Captain America Best Comics (1971-1981)

Captain America. The Sentinel of Liberty. One of Marvel's first ever heroes and one of the greatest of all times. Also in my top personal 5. Captain America stands the test of time of being 'a good man' as he always fights the good fight for the little guy, fighting for what he believes is right even if everyone else tries to convince him he's wrong. His beliefs are unshakable and that's what makes him one of the best. And this decade just highlighted all that was great about him.

At first, Captain America suffered some of the same problems other titles did which was Stan Lee withdrawal. One the Man left, it was hard for his stories to reach the same peak. Gary Friedrich stepped up first and then Gerry Conway but neither really managed it, their stories falling short and turning out bland and unremarkable. Then came Steve Englehart and from the first issue, the reader could tell his run would be something else.

At this point, Stan Lee's major and best runs (Fantastic Four, Thor, Spider-Man, and Cap) hadn't been bested despite solid efforts on all fronts. In his first story arc, Englehart blew Lee's Cap run out of the water. Lee always characterized Steve Rogers as the man out of time, a man lost from the world he was living in now. Englehart doubled down on that by showing just how much the world had changed. How America specifically had changed. Captain America may be seen most often as a symbol for America but that's actually not true. He's a symbol to what America should be and Englehart's run highlights that as Cap fights against a previous Captain America layered in bigotry and racism, deals with a secret empire led by the president himself, and gives up his mantle as Captain America as he no longer believes in the dream only to take it up again to keep fighting the good fight. Englehart took Captain America on a great journey and one of his best character arcs and it was sad to see him go.

The comic floundered for a bit after Englehart left before Jack Kirby made his return to Marvel Comics and took on Captain. Sadly, his writing was never as good as his artwork but he still managed to give an entertaining run for the Captain with action, drama, and science fiction elements that hightlighted his artwork. Again, the comic floundered from different writers coming in and out for a while until Roger McKenzie stepped up, bringing Cap back to basics for a short run with one fantastic story. After he left, Roger Stern took over for about a year for his own amazing run that was just fun Cap stories that reminded everyone why they loved the character.

After he left, there were a few other filler writers before J.M. DeMatteis was brought in. The beginning of his run was weak but it got stronger over time. Unfortunately, that happened in the 80s but it has been fun so far. Still, a post for next time. Until then, enjoy the best Cap comics to come from the 70s.

14. Captain America Vol 1 237: From the Ashes…

Serving as an epilogue to the National Force saga, Steve learns of Sharon’s death and thus struggles with how to move forward. Chris Claremont and Roger McKenzie join forces in this one-shot story that brings Cap back to basics, moving into a new home and starting a new life. And as he does this, he meets an old woman who is survivor of the Holocaust and she tells him her story, of the brutality and horrors she endured and of how when all hope was lost and the Germans were going to wipe out the camp, Captain America appeared and was able to free them all. This reinvigorates Cap’s drive to help people no matter what and sticks out as a truly inspirational tale in Captain America’s legacy.

13. Captain America Vol 1 193-200: Madbomb

Jack Kirby makes his return to the Captain America title as both writer and artist and he starts out with a bang with Cap and Falcon teaming up to find the Madbomb. This story does highlight my issues with Kirby’s writing which always has a lot to say but he doesn’t take too much time to say it all. This, however, was probably his best work on the title here and his artwork is always visually expressive. A fast-paced story dealing with a device that induces madness around it by a society that wishes to upend the United States system, Kirby juggles a lot here from an age-old rivalry from colonial times, a Kill-Derby contest, and a small romance with the antagonist’s story. While it sometimes doesn’t work, Kirby’s grasp on Captain America’s character as well as Falcon is always on point and he always knows how to write an exciting story.

12. Captain America's Bicentennial Battles

To celebrate the United States of America’s two-hundredth anniversary of being a country, Jack Kirby took Captain America on a tour across America’s past and future to discover what America and its people stand for. While the message gets muddied along the way with so many different parts of America thrown in, Kirby lands the ultimate message of that Americans always try to be who they want to be. America has always been presented as a land of opportunity but that hasn’t always been true and Kirby shows that it is harder for others, but everyone still tries to achieve those opportunities. From World War II to Ben Franklin, the Great Depression to the Old West, the Ghettos to a movie set, and a battle on the moon to slavery, America can mean a lot of things to a lot of people but it will always be made of up people trying. Though, that can also just mean the world as a whole but props for Jack Kirby for trying.

