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Captain America Annual #4
Captain America Annual #4
Marvel threw the keys for Captain America to Jack Kirby in 1977 and one of the things they got out of the deal was this odd and delightful annual. Like all of Kirby’s late offerings for Marvel, this book seemed to occur in its own reality — a Kirby-Verse, if you will. I mean, it has Captain America and Magneto in it, and you will recognize them from other books, but they are singular characters here, divorced from the way they appear in the rest of Marvel’s offerings, and even a bit different than I remember them under Jack’s hand when they originally appeared. Is this dissonance due to co-creator Stan Lee’s absence? Or maybe Jack just … changed a bit as a creator in the decades he was in the business? Both seem reasonable to me.
For the record, I dig Kirby-Verse Marvel, and this Annual has long held a place in my heart. It’s bizarre. Magneto draws unwanted attention from Captain America when he places a “Mutant Seeking Mutant” personal ad in the newspaper. (No, really!). Magneto is aided and abetted by yet another incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and it really seems like he’s hit the bottom of the barrel with this crew. Everyone ends up fighting over a mutant so tiny that he can fit in a ring on your finger — Magneto wants him so he can explore the inside of a little spaceship he found somewhere. You can’t make this stuff up … but Jack Kirby could! Man, could he ever!
- Script & Art: Jack Kirby
- Inks: John Verpoorten & John Tartaglione
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Supervillain Tournament Of Evil — WINNER ANNOUNCED!
The Longbox Graveyard Supervillain Tournament of Evil is complete, and the winner is …
DOOM!
Galactus got off to an early lead in the voting, but Doom built momentum throughout the week, and ending up winning handily, 60-40.
With his victories over Red Skull, Darkseid, Joker, and finally Galactus, Doctor Doom truly proved himself the greatest supervillain of all. All four of Doom’s foes were world-class … there was no easy matchups for Doom. Despite strong competition, Doom’s average margin of victory was 47 points!
Doom is in a class by himself.
(Now, if only the movies could get him right!)
Here’s the final bracket for our tournament:
Thanks to everyone who voted and commented in the tournament (and the comments section is open, below, to Praise Doom). If the fates are kind we will be back here next spring to run another tournament. Or maybe the Fall! I have an idea for a Halloween-month tournament that I might indulge …
… but for now, ALL HAIL DOOM!
Supervillain Tournament Of Evil — CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND!
Looks like we should have just jumped to the championship round for this tournament, sports fans … our Final Four was as devoid of drama as the preceding rounds!
The Cinderella run of #16 seed Thanos came to a screeching stop in the Final Four, as he proved no match for Galactus. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom showed the Joker that supervillainy is no laughing matter!
- Galactus d. Thanos, 64-36
- Doctor Doom d. Joker, 77-23
You know what that means, folks … that’s right, it’s an All-Jack-Kirby Final in the Longbox Graveyard Supervillain Tournament of EVIL!
Here’s the championship round bracket for the SUPERVILLAIN TOURNAMENT OF EVIL!
Let’s meet our challengers!
In the cosmic corner, wearing purple togs with a TV-Antenna helmet, hailing from Planet Taa by way of the Cosmic Egg, weighing in at 36,000 pounds, we have the Devourer of Worlds, the awesome, the mighty, the epicurean … GALACTUS!
And in the despotic corner, wearing a green cloak and an iron mask, the dread sovereign of Latveria, weighing in 415 armored pounds, sorcerer, scientist, and stealer of the Power Cosmic … DOCTOR DOOM!
The referee for tonight’s match is Mister Fantastic!
(pause while Galactus visibly blanches, and Doom throws up inside his mask)
The battle is joined! The outcome is in your hands!
Vote now!
ONLY THE MOST INFAMOUS WILL SURVIVE!
#3 DOCTOR DOOM vs. #5 GALACTUS
No Ultimate Nullifiers Allowed!
For the final time, vote early, and vote often — and tell your friends!
(And stand up for the villain of your choice in the comments section, below!)
dangvozden
Paul O'Connor
Kris (not Chris)
markginocchio
miloapama
Dean Compton
Moya
ryanmcswain
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