Somehow reading the all Marvel superhero comics during the past few Marathon segments I've come to call this period of Kirby his 'mature Marvel' phase. I mean, everything we have come to expect from 60s Kirby stories is there, the marvelous ideas and concepts, Kirby Machinery, dynamic action scenes, small (sometimes large) slices of humor... This story adds one element, i.e. Marvel continuity. It works in many directions. First, we have the introduction of the Red Skull to the modern Marvel age, and even an explanation (however flimsy) how he survived until the present day. Well, the present day as we understand it here in the Marvel Masterworks Marathon. But still, a nod to the Golden Age. Second, we have the connection to the then-current ST #146 (actually ToS #79 takes place before it, i.e. I read them in the wrong order, THE HORROR!!!). Count Royale of THEM and A.I.M. (I guess?) is seen here before his appearance on the SHIELD helicarrier. Third, and the importance of this will be revealed only later, we get our first glimpse of the Cosmic Cube! It is interesting that one of Kirby's most cosmic concepts was introduced in Captain America, not the most cosmic comic out there.

It is kinda funny that the ultimate level-headed guy of the MU, Captain America, fears he is losing his mind. And immediately goes to see a shrink! I am glad the shrink didn't turn out to be a villain, it would have been too obvious. It is good to see Red Skull again, he was always one creepy SOB. A perfect addition to Cap's rogues' gallery. And of course his role in this THEM/A.I.M. mystery is also very interesting. Those A.I.M. guys don't seem to trust him...




The art is by Kirby and Giacoia, so it is of course very good. Here's the mysterious Cube. I mean, just the art tells you this is something special.



At the end we have the usual three-panel progression by Kirby, where Cap reveals how he jammed the hypnotic waves. But I am a bit confused about all this. Cap takes the helmet and says that he will deliver it to SHIELD so they can learn how to counteract those pesky hypnotic waves. But then the final three panels reveal that the SHIELD scientists had already made such a device for Cap! Why do they need this helmet, then?!? Very dramatic eyes in the last panel.




Also, I am amused by the casual way everybody smokes. But how come the shrink is not smoking a cigar?!?

 





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Comicsdad