
To find out what I love about Captain America you need to look no further than this run from 'Tales Of Suspense' # 63 - # 71. Before you panic and think 'Matman...I can't afford to get those... fear not! You can pick up 'Marvel Masterworks' volume 14 pretty cheap! Or 'Essential Captain America' # 1.
These issues take a look at Captain America and Bucky in the days of World War Two. Written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack (The King) Kirby, these short stories feature not only Captain America's origin, but how Bucky got involved and about 100 pages of Nazi's getting punched out and blown up!
But the one diamond in this pile of gems is issue # 66, 'The Origin Of The Red Skull'! In ten short pages, you get a story that feels so thick and meaty you'd swear it was twice the size. This is the 'Killing Joke' of the Captain America world.
When i first discovered Captain America it was as a member of the Invaders, so for me it's so natural to see him working it in the 1940's! And who better than the King to draw the best adventures of the character he co-created. Of his three runs on Cap this is by far my favorite. And Stan Lee did a great job getting the most of the small page count.