Sharon Carter History, 1965-1974

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Tales of Suspense #75 [ 5 6 7 8 9 ]
"30 Minutes to Live!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Pencillers: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers
Inker: John Tartaglione
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: December 9, 1965

5 - Steve sees a woman - later revealed to be Sharon/Agent 13 - and thinks she looks like a woman from her past; he notices that she's clutching a cylinder very tightly.

6 - As Steve wonders if Sharon really looks like someone else or if he's imagining it, he sees Sharon and a man bump into each other and switch cylinders. Steve shouts at the man to retrieve her package as the man runs away, and Sharon assures him that she's got her own cylinder. Steve is confused, both by the cynlinder and her resemblance to someone else.

7 - Steve asks Sharon if they've met before. She admits that it feels like they know each other, but she doesn't think they've met before. Steve thinks she senses their connection, too. As Sharon walks away, she thinks about what her sister told her about the boy she'd known in WWII, but how that boy would be much older now. She also thinks about how she almost asked the man if he was Steve Rogers.

8 - As Sharon turns the corner, Steve hears a gunshot and changes into his Captain America costume to rush to help. Sharon has been attacked by Batroc the Leaper, and they're each struggling to get the cylinder. Steve realizes Sharon was the one who fired the shot as he leaps in to fight Batroc, who now has possession of the cylinder.

9 - As the two men fight, Sharon reaches for her pistol to get the cylinder back; Batroc crushes the gun and apologizes before returning to the fight.

10 - The men realize that Sharon has managed to grab the cylinder while they were distracted. Batroc seems panicked by this - it turns out the cylinder contains enough Inferno 42 to blow up the entire city. With his life on the line as well, he and Steve team up. Batroc then realizes that the cylinder case has cracked and will soon begin to glow, meaning they only have 30 minutes after that. They realize there is a glow, meaning they've got 30 minutes left. Steve thinks it shouldn't be difficult to catch up to one lone girl, and Batroc tells him, "She is no ordinary female - she is an agent of SHIELD!" Meanwhile, Sharon doesn't notice the glow, but does notice that they've teamed up to come after her. She ducks into a SHIELD safe house.

Notes:
- Steve came out of the ice in Avengers #4, published on January 3, 1964.
- SHIELD first appeared in Strange Tales #135, published May 4, 1965. As far as I can tell, Sharon is the first female SHIELD agent we see in the comics.
- First appearance of Batroc the Leaper.
- First appearance of AIM, at the time going by THEM.
- Canonically, at this point, Steve and Peggy didn't know each other's names and Peggy had never seen Steve without the cowl.


Tales of Suspense #76 [ Cover 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 ]
The Gladiator, the Girl, and the Glory!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: January 11, 1966

Cover - Cover

1 - Steve and Batroc chase after Sharon as the wall closes behind her.

2 - Batroc breaks down the wall, and Steve realizes they've still got a chance to catch Sharon. Sharon, still not realizing that the cylinder is cracked, can't believe that Captain America has sided with Batroc against an agent of SHIELD and is determined to protect the cylinder from them.

3 - Sharon uses the SHIELD safe house's protective measures against Steve and Batroc. When Steve finally catches up with her, she accuses him of stealing the real Captain America's costume before she gets dizzy.

4 - Sharon passes out, overcome by the Inferno 42. Steve again wonders who she really is and why she looks so much like the woman he loved during the War. Sharon comes to long enough to say she realizes the truth. She tells Steve to leave her and that he only has minutes to find a way to keep the Inferno 42 from detonating. Batroc storms in.

5 - Steve and Batroc fight while Sharon lies on the ground nearby.

6 - Batroc steals the cylinder from the unconscious Sharon.

9 - Steve tells Batroc that he isn't threatening some helpless girl now.

10 - Batroc escapes, and Steve remembers Sharon. On the way, he thinks again how similar Sharon is to the woman from the War. He finds Sharon as she's being loaded into an ambulance, with no known cure for Inferno 42 poisoning. It's revealed that Sharon had switched the cylinders. He wonders if his destiny is to lose people.


Tales of Suspense #85 [ 1 2 5 6 9 10 ]
The Blitzkrieg of Batroc!
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: October 11, 1966

1 - Steve has received a message telling him that Sharon - whom he still knows only as a female agent of shield and a "brave, lovely creature" - is in mortal danger. He goes to save her.

2 - The HYDRA agents decide not to shoot Steve in the back. Batroc kidnapped Sharon for HYDRA with the understanding that no one was allowed to fight Steve but him, as Batroc wants revenge for last time. As they start to fight, Steve demands to know where the girl is. Batroc assures him that Sharon is safe and sound... though not for long.

5 - Steve reiterates that he's there to save a girl in danger. Meanwhile, two HYDRA agents check on a bound Sharon, who says she'll die before she helps HYDRA trap Captain America. They tell her that she's already helped him and that he's coming to rescue her but has been attacked by Batroc. They tell her that if Batroc doesn't kill Steve, they will, and that they're going to kill Sharon, too.

6 - Steve asks again where Sharon is.

9 - HYDRA tries to kill Steve while he's fighting Batroc. His honor offended, he teams up with Steve, and they decide to team up again to save Sharon before HYDRA can kill her.

10 - Batroc and Steve rescue Sharon. Batroc departs, promising Steve another fight and telling Sharon he never meant her any harm. She and Steve watch him leave, his arm around her as she thinks that she can never truly hate Batroc because he had brought her and Steve together again.


Tales of Suspense #86 [ 5 10 ]
"The Secret"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: November 10, 1966

5 - It's revealed that before Sharon was captured by Batroc, she was on a mission to meet with SHIELD Special Service Agent #60 to tell him he might have been discovered. Steve takes up the mission instead.

10 - As Steve wraps up the mission, he calls Fury to tell a "certain blue-eyed blonde that she's got a dinner date with a certain Avenger," but Nick tells him that Sharon is currently on another assignment.


Tales of Suspense #90 [ Letter ]
"... and Men Shall Call Him Traitor"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: March 2, 1967

Letter - Barbara Carey writes a letter asking for the name of the "certain blue-eyed blonde" that Steve was supposed to have a dinner date with in Tales of Suspense #86. Stan Lee claims to be surprised they haven't mentioned her name yet, but reveals that she's the younger sister of "another brave female whom Cap had once loved and lost, during World War II!"


Tales of Suspense #92 [ 2 3 4 10 ]
"Before My Eyes, Nick Fury Died!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: May 2, 1967

2 - Sharon is on a submarine with AIM, supposedly betraying Nick Fury.

3 - Sharon lies to them about defecting to AIM and helps them plan Nick Fury's assassination. She presents them with a tape to prove herself, but they atomize it and say they can do the same to her if she's lied to them. They start the assassination, watching over video.

4 - Steve thinks about how to find Sharon again, and how similar she looks to the girl he knew during the War.

10 - Steve is too late to save Fury from the assassination attempt via mecha droid, but it turns out it was a ruse. Fury was tipped off and let them attack a Life Model Decoy (LMD) of himself as a way for Sharon, whom he calls Cap's "girl friend," to prove her loyalty to AIM. When Steve asks how she fits into all this, Fury explains that Sharon is one of SHIELD's top agents and has joined AIM, but they still don't trust her. But by rushing in to supposedly help, Steve has put her at risk. Now Fury needs a volunteer to save her.


Tales of Suspense #93 [ 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ]
Into the Jaws of... AIM!
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: June 1, 1967

1 - Recap of last issue with Steve on his way to save Sharon. "In all the world, there is but one girl whom Captain America truly loves - one mysterious, valiant agent of SHIELD - whose very name is still unknown to him!"

4 - Steve is captured and taken to the AIM base. Sharon is still alive and upset that he came to rescue her, saying, "My life is of no importance! I was prepared to die! But you - you're more than one expendable agent - you're a living symbol!" She then goes to kiss him, explaining that her coveralls are anti-polar and will reverse the magnetic field Steve is trapped in. She tells him to drop to the floor as soon as she touches him. AIM realizes the truth too late and fires on them both as Steve thanks Sharon and says he'll take over from here.

5 - Sharon is impressed that he took out four of them in four seconds, and Steve says he would have moved faster if the gas weren't slowing him down.

6 - They go to rescue his shield from where AIM is experimenting on it. As he fights the AIM scientists, Sharon helps him by creating a diversion and fires at the electronic wall circuits just ahead.

7 - With AIM trying to put out the fire, Sharon leads Steve to safety, and they take cover from AIM's Shock Troops. While hiding, Steve tells her that he'll help her escape, but Sharon insists on staying until her mission is completed. Someone or something is called Modok, i.e., possibly the greatest menace the world has ever known. Her assignment is to figure out what Modok is, even if it costs her her life. She urges Steve to escape, but he refuses to leave her there alone. The two of them realize the Shock Troops are waiting to speak to Modok and try to get closer.

8 - Modok orders AIM to capture and destroy the invaders; Sharon and Steve overhear the command. Steve says they're both in this until the end, and Sharon aims at the computer Modok spoke through. She doesn't know if a ray blast can injure him, but she may not have another chance. Steve realizes someone is behind them and acts as decoy while she fires.

9 - Steve's plan to act as decoy is to get shot. Sharon turns the ray gun on the AIM agent too late to stop it. She cradles Steve's head; he's been hit by a paralyzer ray and manages to urge her to escape. Sharon refuses to leave him. And even though she's never seen him without his mask and he doesn't even known her name, she feels as if there's a mysterious bond linking them together forever. AIM captures her.

10 - Modok - through the screen - orders Sharon to step forward and tells her she can't resist. She is compelled to step onto a floor panel that begins to glow. She sinks into it with a scream.


Tales of Suspense #94 [ Cover 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 ]
If This Be... Modok!
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: June 29, 1967

Cover - Cover

1 - Recap page. Sharon is referred to as "the lovely agent of SHIELD."

2 - The AIM agents reveal that Sharon is being interrogated by Modok and decide to send Steve through to fight Modok. They'll use the distraction for their own ends. Steve plays along so he can save Sharon.

