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Captain America (1998) (Collected Editions) #3
Captain America: Red Glare
Captain America at his weakest! With his shield shattered and his powers drained, Cap finds himself trapped in the future and facing the Red Skull - who has the might of the Cosmic Cube at his fingertips...literally! And waiting in the wings is the man who killed the Avengers: Korvac! Guest-starring Iron Man and the Avengers, and introducing Cap's latest lady love, Connie Ferrari! Includes the unedited first chapter to this stunning saga that's never seen print - until now! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #14-19 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA SPOTLIGHT.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2011
96 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,204 books1,291 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 31, 2015
In this one, Captain America is like a rash that you just can’t get rid of no matter how hard you try. It keeps coming back again and again no matter what you do. Powder? Ointment? Epson salt-bath? Re-setting the timeline? Sucking out the Super-Soldier serum? It’s persistent. And itchy.
Mixed metaphors aside, this in one of the more interesting Marvel Premium Editions. It’s Mark Waid* firmly in the center of his Captain America run. Sure it’s straight out of the 1990’s and has a lot of the overblown trappings of that era, but Waid and the Kubert’s do just enough to make this volume readable.
This issue (above) – the version that was published and the version that Marvel deemed offensive – bookend this collection. It seems the Red Skull, has been trapped in the Cosmic Cube and relives his own version of a racist hell over and over again. It’s interesting to see what Marvel considered “sensitive” back in the turn of the century. Could it have been published today?
Waid and Kubert really sell the Red Skull's twisted cube-ical existence. Here’s a peek:
The rest of the volume is formulaic with a few twists and turns . Future Korvac, Half-man, Half-machine** and All-ass, tries to deal with a pesky Captain America over and over in an endless time loop. In the bleak distant future.
Go get ‘em, Cap! Free will and individuality and stuff for the win!
Here’s Korvac in better times:
Hey, Lono! Where can a fella pick up a pair of those shorts?
*July seems like Mark Waid Month here at the Jeff residence.
** I believe the kids call them cyborgs. Geriatric Jeff
Mixed metaphors aside, this in one of the more interesting Marvel Premium Editions. It’s Mark Waid* firmly in the center of his Captain America run. Sure it’s straight out of the 1990’s and has a lot of the overblown trappings of that era, but Waid and the Kubert’s do just enough to make this volume readable.
This issue (above) – the version that was published and the version that Marvel deemed offensive – bookend this collection. It seems the Red Skull, has been trapped in the Cosmic Cube and relives his own version of a racist hell over and over again. It’s interesting to see what Marvel considered “sensitive” back in the turn of the century. Could it have been published today?
Waid and Kubert really sell the Red Skull's twisted cube-ical existence. Here’s a peek:
The rest of the volume is formulaic with a few twists and turns . Future Korvac, Half-man, Half-machine** and All-ass, tries to deal with a pesky Captain America over and over in an endless time loop. In the bleak distant future.
Go get ‘em, Cap! Free will and individuality and stuff for the win!
Here’s Korvac in better times:
Hey, Lono! Where can a fella pick up a pair of those shorts?
*July seems like Mark Waid Month here at the Jeff residence.
** I believe the kids call them cyborgs. Geriatric Jeff
January 9, 2019
I... didn't really like this. This may be the only Cap comic from Waid that I didn't love. It felt kind of aimless, to be honest. The plot was a bit all over the place and the 90s era art didn't really help it along. The writing for the Red Skull issue was strong, which is something to say for this, I guess.
November 11, 2012
Captain America always was my most favorite superhero, and no other Captain America villain could hold a candle to the Cap's number one archrival The Red Skull, so one would think naturally I would be super excited about this book. I was, The Red Skull is finally back and he's more powerful than ever. Almost too powerful...Red has unlimited god-like power. He can change anything with his thoughts, with the only downside that it requires his complete focus or the changes will break. I suppose that is enough of a weakness that gives Captain America an opportunity of taking him down without killing him. Captain America will only resort to killing if there is no other answer, and in this book Captain America has this blind optimism that there is always a way.
I suppose to some that makes Captain America slightly ignorant. If there is a way to stop the onslaught of the destruction of the world, wouldn't the life of one evil person be worth it? Then again, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Evil can never be fully obliterated, and so the death of one evil madman almost always means the opportunity for a new madman to step into his shoes. Keeping this in mind what ensues can be seen a mile away.
For me, Issue #18 is the most disappointing of this book even though it is highly creative and gives us much insight into Korvac's character. Part of it is Captain America's soliloquies being longwinded to say the least, and part of it being too much action in one issue. I can't even count, but there may have been 10 or so timejumps in that issue alone. It's too much, so it comes off as Action, Action, Action, with little to no breather room, which is not enough for me as a reader. A story has to balance fighting, tension, and ease, so constant fighting doesn't do it for me, hence the 3 stars.
I do look forward to the next book, however. I am interested to know how Korvac came back in the first place, and what did Tony Stark find out about the Cap's old trusty shield?
I suppose to some that makes Captain America slightly ignorant. If there is a way to stop the onslaught of the destruction of the world, wouldn't the life of one evil person be worth it? Then again, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Evil can never be fully obliterated, and so the death of one evil madman almost always means the opportunity for a new madman to step into his shoes. Keeping this in mind what ensues can be seen a mile away.
For me, Issue #18 is the most disappointing of this book even though it is highly creative and gives us much insight into Korvac's character. Part of it is Captain America's soliloquies being longwinded to say the least, and part of it being too much action in one issue. I can't even count, but there may have been 10 or so timejumps in that issue alone. It's too much, so it comes off as Action, Action, Action, with little to no breather room, which is not enough for me as a reader. A story has to balance fighting, tension, and ease, so constant fighting doesn't do it for me, hence the 3 stars.
