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Summary
Captain Americais one of Marvel ’s old and best superheroes . From his debut punching Hitler in the face in 1941Captain America Comics#1 , Marvel ’s loyal hoagy has made his impact on the comic book world thanks to the unflagging efforts of C of author and creative person over the decades .
With over eighty years of comics to draw from , extend all the means back to whenJoe Simon and Jack Kirbyfirst introduced him to the Earth , Cap is certainly not hurting for great stories . The gauze-like amount of comedian star Captain America can be restrain to readers looking to read some of the Star - Spangled Avenger ’s best adventures . Given that bloodline , ranking the ten best Captain America story in Marvel Comics history is no easy feat , but the following leaning of storylines should be an excellent starting stead for Cap rooter wanting to read some great comedian .
10“The Captain” (aka “Captain America No More”)
Captain America(Vol. 1) #332-350 by Mark Gruenwald, Kieron Dwyer & Tom Morgan
Steve Rogers has afford up the star and stripes on more than one occasion , but “ The Captain ” might just be the best plot line of them all . write by long - timeCaptain Americawriter Mark Gruenwald , the story interpret Cap being force to work on behalf of the U.S. government due to a effectual loophole . Uneasy with the prospect of being beholden to policies he may not agree with , Rogers select to step down as Captain America . Vigilante John Walker is chosenas his replacement , and Rogers hits the road , finally put on a red , white and black version of his costume and dub himself “ The Captain . ”
As Walker becomes more and more violent and crazy , Rogers heads to Washington to houseclean up the plenty , only to bring out the whole thing has been a gambit by none other than the Red Skull . This eighteen - issue plot line is thepièce de résistanceof Gruenwald ’s ten - class foot race on the title , a Greco-Roman superhero story that dexterously balances liquid ecstasy opera house melodrama with costumed fisticuffs . The write up also work as a display case for Gruenwald ’s vision of Steve Rogers as an independent flavor . Just because he wears the stars and stripes does n’t mean that Rogers is willing to blindly follow gild , which is perfectly contrasted against the likes of John Walker .
9“Castaway in Dimension Z”
Captain America(Vol. 7) #1-10 by Rick Remender & John Romita, Jr.
Rick Remender was given the near insufferable task of following writer Ed Brubaker ’s monumental eight - class outpouring on the eccentric when he took the reins ofCaptain Americain 2012 . Yet “ Castaway in Dimension Z ” prove that the new creative squad had their own singular vision , as Cap finds himself stranded in an alternate dimension where Arnim Zola dominate supreme . Throughout the class of the report , Cap winds up adopting Zola ’s sonIan in a post - apocalyptic barren as he struggles to survive in a unusual earth .
Marked by Kiby - esque fiend , sci - fi action and the perils of fatherhood , this ten - issuing taradiddle - line is elevated pulp at its finest . take the character 180 degrees away from the espionage - flavored history of the old run was a stroke of genius on the creative team ’s part , as Remender and Romita , Jr. make this book ofCaptain Americatheir own . What did n’t change was the creative team ’s devotion to Cap himself , as “ Castaway in Dimension Z ” digs late into Steve ’s other days to portray a compelling portrait of his new role as a father .
8“Death of the Red Skull”
Captain America(Vol.1) #292-300 by J.M. DeMatteis, Paul Neary & Michael Ellis
J.M. DeMatteis ’ run was marked by a desire to comfortably define Steve Rogers as a reference separate from his superhero liveliness , and this climactic plot line fetch all of those elements to the prow . The story sees an aging Red Skull plot his final revenge against Captain America , kidnapping his friends and friend in a gambit to slip Cap ’s younker and senesce his body to its genuine age . Characters like theRed Skull ’s daughter Sinfirst appeared during this plot line , satiate out Cap ’s rogues gallery with a greater variety of superintendent - villain .
