Retro Review

It’s Saturday at Retro Review, the day when I pull and review a random issue from my back-issue collection, then decide whether to keep it or pass it on. I was surprised to find an issue of Captain America come out of the short box this evening, as it is not a title I’ve ever collected, but then I remembered picking up a stack of about 60 comics for $5 at a garage sale in San Francisco, and this was one of them. The cover, which proclaims “It had to happen! Cap battles Doc Ock!”, is by Mike Zeck, and shows Captain America fighting Doctor Octopus, who seems to have the upper hand - he has taken Cap’s shield, and has the hero on the back foot, struggling. It’s not a very heroic look for the good Captain, but the composition is dramatic, particularly the idea of him losing his shield. However, by the end of page 2, the problem with the cover becomes aparent.

(This review contains spoilers)

The early part of the story has Captain America being stalked by a mysterious figure, and the way it is written and drawn, we are clearly supposed to be trying to guess who it is until the big reveal on page 16. Unfortunately, since we already know from the cover that Doctor Octopus is in the issue, and the silhouette clearly has Doc Ock’s bowl haircut, it’s a spoiled surprise and it takes the drama out of the scenes. 

(Captain America vol. 1 #259, copyright Marvel comics, from the Marvel Database)

The story, plotted by then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and scripted by David Michelinie, has two threads: Doctor Octopus stalks Captain America waiting for the right moment to attack, and Captain America does a favor for man he knew in wartime that puts him into potential conflict with a gang of swastika-wearing bikers called the Huns.

The Doctor Octopus thread is simple, almost too much so. He wants Cap’s shield, he tries to take it, and they fight. The fight looks good, and they seem evenly matched, but the outcome is predictable. The other thread, which is the main plot, comes off like an after-school special, or daytime movie. There’s nothing wrong with the idea, but it’s also nothing new, and it’s more than a little schmaltzy. The gang are no threat, and the whole situation resolves itself too easily.

The art, by Mike Zeck and various inkers, is good. Mike Zeck could always be relied on to turn in a solid piece of work with a strong sense of action and movement. He does a great Captain America, and a dynamic, albeit unthreatening Doctor Octopus.

Captain America vol. 1 #259 is an okay comic book, but nothing special. With its daytime-movie main plot and easy win, it feels like a filler issue. The story gets a D because the resolution is too simple and the surprise is pointlessly built up, given that we already know the secret from the cover. The art gets a solid B, so the whole issue gets a C. It’s only really of interest to Captain America collectors, so I think I’ll be passing this one on to someone who needs it to complete their collection.

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