By Ben Chabala & Ben Morse
In case you haven't heard yet,
Steve Rogers, the original Captain America,
will be making his return this summer in
CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN.
Here at Marvel.com, we're pretty excited to welcome the Sentinel of Liberty back to the land of the living, so we decided to celebrate a little bit by asking Marvel editors and creators for their favorite stories and moments involving the Star-Spangled Avenger.
It's Friday, so kick back, relax and enjoy.
MARC SUMERAK (writer of WEAPON X: FIRST CLASS): One of my favorite Steve Rogers stories actually takes place during a period where someone else was wearing his costume! In 1987's CAPTAIN AMERICA #332, Steve resigns from his role as Captain
America so that the U.S. government can't take absolute control of his actions. John Walker takes over as the new Captain America while Steve continues to fight for what he believes in as The Captain. It was a great examination of what it takes to wear the stars and stripes—and it culminated in an epic Cap vs Cap battle that landed Steve back in his proper role once again! Good stuff!
AXEL ALONSO (Marvel Executive Editor): Honest to god, my favorite Captain America moment was in CAPTAIN AMERICA #153.
Nick Fury shows up at Steve Rogers' apartment and whips off his trench coat to reveal…a metal battle-arm that looks like the Michelin Man! Fury has come to Steve's crib to kick his butt! The two throw down for a few pages in what has to be some of Sal Buscema's best pages ever—at least to me, when I was 6. Later on, Cap and the
Falcon squared off against Evil Cap and Evil Bucky, but I was still thinking about the Cap vs Fury fight.
PAUL CORNELL (writer of CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13): I really liked the very short Roger Stern/John Byrne run. They made Steve's life as a man out of time vital and interesting. And I love what Ed [Brubaker has] been doing: taking the subject on head-on, unblinking, without the safety net of irony.
REGINALD HUDLIN (writer of BLACK PANTHER): I loved the "Madbomb" storyline that Jack Kirby did when he returned from DC and took the book back over. It was the perfect bicentennial storyline to me. I was so glad when Marvel collected that storyline into a trade paperback!
KYLE HOTZ (artist of DARK REIGN: THE HOOD): My response to favorite Captain America stories is
anything by John Byrne! I always felt his style was the best fit ever for Cap, with the clean lines and all-American look he gave the character. John Byrne always had the ability to make every character cool; one of my favorite storylines had Batroc and
Mr. Hyde teaming up against Cap!
MARK WAID (former writer of CAPTAIN AMERICA): So many to choose from. But for me it will always be the stirring speech that Steve Rogers, as
Nomad, gives at the end of CAPTAIN AMERICA #183 when he finally reclaims the Captain America uniform and identity and rededicates his life to service. Steve Englehart's Captain America may be my favorite of all time.
RICK REMENDER (writer of PUNISHER): As a long time Captain America fan who has been for everything since my first purchased issue—#298—I think it's clear the first 25 issues of Brubaker's run set the bar. Naturally he's riding on the shoulders of giants, but man, he knows how to steer him some giants. Those issues are worth every ounce of praise they've ever received.
BILL ROSEMANN (Marvel editor): When Roger Stern and John Byrne united for their short but oh-so-great run on CAPTAIN AMERICA #247-#255, an instant classic was born. These stories had it all: Union Jack, Baron Blood, Machinesmith, Nick Fury,
Dragon Man, "A Man Named Joe," Cobra, Mr. Hyde,
Batroc the Leaper, a new take on the star-spangled origin, even Cap for President! If you haven't had the pleasure, run out now and track down CAPTAIN AMERICA: WAR & REMEMBRANCE, then hit the beach, plant yourself under an umbrella and enjoy this powerful blast of patriotism during July 4th!
KEVIN GREVIOUX (writer of ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL): I think it's the two storylines written by Mark Gruenwald and Mark Waid where Cap was forced to give up his rank and shield because of government and politics. It proved, through Cap, that the
true and pure American ideal lies in the spirit of what our forefathers tried to create, and not just a cloth flag or a red, white and blue costume. It's that spirit of tirelessly fighting for freedom and for what's right against all odds that makes America great. And Cap embodies that with or without the flag or his costume and shield.
RALPH MACCHIO (Marvel Senior Editor): I would say that some of my favorite Cap moments were those incredible [Stan] Lee/[Jack] Kirby masterpieces back in the TALES OF SUSPENSE days of [the 60's], when Cap had just gotten his series in the back of that title. They were action-packed spectaculars that introduced us to Batroc, the Super Adaptoid, M.O.D.O.K, the Tumbler and so much more. That was the quintessential Captain America series. It was wall-to-wall action and fisticuffs with concept after concept thrown our way and Cap always outmatched but finding a way to win because he's—well—he's Captain America! And they don't come any better. There have been many great runs on Cap, but if you were leaving me on a desert island with just one run, it would be the Lee/Kirby spectaculars from TALES OF SUSPENSE.
CHRISTOS GAGE (writer of AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE): When [Steve Rogers] ran for President in CAPTAIN AMERICA #250. He dropped out of the race early, but I think
he should have stuck it out. I was only about 10 years old, but I would have found a way to vote for him! I also really enjoyed the WHAT IF? story that speculated on what would have happened if he had stuck with the campaign. My favorite part was seeing the ballots that listed the choices "Reagan," "Carter" and "America". That's one heck of a political liability, running against America!
CHRISTOPHER YOST (co-writer of X-FORCE): There was a moment in the "Maximum Carnage" storyline running through the
Spider-Man books, where Spider-Man was compromised, working with Venom, beaten to hell, lost—he was literally on his hands and knees looking for some sign of hope...and that's when Captain America arrives. It really left an impact on me, how the other heroes of the Marvel U, especially Spider-Man, saw Cap. When Cap shows up, you know everything's going to all right.
He's the hope, the right way; he's the hero's hero, what they—and we—all aspire to be.
TOM DEFALCO (writer of SPECTACULAR SPIDER-GIRL): My favorite Steve Rogers moment is a single panel in AVENGERS #4. The
Avengers are battling the
Sub-Mariner who threatens
Rick Jones at one point in the story. Captain America races to the teenager's defense and is captured by Sub-Mariner. As Namor holds Cap above his head, preparing to destroy him without mercy, Steve thinks, "He's stronger than me—but I'll find a way to out-maneuver him!" That one moment, that single thought balloon has always defined Captain America for me. He embodies the "can do" spirit of America and will always find a way!
GREG PAK (writer of WAR MACHINE): I loved everything about Captain America's appearances in Frank Miller's "Born Again" [storyline in DAREDEVIL]. The story gloriously showcased Cap's insanely formidable physical abilities, which was a ton of fun. But much more importantly, in a few brief scenes, Miller perfectly dramatized the essence of Cap's character and what it means to him to wear the flag.
STEVE WACKER (Marvel editor): I like that upcoming story where it turns out he really
is dead. Are we supposed to talk about that? It's in CAPTAIN AMERICA #602.
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