3 - Steve sinks through the floor just as Sharon did.

4 - Modok introduces himself to Steve as a guinea pig created by AIM who became AIM's superior. Sharon warns Steve that Modok's weapon is his brain. He's even more dangerous than SHIELD suspected and that there's almost no limit to the power of Modok's brain. Modok says he senses that he can't control either of them because they're both too dedicated and willing to die for what they believe, and thus Modok has no further use for them. Steve tries to take the first hit.

5 - Sharon watches as Modok beats Steve.

7 - As Steve keeps trying to fight, Sharon tackles him to keep him from being shot by AIM agents as they attack Modok.

8 - With Modok supposedly defeated, the AIM agents attack Steve, who orders Sharon to stay back as he fights them.

9 - While Steve is distracted and about to be struck by another AIM agent, Sharon steps in to save him with a judo chop. The two of them next try to keep AIM from escaping.

10 - Sharon and Steve get all the AIM agents on an escape sub as Modok - still alive - manages to explode the main sub with his brain. Sharon tells the AIM not to move and that she knows how to use her gun as well as any man. One of the agents responds, "If you're one of Fury's agents - we believe you!" Sharon and Steve talk, with her saying that he's saved her life but she's never told him her name and she's never seen him beneath the mask. It's when she says they don't even know if Modok is alive or dead that they hear the explosion and realize Modok is still alive.


Tales of Suspense #95 [ 3 4 5 9 10 ]
"A Time to Die - a Time to Live"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: August 1, 1967

3 - Steve gets a phone call from Sharon - whom he now knows as Agent Thirteen. Fury had told him she'd called and wanted to see Steve. He tells her to drop her plans and powder her nose, and that he'll pick her up. It's the first time she's seen him without the mask, and as they're driving in his rented Spitfire Mach II, he asks if she's disappointed. She says she couldn't be disappointed in him and that he's exactly as she pictured, that he's exactly as she imagined in her dreams. Steve thinks that he was right to think he matters to her.

4 - She now knows he's Steve, though she hasn't revealed her name to him yet. As they sit at a dinner table, he wonders aloud how a fella proposes to someone he only knows as Agent Thirteen. She tells him that he can't ask, not now, and he says that he thought she felt as he did. She tells him that he's not wrong, she loves him, there could never be anyone else. The waiter comes to take their order, and Steve tells him they're suddenly not hungry as Sharon explains that she's made an oath to SHIELD and that they need her.

5 - Steve leaves moments later, with Sharon asking him not to take it that way and that her work will be done one day. Steve agrees they each have their duty and neither of them are free, and that he was a fool to even hope. She tells him to keep hoping, and he drives off, leaving her to walk.

8 - Sharon sees that Steve has retired and goes to tell Fury and Dum Dum that it's her fault. Fury tells her, "No love-sick, torch-carryin' female is gonna be any use to SHIELD." She asks if that means they don't need her anymore, but he says that she knows they need her. She says that there's nothing more to say. Sharon is shaken to see that Steve has given his shield to SHIELD, and Fury tells her she has to learn to take these things in stride. He promises to let her go as soon as they no longer need her. She wonders if he'll even still want her.

10 - Sharon is in a collage of Steve's past.

Note: On page 3, Sharon's voice is described as "soft, lilting, tender."


Avengers #46 [ 2 ]
"The Agony and the Anthill"
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: September 7, 1967

2 - Steve thinks about how he should tell Sharon - whom he only knows as Agent Thirteen - that he's in love with her. And should he tell her that while he's still Captain America?


Tales of Suspense #97 [ 7 8 Letter ]
"And So It Begins -"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: October 3, 1967

7 - Steve refuses to run from those who threaten him because Sharon - whom he still thinks of as "she" and knows as Agent 13 - may need him. He doesn't know her name, but she's all he's ever dreamed of and longed for. Meanwhile, Sharon's going undercover.

8 - Sharon has called his number twice and gotten no answer, and has given up on hearing from him. She believes that if she meant that much to him, he'd have reached out to her, and now she needs to focus on her mission. She disguises herself as Irma Kruhl and takes Irma's place, leaving Irma tied up in a closet. As she leaves on her mission, she thinks of Captain America as the only man she's ever loved.

Letter - Malcolm Stanislaus writes Marvel to encourage them to let Cap get his girl - at least let Cap find out her name! Doug Hartman also writes in, asking them to "make it hook together for Agent 26, because I think that Cap deserves to have a girl-friend, or even a wife." Stan Lee replies, "Y'know, the only thing about your liltin' letter that we found distressing is the fact that you referred to our nameless nymph as Agent 26. We thought she was Agent 13!"


Tales of Suspense #98 [ 6 9 10 ]
"The Claws of the Panther!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: November 2, 1967

6 - Steve teams up with the Black Panther in Wakanda for a mission in Wakanda and reflects on how the woman he can't forget is on a mission half a world away.

9 - Meanwhile, also in Wakanda, Baron Zemo's followers sneak up behind Sharon.

10 - She defeats two of the men with a judo thrust and the third with a repello-gas capsule fired from her courier case. When they recover, she demands they take her - as Irma Kruhl - to Baron Zemo. The narrative clarifies that she is, in fact, Cap's secret dream-chick, Agent 13.


Tales of Suspense #99 [ 6 9 11 Letter ]
"The Man Who Lived Twice"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: November 30, 1967

6 - Sharon tries to maintain her cover when the solar ray - the goal of her mission - is triggered. The men with her lead her to a shelter.

9 - Baron Zemo describes the destructive power of the solar ray and tells Cap and Black Panther that as soon as his agent, Irma Kruhl, arrives with the list of US nuclear base targets, he'll destroy the United States. He's told that Miss Kruhl has been sighted and will arrive within minutes.

11 - Sharon arrives and greets him as Baron Zemo, and he says he will be the emperor of all mankind. She thinks he's as mad as people said he is. Zemo has her prove her loyalty to him by killing Captain America and Black Panther. She doesn't want to blow her cover, but she also doesn't want to kill the man she loves. Neither his life nor hers are as vital as her mission. Heaven forgive her - she knows what she must do.

Letter - Stan Lee says, in reference to Tales of Suspense #95, "His role as Cap is a sacrifice on his part because it means that he can't live like ordinary men. So, with the growth of his love for Agent 13, the conflict between duty to self and duty to society became overwhelming."

Note: "Baron Zemo" is, in fact, Franz Gruber, Zemo's pilot and right-hand man.


Captain America #100 [ Cover 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 ]
This Monster Unmasked!
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On sale: January 2, 1968

Cover - Sharon on an iconic cover.

4 - Steve comes to and is told by the Black Panther that the girl has been ordered to shoot Steve to prove her loyalty. He's about to attack her when he realizes she's hesitating.

5 - Sharon ponders her predicament. Her mission is to destroy Zemo's death ray, and if she fails, all of mankind will become his hostage. She has to fulfill her mission, even if it means killing the man she loves. She hesitates long enough that "Zemo" tells her that if she doesn't kill Captain America, the woman who calls herself Irma Kruhl will die with him. Steve doesn't recognize her, and she continues to hesitate.

6 - The Black Panther tackles Captain America, and Sharon shoots inches above Steve's head before boasting that she can shoot them again and again. Steve wonders why she doesn't. She tells Zemo to save them for later, since it is the mission that matters, and he agrees. She sets about completing her mission while Zemo says they can kill their helpless captives after.

7 - Zemo shows Sharon how to operate the solar ray gun.

8 - Sharon produces a miniaturized flame thrower from her case and melts his controls. Zemo realizes she's with SHIELD and orders his men to shoot her, and she declares, "I'd face a thousand deaths to save the world from a madman like you!" And Steve announces she won't have to face them alone. He and the Black Panther come to her rescue.

10 - Sharon saves Steve from being shot in the back again. When Zemo's man tells her she'll pay dearly for this, she tells him, "Don't ever threaten an agent of SHIELD!" and judo chops him. Without her beret and glasses, Steve recognizes her as Agent Thirteen. Zemo calls for reinforcements.

11 - The three of them run for cover. Sharon says that even if they die, it was worth it to save the world from Zemo, and Steve says he hasn't found her at last only to lose her again. Black Panther realizes they're cut off by Zemo's reinforcements - too many of them to fight.

12 - Black Panther closes the tunnel doors and wants Sharon to get behind them. Steve tries to smash his way into an air vent as Sharon says she'll hold Zemo's men off with her gun.

13 - Steve makes Black Panther take Sharon into the vents and insists on staying behind, but the vent is large enough for all three of them. Zemo's men can only follow one at a time and don't dare - not while Cap is still shooting at them. Zemo commands his men to stop trying to hunt them because they're headed straight toward the Destruction.

15 - Steve tells Sharon not to shoot the Destruction because he wants to fight the Destruction hand-to-hand first. He proceeds to get his ass handed to him.

16 - Black Panther tries his luck again but doesn't have much luck, and Sharon shoots the Destruction with no effect.

17 - Steve jumps into the fight and tells Sharon not to use any more explosive shells; he manages to break the Destruction's mobility control. Zemo and his men arrive.

18 - Before they can attack, Steve reveals that Zemo is an imposter and actually Zemo's former pilot.

19 - Black Panther tells Zemo's men that there is no one around to lead them anymore - they realize there's no one around to pay them. The men decide not to fight anymore. As they throw down their guns and things wind down, Steve asks Sharon what will happen with the two of them.

20 - They decide to try and make things work, managing their duty with their love. Fury realizes the mission was a success, and Dum Dum says, "Figgers. Agent Thirteen wuz on the job!" Nick agrees that "that little gal ain't never let us down yet!" Back in Africa, T'Challa gives Sharon and Steve a lift home, and Steve invites the Black Panther to take his spot in the Avengers roster.


Captain America #101 [ 8 20 ]
"When Wakes the Sleeper"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: February 1, 1968

8 - Steve has Fury tell Sharon he can't make it to their date.

