Captain America (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection) #[nn]

In a world on the brink, the U.S. Army races to find a weapon against the Axis Powers—only to stumble upon a secret serum capable of forging a super-soldier. Steve Rogers, a frail but determined man, becomes the first and only test subject, transforming into Captain America before the project is lost to the flames.

In "Case No. 2," Captain America and Bucky track a mysterious pattern linking sabotage in U.S. defense industries to a cryptic figure who seemed to foresee it all. With the clock ticking and the trail leading to a man who may know more than he lets on, the duo must untangle a puzzle that blurs the line between warning and conspiracy.

In "The Riddle of the Red Skull," Cap and Bucky confront a chilling adversary whose mere gaze induces terror—and a deadly illusion that leaves victims seemingly dead, though no one can explain how. Written by a noted hand and illustrated with sharp, expressive art, this 14-page tale blends Cold War intrigue with psychological suspense, testing the duo’s resolve in a mystery where truth is as elusive as the villain’s identity.

In this standout tale from the Penguin Classics Marvel Collection, Captain America finds himself unexpectedly back at Avengers Mansion, where he’s reflecting on Bucky’s uncertain future when a group of costumed thugs storm the place, hoping to steal Stark’s secrets for profit. Thinking they’ve found an easy target, they’re quickly proven wrong as Cap takes them down with precision and grit—no flashy powers, just pure skill. After the fight, he remarks with quiet pride that they were lucky his partners weren’t around… “They’re really tough!”

In the shadow of war, a frail young man named Steve Rogers volunteers for a secret experiment that transforms him into the pinnacle of human potential. Written by a legendary hand and illustrated with striking clarity, this definitive origin story follows Rogers as he emerges as Captain America—a symbol of hope, forged in science and sacrifice. When his past collides with a hidden enemy, Steve’s journey as a hero begins, and a new partner steps into the light.

In "Among Us, Wreckers Dwell!", Captain America and Bucky are drawn into a devious trap set by Sando, a Nazi agent disguised as part of a harmless stage act with his unwitting partner, Omar. The duo must navigate eerie mental projections designed to sow chaos and undermine the Allied war effort—where the line between illusion and reality begins to blur.

In "The Red Skull Strikes!" from the Captain America (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection), Cap and Bucky close in on the Red Skull—only to find a shocking twist: the man they’re chasing is an imposter posing as billionaire Maxon, while the real Red Skull is pulling strings from the shadows. The hunt takes a dangerous turn as identities blur and loyalty is tested in a game of deception.

In "Them!", Captain America finds himself pulled into a shadowy mystery when Nick Fury arrives with urgent intel on a secretive group known as "THEM." As a strange flying craft descends on Avengers Mansion and a chemical android attacks, Cap glimpses a chilling scene: a hidden lab where androids grow like crops in a hydroponic garden, their development tied to DNA experimentation. With Fury urging him to stay out of it, Cap is left with a Priority A-1 badge and a growing sense that this threat runs deeper than he first thought.

In "The Red Skull Lives!" from Captain America (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection), Steve Rogers races to save a downed pilot only to uncover a deadly conspiracy tied to A.I.M. and the elusive Cosmic Cube. With the Red Skull’s voice echoing from a remote camera, Cap pursues the fugitive through the skies in an experimental SHIELD missile, leading to a desperate showdown on a forgotten island. As the battle unfolds, the truth about Bucky’s fate is twisted into a weapon—leaving Cap to face an enemy who may now be beyond reach.

In "He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube," Captain America races to save a downed pilot—only to uncover a shocking betrayal when the man reveals himself as an A.I.M. agent. With the stolen Cosmic Cube in play and the Red Skull watching from afar, Cap must face a deadly test of wills on a remote island, where the power to shape reality itself becomes both weapon and burden.

In "The Red Skull Supreme!" from the Captain America (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection), Steve Rogers faces an impossible foe when the Red Skull wields the Cosmic Cube, bending reality to his will. With cunning and grit, Cap plays along as a servant, luring the Skull into a golden armor before turning the tide in a desperate struggle beneath the waves.

In "No Longer Alone!", Steve Rogers faces a new kind of challenge when a rampaging Hulk terrorizes New York City, forcing him to confront his own limits—and Rick Jones’s recklessness. When Rick claims Bucky Barnes’ old uniform and steps into the role of partner, Cap must learn to trust not just in his ally, but in the idea of legacy. Together, they uncover a HYDRA plot to poison the city’s water, testing their bond in a fight that demands more than strength.

In "Tomorrow You Live, Tonight I Die!", Cap faces a deadly ambush by HYDRA assassins loyal to Madame Hydra, setting off a chain of betrayal and confusion. When Rick Jones stumbles upon a cryptic message meant for Cap, his mind unravels under strange visions, forcing him to flee as Hydra closes in. As the hunt intensifies, Cap’s true identity becomes a mystery even to himself—his final leap into the river leaves behind only a mask that bears Steve Rogers’ face, raising unsettling questions about who he really is.

In "The Strange Death of Captain America," the world mourns Steve Rogers after a shocking news report declares him dead—only to learn his identity was a deception all along. With Madame Hydra now in control of HYDRA and the Avengers, Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, and SHIELD agents holding a somber wake, a sudden ambush leaves them gasped and vulnerable. Just as Rick follows the trail to the cemetery, Cap reappears on a motorcycle, alive and ready to fight—his return a mystery as old as the secret he’s kept.

In a frozen Arctic mystery, Captain America awakens from decades in suspended animation after Namor’s assault on an eskimo village. The Avengers rally to bring him back to New York, only to face a new threat: an alien who petrifies them and demands their help retrieving his shattered spaceship. As Cap and Rick Jones track down the alien, they uncover a deeper conflict—Namor and his people are drawn into the fray, forcing the team to defend their new ally while navigating ancient grudges and cosmic stakes.