Captain America #155
Published and © by Marvel, November 1972
Title: “The Incredible Origin of the Other Captain America!”
Synopsis: Now insane, the Captain America and Bucky of the 1950s plot to capture the real Cap and girlfriend Sharon Carter.
Writer: Steve Englehart
Pencilers: Sal Buscema and John Romita
Inkers: Frank McLaughlin and Romita
Review: This is a surprisingly well-done comic. Writer Steve Englehart does a great job weaving a handful of Captain America appearances from the 1950s into Marvel continuity. And, in doing so, he creates a great character who is equal parts pathetic and creepy. Speaking of creepy, the relationship between the ’50s Cap and Bucky kicks up the sidekick creep factor to a whole other level. Artist Sal Buscema delivers his usual solid job, while this issue also weaves in a few John Romita pages from 1953’s Young Men #24. All in all, this one is an early Bronze era gem.
Grade: A-
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Steve Englehart turns the 1950’s Captain America (real name: William Burnside) into a great character who captures perfectly the politics of both the ’50s and the early 1970s.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Do you think you could take up cigars, to put me in the mood?” – Steve (Captain America) Rogers, asking girlfriend Sharon Carter to act a little more like Nick Fury (on second thought, that might even be creepier than the ’50s Cap/Bucky duo)
Editor’s note: This review was written Nov. 9, 2022.