20 - Sharon confronts Fury about sending Steve after the Red Skull. Fury tells her that it looks like Steve has died. It does not go over well. (And Steve is not dead.)


Captain America #102 [ Cover 2 7 8 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ]
"The Sleeper Strikes"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: February 29, 1968

Cover – Sharon is in the background as Captain America is thrown by the Sleeper

2 – Steve, injured, wants to go after the Red Skull, but Fury argues that he should focus on the Sleeper. When Steve asks about Agent Thirteen, Fury says that he told Agent Thirteen that Captain America was dead, as it was the only way to keep her out of the way until the job was done. Steve thinks that means she’ll be safe. Steve gives Fury the miniaturized sonic key he’d managed to get.

7 – Sharon forces Fury to tell her the truth, unable to accept that Steve might be dead. She rejoins them, and Fury says that she’s got them both over a barrel. Fury suggests she go on the mission with him, claiming he’ll only have to listen to her moon after Steve otherwise, but Steve insists that the mission is too dangerous for a girl, particularly the girl he loves.

8 – Steve tries to convince Sharon that it’s too dangerous for her to come. She asks, “Has anyone ever told you how handsome you are when your eyes flash that way?” Fury says Steve has to face it – he hasn’t got a chance.

11 – Sharon and Steve go to the eruption site in a helicopter and are attacked by the Red Skull’s Hover Troops.

12 – Sharon and Steve jump out of the helicopter right before it explodes. They dodge fire and fight the troops on their way down, and their built-in parachutes open.

14 – Now on the ground, Steve tells Sharon that the Hover Troops called themselves the Exiles. She asks if they could have been part of the Skull’s former Nazi legion. Steve agrees and thinks there might be thousands more. Sharon carries his shield as he removes his wrist-blaster and they find a trail of carnage that think will lead them to the Sleeper.

15 – They talk about how the Sleeper is programmed to destroy. Steve intends to use the sonic key to help fight him, but he’s not sure how it works. Even as they talk, it glows more brightly. Steve thinks it’s reacting to brain waves and notices that it gets stronger when Sharon is close to him. She suspects it might signal the Sleeper somehow and draw him to them. Sure enough, the Sleeper turns back toward them.

16 – The Sleeper appears, and Steve gives Sharon the sonic key to keep it safe as he fights the Sleeper. It doesn’t go well.

17 – Sharon shoots at the Sleeper to distract him. It doesn’t do anything, and Steve tries fighting him again. It doesn’t go any better than before.

18 – Realizing that Steve is hurt, Sharon calls out to him. He tells her not to worry and to escape. While they talk, Sharon realizes that the Sleeper is slowing down and seems to be in pain. Steve theorizes that the sonic key is transforming Sharon’s emotions into pure energy. Her worry makes the Sleeper feel fear. Steve goes back into the fight.

19 – Sharon watches Steve losing the fight, badly. As she grows increasingly panicked, the Sleeper grows weaker.

20 – The Sleeper fades away, and Steve declares that her feelings for him did it. The sonic key has disintegrated. Steve says he’s alive because of her unselfish love. As they embrace, they don’t realize that the Red Skull is watching – and has identified Sharon as Steve’s fatal weakness.

Note: This was later retconned to be a comic that Steve himself wrote in his comic-book writing days.


Captain America #103 [ Cover 1 2 3 4 5 8 15 17 18 19 20 ]
"The Weakest Link"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: April 2, 1968

Cover – The Red Skull watches as Sharon and Steve look up at something we can’t see as if to defend themselves. Behind the Red Skull are other villains.

1 – Title page of Steve and Sharon at dinner together.

2 – Steve officially knows Sharon’s real name. He tries to distract her from worrying about the Red Skull and how dangerous he is by inviting her to dance. Steve says he’s still more comfortable with the foxtrot than the frug, which doesn’t matter at all to Sharon, and then Steve is tapped on the back and shot with stun gas. He calls out to Sharon to tell her run, but he’s told it’s too late.

3 – Sharon fights her captor’s “like a wildcat.” They use ether to knock her out and take her to the Island of Exiles, expecting Captain America to follow and fall into their trap soon enough.

4 – The Red Skull is informed about Sharon’s capture – and of her tall, blond escort. He realizes that they let Captain America goes, but also knows that the trap will still work.

5 – The Skull and his evil friends watch on the Peri-Screen as Sharon, still unconscious, is carried onto the island.

8 – Steve swims underwater, determined to rescue Sharon despite knowing that it’s a trap.

15 – Steve has been captured and hurled into a cell beside Sharon’s. She’s had a costume change. They express concern for each other, but Steve tells her not to say too much, as the Skull likely has the cells bugged. The Skull, watching and listening, informs him that he’s right.

17 – Steve wants to use his shield to help them escape, but Sharon says it might be too noisy and instead uses the powdered corrosive in her fingernail. She admits that she would have freed herself sooner but opted to wait until he’d be there. She uses the micro-flamethrower in another nail to blast the door, and from there, Steve leads the way to the air strip.

18 – Steve kicks some of the Skull’s goons out of a jeep, and Sharon hops up to shoot people from the back. Steve wants to get her to safety before going after the Skull, but Sharon says that he promised she’d never let her stand in his way. He says that he promised that before he realized how much she meant to him. Anyway, once they’re clear, Fury’s agents will wipe the place off the map. The Skull realizes they’ve escaped and goes to fight Steve, intercepting them at the air strip. Interestingly, he wants Captain America to outfight him.

19 – Sharon urges Steve to forget the Skull and escape and tell SHIELD about what they know. He doesn’t seem to hear her, and she concentrates on holding off the Skull’s minions. Steve beats the Skull more easily than the Skull intended, and Sharon climbs into the plane and urges Steve to escape again.

20 – Steve fights the Skull off for good, and he and Sharon take off. The Skull reveals that this was all part of his plan – there’s nowhere Steve can go that the Skull’s detonator can’t reach.


Captain America #104 [ 4 5 8 9 11 19 20 ]
"Slave of the Skull"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: May 2, 1968

4 – Sharon walks in on Steve’s physical to commend him on doing such a good job fighting some LMDs. Steve is worried about headaches he’s been getting, and he has another while Sharon is there.

5 – The Skull has triggered the nuclear tape at the back of Steve’s neck and is watching Sharon and Steve on his monitor.

8 – Sharon confirms with SHIELD that there’s an H-Bomb in DC. The Skull has threatened to blow up the bomb if anyone tries to remove Steve’s nuclear tape or if Steve disobeys him. He declares he has to return to Exile Island. Sharon reluctantly agrees and puts her hope in the scientists, though she doubts they’ll find a solution in time to save Steve’s life.

9 – Steve can’t think of any way to reassure Sharon. But they’ve both already agreed that losing one person is better than losing everyone in DC.

11 – Sharon and Fury are in DC with the bomb. She wants to defuse it, but Fury tells her they can’t; it’s why the Skull’s men hid it in such an easy-to-find place. He’s already called for Tony Stark. She argues her case to defuse it as soon as possible, without waiting for Tony, and finally asks what they’ll do if Stark fails. Fury says if Stark can’t do it, they’re all as good as dead.

19 – Sharon storms the beach of Exile Island with armed SHIELD agents, focused on trying to find out if Steve is still alive.

20 – Steve hears her calling to him while he’s fighting the Skull’s men. She tells him that Stark successfully defused the bomb and that the Skull’s men are surrendering in droves. She removes the nuclear tape safely. They embrace, and then Steve grabs the American flag and gives an inspirational speech about defeating Nazism again.


Captain America #105 [ 3 ]
"In the Name of Batroc”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: June 4, 1968

3 – Steve is being pitched an ad campaign featuring Bucky, and he reflects on how his life got Bucky killed. Now he has to be worried that he might get Sharon killed, too. They’ve talked about marriage, but he’s afraid his enemies might strike at him through her.


Captain America #107 [ 4 6 7 ]
"If the Past Be Not Dead..."
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: August 1, 1968

4 – Steve looks at a signed photo of Sharon as he calls his psychiatrist, Dr. Faustus, after a nightmare.

6 – Steve sees Sharon on the street and can’t believe she didn’t notice him. He chases after her.

7 – He calls for her as he chases, but the woman still doesn’t respond. When he grabs her from behind and calls her darling, asking why she didn’t answer him, she struggles and tells him off. He realizes she isn’t Sharon and backs away. He says she didn’t look like this before, and she says he must be some kind of nut as a cop comes up.


Captain America #108 [ Cover 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 14 16 18 19 20 ]
"The Snares of the Trapster"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: September 3, 1968

Cover – Steve fights the Trapster as Sharon is held against a table in the background with what looks like glue.

3 – Steve complains to a SHIELD agent who’s trying to give him a job that sometimes all Steve wants is time to find the one girl who means something to him, the one girl who can’t be his because of her dedication to SHIELD.

4 – He worries about Sharon and wonders if she’s all right. As it turns out, the SHIELD agent is here to talk to him about Sharon. It turns out SHIELD lost track of her while she was on a mission. Steve figures out what SHIELD has – that Sharon has been captured. Fury wants Captain America to find her.

5 – The SHIELD agent gives Steve a homing device for Sharon and asks him to find the girl. Steve responds, “Find Sharon Carter? No power on Earth can stop me!” Meanwhile, Sharon is being interrogated by her captor and refuses to answer any questions about Project Fireball, for she is under oath to SHIELD!

6 – The Trapster insists she has to tell him. He’s the Trapster! Not even the combined forces of SHIELD can save her! She must tell him. She disagrees.

7 – Steve follows the homing beacon to a derelict building and knows that Sharon is nearby. Now more than ever, Sharon’s life is in his hands!

8 – Steve realizes that the building is booby-trapped, which means that Sharon has been captured by the Trapster!

9 – Steve falls into a trap, and the Trapster shows up, revealing that he knew Steve would show up as it’s “common knowledge” how Steve feels about the Trapster’s lovely captive.

11 – Steve, thinking that all that matters is saving Sharon, finds himself freed from one trap. Before he can figure out if the Trapster did it on purpose or something else is going on, he falls into another trap.

