DeFalco/Frenz Retrospective: Captain America vol. 3 #24


 

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz

Synopsis: Captain America races to stop a terrorist act by Crossbones and the Absorbing Man.

Comments: This was a fill in issue between Mark Waid's and Dan Jurgens' runs. It's a fairly unapologetic pastiche of a Lee/Kirby Captain America comic that's even dedicated to them. They do use Crossbones as a tribute to the late Mark Gruenwald who co-created him. 

The story is mostly a remake of Captain America #105 where Cap battled Batroc's Brigade to stop a bomb form going off. 

It starts off with some good old "hoo-hah" action that DeFalco and Frenz like. I like it too. 




Apparently, Captain America is like Batman the way he disappears while Dugan is talking to him. 




Captain America jumping around on rooftops while someone muses about what a loser Spider-Man is reminds me of Amazing Spider-Man #50 where Spider-Man jumps around on rooftops and muses how everyone likes Captain America. 



This a good fight between Captain America and the Absorbing Man that makes good use of the Absorbing Man's powers and Cap's fighting prowess. 





Captain America eventually convinces the Absorbing Man that Crossbones is planting a bomb and the Absorbing Man, who was unaware that Crossbones wanted to commit mass murder, is able to absorb the blast. DeFalco and Frenz had a soft sport for the Absorbing Man. 





Crossbones speech here is much more formal then it was during the Gruenwald run.





Onto my favorite part: the swipes!

From Captain America #105











From Captain America #103. 




Tales of Suspense #65. 



Tales of Suspense #81






Tales of Suspense #85. 








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