's fellow Avengers show up for a few cameos. The big recurring guest star is Nick Fury who helps get Cap into a few adventures. In addition, he meets Agent 13 a female Agent of SHIELD who isn't quite well-developed early on. They're both in love with each other, but she insists that SHIELD and their duty must always come first. So yeah that romance is doomed.
The big highlight in terms of guest heroes is a team up with Black Panther in Tales of Suspense #97-Captain America #100 that led to the Black Panther joining the Avengers.
The book is not perfect by any means. There are a few plot holes. For example, under the Red Skull, the Nazis built Doomsday robots (the Sleepers) that would devastate the Earth in 20 years if the Nazis lost. The last of these could literally destroy the Earth. My question. Why didn't they use this during the war? There's also the writer's not giving Agent 13 a name for the longest time. Maybe the coming of Get Smart made them finally identify her as Sharon Carter so they wouldn't look like they were copying them.
However, for the era, this is a minor point. When Cap stories were good, they were amazing, exciting, and inspiring. When they were off little. They still weren't that bad. Plus you have the art of Jack Kirby on most pages, plus Stan Lee wrote all of them making this just a great product for its time and a wonderful read for fans of the Shield-slinger.
October 18, 2016
A really entertaining nostalgia fest.
August 11, 2013
Reprints Tales of Suspense #59-99 and Captain America (1) #100-102 (November 1964-June 1968). Steve Rogers is a man reborn. Thawed from an icy grave by the Avengers, Steve finds himself trying to adjust to a world that is not his own. Returning to his guise of Captain America, Steve finds himself battling old villains like the Red Skull for the safety of the world and remembering his adventures during World War II with his old ally Bucky. The United States is threatened and both it and the world need Captain America!
Written primarily by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, Essential Captain America Volume 1 collects Captain America’s earliest solo appearances after his reintroduction to the Marvel Universe in Avengers (1) #4 (March 1964). The Tales of Suspense issues collected in this volume were shared with fellow Avenger Iron Man and these were collected in the Essential Iron Man volumes. Like all Essential collections, these issues are reprinted in black-and-white on rather cheap paper.
Despite being a rather generic do-gooder, I like Captain America. He has to walk a thin line between being a tool of the government and a voice for the people. That being said, this is not really an issue in the issues presented in this volume, but the concept is still an underlying theme.
These early issues like many early comics are a bit rocky. Marvel was leaps and bounds ahead of DC still at this point in developing more rounded characters with longer plotlines, but the issues are still very “comic book” oriented with simple adventures that wrap up really nice and neatly. The format of Tales of Suspense with the shared issues also lead to a compressed feeling to the comics that sometimes means a lot can happen in a page or two…something very different from today’s comics which sometimes struggle to have anything happen in an issue or two.
Much of this volume is flashbacks to Captain America’s adventures in World War II with Bucky so this almost doubles as a war book for Marvel. The series did help restore the Red Skull as a prominent Captain America enemy but did also introduce some other characters. Batroc the Leaper first appeared in Tales of Suspense #75 (March 1966), the Adaptoid (later Super-Adaptoid) in Tales of Suspense #82 (October 1966), and M.O.D.O.K. appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 (September 1967). The Cosmic Cube which became a plot point for The Avengers movie first appeared in Tales of Suspense #79 (July 1966).
These early adventures helped establish Captain America with an audience. With the character’s popularity Tales of Suspense ended with Tales of Suspense #99 in March of 1968 and Captain America’s solo comic premiered in April 1968 with Captain America (1) #100. If you are a Cap fan, this collection is a must, but also a general Marvel fan should check it out. Captain America’s solo comic is collected in the following volumes of Essential Captain America so this is a definite lead in to Essential Captain America Volume 2.
Written primarily by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, Essential Captain America Volume 1 collects Captain America’s earliest solo appearances after his reintroduction to the Marvel Universe in Avengers (1) #4 (March 1964). The Tales of Suspense issues collected in this volume were shared with fellow Avenger Iron Man and these were collected in the Essential Iron Man volumes. Like all Essential collections, these issues are reprinted in black-and-white on rather cheap paper.
Despite being a rather generic do-gooder, I like Captain America. He has to walk a thin line between being a tool of the government and a voice for the people. That being said, this is not really an issue in the issues presented in this volume, but the concept is still an underlying theme.
These early issues like many early comics are a bit rocky. Marvel was leaps and bounds ahead of DC still at this point in developing more rounded characters with longer plotlines, but the issues are still very “comic book” oriented with simple adventures that wrap up really nice and neatly. The format of Tales of Suspense with the shared issues also lead to a compressed feeling to the comics that sometimes means a lot can happen in a page or two…something very different from today’s comics which sometimes struggle to have anything happen in an issue or two.