11. Captain America Vol 1 168: …And a Phoenix Shall Rise

This story was meant to be a one-shot tale giving Steve Englehart time to launch his Secret Empire story, but Roy Thomas and Tony Isabella manage to pack a pretty great story here that stands on its own. Here, Cap is forced to confront his past as he meets Helmut Zemo, the son of his old foe Baron Zemo. It is really because this story stands as the origin of the second Baron Zemo that makes this story as good as it is and the writers convey the new Zemo’s pain over his father well as well as Cap’s struggle with how to deal with this foe, especially in the end when he fails to save him. A quick story that would come to mean so much more in the years to come but stood as a pretty great tale at this time.

10. Captain America Vol 1 247-249: By the Dawn's Early Light

Roger Stern takes over Captain America for his short run and starts off by quickly removing the much-panned backstory previously given to him, simplifying it for readers and making it closer to the character. He then throws Cap into a conspiracy, retconning several moments from previous comics such as Baron von Strucker’s attacks to reveal a new villain called Machinesmith. Throwing in an epic battle between Cap and Dragon Man and another clash of Cap vs an army of robots, Stern then throws expectations out the window by creating a sympathetic villain whose endgame is entirely unexpected which is what makes it work so well. Stern quickly captures the essence of Steve Rogers and continues previous writers’ work on his new civilian life, marking a new and better path for Captain America stories.

9. Captain America Vol 1 251-252: The Mercenary and the Madman

This story really is just another villain of the month type storyline as old Cap enemy Batroc the Leaper teams up with big-timer Mr. Hyde for a big operation and to take down the Captain. Unfortunately for the Leaper, Hyde goes overboard as he plans an attack that will destroy New York City. There is plenty of action that makes this story standout but what truly makes it one of the best is Stern’s characterization of Batroc. The villain has always been a C-lister among Cap’s rogues gallery, with barely anyone remembering him. Here, he makes his mark as he turns on Hyde, proving to have his own code as he fights to save New York. The unexpected team-up between the soldier and the mercenary against the monster is the highlight of the story and what makes it work.

8. Captain America Vol 1 241: Fear Grows in Brooklyn

Mike Barr steps in as guest writer here and it’s a shame he only stayed this issue as he is able to get to the core of Captain America here. Starting off slowly by introducing elements for the next writer to take on such as Cap’s new job as well as his neighbors, the action suddenly jumps forward as Cap comes face-to-face with the Punisher. While the Daredevil/Punisher rivalry is more well known, these two fighting is just as interesting as they were both soldiers so share some of the same traits. Their different ideologies clash just as much as their fists here, the Punisher trying to kill some mob bosses and Cap wanting to arrest them, both arguing over which way is right. Mike Barr may have only had one issue here, but he left a great impact and story.

7. Captain America Vol 1 184-186: Mind Cage

This story stands as Englehart’s last for the title and one he didn’t even fully write, though it still stands as one of the better ones. After struggling to come to terms what he stands for, Steve Rogers takes up the Captain America mantle again in a final battle with the Red Skull. And while that alone works well, what puts this story over the top is the secret origin of the Falcon where Englehart reveals that the Falcon was a criminal whose mind was changed by the Cosmic Cube and that the Red Skull has been in control of him the whole time. Englehart ended his run with a bang here, showing off his penchant for upending the title with each story and while this change didn’t last too long it still had an effect on the characters, especially Falcon, going forward.

6. Captain America Vol 1 250: Cap for President

For the special 250th issue, Roger Stern decided to ask a question: what if Captain America ran for president? After saving a certain political party and making some offhand comments, the party instantly runs with it and starts a campaign for Cap, taking him by surprise. What’s more surprising for him but not for readers is just how much support it garners as everyone rallies around him. I mean, I’d vote for him in a heartbeat. But it also brings up the topics of superheroics in the government with all his Avenger friends weighing in on it. It also features a great flashback sequence to Steve’s time in a classroom. The issue closes with Cap giving a passionate speech that is Stern at his finest about the role Captain America plays in society as well as the role of the president. For a special issue, Stern nailed it.

5. Captain America Vol 1 253-254: Blood on the Moors

As Marvel readers are aware, Captain America served on another team during World War II called the Invaders which is where he met Namor and the original Human Torch among others. Now, those others are calling him up for help, specifically Union Jack and Spitfire who have aged naturally in the time Steve was on the ice. The reunion is as heartwarming and heartbreaking as expected. But the main story revolves around the return of one of the best Invaders tales: Baron Blood the vampire. Cap once again finds himself embroiled in the supernatural as he fights off one of his most dangerous foes from the war alongside old friends. Sadly, this story features the death of the original Union Jack but he goes out like a true soldier, finally at peace. This is Stern’s work at his finest as he continues the Marvel method of tying everything together while mixing Captain America’s best character moments alongside supernatural vampire action. What else can you ask for?

