If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our years on the Internet, it’s that there’s no aspect of comics that can’t be broken down and quantified in a single definitive list, preferably in amounts of five or ten. And since there’s no more definitive authority than ComicsAlliance, we’re taking it upon ourselves to compile Top Five lists of everything you could ever want to know about comics.

I maintain that of all major superhero characters, Captain America has the highest number of good stories per capita; that there are so many solid Captain America runs that if you were to just pick an issue at random, you have a better than average chance of hitting a good story. And so, with a new Captain America movie preparing to score a billion dollars at the box office, here are a handful of tips on stories that you can look to if the movie has you seeking out more hot Cap action.

As ever, a reminder: this is a top five list! So even with me once again cheating and including ten entries, some people's favorite stories are not going to be mentioned. I swear by all that is holy that it is not an intentional slight toward your favorite story or creator. Additionally, I'll just go ahead and throw it out there that your "What??? No Cap-Wolf???" comment is anticipated and acknowledged, so feel free not to make it.

Show notes:

  • You can get a complete collection of Simon and Kirby Captain America stories here.
  • A new printing of an omnibus edition collecting two stories from this list, including the number one story, can be pre-ordered here.
  • You can find some of the most beloved Steve Englehart/Sal Buscema Cap stories here.
  • Kirby's solo return to Captain America is collected here.
  • Prime early '80s Cap, including the entire Stern/Byrne run can be found here.
  • Death of Red Skull here.
  • Lots of good Gruenwald Cap available in paperback now, but this is the one mentioned in the video.
  • The whole original Waid/Garney run is collected here.
  • The legendary Ed Brubaker/Steve Epting/et al run of Captain America starts here.

 

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