Much of this volume is flashbacks to Captain America’s adventures in World War II with Bucky so this almost doubles as a war book for Marvel. The series did help restore the Red Skull as a prominent Captain America enemy but did also introduce some other characters. Batroc the Leaper first appeared in Tales of Suspense #75 (March 1966), the Adaptoid (later Super-Adaptoid) in Tales of Suspense #82 (October 1966), and M.O.D.O.K. appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 (September 1967). The Cosmic Cube which became a plot point for The Avengers movie first appeared in Tales of Suspense #79 (July 1966).
These early adventures helped establish Captain America with an audience. With the character’s popularity Tales of Suspense ended with Tales of Suspense #99 in March of 1968 and Captain America’s solo comic premiered in April 1968 with Captain America (1) #100. If you are a Cap fan, this collection is a must, but also a general Marvel fan should check it out. Captain America’s solo comic is collected in the following volumes of Essential Captain America so this is a definite lead in to Essential Captain America Volume 2.
May 22, 2016
Whereas the Golden Age Captain America comics were fun, these really weren't that good. There were some fun throw-back stories that recreated or expanded on Cap's WWII adventures, but the stuff set in the 60s was pretty disappointing. For one thing, plots are often similar or downright recycled. Cap fights three Sleepers, giant robots made by the Red Skull to destroy Earth as revenge for the Nazis' defeat. And then a couple of years later, Cap fights the fourth Sleep, which has exactly the same plan. Plus, the Red Skull here is kinda boring - divorced of his original Nazi context, he becomes yet another villain bent on conquering and/or destroying the world and there are enough of those already. He's also not yet the leader of Hydra, and he's just a guy in a mask. There are some fun bits with Batroc and Nick Fury, and the Black Panther shows up towards the end of this collection. But they aren't enough to save this. I think a big part of the problem is that in the Golden Age comics, Cap can talk to Bucky and there's some banter and interplay between them. But now, Cap has to monologue out loud in the typical goofy Silver Age style. Plus, the Agent 13 plot is perhaps the worst superhero romance I've read - which is saying something, given I've endured a ton of old Lois Lane comics. Cap doesn't even know what her real name is, and he's pining after her entirely because she looks just like a woman he knew in the second World War. It's all overwrought and melodramatic and just not very interesting. I do have some interest in reading more Captain America stories, since I know later material gets a lot better, but I'm not sure if I'll bother to get the next volume of this collection when I can probably just find a way to pick and choose the best bits.
October 20, 2008
Good ol' Captain America. Evil ol' Red Skull. Silly ol' Nazi krauts. These Cap comics from the sixties may at first look and read like simple WWII propaganda for the kiddos--until you get a few issues into it, and you realize these are both a tribute and a criticism of the art form. That dynamite duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby add a level of complexity and imperfection to their hero in resurrecting Cap from his 1940s counterpart, when the propaganda effect was entirely intentional--the cover of the first issue featured Cap a full year before the US entered the war. But then Captain died gloriously in the final days of the war while bringing down a Nazi drone bomber heading for the United States--or so we all thought.
You see, what REALLY happened (in the comic world's first truly great retcon), was that when the plane exploded, Cap's body splashed down into the English Channel, drifted towards the Arctic where it was preserved in ice (as the Super Soldier Serum flowing through his veins also acted as an antifreeze of sorts), where his frozen image was worshiped as a god by some gullible Eskimos and would have been destroyed by the jealous Prince Namor of Atlantis if not for the timely intervention of the newly formed Avengers super-team. Thus Cap was thawed out in 1964, nineteen years after his apparent death, screaming for his sidekick Bucky Barnes (who perished in the explosion), and eventually became the leader of the greatest superhero team the world has ever known.
All while conveniently looking in the other direction during the Vietnam War.
You see, what REALLY happened (in the comic world's first truly great retcon), was that when the plane exploded, Cap's body splashed down into the English Channel, drifted towards the Arctic where it was preserved in ice (as the Super Soldier Serum flowing through his veins also acted as an antifreeze of sorts), where his frozen image was worshiped as a god by some gullible Eskimos and would have been destroyed by the jealous Prince Namor of Atlantis if not for the timely intervention of the newly formed Avengers super-team. Thus Cap was thawed out in 1964, nineteen years after his apparent death, screaming for his sidekick Bucky Barnes (who perished in the explosion), and eventually became the leader of the greatest superhero team the world has ever known.
