Every day we celebrate Captain America's 75th anniversary by looking deep into the Marvel Unlimited archives and going through some of Steve Rogers' most thrilling adventures.
Happy diamond anniversary Sentinel of Liberty!
For about 10 years, Captain America languished in limbo. His disappearance from the world of super heroics came about because he fell into the ocean while trying to disarm a flying bomb, but in reality, CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS ended with 1954’s #78 and he didn't show up again until 1964’s AVENGERS #4.
Cap and the Avengers owe the discovery to a battle with Namor in the previous issues. Mad that mortals bested him, Namor tosses around a hunk of ice worshiped by Eskimos that happens to hold the frozen body of Captain America.
The Avengers stop to pick up the floating, thawing form only for Wasp to realize that their latest arrival is none other than Captain America, hero of World War II! Moments later Steve Rogers wakes crying out, “Bucky look out!” before going a bit ballistic. After proving his mettle, Cap recounts the events that led to his underwater stasis, including Bucky blowing up off panel and his own plummet into the icy depths.
Upon their return to New York City, the Avengers become statues due to mysterious forces, but Cap misses it all thanks to his delayed departure from the craft. He then checks out the new world he missed so much of, but soon flashes back to Bucky once again when Rick Jones enters his life. Though Cap thinks the two look nearly identical, he realizes his folly and teams up with the young man to figure out what happened to the frozen Avengers.
After a prolonged search for the culprit, Cap discovers that the enemy originally came from outer space. Our hero convinces the visitor to free his soon-to-be-teammates in exchange for assistance in returning home. A new attack by Namor almost derails the plan, but the Avengers prove powerful enough to stand up to him. Seeing all this confirms to Captain America that he belongs with this team, a relationship that has lasted more than 50 years.
Cap Declassified
Though Namor and Captain America don’t seem to remember each other in this particular issue, the two previously served together in a series called ALL-WINNERS COMICS, among other titles. Retroactively renamed the Invaders, Cap and Namor teamed up together along with fellow Timely stalwarts Human Torch, Toro, and Bucky to battle the Axis powers during World War II. Even to this day, modern versions of this team are known to get together to battle the forces of evil, many of which have ties going back to the Great War.
Our next installment covers Civil War, one of the most important events in Marvel history!
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