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Marvel Masterworks: Captain America #2
Marvel Masterworks: Captain America, Vol. 2
Reprinting Captain America from Tales of Suspense Nos. 82-99 & Captain America No. 100
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
21 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,565 books2,336 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 6, 2015
Probably the biggest improvement from one volume to the next is Captain AmericaThe X-Men, which came later. We also have one of Roy Thomas's earliest fill-ins--nothing great, but nothing terrible, either, except that Jack Sparling's art doesn't work. Both Cap and his impostor are drawn with cartoonishly large chests, and if I hadn't liked so much of his horror work at DC, I would put him only a few notches above Fletcher Hanks, who drew the worst-drawn Marvel story I've ever seen, Whirlwind Carter of the Interplanetary Police Force, back in 1940.
It gets a bit repetitive in places because Cap gets mistaken for a traitor in too many stories, including the Thomas one. The battle with A.I.M. gives the midsection of the book the feel of a companion piece with Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., vol. 1 , and only Jack Kirby could create a villain like MODOK, who resembles the guy on the cover of the first issue of DC's Black Magic in the early 1970s, which reprinted the Simon and Kirby stories (only) from the long-running Prize Comics series from 1950-1961.
The book also intertwines heavily with contents from Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers vol. 5 , as Cap tries to reconciles his superhero and personal life as he falls for S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 13 without even knowing her name (the introduction informs newbies that this is Sharon Carter).
Overall, while the first volume, with its deliberate attempt to echo the feel of the Golden Age comics, felt, to me anyway, like a slog, until it got to the then-contemporary stories at the end dealing with the Red Skull and the Cosmic Cube. I gave it my lowest rating of any Marvel Masterworks volume I've read except for Marvel Masterworks: Daring Mystery vol. 1 , in which the aforementioned Whirlwind Carter piece of crap appeared along with a very mixed bag of mostly one-off characters and tales of a murderous assistant district attorney portrayed as a hero, even compared to Ant-Man and The Human Torch, so my giving it four stars is quite high praise.
It gets a bit repetitive in places because Cap gets mistaken for a traitor in too many stories, including the Thomas one. The battle with A.I.M. gives the midsection of the book the feel of a companion piece with Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., vol. 1 , and only Jack Kirby could create a villain like MODOK, who resembles the guy on the cover of the first issue of DC's Black Magic in the early 1970s, which reprinted the Simon and Kirby stories (only) from the long-running Prize Comics series from 1950-1961.
The book also intertwines heavily with contents from Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers vol. 5 , as Cap tries to reconciles his superhero and personal life as he falls for S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 13 without even knowing her name (the introduction informs newbies that this is Sharon Carter).
Overall, while the first volume, with its deliberate attempt to echo the feel of the Golden Age comics, felt, to me anyway, like a slog, until it got to the then-contemporary stories at the end dealing with the Red Skull and the Cosmic Cube. I gave it my lowest rating of any Marvel Masterworks volume I've read except for Marvel Masterworks: Daring Mystery vol. 1 , in which the aforementioned Whirlwind Carter piece of crap appeared along with a very mixed bag of mostly one-off characters and tales of a murderous assistant district attorney portrayed as a hero, even compared to Ant-Man and The Human Torch, so my giving it four stars is quite high praise.
October 10, 2025
(Read these as individual issues on Marvel Unlimited)
This second compilation completes the run of Captain America in the late 60s before Tales of Suspense transformed into a larger Captain America comic (with issue 100). The majority of stories are 10-11 pages, but there are increasing numbers of multi-part tales here, which allow greater time for plot and for less crowded pages.
As with vol 1 the nostalgia value is high here, and perhaps colours my enjoyment favourably. There are a number of guest artists and even writers during this run, but in my mind the Lee/Kirby/Sinnott stories just capture the flavour of Captain America in the late 60s the best.
In this volume there are a few duff tales (the Red Skull bubble one and robot Bucky was daft; the Planner wasn't to my taste), some fun ones (the Adaptoid pre Avengers), and some great ones (the Kirby AIM ones with Modok I loved; the last sequence with Zemo, and the Black Panther were great). The love interest story feels cringe by modern standards but was very much in keeping with the unrequited love of 60s heroes like Iron Man & Pepper, all of Spiderman pre-MJ, and Thor with Jane. Despite her lamenting for Cap I do like her capable Agent of SHIELD persona, how she chooses her duty above Cap, and pulling in Nick Fury into the stories.
All over, a great compilation with only a few misfires. 4 stars.
This second compilation completes the run of Captain America in the late 60s before Tales of Suspense transformed into a larger Captain America comic (with issue 100). The majority of stories are 10-11 pages, but there are increasing numbers of multi-part tales here, which allow greater time for plot and for less crowded pages.
As with vol 1 the nostalgia value is high here, and perhaps colours my enjoyment favourably. There are a number of guest artists and even writers during this run, but in my mind the Lee/Kirby/Sinnott stories just capture the flavour of Captain America in the late 60s the best.
In this volume there are a few duff tales (the Red Skull bubble one and robot Bucky was daft; the Planner wasn't to my taste), some fun ones (the Adaptoid pre Avengers), and some great ones (the Kirby AIM ones with Modok I loved; the last sequence with Zemo, and the Black Panther were great). The love interest story feels cringe by modern standards but was very much in keeping with the unrequited love of 60s heroes like Iron Man & Pepper, all of Spiderman pre-MJ, and Thor with Jane. Despite her lamenting for Cap I do like her capable Agent of SHIELD persona, how she chooses her duty above Cap, and pulling in Nick Fury into the stories.
