For years, there was a really big continuity error in the Captain America comics. When Cap returned in Avengers #4, it was stated that he went into the ice before the end of World War II. But the comics of the 1950s contradicted this, as there was an attempt to revive Cap and Bucky in that period and the title of the book became Captain America: Commie Smasher. The comics were a product of the Red Scare hysteria of the 1950s and were mercifully short-lived (Stan Lee even claims he doesn't remember writing them). But fans remembered them and numerous letters asked why Marvel hadn't addressed this oversight. In Captain America #153-156, Steve Englehart answered the question. He revealed that the Cap and Bucky of the 1950s were actually different people than Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes turned into heroes, but the Super Soldier Serum they used was unstable and drove them crazy. They were revived in the 70s by a government official who was upset with Nixon's China visit and felt the country needed "real" heroes. The 50s Cap and Bucky were racists and misogynists, with the Falcon calling 50s Cap a "penny-ante Hitler." It was a clear statement against the Red Scare antics that fueled the Commie Smasher issues and Steve said that the 50s Cap's ideas were out of step with reality.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
