Unhinged! Wild Captain America comic book covers

The first issue of Captain America famously shows the superhero giving Adolf Hitler a much-deserved sock on the chin.


Art by Jack Kirby

It's a classic, iconic image. But, when the comic first hit the stands back in December 1940, the cover caused a stir. After all, Pearl Harbor was still a year away and the United States was keeping very intentionally to the sidelines as the Nazis rolled through Europe. Cap's creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby even got some threatening mail from isolationists and Nazi sympathizers who said the cover was over the top.

Ha!

If anything, Kirby and his fellow artists upped the ante with all the covers that followed. The earliest issues of the series feature some of the wildest, most manic imagery ever to grace a comic book cover. Each cover was crowded from corner to corner with hyper-exaggerated action and the most devilish Nazis imaginable. On nearly every cover, there's a woman in bondage or peril or both. Oftentimes, Cap's young sidekick, Bucky, is in trouble too.

This is pure propaganda, and Simon and Kirby--both proud Jewish Americans--made no bones about it. Unfortunate stereotypes, particularly of Japanese people, on the covers became more and more extreme as the war progressed. But this was a much different, more fearful time.

I'm taking a less serious take on the covers here, which are presented for their sheer over-the-topness. Enjoy--if that's the right word for it.


Art by Jack Kirby


Art by Jack Kirby


Art by Jack Kirby


Art by Jack Kirby

Art by Al Avison


Art by Al Avison


Art by Syd Shores


Art by Alex Schomburg

1950s Atlas-era Captain America comic book covers

Some images from the short-lived Captain America series in the mid-50s, a time when superhero comics had fallen out of favor and before their great resurgence in the 1960s.



New comics July 27, 2011

Things I'll buy:

DETECTIVE COMICS #880

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #666

MIGHTY THOR #4

Things I may try:

DC RETROACTIVE GREEN LANTERN THE 70S #1

DC RETROACTIVE JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA THE 70S #1

DC RETROACTIVE SUPERMAN THE 70S #1


Other items of possible interest:

DC Direct Ame-Comi Heroine Series: Batgirl (V.1) Black Suit Variant PVC Figure
DC Direct Ame-Comi Heroine Series: Batgirl (V.1) Black Suit Variant PVC Figure

DC Direct Heroes of the DC Universe: Hawk Bust
DC Direct Heroes of the DC Universe: Hawk Bust

 Rip Kirby Volume 4 HC
Rip Kirby Volume 4 HC

Avengers, Vol. 2
Avengers, Vol. 2

Essential Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Volume 5
Essential Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Volume 5

Vintage Swinger -- Spider-Man T-Shirt, Large
Vintage Swinger -- Spider-Man T-Shirt, Large

Captain America toy/action figure roundup

Some current Cap items:

 Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure Super Combat Captain America Final Mission
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure Super Combat Captain America Final Mission

Marvel Universe 3 3/4" Series 2 Action Figure Captain America (Ultimate)
Marvel Universe 3 3/4" Series 2 Action Figure Captain America (Ultimate)

Marvel Universe 3 3/4 Inch Series 7 Action Figure Captain America Original
Marvel Universe 3 3/4 Inch Series 7 Action Figure Captain America Original

Marvel Captain America Disc Launching Shield
Marvel Captain America Disc Launching Shield

Marvel Captain America With Glider Jetpack
Marvel Captain America With Glider Jetpack

Captain America Shield Costume,Diameter: 12.75"
Captain America Shield Costume,Diameter: 12.75"

Captain America Movie Adult Shield
Captain America Movie Adult Shield

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure Crossbones
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure Crossbones

Marvel Select Captain America Action Figure
Marvel Select Captain America Action Figure

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Heavy Artillery Captain America
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Heavy Artillery Captain America

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Red Skull
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Red Skull

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Battlefield Captain America WWII
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Battlefield Captain America WWII

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Battlefield Captain America WWII
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 1 Action Figure Battlefield Captain America WWII

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure Heroic Age Captain America Bucky
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure Heroic Age Captain America Bucky

Captain America Movie Flying Shield
Captain America Movie Flying Shield

Marvel Captain America With Parachute
Marvel Captain America With Parachute

Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure US Agent
Captain America Movie 4 Inch Series 2 Action Figure US Agent

Marvel Captain America Ultimate Vehicle
Marvel Captain America Ultimate Vehicle

Captain America Hero Mask Super Hero Squad
Captain America Hero Mask Super Hero Squad

Captain America Mask and T-Shirt Costume Set - Tween Tween (14-16)
Captain America Mask and T-Shirt Costume Set - Tween Tween (14-16)

Marvel Captain America Battle Vehicle1
Marvel Captain America Battle Vehicle1

Captain America Classic - Size: Child M(7-8)
Captain America Classic - Size: Child M(7-8)

Funko Classic Captain America Plushie
Funko Classic Captain America Plushie

1940s Captain America Shield Scaled Replica
1940s Captain America Shield Scaled Replica

Marvel Captain America Electronic Feature Play Action Figure
Marvel Captain America Electronic Feature Play Action Figure

Captain America Toddler Muscle Costume,Toddler: 3T-4T
Captain America Toddler Muscle Costume,Toddler: 3T-4T

Captain America Super Deformed Plush
Captain America Super Deformed Plush

Officially Licensed Marvel Captain America 1940's Shield Prop Replica Life Size Limited Edition
Officially Licensed Marvel Captain America 1940's Shield Prop Replica Life Size Limited Edition

Captain America Movie Exclusive 4 Inch Action Figure 3Pack The International Patriots Captain Britain, Captain America Red Guardian
Captain America Movie Exclusive 4 Inch Action Figure 3Pack The International Patriots Captain Britain, Captain America Red Guardian

Funko Captain America Movie Wacky Wobbler
Funko Captain America Movie Wacky Wobbler