Captain America Sentinel of Liberty

([October] 1979)

Dedication (Table of Contents: 1)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Stan dedicates the book to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Introduction (Table of Contents: 2)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Letters

typeset

The Origin of Captain America! (Table of Contents: 3)

Captain America / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Simon (original story); Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Frank Giacoia

Colors

?

Letters

Artie Simek

Editing

Stan Lee (original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Bucky Barnes; FDR (cameo); Agent R (security, "Project Rebirth"); Dr. Erskine (inventor, super-soldier formula); Sarge [Sgt. Duffy] (unnamed; Camp LeHigh)

Synopsis

While the Nazi war machine marches on, President Roosevelt institutes a top-secret program, "Project Rebirth". In a secret lab, scientist Dr. Erskine gives army reject and volunteer Steve Rogers the Super-Soldier serum which turns him into a virtual superman. A Nazi spy murders Erskine before he can create an army of duplicates, but Rogers becomes the costumed Captain America, a symbol of freedom and justice. He soon goes undercover as a private at Camp LeHigh where he befriends orphan mascot Bucky Barnes. When Bucky discovers Steve's double-identity, he becomes Cap's partner.

Reprints

• from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #63 (March 1965)

Indexer Notes

Retelling of the story by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby from CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 (March 1941).

According to Stan Lee's intro in this book, Lee and Kirby supposedly redid the story in 1965 because the original art had been "lost to the ravages of time". In fact, it was reprinted the same year in Jules Feiffer's book THE GREAT COMIC-BOOK HEROES (Bonanza, 1965). Professor Reinstein from the original version is renamed Dr. Erskine here.

The Traitor's Revenge (Table of Contents: 4)

Captain America / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Editing

Joe Simon; Jack Kirby (original editors)

Genre

superhero

Reprints

• from Captain America Comics (Marvel, 1941 series) #3 (May 1941)

Indexer Notes

Stan Lee's 1st professional writing job.

[Introduction] (Table of Contents: 5)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Letters

typeset

Captain America Joins... The Avengers! (Table of Contents: 6)

The Avengers / comic story / 23 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue); Jack Kirby (co-plot)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

George Roussos (uncredited)

Colors

?

Letters

Artie Simek

Editing

Stan Lee (original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Avengers [Thor [Dr. Don Blake]; Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Giant-Man [Henry Pym]; The Wasp [Janet Van Dyne]; Captain America [Steve Rogers] (joins)]; Sub-Mariner [Prince Namor]; Bucky Barnes [James Buchanan Barnes] (flashback); Baron Zemo [Baron Heinrich Zemo] (flashback, unidentified, in shadows); Rick Jones; Teen Brigade members (cameos, unnamed); D'Bari alien; members of Namor's royal guard (unnamed); Hulk [Bruce Banner] (cameo flashback)

Synopsis

The Avengers happen upon a figure frozen in the ocean depths, hurled there by an enraged Sub-Mariner. They are astonished to discover the man is alive and recognize him as the long-missing Captain America. Cap relates his last moments 20 years earlier when he and partner Bucky tried to stop an explosive-filled drone plane from taking off. Bucky was killed in the explosion, but Cap plunged into the ocean, surviving in suspended animation. Cap immediately becomes embroiled in helping the Avengers, encounters an alien and joins them in battle against Namor, accepting their offer to join the team.

Reprints

• from The Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series) #4 (March 1964)

Indexer Notes

1st modern-day appearance of Captain America (following an impostor who turned up in STRANGE TALES #114 [November 1963]). Last appearances in CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #78 (September 1954) and MEN'S ADVENTURES #28 (July 1954), though years later, to fix the continuity glitch of Cap being frozen in ice for 20 years, it was explained that the post World War II Steve Rogers was not the original. The Hulk would go after Rick for "betraying" him with Cap the following month in FANTASTIC FOUR #25 (April 1964). Sub-Mariner (and his royal guard) would turn up next in FANTASTIC FOUR #27 (June 1964). The alien in this story had his home world destroyed in X-MEN #135 (July 1980).

[Introduction] (Table of Contents: 7)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Letters

typeset

Captain America (Table of Contents: 8)

Captain America / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Chic Stone

Colors

?

Letters

Sam Rosen

Editing

Stan Lee

Genre

superhero

Characters

Jarvis (Tony Stark's butler); Captain America [Steve Rogers]; "Boss"; Bull; unnamed thugs

Synopsis

While Cap lounges around Avengers Mansion, thinking about Bucky and his place in the world, a gang of costumed thugs break in intent on stealing any secrets or weapons Stark may have laying about the place, to sell for profit. They figure Cap's "just an acrobat". They figured WRONG. He mops up the place with them single-handed, then comments how lucky they were his partners weren't around-- "They really tough!"

Reprints

• from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #59 (November 1964)

Indexer Notes

1st new solo story since 1954. Cap's own series has continued non-stop to this day!

The Red Skull Lives! (Table of Contents: 9)

Captain America / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Frank Giacoia

Colors

?

Letters

Artie Simek

Editing

Stan Lee (original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Horst; Wolfgang; The Red Skull [Johann Schmidt]; A.I.M.; Count Bornag Royale

Synopsis

Cap's greatest enemy, The Red Skull, has also survived the decades in suspended animation due to an experimental gas released near the end of World War II. Found and revived by THEM the Skull and his two cohorts now work with the secret organization. AIM scientists reveal their greatest achievement, the Cosmic Cube. The Skull plans to frame Cap for murder, but his plan backfires. Cap reveals a printed circuit supplied to him by SHIELD which countered the hypnotic waves that made Cap question his sanity. Shocked to learn his oldest enemy is alive, Cap prepares for a deadly encounter.