12 – The Trapster torments Steve. Sharon asks what the Trapster thinks to gain from it, and the Trapster says that she has information he wants. She refuses to betray her oath, even to save Steve.

14 – Again, the paste has been diluted, and Steve has gotten out of the trap. When the Trapster arrives to kill Steve, Steve attacks him and demands to know where Sharon is.

16 – Steve says he’s gone easy on him because he wanted to know where Sharon is, but the gloves are off now. He punches the Trapster out and says he’d better find Sharon in two minutes, or the Trapster will wish he had. The Trapster, not unconscious after all, responds by trapping Steve.

18 – The trap comes apart. Steve suggests someone has spiked the Trapster’s chemicals, but the Trapster insists that no one’s been there except for the girl, and she is his captive! Steve hasn’t forgotten – that’s the one thing that’s kept him going.

19 – Steve defeats the Trapster and decides to take the place apart brick by brick to find Sharon Carter.

20 – Steve finds Sharon on the table, held there by glue, but quickly realizes she’s an LMD. The real Sharon appears and explains that she’s been using Tony Stark’s chemical tubes to dilute the Trapster’s paste. Steve realizes that she’s the one who’s been helping him the whole time, which means she also wasn’t actually captured. So why was he sent for to find her? Sharon says they needed Steve to goad the Trapster into revealing the Red Skull’s name; her real mission was to get the Trapster to reveal the spymaster. As they embrace, they realize the Trapster has escaped. But they decide that they can always go after him tomorrow and opt to enjoy each other’s company for now.


Captain America #109 - 1968, October 3 (Can't find - I'll look into it.)
Sharon doesn't technically appear, but Steve stands her up on a date, afraid that yet another person he cares for will get hurt.

Note: I think this was a typo. I and others have looked into it but haven't found an appearance or mention of Sharon.


Captain America #112 [ 14 15 16 17 ]
"Lest We Forget"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: George Tuska
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: January 2, 1969

14 – In a recap of Steve’s time in the future, it’s revealed that Sharon Carter has become Steve’s strongest link to SHIELD. Sharon is described as the girl who won Steve’s heart.

15 – A recap of Sharon and Steve fighting MODOK, focusing mostly on Steve.

16 – A further recap of Sharon and Steve righting MODOK. With Sharon, Steve’s happiness was in reach, and together they leapt miraculously from triumph to triumph. It then moves to them against the Sleeper.

17 – During the fight against the fourth Sleeper, Sharon is described as “a frail though valiant female who would never leave [Steve’s] side.”


Captain America #113 [ 7 8 ]
"The Strange Death of Captain America"
Writer/Penciller: Jim Steranko
Inker: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Artie Simek
On Sale Date: February 4, 1969

7 – Sharon is among the mourners at Steve’s midtown funeral, which is also attended by Iron Man, Fury, Vision, Hawkeye, Thor, and Black Panther. She wishes it was a dream, but it’s so terribly real.

8 – Sharon cries during Fury’s eulogy.


Captain America #114 [ 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ]
"The Man Behind the Mask"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: John Romita
Inker: Sal Buscema
Letterer: Herb Cooper
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: March 4, 1969

1 – “The Man Behind the Mask” title page, with Sharon’s weeping head weeping in the background.

2 – Steve has faked his death so that Sharon and Rick Jones will be safer.

4 – Moments later, he decides he has to see Sharon and hear her voice. And touch her lips. He’ll talk to Nick Fury about how to find her. One hopes it is his first time faking a death.

5 – He goes to SHIELD headquarters to see Sharon. Nick has received a tape from Sharon.

6 – Sharon’s recording tells them that although she knew she was supposed to wait for reinforcements, this might be their only chance to capture an entire cell of AIM leaders. Besides, now that Steve is dead, what does her life matter? Steve gets upset with Fury for sending her in alone, but Fury insists she was only supposed to tail them. Nobody actually told her that Steve is faked his death. They call for reinforcements and go after her at Target Area M.

7 – Sharon has neutralized the alarm. If she fails to take down AIM, at least she’ll know she tried. After all, Steve – the only man she’s ever loved – gave his life for those he left behind. How can she do anything else? She blasts through the wall and informs the AIM cell that they’re under arrest, and they quickly realize she’s alone.

8 – One of them shoots the gun out of Sharon’s hand, but she has a mini-flame thrower in her glove still. She starts disarming them.

9 – One of the AIM leaders tells them to have no mercy on her, forget she’s a woman. Sharon says, “Of course! You mustn’t let sex inhibit you! I may be female, but that doesn’t mean I’m helpless!” As she judo chops him. And then kicks him in the face while thinking about how her fighting has been inspired by Steve. Dead, dead Steve. The AIM guys have had enough and decide to release the Walking Stiletto.

10 – Sharon realizes a deadly robot is coming straight at her.

11 – Steve’s shield hits the robot. Sharon can’t believe it. She doesn’t know how, but Steve is alive! And Rick Jones, the new Bucky, is with him!

12 – As they all start fighting together, Sharon says her heart should have told her he was still alive. Steve tells her and Rick to stay away from the Stiletto, which is too strong and too fast.

13 – He catches Rick as Rick is thrown, then realizes Sharon is going up against the Stiletto. He tells her not to, but Sharon says she can get the Stiletto for him – she’s the only one with a weapon. But her shots – even though she’s using SHIELD’s most powerful weapon – has no impact. She keeps shooting, though, because the Stiletto has to fall. Steve says that her courage alone can’t stop an AIM creation.

14 – He tells her to get back and do as he says.

15 – His and Rick’s attack on the Stiletto doesn’t work, so Steve tells Sharon to signal Fury to come running; he’s hoping that will keep her safe. She leaves to get help.

16 – Sharon and Nick return to find that Steve and Rick have defeated the Stiletto. She hugs Steve, and Nick tells her to keep him alive and let the guy come up for air. Steve says he isn’t complaining. Nick noticed. But then he starts lecturing Sharon on going in alone. Steve tells him to go easy on her – she’s not one of his cigar-chomping Commandos.

17 – Nick tells Steve that Sharon is an agent of SHIELD, just like anyone else; Steve should remember that. Sharon assures Steve that Nick’s bark is worse than his bite. Before she can follow Nick, though, Steve tells her that he can’t bear to think of her in danger and wants her to resign from SHIELD. She insists she can’t, and he mustn’t ask her such a thing. He says he won’t – not never again.

18 – Steve wonders how long Sharon and Rick’s luck can hold out. He disguises himself and tries to find a place to stay, but without documentation, a way to pay, or luggage, no one will rent him a place. He can’t come up with answers quickly enough because he keeps thinking of Sharon.


Captain America #115 [ Cover 10 11 18 19 20 ]
"Now Begins the Nightmare"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: Sal Buscema
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: April 3, 1969

Cover – Sharon, whose arm is held by the Red Skull, looks in horror at the Cosmic Cube he holds in his hand – Steve is trapped inside.

10 – Rick Jones goes to SHIELD HQ to find Steve, but Sharon hasn’t heard from him. She thinks he’s still hurt because she won’t quit SHIELD like he wants her to. Rick tries to argue with her, but a SHIELD agent tells Sharon to keep her mind on the weaponry test.

11 – Sharon tells Rick she can’t talk to him right now; they’re testing atomic weapons. He tries to argue again, and she tells a SHIELD agent to check his readings. Rick tells her he thought Sharon was in love with Steve, but Steve must have known her better than Rick did when Steve walked out on her. Sharon tells him he’s talking like a child. She says that she and Cap are both pros, and that means they don’t panic at ever little excuse. She starts to tell Rick how she feels about Steve, then stops and kicks him out. She refuses to believe that something might genuinely be wrong.

18 – The Red Skull is tormenting Steve with the Cosmic Cube. He uses it to summon an image of the person Steve loves most – and it conjures an image of Sharon.

19 – He uses the Cube to bring Sharon to him in a trance, then uses the Cube to show him all of Sharon’s innermost thoughts. Her heart, he sees, is Steve’s. But now it’s time for the Red Skull’s revenge – and time for Steve to change!

20 – Sharon wakes, sees the Skull, and thinks she’s been captured by him. The Skull – who has used the Cube to make him look like Captain America – reassures her that the Skull can’t harm her. Steve – now looking like the Skull – tries to convince her of the truth, but she thinks the Red Skull has gone mad.


Captain America #116 [ Cover 1 2 3 19 20 ]
"Far Worse Than Death"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: May 8, 1969

Cover – Sharon is in the background of a possibly-going-insane Captain America, pointing a futuristic gun at him.

1 – Title page. The Red Skull – as Captain America – holds Sharon to him. He reassures her that he’s beaten the Skull, and she congratulates him on defeating him at last. Steve – as the Red Skull – tries to tell her she’s making a mistake, but he doesn’t tell her that the Red Skull used the Cosmic Cube to switch their bodies.

2 – The Red Skull leads Sharon away, saying the Red Skull/Steve is no longer a threat now that his claws have been clipped. After walking her out, the Red Skull says that he might double back and deliver the Red Skull to the law personally. She says she has to report back to SHIELD, and she’s glad he’s not angry anymore. The Red Skull realizes that something must have happened between them.

3 – A note from the editor says that Steve was upset Sharon refused to resign from SHIELD.

19 – Not knowing she’s being urged by the Red Skull and the Cosmic Cube, Sharon goes to Avengers Mansion to visit Steve – only for Jarvis to tell her that the Avengers have captured the Red Skull.

20 – Pushed by the Cube, she goes to kill Steve/Red Skull, but she can’t bring herself to do it. The Red Skull reflects that the only thing the Cosmic Cube can’t overcome is love.


Captain America #119 [ 15 ]
"Now Falls the Skull"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: August 5, 1969

15 – Flashback to the fight against MODOK.


Captain America #120 [ 2 3 5 6 ]
"Crack-Up on Campus"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
On Sale Date: September 9, 1969

2 – Steve wraps up a mission with Sam Wilson, his new partner, and goes in search of Sharon.

