Jack Kirby concludes his 1970s Captain America run with the debut of Armin Zola and the return of the Red Skull in the new Captain America: The Swine Epic Collection.
The collection (featuring stories from 1976 to 1978) includes Captain America #201-221 and Captain America Annual #3-4.
Starting directly after Kirby’s “Mad Bomb” storyline, the collection begins with the Falcon missing in an other-dimensional asylum with the tale of “The Night People” and Agron the Unburied One. “The Swine” storyline follows with the aforementioned Zola, the Red Skull, and even Nazi X, the android powered by Hitler’s brain.
Both annuals (by Kirby and inkers Frank Giacoia, John Verpoorten, John Tartaglione, and Mike Royer) feature battles with the alien Black Star and Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants respectively.
Kirby’s memorable return-run wraps up in Captain America #214, and Roy Thomas takes over the writing duties on the title with the next issue (along with Don Glut, Steve Gerber, Scott Edelman, and David Anthony Kraft) with art by Sal Buscema, John Buscema, George Tuska, Steve Leialoha, Dave Cockrum, Pablo Marcos, Mike Esposito, Dan Green, Joe Sinnott, and Al Gordon.
The collection concludes with a retelling of Cap’s origin, the Ameridroid, a reprint story from Strange Tales #114 featuring Johnny Storm’s first meeting with Captain America, and the first appearance of Marvel Man (now known to Marvel fans as Quasar).
“The Swine” storyline was previously collected in 2006 in a trade paperback (also featuring The Falcon’s name on the marque) and included Captain America #206-214 and Captain America Annual #3-4. If you are looking for just the Kirby return stories, Marvel previously released the Captain America by Jack Kirby Omnibus in 2021 and more recently, Captain America Omnibus Vol. 4, in 2024. Both Omnibus editions are pretty much identical in terms of the content contained within, aside from a few extras and ancillary materials.
Captain America: The Swine Epic Collection consists of 448 pages for a suggested retail price of $49.99.
Check out the classic cover by Kirby and Giacoia below and stay tuned to Conskipper for all of your Captain America and vintage comic news.