4. Captain America Vol 1 231-236: The National Force Saga

Cap returns home only to find himself thrust into the middle of a new threat, the National Force who want to make America pure again i.e. white. Basically, they’re Nazis. And no one fights Nazis better than Captain America. After wrapping up the ongoing plot threads from previous writers, Roger McKenzie now gets to flex his skills as he takes Cap on a journey in battling against bigotry while trying to find the true mastermind behind all this. Bringing in Daredevil, the other character McKenzie was working on at the time, the story is action-packed with many intense scenes such as Cap trying to stem the violence on the streets of Harlem, trying to escape a blazing warehouse, and diving from an airplane to a dirigible. While the ending doesn’t feel as earned as it could have been, McKenzie shows how much he knows Cap’s character and what he stands for.

3. Captain America Vol 1 176-183: Nomad

One of the longer and more groundbreaking changes Englehart made on the title, here Steve Rogers gives up the title of Captain America after losing faith in the American system due to the events of Secret Empire (see below). The very first issue of the story is entirely devoted to Steve’s deliberation on whether or not to keep the name with no action whatsoever seen, a first for Marvel comics. Instead, Steve tries to not be a superhero before a friendly reminder from friend Hawkeye tells him he can be a hero outside of Captain America so he takes up the name Nomad instead with a new costume (that includes a cape for a few pages until he trips over it and gets rid of it. NO CAPES!). While the overall story goes in multiple directions, what stands out is Steve’s struggle to come to terms with his place in the world, Falcon’s struggle with continuing on without his partner, and the multiple people who attempt to take up the Captain America name and learn the pressure that comes with it. The story ends with Steve accepting that he has to take up the Captain America mantle again as he doesn’t fight for the American system but its people and they’re worth fighting for. Englehart has shown his dislike for the notion of patriotism before and it comes through clearly but as ever, his understanding of Steve Rogers is clearer, showing the character of Captain America is so much more than the name.

2. Captain America Vol 1 169-175: Secret Empire

This is the story Englehart is most known for that emerged from the Watergate Leaks and Richard Nixon stepping down as President. Captain America is most known as a man out of time and while it was shown how he doesn’t know how to fit in with a world that has changed so much, here Englehart explores how much the world has changed with the people who stand for America hiding so much. This is something that Cap takes issue with as he, like Superman, stands for truth and justice and the American way but now he is framed for crimes and upstaged by new fake superheroes and turned into a fugitive by his own government, finally (not overtly) learning the man behind it all is the president. Here he learns the American way has changed since he’s been in the ice with so many secrets that an entire empire can be hidden by the man at the top to secretly control the American people from behind the scenes, leading to him abandoning the mantle of Captain America for a time. Including the X-Men and giving Falcon the wings he needs (from Wakanda no less, a nod The Falcon and the Winter Soldier alludes to), this story packs a lot into it and it is clear that Englehart did a lot of thinking for it beforehand.

1. Captain America Vol 1 153-156: Two Into One Won't Go

While not the story Englehart is most known for on the title, it is his best on the title and was his first, reinvigorating the character after many lackluster stories for readers. Englehart was given a big task when given the job, asked to make the character popular again, finish up the ongoing story arcs, and also explain as to why there was another Captain America running around in the 50s when he was supposed to be frozen. He starts off by ending the ongoing Cap and Fury feud in a well-written way and then quickly exploring the story of the other Captain America as in the 1950s more comics on the character were published and since everything in Marvel is connected, it had to be explained. And he doesn’t just explain it, he makes it amazing as this other Cap turns out was a huge fan of the original who chose to undergo the super-soldier procedure to fight against the communists. But, the process went wrong and he lost himself in his hatred and bigotry, fighting for a ‘pure’ America. He reawakens in the modern day and seeks to return to the true America, fighting against Steve Rogers who he sees as a fake. The story ends with a battle of wills as both Caps fight for their version of America and what they stand for with equal passion. Englehart proves here why he is such an accomplished writer, reminding readers why they love Captain America while also displaying the dangers of American nationalism and how far someone will go to fight for their version of America which was not typically done in that time. All of this makes this not just the best Captain America story of this time but one the best in history.

And that's it for Captain America. A great decade with a series of highs and lows. Stay tuned for the 80s where things pick up.