3 – He thinks about how he can’t forget Sharon, even though she won’t give up her duty to SHIELD. And as long as she works at SHIELD, he can’t give up being Captain America.

5 – Steve and Nick greet each other with the following:

Cap: It's Sharon, Nick! I have to see her!
Nick: I'll show ya a picture!

Fury tells him that Sharon is in the field again and won’t be reporting back for days. She’s been working like a Trojan since the two of them broke up.

6 – Steve unknowingly sits in SHIELD’s new Slumber Seat, which gives him nightmares of Sharon being attacked and running away from a shooter.


Captain America #121 [ 19 ]
"The Coming of... the Man-Brute"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: October 7, 1969

19 – Steve finds a picture of Sharon.


Captain America #122 [ 5 6 7 9 14 16 18 19 20 ]
"The Sting of the Scorpion"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: November 11, 1969

5 – Steve misses Sharon so much it hurts, but so long as she’s with SHIELD, she can never be his.

6 – Steve has a nightmare where Sharon is attacked.

7 – The bad guys Sharon is spying on knows she’s on their tail and have hired someone to take her out.

9 – Steve, in day clothes, decides to stop by SHIELD to check if Sharon has returned.

14 – The Scorpion hunts down Sharon, but is interrupted before he can attack her by the arrival of Captain America.

16 – Sharon hops a wall and thinks that she almost has enough evidence to call in SHIELD. Someone pulls a gun on her.

18 – Sharon is captured by the spy ring and realizes that they were onto her. But what stopped the Scorpion from attacking her? She hears a fight upstairs.

19 – She realizes Steve is upstairs and tries to get off her gag to call to him.

20 – She listens as Steve leaves and gets the gag off to late to call to him. In the cab, Steve reflects that as far as he knows, Sharon has forgotten he exists.


Captain America #124 [ Cover 1 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 20 ]
"Mission: Stop the Cyborg"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: January 6, 1970

Cover – Sharon is mentioned on the Cover. “Farewell to Nick Fury and the girl Cap loves?”

1 – Steve lets his guard down while daydreaming of Sharon.

6 – Steve goes to settle things with Sharon.

7 – Steve tells Nick to give Sharon a desk job. When Nick protests, saying that Sharon is one of his best, Steve says that it isn’t a request. Either Sharon gets a desk job, or the next time SHIELD needs Cap, SHIELD can forget it.

8 – Nick agrees, so long as Sharon does, and has Sharon sent in. Sharon is happy to see him and agrees to a desk job.

10 – They realize there’s more to the attack on Steve, and Sharon tries to leap into the mission. Steve reminds her of her promise, and she apologizes and agrees to stay behind. Steve insists it’s the only way they’ll ever have a future, because he can’t bear to lose someone again.

11 – Sharon realizes that Cap is being drawn into a trap, and no one will be able to warn him in time.

12 – Sharon races to get to the brownstone where the trap has been set before Steve.

13 – Not knowing if she’s there before him or if he might need help inside, she goes in and is attacked by Cyborg.

14 – The Cyborg overpowers Sharon just as Cap comes in and realizes it was a trap.

15 – During his fight with Cyborg, Steve doesn’t care if he lives or dies. He’s more upset that Nick and Sharon broke their promise to him.

17 – He fights to stay alive, not wanting to die while Sharon is in danger.

20 – Steve and Sharon are reunited after Cyborg has been defeated. He says that if Sharon can break her word so easily, how can he ever trust her again? And then he leaves before she can explain what happened.


Captain America #125 [ 1 2 3 ]
"Captured... in Viet Nam"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: February 10, 1970

1 – Steve wants to get into some action – anything to make him forget about Sharon.

2 – He’s really hung up on Sharon. Really, really hung up on Sharon. Maybe he should get more of a social life, because he’s really hung up on Sharon.

3 – Wherever he looks, he seems to see Sharon and hear her voice. He needs a social life. He decides to watch the news instead.


Captain America #127 [ Cover 4 5 7 8 9 10 16 17 19 20 ]
"Who Calls Me Traitor?"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Wallace Wood
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: April 7, 1970

Cover – Nick tries to prove that Cap is a traitor while Sharon near-faints into Dum Dum’s arms in the background.

4 – Nick asks Steve if he wants to see Sharon while at SHIELD; Steve says he doesn’t have the time, and Nick says he knows how Steve feels about her – why is he fighting it? When Steve leaves, Nick tells him Sharon isn’t going to wait around forever.

5 – Sharon is in the background as Nick and Dr Ryder talk. Fury tells her not to wait around for Cap, and she says she heard. She should have known better than to lose her heart to a living legend. Steve walks down the street and mourns the normal life he could have had.

7 – A field test of Dr Ryder’s new suits goes badly, and Fury gathers everyone who knew about the suits so they can figure out who tipped off AIM. That includes Sharon. Ryder points out that Cap also knows, but he’s absent.

8 – Nick starts questioning if that’s even the real Captain America, and Sharon points out that even the way he’s been avoiding her is unusual. Meanwhile, Steve is thinking about how people die because of him, and he won’t let Sharon be one of those people.

9 – He’s glad to get a call from SHIELD to take his mind off Sharon. He’s less glad to find out Nick has revoked his security clearance.

10 – Fury is at his apartment with Sharon and Dum Dum… and a Daily Bugle reporter who’s heard that Captain America has lost his SHIELD security clearance. Fury convinces him to keep quiet about the story for 24 hours.

16 – Steve goes to SHIELD and finds everyone there waiting for him, including Sharon. She won’t face him, though, and Nick triggers Android X-4, claiming that only the real Captain America would be able to defeat him.

18 – Sharon begs Nick to stop the android, as no one could survive the android’s battering. Sharon wonders if it might actually be Steve, and Nick tells her if he’s really Captain America, he’ll find a way out.

19 – Cap defeats Android X-4, but the android continues to attack despite SHIELD trying to turn it off. Sharon warns Cap that the android really will kill him.

20 – Sharon follows the signal to figure out that Dr. Ryder is controlling the android. She gasses him and drags him to the others; Steve realizes that they were using him as a decoy. Fury says they had to make sure, and Sharon tells him that Steve is safe now. Steve says that he’s always been able to be on guard against his enemies, but how does a man protect himself from his friends? He leaves.


Captain America #132 [ 3 4 ]
"The Fearful Secret of Bucky Barnes"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Dick Ayers
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: September 1, 1970

3 – Sharon, Nick, and Dum Dum watch the news, and Sharon is glad that Steve is safe. Dum Dum wonders if that’s the real Bucky.

4 – Sharon talks about how Cap has reproached himself for Bucky’s death for years, but now that Bucky is alive, his slate is wiped clean. Without a guilt complex, maybe he can finally lead a normal life. Nick thinks that Sharon will eventually tie Cap down, but he can’t be rushed. He then urges everyone to get back to work.


Captain America #135 [ 6 7 ]
"More Monster Than Man"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: December 1, 1970

6 – Julia tells Sharon that she wants to do field work like Sharon does. Julia insists that she joined SHIELD for the excitement. And maybe so she could meet a man, like Sharon’s met Captain America. Sharon points out they’re not together and asks about Julia and Dr. Gorbo, but Julia isn’t sure of the relationship – sometimes, Gorbo frightens her.

7 – Steve excuses himself to ask Sharon if she can spare a moment for an old friend, but she’s bury with project Earth-Dig. He asks if she can’t, or if she doesn’t want to, and she tells him not to make this harder than it already is. He says he could never compete with SHIELD.


Captain America #136 [ 2 3 4 5 ]
"The World Below"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Bill Everett
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: January 12, 1971

2 – Sharon watches as Steve supposedly falls to his death at Project Earth Dig. Fury has Dum Dum take her to the sight because Sharon wants to be there and she loved Cap.

3 – Sharon wishes she’d told Steve she loved him more. They arrive at Project Earth Dig right after Sam, and she wants to know why Sam didn’t help; Fury tells her Sam had just arrived. Sam tells Sharon he wanted to go with Cap, but Cap had told him not to. Sharon tells him that no one could have known.

4 – Sharon tries to jump into the pit to try to prove that Steve is still alive. Sam goes after her; Fury stops them.

5 – Fury separates them but doesn’t tell Sharon that he suspects Sam is going after the gorilla Steve was fighting and doesn’t want Sharon there when it happens.


Captain America #137 [ 2 3 4 5 ]
"To Stalk the Spider-Man"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gene Colan
Inker: Bill Everett
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: February 9, 1971

2 – Steve emerges back into the land of the living and wonders if Sharon is in the crowd. Sharon is, in fact, watching, but she passes out when she realizes he’s alive. She’s taken away to recover.

3 – Steve goes to the crowd but doesn’t see Sharon. He decides she just didn’t care enough.

4 – Sharon comes to and wants to go out to see Steve, but the doctor tells her that Cap and Falcon have already left. She’s surprised Cap left without waiting to see her. Meanwhile, Sam asks if Sharon is why Steve is so upset, but Steve says it might be something he ate.

5 – Sam thinks that Sharon really has Steve “bugged.”


Captain America #138 [ 6 ]
"It Happens in Harlem"
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: March 9, 1971

6 – Steve is staring to realize that Sharon matters to him more than life itself. He wonders if he could get a part-time job and give Sharon a normal home life.


Captain America #139 [ 4 11 12 ]
"The Badge and the Betrayal"
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: April 13, 1971

4 – Steve realizes he’s been Cap so much that he’s lost sight of who Steve is. Steve Rogers wants a girl to do things with.

11 – Sharon’s been moping since Cap disappeared. Fury’s put her on monitor duty so she won’t walk into a bullet. When Sharon realizes they’re there, she insists she’s forgotten Steve. Sam doesn’t believe her, but he can’t tell her anything about Steve anyway; Steve hasn’t told him anything. But he knows that Steve thinks about Sharon all the time. Sharon thanks him.

