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Golden Age Captain America Omnibus #1
Golden Age Captain America Omnibus, Vol. 1
Steve Rogers might have been the prototypical 98-pound weakling, but that wasn't going to stop him from serving his country. Transformed by the Super-Soldier Serum into America's #1 fighting man, he became a symbol of patriotism, hope and perseverance on the eve of the nation's entrance into World War II. Now at long last, you can experience the original Golden Age adventures of the Sentinel of Liberty from his 1941 inaugural appearance in one deluxe, oversized and remastered package! You'll meet Bucky Barnes and the Red Skull for the first ti me, behold Simon & Kirby's trend-setting brand of storytelling - and even read Stan Lee's very first comic book tale! So salute, soldier...Captain America has arrived! COLLECTING: CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 1-12
821 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2014
About the author
Joe Simon
361 books27 followersJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon (born Hymie Simon) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.
With his partner, artist Jack Kirby, he co-created Captain America, one of comics' most enduring superheroes, and the team worked extensively on such features at DC Comics as the 1940s Sandman and Sandy the Golden Boy, and co-created the Newsboy Legion, the Boy Commandos, and Manhunter. Simon & Kirby creations for other comics publishers include Boys' Ranch, Fighting American and the Fly. In the late 1940s, the duo created the field of romance comics, and were among the earliest pioneers of horror comics. Simon, who went on to work in advertising and commercial art, also founded the satirical magazine Sick in 1960, remaining with it for a decade. He briefly returned to DC Comics in the 1970s.
Simon was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999.
With his partner, artist Jack Kirby, he co-created Captain America, one of comics' most enduring superheroes, and the team worked extensively on such features at DC Comics as the 1940s Sandman and Sandy the Golden Boy, and co-created the Newsboy Legion, the Boy Commandos, and Manhunter. Simon & Kirby creations for other comics publishers include Boys' Ranch, Fighting American and the Fly. In the late 1940s, the duo created the field of romance comics, and were among the earliest pioneers of horror comics. Simon, who went on to work in advertising and commercial art, also founded the satirical magazine Sick in 1960, remaining with it for a decade. He briefly returned to DC Comics in the 1970s.
Simon was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 15, 2015
Much like the Golden Age of Marvel Comics Omnibus, this is a historical artifact more than a fun book. It's a pristine, almost glowing, version of something that would've been bought, episodically, by schoolkids in the Great Depression for a dime a pop.
As much of a relief as it is to ascend the plateau from the prior Marvel volume and have the startling brilliance of Jack Kirby's artwork as a new vista (a little primitive, but still an incredible leap in the form), the writing is still terrible. By and large the plots barely make sense and seem like weird, unfocused, melodramatic jumbles. Much like Siegal and Schuster's Superman of a few years before, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Cap was going to need a lot of honing, much of it later with Stan Lee, to become the Cap we're familiar with now (or even 40 years ago).
And don't let's get started on Bucky.
The most interesting thing after seeing the early Kirby, then is also getting to see the fledgling Stan Lee. Now there is some GARBAGE that he writes in this volume, but when he takes over Cap, in the final 2 issues reprinted here, the writing DOES become more sophisticated. The plots do become a hair more complex and, I hate to say it, decipherable. But at that point Kirby is gone, so some of the motive punch of the whole thing.
While it is fashionable to choose sides, Kirby vs. Lee (I won't get into the legal struggles here.), it becomes glaringly apparent that if you take that artist and pair him with that writer, you'd have something really special on your hands.
As much of a relief as it is to ascend the plateau from the prior Marvel volume and have the startling brilliance of Jack Kirby's artwork as a new vista (a little primitive, but still an incredible leap in the form), the writing is still terrible. By and large the plots barely make sense and seem like weird, unfocused, melodramatic jumbles. Much like Siegal and Schuster's Superman of a few years before, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Cap was going to need a lot of honing, much of it later with Stan Lee, to become the Cap we're familiar with now (or even 40 years ago).
And don't let's get started on Bucky.
The most interesting thing after seeing the early Kirby, then is also getting to see the fledgling Stan Lee. Now there is some GARBAGE that he writes in this volume, but when he takes over Cap, in the final 2 issues reprinted here, the writing DOES become more sophisticated. The plots do become a hair more complex and, I hate to say it, decipherable. But at that point Kirby is gone, so some of the motive punch of the whole thing.
While it is fashionable to choose sides, Kirby vs. Lee (I won't get into the legal struggles here.), it becomes glaringly apparent that if you take that artist and pair him with that writer, you'd have something really special on your hands.
February 26, 2023
The actual Captain America stories were fun, albeit with the cheesy air of most other Golden Age books. If this omnibus had only contained them, I'm sure I would've given it four stars. The stories featuring lesser-remembered characters like Headline Hunter, Hurricane, and Father Time, however, were pretty stupid.
Kirby's early artwork is nothing like his classic stuff from the '60s, and Al Avison was a pretty terrible artist. I had to constantly remind myself that comics weren't really seen as an art form back then in order to get through some of the drawings. Also, the depictions of Black and Asian characters are beyond despicable. I don't care if that was the style of the times, it was awful.
All in all, this volume is worth a read for historical reasons, but don't expect anything classic.
Kirby's early artwork is nothing like his classic stuff from the '60s, and Al Avison was a pretty terrible artist. I had to constantly remind myself that comics weren't really seen as an art form back then in order to get through some of the drawings. Also, the depictions of Black and Asian characters are beyond despicable. I don't care if that was the style of the times, it was awful.
All in all, this volume is worth a read for historical reasons, but don't expect anything classic.
December 19, 2015
Not what I expected.. So childish
December 27, 2022
I loved cap growing up but hate what wokeness has done to comics, luckily we always have the old stuff to go back to. It's not the cap I grew up with but it's better than what's coming out today and I loved getting a look at my favorite characters beginnings. It's interesting to see that even back then there were people who were anti American and protested the famous first issue featuring cover art where cap is punching Hitler. This book contains the first 12 issues in there entirety as well as some essays and interviews. This was a great look into the history of the character.
August 28, 2021
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews