For more than a half century, I’ve loved a particular panel that appears in The Avengers 4 (March 1964), the issue that introduced me to Captain America.
Depicting the icebound superhero’s return to New York after two decades when he was thought to be dead, artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee gave the character gravitas, suggested his heroic stature and modesty and underlined it all with a note of humor. The panel also positioned the character in history for a generation that was unfamiliar with him.
A lot to do in a single panel.
Cap is spotted by an incredulous beat cop.
“No, officer, you’re not mistaken,” replies the somber superhero. “I am Captain America.”
The cop says, “And all these years — all of us — your fans — all your admirers — we thought you were dead! But you’ve come back — just when the world has need of such a man — just like fate planned it this way!”
Holding a handkerchief to his face, the police officer adds, “Forgive me, Cap, willya? I - I seem to have something in my eye.”
“As alluded to in an opening caption, Captain America was first created and drawn by Jack Kirby (alongside Joe Simon) in 1941, and Stan Lee's first writing in a comic was a two-page text story from Captain America Comics 3 — so, as they say, the circle is complete!” noted comics historian Don Alsafi.
The fact that another Golden Age great, the Sub-Mariner, accidentally revived Cap tied things together even more neatly.
There seemed to be something about fourth issues, by the way. Green Arrow joined The Justice League of America in the fourth issue (April-May 1961), and the Sub-Mariner reemerged from the sea to again start terrorizing Manhattan in the fourth issue of The Fantastic Four (May 1962).
Maybe it’s the simple fact that by the fourth issue, the creators’ original conception has been pretty well explored and they think, “Okay, what else we got?”
Bob Doncaster wrote: It was my first exposure to Cap too and I was immediately smitten. Maybe because my Dad fought in WW2.
ReplyDeleteJames Held wrote: Have to say when Avengers #4 hit the stands I didn't even know who Captain America was but that cover just leaped up at me -- wow!
ReplyDeleteMark Engblom wrote: “The fact that another Golden Age great, the Sub-Mariner, accidentally revived Cap tied things together even more neatly.”
ReplyDeleteI’ve always loved the angle of a completely oblivious Namor saving his ol’ war buddy, despite their shared history being a little more vague and incidental during the Golden Age.
Adding to the serendipity was that Namor HIMSELF was revived by The Human Torch, another WWII ally and/or rival (depending on the day), albeit the android’s young spiritual (and human) successor in the issue of FF you alluded to.
Though not exactly the same situation you’re describing, the Flash was revived in the fourth issue of Showcase, which, in turn, was the spark that ignited the Silver Age.
Brad Beeson wrote: I had seen Cap once before in a cartoon, but this was my first Captain America comic book. i read a reprint around 2001/02. After that I was obsessed with golden age characters.
ReplyDeleteThe image of Submariner on the cover of Avengers 4 also harkens back to the golden age timely comic covers like Human Torch that would boldly proclaim. 'and in this issue, 7 exciting pages of the Submariner'
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