12 – Sam thinks Steve is out of his skull for not teaming up with SHIELD, specially with a chick like Sharon waiting for him. And though he didn’t tell them, Sam is starting to worry about Steve.


Captain America #140 [ 18 19 20 ]
"In the Grip of the Gargoyle"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: John Romita
Inker: George Roussos
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: May 11, 1971

18 – Steve gets picked up by a SHIELD Hover-copter and is greeted by Sharon. Steve was afraid to hope she’d be there!

19 – Sharon asks if he still feels the same way about them, and he says he thought she’d changed. She tells him not to talk and just hold her. She goes with him as he searches for Sam, who was last seen pursuing the Grey Gargoyle.

20 – Steve realizes in horror – as Sharon looks on in horror – that the Grey Gargoyle has the power of stone!


Captain America #141 [ Cover 2 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 15 16 17 20 ]
"The Unholy Alliance"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: John Romita
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: June 8, 1971

Cover – Sharon has been turned to stone!

2 – On the Heli-Cruiser, Sharon worries about what will happen if Steve finds the Grey Gargoyle, because she knows that Steve will try to fight the Gargoyle himself, without waiting for reinforcements. Nick tells her that if Steve does that, she’d better kiss Steve goodbye.

5 – Steve finds Sam, and Nick and Sharon beam them onto the Heli-Cruiser. Sharon wonders if it’s safe to have a recently-gargoyled Sam on board.

6 – Steve asks what she means, and she says she’s getting bad vibes, that something’s wrong. He tells her that this is no time to go feminine on him, and she says he doesn’t understand. Steve says he understands that Steve isn’t a statue like the others – he can move. She insists that the Falcon is dangerous and shouldn’t remain on board, and Steve tells her off for talking that way about his partner. Nick says Sharon’s right. Sharon, it turns out, is head of SHIELD’s secret Psyche Squad, with a PhD in Metaphysical Psychology. She got two years of training on top of that. But before he can go into more detail, the red alert goes off.

7 – They run to Central Control, where Sam was taken, and find a bunch of the crew turned to stone. Nick says Steve should have listened to Sharon, but Steve insists this can’t be Sam’s doing. Sam appears and agrees – he allowed himself to be taken so he could smuggle the Gargoyle aboard!

8 – The Gargoyle rigs the automatic pilot to drive straight into a mountain, then turns the hatch to stone so Nick and Sharon can’t undo it. Nick tells Sharon to do Plan D. She asks if there’s any other way. He says no, and Steve says they can’t do Plan D with Sharon aboard. Nick tells him off, and Steve tells Sharon not to pull the switch.

9 – Steve ties to reason with Sam, and Nick tells Sharon to pull the switch. She does so, setting the Hover-Cruiser to self-destruct in three minutes. Fury stays behind to fend off the Gargoyle, and Steve insists he won’t leave Sharon, Sam, or Nick behind.

11 – Nick and Sharon are both turned to stone. The Gargoyle says Steve won’t get them to the escape hatch in time, nor will he leave them behind.

12 – While Steve fights to keep the Hover-Cruiser from blowing up, Sharon and Nick are seen off to the side.

13 – Same as the previous page.

15 – With SHIELD about to blow up the Hover-Cruiser themselves, Steve carries the stone statues of Sharon and Nick out.

16 – Steve gets them into the life-craft. Sam follows, and the two fight. Unfortunately, Steve set Sharon too close to the edge, and she starts toppling over the side.

17 – He manages to catch Sharon and tells her that he loves her, he won’t let her die, if only she could hear him. He then goes back to fighting Sam.

20 – Nick and Sharon’s stone forms are in the life-craft as the Hover-Cruiser is blown up and Steve and Sam go after the Gargoyle.


Captain America #142 [ 1 2 3 6 7 14 15 18 20 ]
"And in the End"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Penciller: John Romita
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: July 13, 1971

1 – Nick and Sharon are recovering from being turned to stone, but Steve doesn’t want to do anything until he’s certain Sharon’s okay.

2 – Sharon comes around, groggy and afraid she’s dreaming. Steve assures her that they’ll be together from now on. He tries to talk more, but Sharon tells him to be quiet and kiss her. They do, and Steve promises to make up his being a fool these past months. Sharon agrees – and with interest! She feels like they’ve found each other for the first time. They’re soon joined by Redwing, and Sharon asks if Redwing might be able to help them.

3 – Nick interrupts to point out that the SHIELD guards appear to have left the Roost to the Gargoyle, which means it’s up to the four of them (and Redwing) to stop the Gargoyle.

6 – Redwing finds a way in for Steve and Sam, and Steve tells Sharon to stay with Nick.

7 – Sharon and Nick watch as Steve and Sam go in.

14 – Sharon and Nick go in the slow way, and Steve and Sam try to distract the Gargoyle from noticing them, while also trying to signal them to go to the Rocket Control Center – or at least, that’s the feeling Sharon gets.

15 – Knowing that Sharon and Nick got his message, Steve and Sam fight the Gargoyle for real.

18 – Sharon watches the fight and warns Fury that Steve and Sam are seconds away from safety. He tells her that’s all the time they’ve got and starts counting down from five.

20 – Sharon, Steve, Sam, and Nick watch as the Gargoyle is shot into space and dies.


Captain America #143 [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 15 19 21 22 25 ]
"Power to the People"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: John Romita
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: August 10, 1971<

1 – Title page, featuring Steve, Sharon, Sam, and Nick on the escape craft passing by the Statue of Liberty. Steve notes the Statue is still standing; Nick says only until the next person tries to bring it down.

2 – Sharon tells him not to talk like that; Fury tells her that in this business, you learn to worry about what happens before it happens. They go under the New York Harbor via pneumatic tubes.

3 – They arrive at SHIELD HQ; Fury tells Dum Dum to join him and Agent 13 in the briefing room to go over what happened on the Heli-Carrier. Sam suggests that since Sharon’s going to be tied up for a while, they can go to Sam’s place.

4 – Sharon agrees to join Steve and Sam as soon as she can. She and Steve dawdle and kiss, and Sam and Nick both encourage them to wrap things up – Nick’s mention of a report to the president seems more effective. Sharon says she’ll call Steve as soon as she’s free. He says if she doesn’t, he’ll come looking for her.

5 – At SHIELD HQ, Sharon and Nick are reviewing footage from the previous issues and filling in Dum Dum and the President.

6 – They continue to review the footage. Though Sharon has doubts about not telling anyone that Element X is currently out there in space, she yields to Nick on keeping mum about it.

15 – Sharon and Steve are on a date, trying to catch up on lost time, when Sam is thrown out of a truck in front of them. Steve tasks Sharon with looking after Sam while Captain America goes after whoever’s behind this.

19 – Leila Taylor shows up to take care of Sam. She doesn’t trust Sharon, telling Sharon that when it comes down to it, Sharon will take care of her own, and Leila will do the same, but Sharon feels she can trust Leila and goes. With her gone, Leila tells Sam that his rich white lady is long gone.

21 – Sharon has tipped off the police about Reverend Garcia, and they’ve surrounded the building Garcia is using and cordoned it off. Sharon hopes she did the right thing – it was the only thing she could do with Steve inside.

22 – Sharon watches as the police commissioner tries to prevent a race war and thinks about how racism is bad.

25 – Sharon, Steve, and Sam reunite. Sam asks the crowd to give him and Captain America an hour to prove the crowd’s going about it the wrong way; if they fail, Sam will join the crowd. Sharon watches them head off.


Captain America #144 [ 6 7 8 10 ]
"HYDRA Over All"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: John Romita
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: September 7, 1971

6 – SHIELD and Captain America stage an exercise beating back fake HYDRA agents – actually LMDs – for President Nixon. When Nixon says that’s enough, Fury declines and says he doesn’t think Nixon – in this economy – will mind getting two shows for the price of one. He calls in Femme Force – led by Sharon. She leads her agents in, wanting to make the most of this chance so they can show that they’re just as valuable as the men and gain equality as agents.

7 – As the Femme Force beat the crap out of HYDRA agents, Sharon calls, “Right on, sisters! If this doesn’t make you a believer in the women’s lib movement, I don’t know what will!” Fury tells her to knock it off with the commercials, and Nixon will make up his own mind.

8 – Sharon joins Nick for Nixon’s final decision. Nixon hedges, talking about all the additional steps in the way.

10 – Fury tells Sharon she’s done all she can for Femme Force and that she should take a couple weeks’ vacation while she can. She agrees and asks if Steve wants to join her, but he asks that she wait until tomorrow.


Captain America #145 [ Cover 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 ]
"Skyjacked!"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: John Romita
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: October 12, 1971

Cover – Steve stands over Sharon’s supposed body, telling a bunch of HYDRA agents, “You killed her! Sharon is dead! But HYDRA will pay for it – I swear to you!” The line at the bottom says that Cap and the Femme Force are skyjacked!

3 – A textless page of Steve and Sharon each separately getting phone calls and rushing to get to work. It seems they both sleep naked, and Sharon also has perfect makeup. So that’s nice.

4 – Sharon is thirty seconds late, so Val reports the Femme Force for duty, saying they waited for Sharon, but she never showed. Nick has a little problem with that.

5 – Sharon shows up and accuses Val (Agent 14) of intentionally leaving early. Nick tells them off and says he was against Femme Force, and either they listen to him or they’re both fired. Sharon apologizes to Val, who seems to think Sharon is only apologizing because of Captain America.

6 – Nick fills them on the mission, and Sharon says her vacation will have to wait. Nick wants Femme Force to handle HYDRA because it gives them an opportunity to prove themselves, and they’re the only unit he can spare right now… but he wants Cap to lead them.

7 – HYDRA is listening in. Their goal is to capture Femme Force.

9 – Sharon and Steve talk about the upcoming mission and their vacation when they’re interrupted by Val, who makes herself comfortable to sit with Steve and flirt a little.

10 – HYDRA prepares to attack – but they want Captain America and Sharon Carter captured alive. Steve asks Val about Agent 22, who’s standing by the exit door, and Sharon is jealous that he’s not asking her, the leader of Femme Force who’s currently sitting right beside him, instead.