DeMatteis ’ psychological approaching adds so much to what could otherwise be seen as a silly account about grown grownup in tights , and the relationship deptcted between Cap and the Red Skull is a fascinating portrait of their bitter rivalry . Sadly , editorial difference of opinion see DeMatteis lead the book before he could end it the way he wanted , andCaptain America#300 wraps up the storyline in a fair rush along personal manner . Still , the plot line chronicle one of the in force encounters between Captain America and the Red Skull , his ultimate arch - nemesis .
7“Cap for President!”
Captain America(Vol. 1) #250 by Roger Stern & John Byrne
This exclusive - matter story from Roger Stern and John Byrne show up that , whileCaptain America may be an effective drawing card on the field , that does n’t necessarily interpret into lead an full nation . The story sees Cap being set about for a presidential bid by the fictional New Populist Party after foiling a terrorist plot . Cap considers the idea for a sentence , but at last turn down the campaign , feel that he should n’t be the person making insurance policy decisions for an entire country .
It ’s a relatively straight - forward matter , and the story ’s lawful forcefulness comes from its clear - defined image of the central character . While someone named“Captain America ” seems like an ideal candidate for U.S. President , Cap immediately ensure the inherent problem with the musical theme , as the hoagie represent the dreaming of what his res publica could be as a symbolization . “ You involve to attend within yourselves to find the masses you need to keep this nation substantial , ” Cap states in the issue ’s climactic spoken language before a gathered gang , recognizing that he could never live up the idealistic American Dream while he himself is still chasing it .
6Captain America: White
Captain America: White#1-5 by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
The last installation ofJeph Loeb and Tim Sale Marvel “ Colors”series , what ’s most challenging aboutCaptain America : Whiteis Cap ’s battle to come to bag with his simplistic morality as it apply to wartime . The story sees Captain America and Bucky formally entering the state of war as they ship off to Nazi - occupied Paris in WWII , whereupon Cap has his morals tested as he meets up with a group of French resistance battler who do n’t bet by the “ rules . ” When Cap ’s adversary the Red Skull is let on to be in Paris as well , Cap faces one of his capital challenges during the entire warfare .
The taradiddle is packed with the earnest nostalgia and deft characterisation that denounce all of Loeb and Sale ’s collaborations , as the writer and artist always seemed to bring the best out of each other . Like the previous Marvel “ Color ” serial , Captain America : Whiteis a story about loss and grief . The substantial beating heart of the series is the relationship between Captain America and Bucky , ache with the disaster that we all roll in the hay await Cap ’s sidekick in the coming years .
5“Operation: Rebirth”
Captain America(Vol. 1) #444-448 by Mark Waid & Ron Garney
Hell stop dead over with this plot line , as Captain America and the Red Skull are forced to team up up and work together to save the world . Of of course , Red Skull has his own schedule , and it is n’t long before he and Cap total to setback as the Skull tries to turn the berth to his own reward . Mark Waid and Ron Garney began their running with this storyline , and profit greatly by clearing the deck of cards of the previous continuity and returning Cap back to his root .
The narrative is also notable forbringing back Sharon Carter , who was antecedently killed off in the seventies . Ever since she was bring back in this plot line , Sharon has remained an important player in Cap ’s life ever since , being a featured character in well-nigh every run on the title thereafter . Waid truly cause what shit Steve Rogers tick , and Ron Garney ’ high - vim style keeps the super - heroic action playfulness and engaging , ensue in one of the absolute bestCaptain Americastories .
4Truth: Red, White & Black
Truth: Red, White & Black#1-7 by Robert Morales & Kyle Baker
Robert Morales and Kyle Baker take a look at the ugly side of the Marvel Universe with this story , holding up a mirror to the darker aspects of American history by tell the story of the block super - soldier Isaiah Bradley . Inspired by the real - spirit Tuskegee experiment , Truthchronicles the improbably - bleak story of the U.S. government attempting to recreate Captain America ’s top-notch - soldier serum on a regiment of black soldier . The only one to go theexperiment is Isaiah Bradley , who at long last winds up stand from brain damage in the present - day due to the experiment and the lack of charge bring home the bacon to him .
