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About This
Series:
Issues:
This series is
often referred to as "Series 1" or "Volume 1" of "Captain
America". It is actually the second time our favorite American
patriot was given his own, regular series. Interesting enough,
this second regular series did NOT start out to be his own.
The series was called "Tales of Suspense" from issues #1-99 (1959-1968). After many guest appearances in this and other Marvel titles, the series was renamed "Captain America" with issue #100 (1968) and kept the name for most of the time since. From issues #134-222, the series' name was slightly altered to "Captain America & Falcon". But with issue #223 until the final issue, #454 (1996), it was "Captain America", again!
Captain America's background story and supporting cast were changed from time to time, but the basic look and idea of the character remained the same. That's what made Captain America great! My personal feeling is that the best thing that ever happened to the series was Diamondback. Rachel Leighton, her true name, was once a beautiful thief who reformed herself after falling in love with Cap. It was an unrequitted love most of the time, until about the mid-1990s. She was a funny, sexy character and a perfect match-up for Cap. Sadly, she was not given the respect she deserved by Marvel and, more specifically, the people handling her. Her costume was changed, and not for the better, and her personality was made whiny and sappy. She was transformed into more of a damsel-in-distress than a heroine. And, when nothing else could be done with her, she was simply phased out of the comics, like she never existed. To me, that is one of the biggest Marvel upsets from before the late 1990s.
The series was called "Tales of Suspense" from issues #1-99 (1959-1968). After many guest appearances in this and other Marvel titles, the series was renamed "Captain America" with issue #100 (1968) and kept the name for most of the time since. From issues #134-222, the series' name was slightly altered to "Captain America & Falcon". But with issue #223 until the final issue, #454 (1996), it was "Captain America", again!
Captain America's background story and supporting cast were changed from time to time, but the basic look and idea of the character remained the same. That's what made Captain America great! My personal feeling is that the best thing that ever happened to the series was Diamondback. Rachel Leighton, her true name, was once a beautiful thief who reformed herself after falling in love with Cap. It was an unrequitted love most of the time, until about the mid-1990s. She was a funny, sexy character and a perfect match-up for Cap. Sadly, she was not given the respect she deserved by Marvel and, more specifically, the people handling her. Her costume was changed, and not for the better, and her personality was made whiny and sappy. She was transformed into more of a damsel-in-distress than a heroine. And, when nothing else could be done with her, she was simply phased out of the comics, like she never existed. To me, that is one of the biggest Marvel upsets from before the late 1990s.
Issues:
#226: October,
1978.
Captain America's strength has been sapped, and he is now
the scrawny version of Steve Rogers from before his Captain America
transformation. This couldn't have come at a worse time, because
he is trapped in a training room of the S.H.I.E.L.D. anti-terrorist
organization with a killer robot. Meanwhile, Nick Fury of
S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to free the scrawny Cap, but is finding that all
of his agents are mysteriously turning into clones of the evil Red
Skull.
The robot finally has Cap in a bear hug. The electricity from his weapon stimulates the dormant Super Soldier Serum in Cap's body, bringing back his muscles and super strength. Now back to normal Cap, our hero quickly destroys the giant robot called Impact.
The robot finally has Cap in a bear hug. The electricity from his weapon stimulates the dormant Super Soldier Serum in Cap's body, bringing back his muscles and super strength. Now back to normal Cap, our hero quickly destroys the giant robot called Impact.