11 – HYDRA attaches their aircraft to SHIELD’s and prepares to board.

12 – The silly women are caught completely unawares despite knowing they’re about to be boarded. It’s up to Steve, the apparent leader of the Femme Force, to save them!

14 – Val jumps into the fight and urges the other girls to do the same, but Sharon is quickly taken hostage by a HYDRA agent.

15 – Val jumps in to protect Sharon and flirt with Steve, and Sharon finishes saving herself and tells Val to leave the romantic ploys for later – they’ve got a battle to win!

16 – Steve makes a suggestion as a man that they stop quibbling between themselves, and he also tells Val to forget about him and start focusing on her duty as Femme Force lieutenant. While Sharon tells Val that that’s an order, and that Sharon is still in command, Cap protects Val from a HYDRA agent sneaking up behind her. She kisses him as Sharon looks on in disgust.

17 – Steve tells Sharon to remember that duty comes first, and Sharon agrees to dress Val down later. Sharon then proceeds to get a little more violent than usual.

18 – HYDRA takes out the pilot, and Sharon realizes the plane is crashing.

20 – Sharon checks on Steve, who’s taken a blow to the head. While he goes to check on the pilot, Sharon sees a HYDRA agent about to shoot him, and she jumps in the way to block the shot.

21 – She takes the full blast of the shot. Instead of checking to see if she’s still breathing, Steve decides she’s dead and swears revenge on HYDRA.


Captain America #146 [ 1 2 6 7 8 14 15 16 17 19 ]
"Mission: Destroy the Femme Force"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: November 9, 1971

1 – Title page. Steve chokes a HYDRA agent and yells about Sharon being dead. Sharon is in the background, not dead. Val says it’s too late to help the (still not-dead) Sharon, but there’s still time to keep the plane from crashing.

2 – Steve continues almost killing HYDRA agents for killing the still-not-dead Sharon. Evidently, everyone here was trained to administer ass-kicking, not first aid.

6 – With the plane stabilized, Val realizes that Sharon is alive.

7 – Sharon is referred to as Steve’s fiancee in the narrative text. They have no portable oxygen for Sharon, and Steve carries Sharon out of the plane and says the ambulance will have one.

8 – Steve and Val switch about who’s going with Sharon, based partly on how Nick wants to talk to Steve. He’ll have to make do with Val, though.

14 – Val takes Steve out to dinner to help get his mind off Sharon. Val assures him that Sharon’s pulse was much stronger when they took her off the plane. He asks to talk about something else. Meanwhile, HYDRA sneaks into the hospital where Sharon is.

15 – They kidnap Sharon and leave a note behind for Captain America.

16 – The hospital phones Steve to let him know what’s happened. He immediately goes to the hospital, followed by Val. HYDRA looks forward to killing him if he comes. And if he doesn’t come, they’ll kill Sharon Carter, the leader of the Femme Force.

17 – The note says that if Steve doesn’t appear at HYDRA headquarters within two hours alone, Sharon Carter will die. The Femme Force discreetly follow.

19 – Sharon is unconscious. HYDRA explain to Steve – letting him see her over a television screen – that they’re keeping her alive with HYDRA technology, but all they have to do is flip a switch. Steve realizes he might have made a mistake coming alone – HYDRA might well kill Sharon or both of them. And then, Femme Force arrives!


Captain America #147 [ 2 4 5 6 7 ]
"And Behold the Hordes of HYDRA"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: December 7, 1971

2 – Steve fights HYDRA and tells them to release Sharon and surrender or he’ll… dun dun dun.

4 – HYDRA counters by threatening to kill Sharon if Steve doesn’t surrender.

5 – Steve doesn’t surrender; the HYDRA agent throws the switch. Sharon is electrocuted. Steve tries to kill the HYDRA agent.

6 – Steve takes off the guy’s mask so he can watch as the life oozes from him as Sharon’s did from her.

7 – Sharon has been woken up from the electrocution. Val calls Steve over, and Sharon asks where Steve is. Sharon and Steve kiss again, the HYDRA agent tries to escape, and Steve tells Val to get Sharon to a hospital and under surveillance as he goes after the HYDRA agent himself.


Captain America #148 [ 11 13 14 18 20 ]
"The Big Sleep"
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Romita
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: January 11, 1972

11 – Sharon wakes to chaos with Femme Force and demands to know what’s going on. Val tells her it doesn’t concern her, and she’s under orders to take it easy. So Sharon should be a doll and play that way. Sharon tells her she’s fine and is resuming duties, now tell her what’s going on and that’s an order. Once she’s caught up, she orders one of the other Femme Force members to give Sharon her uniform and stay behind and guard the prisoner. Val thinks Sharon wouldn’t be so interested if Steve weren’t in trouble.

13 – Sharon and other Femme Force members attack the Sleeper.

14 – After trying to stop the Sleeper, Sharon orders the Femme Force to retreat.

18 – Sharon’s in the city, trying to help citizen. She gives orders to get gas masks, then find a spot to make a stand.

20 – Sharon and Steve are reunited. They see off Sam.


Captain America #149 [ 5 6 ]
"All the Colors of Evil"
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Jim Mooney
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: February 15, 1972

5 – Nick is angry at Steve for some reason and tells him to get out of SHIELD. Steve spots Val and Sharon and wonders if they can explain, but then Fury comes on over the intercom and tells all SHIELD personnel that Captain America is off-limits to them. Any agent found dealing with Captain America will get a personal reprimand from Nick – and that applies especially to Agent 13! Val leads Sharon away as Sharon hangs her head.

6 – Steve thinks that until Fury calms down, he and Sharon will have to stop seeing each other. But that doesn’t stop him from thinking about her.


Captain America #150 [ 10 11 20 21 ]
"Mirror, Mirror"
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: March 14, 1972

10 – Sharon’s gymnastics routine is interrupted by Val, i.e., Contessa Valentine Allegro de Fontaine, who asks to talk for a moment. Sharon says they have nothing to say to each other, so excuse her… But Val asks again and says it’s about Steve. Sharon asks if Val wants to apologize – presumably for hitting on Steve right in front of Sharon so many times – and Val asks if they can stop bickering even for a moment. She only flirted with Steve to make Nick Fury jealous! Incidentally, she is sorry. Because she does love Steve. And Nick. Sharon is empathetic and asks what they’ll do.

11 – As the action picks up elsewhere, Val whispers to Sharon that she doesn’t know what they’ll do… She doesn’t know… (Pro tip for IRL: The correct answer is to not play games, and definitely don’t make a move on someone already in a relationship. Duh.)

20 – Steve is back to wondering why Nick is so upset with him, if it has something to do with Sharon or Val. But then Sharon herself arrives to fill him in and explain! She feels bad for Val.

21 – Steve tells her it’s something Val will have to work out on her own. As for him, he knows what he wants to do. And then they make out. By the window. In full view of the creepy guys who are watching and discussing them making out.


Captain America #151 [ Cover 2 3 12 14 17 18 19 20 ]
"Panic on Park Avenue"
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Artie Simek
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: April 11, 1972

Cover – Mr. Hyde holds an unconscious Sharon and encourages Scorpion to defeat Cap and Falcon.

2 – Steve doesn’t notice people getting ready to attack him because he’s busy thinking of Sharon.

3 – After Steve defeats Mr. Hyde and Scorpion, Hyde decides to go after Sharon instead.

12 – Steve and Sam go to check on Sharon, who thinks she was followed earlier. And Steve heard bad guys talking about going after her, so he just wants to make sure she’s all right. Sharon is currently living in a SHIELD dorm reserved for unattached female agents. But Steve can’t get in because of Fury’s orders to have a separation of SHIELD and Steve.

14 – Sharon watches from upstairs as Sam almost gets hit by a truck

17 – Sharon runs out to check on Sam and is attacked by Hyde.

18 – She fights Hyde, but he chokes her until she passes out.

19 – To save Sharon’s life, Steve stops Sam from beating the Scorpion.

20 – Hyde takes Sharon with him into the sewers.


Captain America #152 [ Cover 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 16 17 19 20 ]
"Terror in the Night"
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Stan Lee
On Sale Date: May 16, 1972

Cover – Sharon urges Sam to help Steve and not let him be killed by Mr. Hyde.

4 – Steve thinks about what-ifs. What if he’d warned Sharon, or Nick hadn’t been such a fool.

5 – Initially, he blames Nick. He runs through a recap of the last issue. Ultimately, though, he decides that he’s the one who failed Sharon.

6 – Hyde has no more use for Sharon, but Scorpion argues that she’s their meal ticket. They can use her as bait. She tells him that neither of them have a chance against Cap or Falcon, and the Scorpion smashes things with his tail and tells her that they’ve got it.

7 – Scorpion follows Hyde out, and Sharon starts thinking about other things, namely Nick Fury. Nick, meanwhile, wonders why Steve was trying to see Sharon if Steve’s now with Val and concludes that, duh, Steve is with both of them.

11 – Steve is on his side job as a cop but doesn’t stop thinking about Sharon.

12 – Sam’s found Hyde and Scorpion. Steve goes to rescue Sharon.

13 – Scorpion is monologuing to Sharon.

14 – Steve and Sam crash in through the window. Sam goes to untie Sharon, who urges him not to worry about her and help Steve instead.

16 – Sharon and Sam watch the fight between Steve and Hyde and talk about Steve’s shield. Sharon tries to get Sam to help Steve again.

17 – Sam refuses, saying Steve has to do this himself. Sharon says she just doesn’t want to see Steve hurt.

19 – Steve successfully beats Hyde and Scorpion and tells Sam and Sharon, “Let’s get out of here.”

20 – Sharon rushes to him and says she tried to help him, but Sam wouldn’t let her. Steve has no hard feelings, though. Steve and Sharon hug and walk home.


