Making a Splash: "Madbomb"--Jack Kirby's Return to Captain America and Marvel

Today, of course, is the late, great Jack "King" Kirby's birthday. I thought a cool way to celebrate would be to share the sizzling splashes that spearheaded Jack's 1975 return to Marvel Comics and Captain America: the mighty "Madbomb" saga from Captain America #'s 193-200 (October 1975-May 1976). Captain America's mag reached ish #200, the good ol' U.S. of A. turned 200, and The King's wild and wacky sci-fi/action thriller made Young Groove's head spin around (Linda Blair style, no less!) at least 200 times! Remember these...?

Our Pal Sal: "Sound of the Silencer" by Evanier, S. Buscema, and Simons

What it is, Groove-ophiles! As hard as it is to believe, Captain America's pal, the Falcon, was around for about a decade before he ever got a solo story (outside a rare Cap-less ish of the Star Spangled Avenger's own title). To rectify that sorry sitch, Mark Evanier wrote a cool story for Marvel Premiere #49 (May 1979) that allowed Sam Wilson to strut his stuff and called it "Sound of the Silencer" (methinks Mark might be a Simon and Garfunkel fan). The story was drawn by, of course!, Our Pal Sal Buscema with inks/finishes by a young and oh-so-talented Dave Simons (R.I.P.) on one of his earliest pro jobs. Teen Groove thought Sal and Dave meshed quite well, with Sal's action-packed pencil-power coming through loud and clear. Still think that's the truth! It ain't a classic by any stretch, but it is a fun diversion--complete with a hoot of a Frank Miller/Klaus Janson cover. Check it out, baby!

Making a Splash: "Our Pal" Sal Buscema's Captain America--Round Three

Here it is, Groove-ophiles! Continuing what is probably the most famous and celebrated era of the Groovy Age Captain America (for the first two rounds, click here and here), represented by the stupendous splash pages supplied by Sal Buscema! We start off with the amazing Secret Empire saga (which guest-starred a then mag-less X-Men!), truck on through to the "Falcon Fights Alone" arc (complete with "Who Wants to Be Captain America?"), break it down with the intro of Nomad, and wind it up with Sal's fill-in work (during the time he was replaced, believe it or not, by Frank Robbins).

Ol' Groove really digs the "secret identity" author Steve Englehart dreamed up for Hawkeye. Golden Archer is a hilarious play on both DC's Green Arrow and McDonald's trademark Golden Arches. Genius!

Soon after, Jack Kirby would return to his co-creation--but that's not all for Our Pal Sal! No way, baby! Sal will return for yet another classic Cap run before the Groovy Age draws to a close. Stay tuned!