Captain America #1
This issue launched the dedicated 'Captain America' monthly series under Panini Deutschland in March 2001 — the first time German readers could follow Steve Rogers in his own standalone title in the post-Heroes Return era, rather than as a guest in broader Marvel anthology packages. By bundling several issues from Mark Waid's celebrated late-1990s post-Heroes Return run into a single thick German-language edition, it introduced German audiences to the creative reshaping of Cap's mythology after the controversial Heroes Reborn interlude. The Waid issues reprinted here — particularly the editorially troubled Captain America (1998) #14, where EIC Bob Harras ordered a last-minute rewrite over the writer's objections — carry a documented production controversy that gives the source material unusual behind-the-scenes significance. The series ran for eleven issues through 2002, making this opener the gateway edition for an entire generation of German-speaking Cap readers during a pivotal transitional chapter for the character.
"Schmutzige Geschäfte" marks a pivotal moment in Captain America’s saga, reimagining the hero’s struggle against the Red Skull in a story co-written by Mark Waid and Reinhard Schweizer. With Andy Kubert’s dynamic art and Jesse Delperdang’s sharp inks, the issue plunges into a brutal confrontation where Captain America is stripped of his power and forced to face the Skull’s twisted vision—only to discover that survival may demand a choice no hero should have to make.
In "Wendepunkt," the Red Skull, once a servant in a twisted hotel of damned souls crafted by the Cosmic Cube, breaks free from the Würfel’s control after a fatal clash with Captain America. Now returned to the real world, he must navigate a reality where his old schemes no longer hold the same power—though his ambition has never been stronger.
In "Böses Omen," Captain America receives his shattered shield back from Iron Man, a grim reminder of a battle lost. With the Red Skull now fused with the Cosmic Cube and wielding godlike power, the Observer reveals a chilling vision of a future where the Skull's rule is absolute.
In "Absolutismus," the Red Skull declares the triumph of the stronger in America, launching his global conquest. When told the only way to stop him is to kill, Captain America is stripped of his powers and reduced to his frail pre-Super Soldier form—forced to confront the man who once made him a hero.
In "Eine Geschichte von Mut und versagen: Doppelt betrogen," Captain America follows the Observer’s command to kill the Red Skull—only to discover too late that the Observer was actually Korvac in disguise, using the ruse to seize the Skull’s power. The betrayal cuts deep as loyalties shatter and the line between hero and villain blurs.
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Panini Deutschland had been reprinting Marvel content in German since the late 1990s, and by 2001 had launched a dedicated Captain America monthly to follow up their earlier 'Wiedergeburt der Helden' (Heroes Reborn) and 'Die Wiedergeburt der Helden' reprint runs. The confirmed US source issues — Captain America (vol. 3, 1998) #13, #14, and #17, all written by Mark Waid — were originally edited by Matt Idelson under editor-in-chief Bob Harras at Marvel. Issue #14 in particular carries a documented editorial controversy: Waid confirmed the script was substantially rewritten by staff editor Ralph Macchio at Harras's request in the days before it went to press, and Waid successfully had his name removed from the interior credits, though his name remained on the already-printed cover.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published March 2001 (März 2001) as issue #1 of the Panini Deutschland 'Captain America' series, which ran for 11 issues through 2002.
- Confirmed reprints include Captain America (Marvel, 1998 series) #13 ('Plausible Deniability'), #14 ('The Red Skull in: Turnabout'), and #17 ('Extreme Prejudice') — all from Mark Waid's post-Heroes Return run on the title.
- The bundled US source material spans the tail end of the 'American Nightmare' arc and material from the subsequent 'Red Glare' arc, written by Mark Waid with art by Andy Kubert (among others).
- Captain America (1998) #14, reprinted here, is editorially notable: writer Mark Waid had his name removed from the interior credits after the script was heavily rewritten at the last minute by staff editor Ralph Macchio on the orders of EIC Bob Harras.
- The breadth of characters indexed — including Red Skull (Johann Schmidt), Kang, Uatu the Watcher, Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Mr. Hyde (Calvin Zabo), Wasp (Janet van Dyne), Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), Thor, Iron Man (Tony Stark), and Adolf Hitler — indicates the issue is a thick anthology package combining multiple US issues, consistent with Panini Deutschland's standard format of collecting several American issues into a single larger German edition.
- The series was a successor to Panini Deutschland's earlier Captain America reprint runs, including the 1999–2000 'Die Wiedergeburt der Helden' series that reprinted the Heroes Reborn-era Captain America (1996) #1–13 with German translation by Reinhard Schweizer.
- The reprinted Waid-era stories were later collected in English in Captain America: American Nightmare (Marvel, 2011), the Mark Waid/Ron Garney/Andy Kubert Omnibus (2017), and Captain America: Heroes Return — The Complete Collection (2022), confirming the source run's enduring editorial standing.
- The character 'Der Beobachter' listed in the index is the German-language name for Uatu the Watcher, reflecting Panini Deutschland's practice of translating or localizing character names for the German market.
Cast · 25 characters
Full credits
Reprints
↩ Reprints Captain America #13 (1999), Captain America #14 (1999), Captain America #15 (1999), Captain America #16 (1999), Captain America #17 (1999), Daredevil #9 (1999)
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