Essential Captain America - Volume 7

It's action aplenty as the star-spangled Avenger takes on -- and is brainwashed by -- the hate group National Force! But what shocking secret does its leader the Grand Director hold, and who's really pulling the strings? The answers will cost Captain America dearly! Next, Cap breaks into an impenetrable safe house, clashes with the Punisher while investigating a mob hit, battles the grotesque Adonis, and teams with Nazi hunters to right a decades-old wrong! Then, all-star creators Roger Stern and John Byrne take the helm, putting Cap through his paces against Machinesmith, Dragon Man, Batroc, Mr. Hyde and Baron Blood! But as the Living Legend of World War II learns new details about his past, he mulls a daunting future: Will Captain America run for President? Guest-starring Daredevil, Union Jack, Nick Fury, the Avengers and the ever-Incredible Hulk!

COLLECTING: Captain America# 231-257 -- written by Roger McKenzie, Peter B. Gillis, Mike W. Barr, Steven Grant, Roger Stern, and Bill Mantlo; and illustrated by Sal Buscema, Don Perlin, Fred Kida, Frank Springer, Carmine Infantino, Jerry Bingham, John Byrne, Gene Colan, and Lee Elias.

"Most notable for including the complete Roger Stern/John Byrne run on the title (featuring the classic "Cap for President" story, as well as a great origin re-cap). Other creators include Roger McKenzie, Steven Grant, Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema, Gene Colan, Carmine Infantino, and many others. Features guest appearances by Daredevil, The Punisher, Union Jack, Nick Fury, the Hulk, and the Avengers, who take on baddies like Dragon Man, Batroc, Machinesmith, Mr. Hyde, and Baron Blood." -- KC Carlson

"There's some fun stuff in here ... it's mostly worth reading for the Roger Stern & John Byrne issues.  [Those] issues are good, clean old-school comics from the early 80s. They include stories of folks trying to get Cap to run for president, Cap reuniting with some WWII allies in London, a new romantic interest, and an unlikely villain team-up of Mr. Hyde and Batroc the Leaper. It's a good time in the classic Marvel style." -- Daniel Sherrier

"Aside from the excellent Stern/Byrne/Rubinstein issues, most of the Essential is classic Sal Buscema...he really does some great work here, and having Don Perllin inking him makes for a strong art team. Roger McKenzie gave Steve Rogers an actual job as a commercial artist and a real supporting cast beyond SHIELD in his apartment building (a lot of people thought that started during the Stern/Byrne/Rubinstein run, but they did introduce Bernie Rosenthal). The fill-ins vary in quality, but are generally entertaining. Recommended." -- Drew Geraci 

At seven years old, my mom bought me a copy of Roger Stern and John Byrne's collected run of Captain America: War and Remembrance. That spectacular 9 issue run forever ingrained Cap in my brain as my favorite hero.  With every heart breaking event that happens to him, the passing of his mother, watching his best friend die, fighting in World War II, losing 50 years of his life in suspended animation, etc, Cap never loses the ability to learn from his experience and move on.  Never becoming jaded or cynical, his resolve is resolute." -- Duvien Ho