By Roger Stern, John Byrne & Joe Rubenstein (Marvel)
ISBN: 0-87135-657-0
Captain America was the first patriotic superhero to hit big with the public and over the years a vast number of talented artists and writers have crafted his adventures. It is therefore quite odd to realise how few of them are truly memorable. I’ll leave you to compile your own top ten, but I’ll wager that this all too brief run by Roger Stern, John Byrne and Joe Rubenstein will provide at least one of them.
This volume collects issues #247-255 of the Star-Spangled Avenger’s own comic and seamlessly blends epic adventure with spectacular superhero art for a fan’s delight that is also readily accessible to the newcomer or casual reader.
“By the Dawn’s Early Light†gives an insight into Cap’s World War II career, uncovers a mystery involving leftover Nazi mastermind Baron Strucker and even sets up a new threat from a deadly robotic villain Machinesmith, leading directly into the two-part “Dragon Man†and “Death, Where is Thy Sting?â€, which combines all-out action with a genuine moral dilemma that perfectly illuminates the character of this American Dream. Cap is always at his best when overcoming overwhelming opposition.
These stories were first released in an election year and the truly uplifting “Cap For President!†is still a wonderful antidote for sleaze and politicking whilst confirming the honesty and idealism of the decent person within us all. It’s back to basics after that as Cap teams up with long-time foe Batroc the Leaper to save New York City from flaming Armageddon in the two-part “The Mercenary and the Madman†and “Cold Fireâ€, a classic thriller that returned Mr. Hyde to the first rank of Marvel villains.
A short infomercial follows which reveals “The Life and Times of Captain America†in a funny, classy way before the drama resumes with “Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot†wherein the hero is called to England and the deathbed of WWII comrade Lord Falsworth who battled Nazis as the legendary Union Jack. He finds a brooding menace, family turmoil and a returned supernatural horror in the concluding “Blood on the Moorsâ€, which even now is still one of the best handled Heroic Death stories in comics history.
The story portion of the book concludes with a brilliant retelling of Captain America’s origin, which is where the creative team, for unspecified reasons, called it a day, but this book also reproduces six pages from an unfinished tenth tale, a tantalising glimpse of missed magic.
This is a sheer escapist thrill-ride, endlessly gratifying and tremendously satisfying. After Jack Kirby, these are probably the purest evocation of this American Icon that you could ever read.
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