Ever since Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, had first walloped Hitler with a haymaker in 1940, he’s been one of the most iconic and politically conscious superheroes of all time. With his star-spangled costume and mighty shield, Captain America embodies the ideals our Founding Fathers envisioned: life, liberty, and justice for all. Despite his appearance, though, Captain America is more than just a tool for propaganda; across his over 80 years of publication history, he’s tackled the ever-changing socio-political climate of the United States. Many of Cap’s best stories involve confronting what it means to be an American and what to do when your country doesn’t live up to the values it preaches.
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From political thrillers to epic science fiction adventures, Captain America has had no shortage of incredible adventures over the decades. As one of Marvel Comics’ primary means of addressing contemporary issues, Cap’s stories often speak to the soul of America. These are the storylines that helped cement Captain America as one of the greatest superheroes in history.
10) “Madbomb”
When Jack Kirby returned to Marvel Comics after a brief time with DC, the legendary writer and artist created one of the most heart-pounding Captain America storylines. “Madbomb” centers on Captain America and his longtime friend Falcon working together to thwart an evil royalist plot to destroy America. The villains plan to turn the country’s populace against itself using the eponymous Madbomb to induce widespread madness, turning everyone into mindless and bloodthirsty lunatics. Even Captain America and Falcon must fight off the harrowing effects of the Madbomb. The story is an action-packed thrill ride and one of the best team-ups between Captain America and Falcon.
9) “The Death of the Red Skull”
Captain America and Red Skull have the oldest and most bitter rivalry in Marvel Comics history. “The Death of the Red Skull” sees the aging Nazi war criminal plotting one final scheme to destroy Captain America so that he can steal the hero’s youth and extend his lifespan. The Red Skull partners with villains Baron Zemo and the Sisters of Sin to kidnap Captain America’s friends. The story also introduces Red Skull’s daughter, Sin, who quickly becomes a major adversary of America’s hero. It’s a gripping tale full of suspense and drama, as the archenemies push each other to the limits, both physically and psychologically. Although Red Skull’s death isn’t permanent, this story still does an excellent job examining the history of Marvel’s most intense feud.
8) “Castaway in Dimension Z”
An unusual Captain America storyline, “Castaway in Dimension Z,” is a sci-fi epic that follows America’s hero as he’s stranded in a strange post-apocalyptic alternate dimension for several years. This mutant-infested wasteland dimension was created by and ruled over by Captain America’s longtime, mad scientist villain, Armin Zola. Aside from the new setting, what really sets this story apart is that Captain America takes on a father-figure role to one of Zola’s young clones named Ian. It is a new and compelling challenge for Captain America as he raises Ian and starts seeing the child as his own son. The story is filled to the brim with fast-paced action, charming father-son dynamics, and heartbreaking twists that take the Captain America character in a bold new direction.
7) “Operation Rebirth”
In perhaps one of the most shocking team-ups of all time, Captain America joins forces with his bitter enemy, the Red Skull, in “Operation Rebirth.” After America’s hero almost died, Red Skull saves him and offers a partnership to thwart the return of one of history’s most evil individuals: Adolf Hitler. The soul of the Third Reich’s leader was trapped inside a Cosmic Cube, and Neo-Nazis want to break him out. Refusing to allow anyone other than himself rule the world, Red Skull forms an uneasy alliance with Captain America to prevent Hitler’s return. The storyline explores themes of patriotism and nationalism, and it sees the return of Captain America’s longtime ally, Sharon Carter, who had been dead for several decades.
6) “Secret Empire”
Not to be confused with the terrible 2017 storyline of the same name, the original 1974 “Secret Empire” offers a coherent, compelling plot and a scathing, thought-provoking commentary on American politics. The story follows Captain America after he’s been framed for murder. While trying to clear his name, America’s hero uncovers an evil conspiracy at the highest levels of the United States government. This shocking political thriller is a blatant critique of Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal, which exposed the president’s corrupt dealings. Even when Cap emerges victorious, the corruption and cruelty he discovers ingrained in the country that he’s spent his life fighting for shakes him to his very core.
5) Truth: Red, White, and Black
Truth: Red, White, and Black is a crucial Captain America story that examines both Steve Rogers’s legacy and racism in the United States. After Steve was presumed dead during WWII, the U.S. government attempts to recreate the super soldier serum and uses 300 Black men as test subjects. Isaiah Bradley is the only one to survive the experiments and the subsequent suicide mission into Germany. Even though Isaiah takes on the Captain America mantle and battles the Nazis, the U.S. government betrays him and sweeps his contributions under the rug. Truth is a bleak but important story about the historical exploitation, underrepresentation, and oppression of Black people in America. Additionally, Isaiah is a new and compelling character who earned the title of Captain America.
4) “Captain America No More”
There have been many stories of Captain America giving up his title, but “Captain America No More” is the most impactful and thought-provoking. When Captain America is forced to become a government agent, the corruption that he’s witnessed in American politics, and his resultant disillusionment led him to abandon his mantle. In his absence, the government employs John Walker to become the new Captain America. Unfortunately, Walker is a much more violent individual whose desperation to live up to his predecessor’s legacy drives him insane. Meanwhile, the original Cap becomes the vigilante called “The Captain” and fights numerous foes including the Serpent Society, Flag-Smasher, and a reptilious Ronald Reagan. This series encapsulates the idea that Captain America stands for the American people and isn’t a puppet of the government.
3) “He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube”
After Captain America was unfrozen in the 60s, one of his oldest enemies returns more powerful than ever. “He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube” offers two significant aspects to Captain America’s lore: the Cosmic Cube and the reemergence of the Red Skull, who hadn’t been seen since the hero’s World War II era. Developed by the terrorist organization A.I.M., the Cosmic Cube gives its user the ability to warp reality with a thought. After gaining control over the Cube, Red Skull seeks to take over the world and destroy Captain America once and for all. It’s an epic story full of shocking moments and announces the return of one of Marvel’s most wicked villains.
2) Man Out of Time
When Captain America was frozen in ice and reemerged in the modern age several decades later, the original comic in 1964 did very little to examine the psychological impact such an event would have on Cap’s mind. Man out of Time rectifies this missed opportunity by exploring how a recently unfrozen Captain America adjusts to a strange new time while also grieving everyone that he’s lost. Additionally, with WWII over, America’s hero struggles to find a new purpose after years spent fighting on the front lines. Man out of Time is an incredibly compelling and emotional character study that also offers one of the most human depictions of Captain America ever written.
1) “The Winter Soldier”
Considered by many to be the quintessential Captain America story, “The Winter Soldier” forever alters the lore of America’s hero. After decades of being thought dead, Captain America’s best friend and sidekick, Bucky Barnes, is revealed to be very much alive but brainwashed into the cold assassin for the Soviet Union known as the Winter Soldier. Bucky’s death had been an essential aspect of Captain America’s story for over 40 years, and the former sidekick’s reintroduction was a game-changer. “The Winter Soldier” combines emotional character arcs with brilliant spy thriller elements that influenced many future storylines. The story has heartfelt explorations of friendship, loss, and redemption that helped mold Bucky into one of the most compelling anti-heroes of modern Marvel Comics.
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