All while conveniently looking in the other direction during the Vietnam War.
March 30, 2012
I usually have a hard time getting through the first volume of the really early Marvel stuff, but Captain America read more like a volume 2. And the more I've submersed my self in Marvel comics the more I've come to appreciate Cap and this volume helped that appreciation grow just a bit more. He's Marvel's paragon, but unlike superman his power comes more from raw skill than superhuman strength and powers.
Sure it was a little ridiculous how he ALWAYS got out of trouble at the last minute in an a pretty unbelievable way, and his villains sure like to gloat and monolog instead of killing him way more than other Marvel villains. And boy was there a slight but steady stream of sexism and racist undertones, but knowing to expect it from the time it was easy to get past with the occasional groan. At least the girl he lusts after through the second half never puts up with his "your just a woman you can't fight next to me" shit and just goes ahead and fights anyway. And props for her not giving her career up for him.
The best part, for me at least, was seeing the early evolution and introduction of so many great Marvel villains: Red Skull, A.I.M, MODOCK. those last two especially were great seeing, as I've seen to be running into them a lot in recent weeks in my comic readings. It was also pretty cool seeing Nick Fury and SHIELDS early evolution.
Sure it was a little ridiculous how he ALWAYS got out of trouble at the last minute in an a pretty unbelievable way, and his villains sure like to gloat and monolog instead of killing him way more than other Marvel villains. And boy was there a slight but steady stream of sexism and racist undertones, but knowing to expect it from the time it was easy to get past with the occasional groan. At least the girl he lusts after through the second half never puts up with his "your just a woman you can't fight next to me" shit and just goes ahead and fights anyway. And props for her not giving her career up for him.
The best part, for me at least, was seeing the early evolution and introduction of so many great Marvel villains: Red Skull, A.I.M, MODOCK. those last two especially were great seeing, as I've seen to be running into them a lot in recent weeks in my comic readings. It was also pretty cool seeing Nick Fury and SHIELDS early evolution.
May 27, 2013
One of the volumes that almost deserve the "Essential" moniker, this black-and-white reprint follows the early Silver Age solo adventures of Captain America.
A good number of the stories (from Tales of Suspense) are set during World War II (done initially to alleviate any continuity problems in the Avengers and other Marvel Comics Cap was appearing). The art on all is excellent, with Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, and George Tuska handing some excellent work. The Red Skull is the prevalent bad guy in these tales, with Batroc the Leaper premiering in a couple.
If you are a classic Marvel fan, and are a big enough fan of comic book art to appreciate it in black-and-white, this is definitely a collection worth getting, especially if you are on a budget.
A good number of the stories (from Tales of Suspense) are set during World War II (done initially to alleviate any continuity problems in the Avengers and other Marvel Comics Cap was appearing). The art on all is excellent, with Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, and George Tuska handing some excellent work. The Red Skull is the prevalent bad guy in these tales, with Batroc the Leaper premiering in a couple.
If you are a classic Marvel fan, and are a big enough fan of comic book art to appreciate it in black-and-white, this is definitely a collection worth getting, especially if you are on a budget.
August 19, 2014
The recent Marvel Avengers movies piqued my interest in the origins of Cap, so I picked this up through interlibrary loan and began to read. Captain America starts out as a propaganda figure, but quickly morphs (through reboots) into a "man out of time." His heart is in the simple good guy v. bad guy battles of WWII, but he now lives in the 1960s, where friends become enemies and vice versa.
There are a lot of missteps here, mainly with horrible villains (the Tumbler? Come on!), but the issues that deal with Red Skull are really good.
I only wish that Cap's full origin story would have been included in this compilation, but apparently I have to get Essential Avengers for that (really?).
There are a lot of missteps here, mainly with horrible villains (the Tumbler? Come on!), but the issues that deal with Red Skull are really good.
I only wish that Cap's full origin story would have been included in this compilation, but apparently I have to get Essential Avengers for that (really?).
March 24, 2014
Picked this one up halfway through, where it carries on from Cap masterworks vol 1. It has the same issues with implausible heroic escapes and jingoism, but the writing and artwork is maturing nicely in the second half of this book.
Overall I'd recommend the Masterworks series over the Essentials. It works out a bit more expensive, but the sometimes 'splodgy' black and white reproduction on cheap paper can make the Essentials a little hard to follow in places. The colour Masterworks are beautiful in comparison.
Overall I'd recommend the Masterworks series over the Essentials. It works out a bit more expensive, but the sometimes 'splodgy' black and white reproduction on cheap paper can make the Essentials a little hard to follow in places. The colour Masterworks are beautiful in comparison.
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