This run by Mark Waid & Ron Garney is clearly one of the greatest runs of the character ever. It collects Captain America #444 through #454 plus Thor #496, Iron Man #326 and Avengers #396. You also get about 100 pages of bonus material mostly containing text page content pulled from three comic specials Captain America Ashcan Edition, Captain America Collectors Preview and Captain America: The Legend. All of the above content was originally published 20 years ago in 1995 and 1996.
While this is for the most part very praise worthy material, I question the need to print it this early in Epic Collection series since most of the Waid & Garney run has been collected in several different formats and is readily available. I would have preferred some of the earlier uncollected material be assembled.
My other complaint is the use of a table of contents page with no pages numbers. The only exception is the Captain America Ashcan Edition sixteen pages where pages numbers suddenly appear. Granted this is a mid 1990's comic and over half the pages feature full bleed art, where there is not enough room. But still many pages with white borders exist that could have contained page numbers. This is also the era when Marvel bought Malibu Comics just so they can use their Digital Coloring technology. The color here is not to my liking, but better then a lot of the early Computer Coloring.
For both Mark Waid and Ron Garney Captain America was a dream project and their love of the character shines through. When Ron Garney was first hired at Marvel he brought samples of Cap with him to get hired.
To put these stories in historical context Waid succeeded the decades long run of Mark Gruenwald and was interrupted by the hiring of Rob Leifield and Jim Lee's Image style rebranding.
Captain America #444 starts off the collection with a story focused on The Avengers. Captain America is the focus of the story as they are all celebrating his life in the use of many flashbacks.
Captain America #445 through #448 is the four part Operation Rebirth storyline. Agent 13 Sharon Carter plays a very significant role in this entire Waid run. She feels hurt and betrayed by Captain America and their relationship is a constant source of friction. This story finds Cap allied with the Red Skull in an alliance to recover the Cosmic Cube. This is an excellent story.
Next up is the four comic crossover First Sign. This feels like an editorial driven crossover between the four books and has a pretty shaky plot. The Zodiac Gang are taking over people's minds in New York to cause Chaos and Destruction. The Waid & Garney first part in Captain America #449 is enjoyable but kind of ignores the central plot until the last few pages. The second part in Thor #496 was also quite good but kind of did the same thing. This was by William Messner Loebs and Mike Deodata Jr. It takes places when Thor has lost some of his powers and is a shacking up on earth with the Enchantress. I don't really recall this storyline, but I eager to read more. Again not much about the central plot.
Which leaves writer Terry Kavanagh to tie it up in Iron Man #326 and Avengers #396. Unfortunately these are not great comics. Both the writing and the art are very weak. While I was kind of intrigued by the events in Thor, the Iron Man story left me totaled baffled. Somehow Tony Stark is now a teen aged boy and the story involved him registering for college. What is going on and why does he even have to go to college ? And in the final issue the Avengers with members Deathcry and the giant bug version of the Wasp join the party.
Next up is another classic Man Without A Country which ran in Captain America #450 through #453. Cap is deemed a traitor and forced to leave America. He must even wear a generic costume provided by Sharon. The cybernetic Machinesmith is the villian behind the plot.
Captain America #454 is the last Waid & Garney story for a year as Rob Lefield and the Image gang take over for a year. This story is supposed to put a resolution to the Sharon Carter mystery and explain her recent hostility towards Cap.
As for the over 100 pages of bonus material from the Specials, most of it not worth reprinting being mostly text and old comic panels assembled to make new material. This material is written by Assistant Editors and Staff Minions and is totally based on their own biases like Cap's Lamest Foes or Top Ten Villains.
The highlights of this material is probably: the interview with Joe Simon and pictures of then recent work, the one page Hembeck page and the three page Cap meets Jack Kirby story.
Because the Captain America Collector's Preview included reprinted the Golden Age, "Case Of The Hollow Men" it is printed here. Now, because it was later (1996) restored for the All Winners Masterwork, that version is printed here. This is the first Golden Age Material in an Epic Collection. I have very mixed feelings about this since it sets a bad precedent. So far any Epic Collections that was composed of comics with reprint material the policy has been only the new material is collected. So if a comic has a new cover, but reprint interiors only the cover would be printed. I am curious what other readers think.
To clarify I am giving the 10 issues of Waid & Garney Five Stars, the other material averages Three Stars.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
More like Captain America Epic Collection: Man Without A Country (Captain America (1968-1996))
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Loading...
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