I do look forward to the next book, however. I am interested to know how Korvac came back in the first place, and what did Tony Stark find out about the Cap's old trusty shield?
November 9, 2025
It’s not very good but it is also a fascinating failure, because it really does feel like a bit of storytelling that is trying to lift mainstream comics from the eighties/ nineties style to something wholly new. By all rights this would have been a successful multi part epic, but instead feels like a rushed run around, yet there is just enough of what it could have been to make it worthwhile plodding through and it’s very clearly an important transitional story in terms of how it’s told. It’s not there yet but it’s getting closer
May 8, 2018
It's okay book of what if and time travel and if you like Mark Wade work you might enjoy it.
June 28, 2015
The first issue in the collection saves this book. It is a Red Skull story that is fascinating. The climax where cap finally beats the bad guy was a good study of Cap's character. Kuberts are was okay. A lot of the dialog was 1990's cheesiness. Sharon Carter just was not used right either. This may illustrate why Cap has had so many series, a lack of consistent storytelling.
February 14, 2015
This one was nothing to write home about.Largely set in the future and posed a lot of what ifs?Red Skull was very prominent in the book as was the Watcher.Decent action sequences but the artwork didnt really grab me.
January 13, 2014
5th book read in 2014.
Number 60 out of 349 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpT8b...
Number 60 out of 349 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpT8b...
May 5, 2019
Red Skull a jiná mocná postava se rubou o moc, a Cap musí zabránit, aby to pro svět skončilo průserem. Waid tu s Capem pracuje jako se symbolem a hlasem svobody, ale nějak mě za celý komiks nedokázal pořádně ničím zaujmout. Záporáci jsou až moc OP a neustále důvody proč zrovna našeho hrdinu nezabijou přestávají bavit po prvním sešitu.
Série se blíží ke konci a já stále marně čekám na toho "zásadního Captaina Americu", kterého fandové slibovali.
Série se blíží ke konci a já stále marně čekám na toho "zásadního Captaina Americu", kterého fandové slibovali.
February 24, 2018
More solid stories from Waid, as to be expected by this point.
March 25, 2019
Kind of crazy (70s Kirby crazy). Only for Cap (and Red Skull) fans.
January 7, 2026
The only remarkable thing about this graphic novel is the artwork by Andy Kubert. How many times are they going to resurrect the Red Skull?
January 14, 2015
In this book Mark Waid brings back the Red Skull. Admittedly, this is the second time in 3 1/2 years for a return of the Red Skull story (and the second story done by Waid) but still this story has got some unique features in the collected issues (Captain America Volume 3, Issues 14-19).
Issue 14 is a fascinating work in black and white (with the exception of RS' Skull) as the Red Skull finds himself in his own personal hell inside the Cosmic Cube until Kang the Conqueror lets the Red Skull out (or does he?) and then the Red Skull is out and merged with the Cosmic Cube he can remake the world in his own image.
Except for a few asides about Cap's broken shield. (Done very humorously in the middle of a battle between Cap and Mister Hyde) and a couple nods to finish up the continuity from the previous story arc, Red Glare is a bit of a mind-bender where beings of awesome evil acquire amazing power in a continuity heavy story. I can understand why some people wouldn't like it, but actually did.
The issue with the Nazi Red Skull forced to live in an ethnically diverse city where he's doing his old job as bellboy was pure brilliance and great from art and story background. This book also includes the original draft of Issue 14 which had a tad more violence, though it was against the Red Skull, so it was all good. The key plot twist at the end of Issue 17 was superb. Waid has a very good handle in this book on what Captain America represents a man and as a symbol and captures it well.
The only complaint I had is that there were a few parts where the art was a little weak. Lee Kubert's Watcher is a tad awkward looking and not like the traditional Watcher design at all. Plus, I generally prefer my comics a little less esoteric. Still, while this wasn't as good as Reborn, of the two, it probably represents a better chance to showcase the Red Skull as a character and the true Good v. Nature rivalry of Captain America and his most ancient foe.
Issue 14 is a fascinating work in black and white (with the exception of RS' Skull) as the Red Skull finds himself in his own personal hell inside the Cosmic Cube until Kang the Conqueror lets the Red Skull out (or does he?) and then the Red Skull is out and merged with the Cosmic Cube he can remake the world in his own image.
Except for a few asides about Cap's broken shield. (Done very humorously in the middle of a battle between Cap and Mister Hyde) and a couple nods to finish up the continuity from the previous story arc, Red Glare is a bit of a mind-bender where beings of awesome evil acquire amazing power in a continuity heavy story. I can understand why some people wouldn't like it, but actually did.
The issue with the Nazi Red Skull forced to live in an ethnically diverse city where he's doing his old job as bellboy was pure brilliance and great from art and story background. This book also includes the original draft of Issue 14 which had a tad more violence, though it was against the Red Skull, so it was all good. The key plot twist at the end of Issue 17 was superb. Waid has a very good handle in this book on what Captain America represents a man and as a symbol and captures it well.
The only complaint I had is that there were a few parts where the art was a little weak. Lee Kubert's Watcher is a tad awkward looking and not like the traditional Watcher design at all. Plus, I generally prefer my comics a little less esoteric. Still, while this wasn't as good as Reborn, of the two, it probably represents a better chance to showcase the Red Skull as a character and the true Good v. Nature rivalry of Captain America and his most ancient foe.
September 29, 2013
Good ol' Cap against the Red Skull. Never a fan of patriotism, but it can still make a good yarn.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews