The Best Captain America Storylines In Comic Books

Issues: Captain America #1-6, 8-9, 11-14

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artists: Steve Epting, Mike Perkins & Michael Lark

When the concept for The Winter Soldier storyline was announced, it was actually quite controversial. Bucky Barnes had been dead for decades, and the consensus was he should stay that way.

The Winter Soldier, however, ended up among the most beloved Captain America stories ever told, and the basis for a great film that is a true testament to the quality of the comic. It tells the story of Bucky’s return, and his tragic history as the titular Soviet assassin.

Issues: Captain America #445-448

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Ron Garney

Captain America has been thought dead on numerous occasions, and Operation Rebirth is one of the many tales of how Cap came back. Not only does the story feature Cap’s classic foe, the Red Skull, it even brings Adolf Hitler back into the mix via the magic of the Cosmic Cube. The Cube’s powers result in Captain America facing The Red Skull and Hitler in a battle of willpower, and that’s when Cap is at his best.

Issues: Captain America #332-350

Writer: Mark Gruenwald

Artist: Kieron Dwyer

There are countless tales of Captain America giving up his title, and Captain America No More is one of the greatest. In this lengthy storyline, Cap is replaced by a new Captain America, John Walker, who is a more violent sort of super-patriot. While all of this is going on, Steve Rogers becomes a hero known only as “the Captain” and begins an underground campaign against crime that ultimately earns him back his shield.

Issues: Captain America #110-111, 113

Writers: Jim Steranko and Stan Lee

Artist: Jim Steranko

The Strange Death of Captain America is perhaps the most trippy adventure that the Star-Spangled Avenger has been on. Steranko’s art is always fairly psychedelic, and this particular tale takes Rick Jones on a “gas”-induced trip courtesy of HYDRA, and sends Captain America on a rescue mission to save his young charge.

Issues: Captain America #25-30

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Steve Epting & Mike Perkins

Even at his lowest moment, Captain America constantly remains the truest of heroes. This is definitely the case in Death of the Dream, which tells the story of Cap’s incarceration following the events of Civil War and his subsequent assassination. In the absence of Steve Rogers, several allies attempt to step up and fill the massive void left by his death.

Issues: Captain America #247-255

Writer: Roger Stern

Artist: John Byrne

Two super-creators, Stern and Byrne, only had a brief run on Captain America, but they sure made the most of it. In this story arc, Steve Rogers encounters allies and foes from his World War II past, including Baron Blood and Union Jack, and he takes down the former in one of his best fight sequences to date. The storyline also features one of the many times Cap has considered running for President.