Captain Americas very first appearance and a cornerstone of the Golden Age era of comics, Captain America Comics #1 was actually published by Marvels earliest predecessor, Timely Comics in 1941. Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (the latter would go on to resurrect the character alongside Stan Lee in 1964), Captain America Comics was a prime example of World War II-era American propaganda, thematically mirroring other superhero books and comic strips being published in the early 1940s. Despite its blatant politicking, this comic introduces many themes and ideas that would go on to play a pivotal role in Captain Americas mythology: Caps injection with an experimental serum that transformed him from a runty wannabe G.I. into a full-fledged superhero; his loyal friendship with his young sidekick Bucky Barnes; and his first of many battles with the Nazi villain, the Red Skull.
Mark is a professional writer living in Brooklyn and is the founder of the Chasing Amazing Blog, which documents his quest to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and the Superior Spider-Talk podcast. He also pens the "Gimmick or Good?" column at Comics Should Be Good blog.
