Customer Reviews

Captain America the Classic Years (Marvel Comics (Paperback)) (v. 1)

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Simon and Kirby! Magic words indeed! This book, a collection of the first five issues of Captain America comics, is a fine read, indeed! There's a particularly outstanding drawing of the Captain in "The Hunchback of Hollywood and the Movie Murders" where he stands majestically "outside" the panels, which alone is probably worth the price of the book. The only complaint I could make is that the _entire_ contents of the comic books aren't presented here - backup stories, text features; but this is probably a minor drawback. It's CAPTAIN AMERICA, for crying out loud!! If further collections are planned, I am definitely ordering them!

The comic world has begun a re-evaluation of Jack Kirby. Most people now hail him as a genius - so it's interesting to see where the legend began. In Captain America we have Kirby - with his partner Joe Simon - starting the basic good vs. evil which will be the hallmark of Jack Kirby's carreer. Before America's entry into the WW2 the line of good was created in Captain America. And in this volume he fights the good fight against the future enemies of America, the Axis. Superb reproduction, crisp colour combine with stories that while dated, are still a joy to read. Good vs. evil, that's what comics are about.

Its amazing and somehow comforting to see how very little Captain America has visibly changed over the years. Beside one issue with a wedge-shaped shield, Captain America's costume is the same in these early adventures as when he first donned it. Why is it amazing? Look at The Flash. Look at Superman. The originals are hints of what we see nowadays and in some cases completely different. Why is it comforting? Because, at the rish of sounding maudlin, Cap represents something that ought not to change. He is the American ideal, not bound by the two party system or the machinations of any one government. He is the Capra-esque America - the dream and not the sometimes ugly reality. I think most truly good things remain uncompromised through the ages. Looking back at Cap in these pages where he is at his purest, battling fifth columnists and Ratzies really deepens the appreciation of the `man out of time' Steve Rogers has become today.

Granted some of the stuff technically is a little bizarre. I won't go so far as to say its `dated' because whenenver you read something from the Golden Age you need to prepare to step into those thrilling days of yesteryear to fully appreciate it. There are a lot of unfortunate stereotypes, from shoe shine boys to evil Orientals (gargantuan Tibetan monster-men at one point!), and I've got to admit the relationship with Bucky at times seems a little weird even to one who has no problems with Batman and the Boy Wonder. But its all worth it just to see Cap and Bucky deck Hitler and face off for the first time with the nefarious Red Skull.

Then you've got some great unpolished Kirby work. Here its like seeing the first hints of Moses emerging from the marble at the behest of Michaelangelo. Joe Simon's writing is fun and not too convoluted.

Buy this if you can get it for a better appreciation of the character and his creators. Its a nice edition (hardback) and looks great on the shelf next to the Marvel Masterworks and `New Deal.'

This graphic novel contains the story arcs from Captain America Comics 1-5 (from 1941, even before America entered WW2!), and covers the genesis of Captain America and his sidekick Bucky Barnes, and their early career. Throughout these early stories you get to see Cap battle criminals, Bundists, foreign saboteurs, mad scientists, and even his archenemy, The Red Skull.

This is a great book, showing off Captain America in all his glory. It's rather sad to think that such comics could NEVER be produced by Marvel today. Instead, they had him fighting the American government and being assassinated in the end. Well, perhaps his passing is for the best, because with books such as this we get to see Cap as the American icon he was, the REAL champion of truth, justice and the American way!

I loved this book, and am very glad to have found it. And now I will pass it on to my son, and keep the flame of Captain America fandom alive. Get this great book, and see Captain America in this Golden Age.

Captain America: The Classic Years (ISBN# 078510660X) reprints the first 5 issues of Captain America Comics from 1941. Classic stories that were a joy to read, and were basically the main battles of Captain America and his partner, Bucky, fighting against Nazis and the other threats of World War II. Creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby were at their prime during this time in the Golden Age of comic books with these stories. A must have for anyone's library.

relive vintage Jack Kirby(the founder and savior of what would become Marvel Comics). don't let Stan Lee(aka Stan Lebowitz) hog up all the credit for this 70 year old gem. World War II is revisited courtesy of Captain America in this volume 1 classic years edition, at an extremely affordable price.