Isaiah Bradley ’s story is unrelenting at times , but itprovides a stark and perhaps even necessary counterpoint to the inspirational facial expression of Steve Rogers ’ level . The American Dream was n’t the same for everyone , whichTruthexplores in worked up and often haunting profundity . It ’s examen of racism and inequality make for a compelling story , but the true heart ofTruth : Red , White & Blacklies with the poignant depicting of Isaiah and his married woman Faith ’s union through the years .
3“The Red Skull Lives”/“He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube!”/”The Red Skull Supreme!”
Tales of Suspense#79-81 by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
After Captain America was make for out of the Methedrine inAvengers#4 , Marvel struggled a bit in finding a direction to take with a character who might have been hold irrelevant in the turbulent X that was the 1960 ’s . That all convert when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby took over his strip inTales of Suspense , as the legendary pair make over the old wedge for an entirely new years . No longer just a propaganda tool in service of a nation at war , Lee and Kirby’sCaptain Americawas remake into a silklike espionage strip meet with superhero activity and spy - fi machination .
Memorable characters such as Sharon Carter , Baron Zemo and MODOK made their debut during this era , but the pinnacle of Lee and Kirby ’s Cap account has to be the trilogy that comprisesTales of Suspense#79 - 81 . Cap ’s arch - nemesis the Red Skull returns , given the power to shape reality to his will follow hisacquisition of the Cosmic Cube . The account consists of one breathless skirmish after another , packed with the two - fisted action that made Jack Kirby the great superhero creative person of his day .
2“The Strange Death of Captain America”
Captain America(Vol. 1) #110-111, 113 by Jim Steranko
The three issues ofCaptain Americaproduced by Jim Steranko stand not only as one of the good Cap tales , but one of the absolute best superhero comics of all clip . Steranko ’s op - prowess approach proceed to revolutionize what could be done with the comic book varlet following his groundbreaking workplace onNick vehemence : Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.The story find out Cap take on Rick Jones as his new pal , only for the star - spangle Avenger to apparently conk out at the bridge player of Hydra .
Steranko filled his Page with outlandish layouts , turn the action at law - packed stylings of Lee and Kirby into a phantasmagoric , four - vividness exhibit of super - heroics . Nightmarish , Salvador Dali - esque dreamscapes and tense set - pieces inspired by the likes of Hitchcock and Welles show offSteranko ’s dictation of craft , as the writer / artist breaks spare of traditional gore layouts with each turn of the page . It may be dated , but the sheer power of Steranko ’s imaging remain as virile as ever .
1“Winter Soldier”
Captain America(Vol. 5) #1-12 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Michael Lark & John Paul Leon
It was one of comics ’ great unwritten ruler : no matter what , Bucky stays dead . Several originative teams tried to bring back Captain America ’s sidekick in some form or another throughout the decades , but James Buchanan Barnes remained unswayed . It was n’t until Ed Brubaker entered the shot in 2004 that Bucky finally returned from the dead in WWII , in a write up that would deepen Cap ’s lore incessantly . “ Winter Soldier ” revealed thatBucky survived his supposed death WWII , only to be captured by soviet scientists and turned into a brainwashed bravo .
by from the Winter Soldier retcon , Brubaker ’s firstCaptain Americastory succeeds by taking a back - to - basics approach to the title grapheme . The creative team returns Cap to the hi - technical school espionage day of the Lee / Kirby run , but update for a modern audience . master creative person Steve Epting fetch a tinge of Platonism to ground the phantasy , resulting in a narration more gripping than many well - selling novel and more exciting than a summertime blockbuster . At the heart of it all is Steve Rogers ’ quest to play his old friend back from the brink , making this the infrangible bestCaptain Americastory of all time .
