Comics Review: The Return Of Captain America

In preparation for "The Avengers," I read the original "Avengers #1," and just read the pivotal story, a few issues later, where long gone hero Captain America is found again. In popular media, the story of how he's found differs. Often, the Avengers find him, sometimes via the Hulk, as in the "Ultimate Avengers" animated film, and the "Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" TV series. In the "Captain America" film, it seems that SHIELD located him; supposedly in the "Incredible Hulk" novel, it's said that Hulk uncovers Cap after being chased around. This is yet to be confirmed in the cinematic marvel universe.

As for how the real story behind Cap's discovery was made, it's a bit different. It seems that the Avengers, with Hulk on  board, were battling Namor. At some point, Namor left the battle, and went swimming around and thinking. Accidentally, he ended up finding some "primitive" people worshiping a figure in ice. In a show of power, Namor tossed the ice figure aside, and the figure drifted into some warm water, and thawed out. The Avengers were flying over the thawed body, brought it on board, and soon discovered not only was it Cap, but he was also awakening. Cap, after a few seconds, somehow knew he was twenty years into the future.... you'd think he'd be a bit more shocked. Then, he recounted how, in a mission to stop a plane with drones, Bucky got on the plane first, but Cap couldn't hold on. As he fell, he saw the plane explode, figured Bucky was dead, and landed in icy water. Then, he woke up on the Avengers' plane.

The Avengers let Cap rest, while they went outside to deal with the press after their battle with Namor. Suddenly, they turned to stone. Cap came out, found them missing, saw some oddly posed Avengers statues, and went to rest some more. Rick Jones finds Cap, and convinces him to help find the missing heroes. Cap looks at some pictures from the press event, sees a shady guy with a gun, and he, Rick, and Rick's friends eventualy locate the guy, who's actually an alien. The alien has a gun ray, and looks so similar to the mythical medusa, it's hinted that he is what gave rise to that myth. The alien stated his ship is at the bottom of an ocean, and Namor promised to give it to him if he froze the Avengers. Cap promises to help if he un-stones them, so he does, and then Namor (after recruiting some fellow seamen) fights them. Eventually Cap joins in, saves the day, the alien ship leaves, and Cap is welcomed to the team.

Overall, a much more exciting story than "Avengers #1," and it's neat that they brought Cap into the team. Also, Jack Kirby drew the issue, and Stan Lee wrote it, and it seems from the get-go, they figured it'd be a classic; it says just about as much on the cover.