All over, a great compilation with only a few misfires. 4 stars.
September 5, 2020
Lee-Kirby Cap is surprisingly crude. Like they were just having a vague amount of fun with brainless "spy" stories that hearkened back to the 40s style.
The final arc is pretty good though. Cap teams up with the Black Panther to battle a resurgent Zemo and his rather well-designed solar space ray.
The final arc is pretty good though. Cap teams up with the Black Panther to battle a resurgent Zemo and his rather well-designed solar space ray.
December 31, 2021
Good old-fashioned punching. It is fortuitous I had read Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 3 right before this.
May 18, 2023
Great classic stuff. It seems like every other book in this collection had something to do with an imposter of some sort. Adaptoid stole Cap's powers, Nick Fury and Steve Rogers body doubles, SHEILD and Hydra double agents, Captain America Impersonators, robotic Buckys, Cap under Hypnosis, Agent 13 as a double agent... sheesh! Lots of espionage
December 17, 2017
Painful. While there is some neat stuff here, the plots are very redundant and simplistic, the dialogue is painful, and only Jack Kirby seems to be able to imbue him with energy.
September 14, 2019
Great reading!
Couldn't resist picking up this Masterworks on Kindle. Stories reflect a simpler time, but hold up well. Good stuff, Maynard!
Couldn't resist picking up this Masterworks on Kindle. Stories reflect a simpler time, but hold up well. Good stuff, Maynard!
August 17, 2020
Kirby art is always fun, but the stories feel a little like they are just treading water.
For more on this run, tune in to Comic Book Coffee Break:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QucL7...
For more on this run, tune in to Comic Book Coffee Break:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QucL7...
August 24, 2016
Enquanto Stan Lee se diverte a recriar velhos inimigos e a criar novos adversários, Jack Kirby desenvolve o seu estilismo próprio, misto de elegância atlética nas cenas de combate com delírios de tecnologia intricada. É nestas histórias clássicas que se forjou aquele que é a personagem mais icónica da Marvel. Um pormenor curioso, que não é repetido noutros argumentistas ou editoras: a forma como Stan Lee quebra a barreira com o leitor, usando cartuchos para lhe dirigir directamente comentários sobre a acção das vinhetas. Assume que as histórias são ficções para divertir, interrompendo com comentários que funcionam como uma camada de diálogo directo entre o argumentista e os leitores. Apesar do simplismo das histórias, dos espartilhos do género, vale a pena mergulhar nestes clássicos. É Lee e Kirby. 'nuff said!
January 7, 2014
i was so disappointed by this book. never had enough of the issues to read them in order (and didn't like half the comic being devoted to iron man) finally got to read them and they are overwritten. the only story i really enjoyed was the one by roy thomas.
even kirby's art was too much. when the bad guy was going to shoot cap, he just needed a simple revolver, not something that looks like it could take out galactus.
and "the girl", got to protect the girl!, got to save the girl! i'm completely in love w/the girl! the girl is agent 13, one of shield's top agents, and doesn't need saving thank you. but she does need a husband. arrrgh!
even kirby's art was too much. when the bad guy was going to shoot cap, he just needed a simple revolver, not something that looks like it could take out galactus.
and "the girl", got to protect the girl!, got to save the girl! i'm completely in love w/the girl! the girl is agent 13, one of shield's top agents, and doesn't need saving thank you. but she does need a husband. arrrgh!
April 27, 2015
Volume two of Captain America's Marvel Masterworks series tells the stories originally presented in 'Tales Of Suspense' 82 to 99 and 'Captain America' 100! There's some nice confrontations with The Red Skull, plus the first appearance of Modok in this final collection of stories from 'Tales Of Suspense' and the introduction of the brand new ongoing series, which feature much longer stories that enable Cap to spread out a little more.
April 23, 2018
I really enjoyed reading these stories and the early adventures of a character that is so well-known! I loved seeing all the different sides of Cap and how he struggles to let go of the past and move toward the future! It helps to see a conflicting hero and see how they are just like us! I would definitely recommend to everyone that wants to expand their knowledge on the legendary hero, Captain America!
May 7, 2015
Tales of Suspense #82 - 99 and Captain America #100, October 1966 through April 1968.
Cap battles an array of unbelievable super-villains, teams up with the mysterious Black Panther, and finally gets his own mag. As usual it is frustrating not to have the adventures of Iron Man that accompany these tales in the original issues.
Cap battles an array of unbelievable super-villains, teams up with the mysterious Black Panther, and finally gets his own mag. As usual it is frustrating not to have the adventures of Iron Man that accompany these tales in the original issues.
July 14, 2014
Interestingly enough, the best villain here (if we're just counting these stories) is MODOK. He's almost always at the top of everyone's list for "Most unlikely to be adapted for the big screen." However, if they made him creepy, in the shadows and more like he is in these comics instead of more of a laughingstock like he is later, it could be done.
February 13, 2016
Excellent collection of the first silver age Captain America stories. These stories of the relaunch of Captain America into the modern era are must reads for fans of early Marvel Comics. Very recommended
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews