Rating: 
Summary: You Should Get This Book Just For The Artwork
Review: Some of the best artists in the history of comics: Jack Kirby,Jim Steranko, Gene Colan,and others; are represented here with some of their finest work. Some of the issues reprinted sell for a higher price for that very reason. Stan Lee wrote all the stories(1968-1970)sticking with this title after he reliquished others he had created; his dramatic portayal demonstrates the genuine affection he had for the character. In this volume, he also creates the Falcon, who was the second black super-hero, the first African-American super-hero, and still one of the best super-heroes.
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough Kirby
Review: The first four stories are illustrated by Jack Kirby. John Buscema and John Romita Sr. who illustrate one story each. The other contributions by Steranko, Kane and others are decent, but not remarkable. The writing is spare and often insultingly weak, but the marketplace was aiming at 12 year olds in those days after all.Kirby's art is the real reason to buy this volume. His characters have incredible power and virtually jump off the page. If you're a Kirby fan check out "The Jack Kirby Collector" in tabloid size at your local comic store (there are like 35 issues so far).
Rating: 
Summary: What world are you from!!!!
Review: These stories were originally printed in colour. Marvel again rips us off with black and white comics!!!! I must warn everyone who reads this review that Marvel's "Essential" comics are in black and white and very overpriced. I loved Cap' back in the '60s and feel it is downright dishonest to bring these comics back except in their original glorious colour....
Rating: 
Summary: Essential Cap stories
Review: This book covers one of the most interesting periods in Cap`s career. He`s on his own from the Avengers, as far as his own series, and the focus is all Cap! This book really gives you the essential early history of one of Marvel`s eternal heroes. The fact that it even flashes back to Cap`s origin and covers a smattering of WW II stories is key. You get to see both era`s of Cap, and it really shows how little he`s changed. I`ve always been a fan of Cap`s early days and love Tales of Suspense and anything to do with vintage Cap. Seeing Bucky is a bonus too! And of course, this book contains essential Red Skull stories too! (His War years and how he survived to the modern era, as well as his wildest world conquering schemes ever! ) This book has it all. These issues are a must read for any Cap fan. I also recommend The Classic Years Vol.1. Both give you the history of Cap in it`s original format. My only complaint is that some of the pages were copied from finished artwork, rather than the original uncoloured plates. This creates a inconsistency in the flow of certain stories, but at least every panel and page is there. So I can`t complain too loudly. It`s still a treasure!
Rating:
Summary: ESSENTAIL CAPTAIN AMERICA
Review: THIS IS KIRBY AND LEE AT THIER BEST.THE EARLY DAYS OF MARVEL WHEN EVERYTHING THEY CREATED WAS FANTASTIC.FROM THE SLEEPERS TO THE SUPER ADAPTOID WHICH ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD STORIES.AND THERES ALSO LOTS OF THE RED SKULL.THE DEFINITIVE CAPTAIN AMERICA VILLIAN.
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Summary: All the Cap you'll ever need
Review: While I have to say up front that some people won't enjoy these war-time anti-communist oriented stories,these are what Captain America is all about. This is a generous collection of some very hard to gather tales that speaks to the uneasy feeling in war-time America. Cap's later mag just can't hold a candle to these cliffhangers and you don't even have to wait to see what happens,just turn the page! A totally different flavor of character than (for instance) Spiderman(don't get me wrong he'll always be my fave) Cap is epitome of a HERO, from a generation of strife that truly produced such people, a leader and an inspiration. While most will feel more affinity for the afforementioned web-slinger(as I do), Cap is un-deniably the most noble marvel character(except perhaps the Invisible Girl for putting up with Reed's ocassional sexist attitudes). The stories in this issue make the Red Skull a top Marvel villain (whereas he is somewhat of a sideshow elsewhere),the Panther is treated like the regal character he was meant to be, the Agent 13 run is proudly presented and the Golden Age stories are quite good (unlike some 40's Timely tales).A great read in the Mighty Marvel Tradition. If you can get your kicks without too much super-powered action, this one's for you!
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