Reprints

• from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #79 (July 1966)

Indexer Notes

Part 1 of 3. 1st modern-day appearance of The Red Skull. The suspended animation via experimental gas bit echoes BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY. The truth about Count Royale and A.I.M. was under suspicion in STRANGE TALES #146 (June 1966); as this episode exposes their true motives, it most likely came out afterwards; yet, according to the dialogue, it must be a flashback to just before it, as Count Royale is shown on his way to The Heli-Carrier, and there is no break between STRANGE TALES #146-147 (June-July-1966). 1st appearance of The Cosmic Cube.

He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube (Table of Contents: 10)

Captain America / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Don Heck

Colors

?

Letters

Artie Simek

Editing

Stan Lee

Genre

superhero

Characters

Captain America [Steve Rogers]; A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics); Wolfgang; The Red Skull [Johann Schmidt]; The Keeper

Synopsis

Cap rescues a pilot whose plane was shot out of the sky, only to discover he's a member of A.I.M. He tells Cap about their supreme achievement, the Cosmic Cube which has been stolen and being taken to the Red Skull. Using a SHIELD experimental manned missile, Cap battles the Skull's minion. Hitting an ejector switch the two parachute to a remote island where The Skull awaits. The Skull reveals to Cap that he gave the orders that resulted in Bucky's death. The Cosmic Cube, which can convert thought waves into material action, makes The Skull virtually invincible.

Reprints

• from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #80 (August 1966)

Indexer Notes

Part 2 of 3. The palm magnets Cap uses to latch onto the Keeper's jet were later used by Nick Fury in STRANGE TALES #166 (March 1968).

The Red Skull Supreme! (Table of Contents: 11)

Captain America / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Frank Giacoia

Colors

?

Letters

Artie Simek

Editing

Stan Lee

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Red Skull [Johann Schmidt]; Captain America [Steve Rogers]

Synopsis

Cap fights a seemingly-hopeless battle against The Skull, who, armed with the Cosmic Cube, can do anything he wishes with a thought. The Skull plans to enslave the world and beyond, lusting for intergalactic conquest. Mad with power The Skull fashions a suit of solid gold armor. Cap tries to knock the Cube from his grip but with a thought the island breaks up, sinking into the ocean. Cap knocks the Cube into the water and The Skull dives in after it, forgetting the weight of his armor, which drags him to the ocean floor. The Cube is buried in the deep where Cap hopes it will forever remain.

Reprints

• from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #81 (September 1966)

Indexer Notes

Part 3 of 3. The Red Skull returns with the Cosmic Cube, in TALES OF SUSPENSE #89 (May 1967).

No Longer Alone! (Table of Contents: 12)

Captain America / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script

Jim Steranko (plot); Stan Lee (dialogue)

Pencils

Jim Steranko

Inks

Joe Sinnott

Colors

?

Letters

Sam Rosen

Editing

Stan Lee (original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Captain America [Steve Rogers]; The Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Rick Jones; HYDRA; Madame Hydra

Synopsis

Cap encounters the Hulk on a rampage in NYC. As the Army tries to stop him, Rick Jones warns him how uncontrollable he can be. The Hulk escapes and Cap vows Rick must never put himself in danger until the monster can be tamed. At Avengers Mansion Rick finds Bucky's uniform and rejects Cap's protests against wearing it. After putting him off for years Cap finally accepts Rick officially as his new partner. They soon uncover a plot by HYDRA to contaminate the city's water supply. After a series of battles the HYDRA goons are driven off and Cap tells Rick he survived his baptism of fire.

Reprints

• from Captain America (Marvel, 1968 series) #110 (February 1969)

Indexer Notes

Part 1 of 3. 1st appearance of Madame Hydra. Cap had first asked Rick to be his partner back in THE AVENGERS #4 (March 1964). The sequence in the sewers is strikingly similar to the one in "Spy Ambush" in CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #10 (January 1942). The Spirit had also once faced a female villain who planned to poison NYC's water supply in an early story. James Bond had faced a "Madame Spectra" in the 007 newspaper strip story "The Spy Who Loved Me" in THE DAILY EXPRESS (December 18, 1967-October 3, 1968); see James Bond 007 #[7] (Titan Books, August 2005).

The Sting of the Scorpion! (Table of Contents: 13)

Captain America / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Pencils

Gene Colan

Inks

Joe Sinnott

Colors

?

Letters

Artie Simek

Editing

Stan Lee (original editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Captain America [Steve Rogers]; The Red Skull [Johann Schmidt] (cameo flashback); A.I.M. (cameo flashback); MODOK (cameo flashback); Specs (gangster); The Scorpion [Mac Gargan]; Agent Thirteen [Sharon Carter]; SHIELD

Synopsis

Cap spends half the story wandering around soliloquizing about his life and his girlfriend Sharon. The Scorpion, out on parole, decides to rob someone as a "test" to prove he's still got it, but unwittingly tackles Steve Rogers. As Cap fights The Scorpion, Sharon is captured by a spy ring she's trying to uncover. Cap stumbles across the spy ring and contacts SHIELD, never knowing Sharon was their prisoner.

Reprints

• from Captain America (Marvel, 1968 series) #122 (February 1970)

Indexer Notes

The story's title was earlier used for the 2nd Scorpion cartoon (half of episode 20) in the 1967 Grantray-Lawrence SPIDER-MAN cartoon series.

Epilogue (Table of Contents: 14)

text article / 1 page (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Letters

typeset