Captain America #153 [ 1 2 3 7 14 15 17 18 ]
"Captain America - Hero or Hoax?"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Jim Mooney
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: June 13, 1972

1 – Title page. Steve, Sharon, and Sam (two of them in full costume) walk into Steve’s hotel room near Gramercy Park, where Nick is sitting in a chair. In the dark. With the collar of his trenchcoat turned up. As one does.

2 – Steve realizes it might not be a good idea to walk around Steve’s place in full costume. They also realize someone’s in the room. Nick turns on the lamp and says to get rid of Sharon and Sam – it’s time for Nick and Steve to have a showdown.

3 – After some back and forth, Steve asks Sharon and Sam to take a walk.

7 – Sharon runs out and calls Val from a payphone.

14 – Sharon and Val head up to the room, with Sharon urging Val to tell Nick how she feels. In the room, Sharon goes straight to Steve.

15 – Nick apologizes to Cap. But with Sharon, he’s about to reprimand her for talking to Steve and disobeying his orders… When Sharon quits.

17 – Sharon says it’s not about that night, but about the fight over love versus duty. It has to end, and he shouldn’t try to talk her out of it. He offers her extended with leave with pay, but Sharon insists. Sharon and Steve finally head to the Bahamas for their long-overdue vacation.

18 – Sharon pays for the tickets and reveals she has plenty of money – she’s never had a chance to spend any of it. He wants to hear more about… how rich she is? But she says she’ll bore him with it later. Sam and Sharon say goodbye with a cheek-kiss, with Sam telling her to keep Steve away from the other bikini-clad beauties, and Sharon assuring him that Steve won’t even notice them.


Captain America #154 [ 6 7 18 ]
"The Falcon Fights Alone"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: July 11, 1972

6 – Sharon and Steve are in the Caribbean, enjoying being together, and Sharon is getting sunburned.

7 – She’s noticed Steve is a little sunburned, too. They’re interrupted by Arnold hitting on Sharon, and she tells him off. Her rejection angers him, and Steve steps in as he attacks. Sharon muses that they may never be free of private. Steve suggests that, if they have to, they can get a private beach.

18 – Jarvis informs Sam that Steve and Miss Carter are at Mosca Cay to lose themselves and can’t be contacted.


Captain America #155 [ 1 2 5 6 7 10 11 17 18 ]
"The Incredible Origin of the Other Captain America"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Jean Simek (Izzo)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: August 8, 1972

1 – Title page. Sharon and Steve are doing gymnastics (or something) in the Bahamas, unaware that the new Cap and Bucky have sworn to kill them.

2 – They’re flirting (about Nick Fury???) and talking about their sunburns and being in the mood when Steve thinks he sees Bucky (later revealed to be Jack Monroe) and says he has to investigate.

5 – Fake Steve (William Burnside) tries to lure Sharon into a trap, but Sharon notices he isn’t sunburned and runs away.

6 – Sharon could outrun most, but Burnside is stronger than most. He’s about to catch her when he’s tackled by Sam!

7 – Sharon tells Sam they’ve got Steve, and she and Sam fight back to back.

10 – When Sam ducks a blow, it catches Sharon in the back of her head. Sam turns to check on her and gets knocked out, too.

11 – Sharon wakes up on a plane, tied up with Steve and Sam, and Burnside monologues his evil origin story.

17 – The story finally concludes, and Steve concludes that 1) Burnside doesn’t know Steve is the original Cap, and 2) Burnside is crazy.

18 – Steve, Sam, and Sharon get loose, change clothes, and prepare to fight!


Captain America #156 [ 1 2 3 6 10 11 14 15 17 18 20 ]
"One into Two Won't Go"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: September 5, 1972

1 – Title page. Recap of the last issue as Steve, Sam, and Sharon go to fight Burnside and Monroe.

2 – Steve realizes the imposters are trying to land the plane, which makes this a bad time to attack.

3 – Steve, Sam, and Sharon attack as soon as the plane is landed. Sharon realizes Monroe has superpowers, too, and offers to help Sam fight him, but Sam declines.

6 – Sharon and Sam watch as both Burnside and Monroe attack Steve.

10 – Sharon picks them up in a raft, and they head to Bayfront Park - where Burnside said he’d be. Once they’re on land again, Steve tasks them with going to the cops, but Sam insists that he and Sharon are coming with Steve. If they’re a team, they’re a team. Sharon adds that Captain America isn’t a loner anymore. Steve finally agrees.

11 – They all go to the police and convince them to help.

14 – They head to Bayfront Park, where they’re attacked by Bucky/Jack Monroe. Sam sends Steve after Burnside, saying he and Sharon can handle Monroe.

15 – Steve decides to trust Sam and Sharon to handle it and leaves. Sam fights Monroe.

17 – Sam goes down, and Sharon runs in to check on him. Monroe attacks her and berates her for being a “frail.” Sharon responds, “You bet I’m a woman, Bucky. And I do act like one. But that doesn’t mean I act like a lady!” And punches the crap out of him. Then she picks him up and tosses him toward Sam.

18 – Sam raises his fist and punches Monroe out.

20 – Sharon and Sam meet up with Steve, who’s thinking about how what could have happened to Burnside and Monroe could have happened to him. He leaves to be alone.


Avengers 107 [ 20 ]
"The Master Plan of the Space Phantom
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Jim Starlin
Penciller: George Tuska
Inker: Dave Cockrum
Letterer: Denise Wohl (Vladimer)
Colorist: Glynis Wein (Oliver)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: October 10, 1972

20 – Steve has a loving girlfriend, Sharon Carter.


Captain America #157 [ 15 ]
"Veni, Vidi, Vici: Viper"
Writers: Steve Englehart, Steve Gerber
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: October 10, 1972

15 – Sharon runs up to Sam; Steve was in an explosion, and Sharon is convinced Steve is dead. Sam thinks he’s only playing dead and wants to look through the wreckage.


Captain America #159 [ 1 15 17 18 20 28 ]
"Turning Point"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Ann Scotto
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: December 5, 1972

1 - Title page featuring Sharon’s floating head calling Steve, “Darling.”

15 – Sharon runs toward Steve, who realizes he’s forgotten to tell her he’s alive. He says he’ll have to leave again – he and Sam have a lead. She reminds him that they’re a team, and she wants to come with him.

17 – Leila and Bob want to come, too, but Steve and Sam leave them behind. Sam hopes Sharon realizes that if they’d brought her along, they would have had to bring mostly-untrained Leila and Bob along, too. Sharon and the others – including former Sergeant Brian Muldoon – do not realize that – and are following Steve and Sam on foot.

18 – They follow Steve and Sam to a warehouse and wonder what to do next.

20 – The Cowled Commander knows about Sharon and the others and is going to kill them all.

28 – The Cowled Commander is captured; Steve finds Sharon, Leila, and Bob alive. He unties them.


Captain America #160 [ 20 ]
"Enter: Solarr"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: January 9, 1973

20 – Steve abandoned Sharon the other day and hasn’t explained why. Instead of trying to make things right, he decides to hold off. But all’s fair in love and war, because now it’s Sharon’s turn to abandon him. She leaves a note on her apartment door (number 3) that reads, “Dear Cap, I will never see you again. Please don’t try to find me. Love, Sharon.” An editor’s note says, “Beginning: The Macabre Mystery of Sharon Carter!”


Captain America #161 [ 1 2 3 5 6 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 ]
"If He Loseth His Soul"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Stan Goldberg
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: February 13, 1973

1 – Steve is upset that Sam left because Steve wasn’t showing him enough appreciation. A notation says “Wait till he discovers the fearsome fate of Sharon Carter!” It doesn’t mention that he has recently 1) forgotten to tell Sharon that he was not, in fact, dead as she believed, and 2) abandoned her without explanation days ago.

2 – Steve goes to get a coffee at Sharon’s (without any acknowledgment of how he’s been treating her like crap, too). He finds the note and doesn’t believe it. He uses a key to let himself in and finds that Sharon’s packed everything up and isn’t there anymore.

3 – He decides the note might be a sinister scheme and heads over to SHIELD.

5 – Nick reminds him that Sharon quit SHIELD, so Nick doesn’t know where she is. Steve tries to think of what he knows about her, but she’s always avoided talking about her past, her friends, and her family. And she has money, which increases the number of places she could be.

6 – He swears he’ll find her. He comes upon Sam, instead.

11 – Reunited with Sam, Steve wonders about Sharon. Meanwhile, Sharon is in a fortress in the New England woods, coming to in a four-poster bed.

12 – She tries to get out of the room but finds the door locked. She doesn’t remember how she got there, nor does she notice the camera in the chandelier.

13 – Dr. Wolfgang tells her she was in a car accident and admitted to the hospital at the insistence of her parents. Sharon realizes she’s in the same hospital as she is.

14 – Steve and Sam have so far traced Sharon to Derby, Connecticut.

18 – Sharon breaks out of her room. Something feels wrong about the hospital, and about not remembering a car accident that happened just as she arrived. Sharon hasn’t even been allowed to visit her. Speaking of her, Sharon finds her! And then, seconds before she hears someone coming, she realizes that the woman is being held prisoner.

19 – Sharon recognizes Dr. Faustus with Dr. Wolfgang and realizes they’re all in danger. Faustus grabs her and tells her about the cameras, then holds her for Wolfgang to drug her.

20 – She comes to with Steve and Sam. Steve’s pleased to find her, but none of them have any idea what’s going on. The situation makes Steve think of WWII. Sharon thinks she knew what was going on, but now she can’t remember. Sam notices they’re about to be attacked by Nazis, and Steve declares that there’s no time to think about what’s going on. For now, they have to fight for their lives!


Captain America #162 [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 19 20 ]
"This Way Lies Madness!"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: March 13, 1973

1 – Title page recapping events.

2 – Sharon knows she can figure out what’s happening, but there’s no time to think. She then tells Steve that her note told him not to follow her; he says her note wasn’t her.

3 – Steve tells her that if she wants to – essentially – dump him, he’ll have to hear it from her own lips and that he isn’t always able to show it the way he likes, but he loves her. Sharon admits that she wishes he hadn’t come, but she loves him for coming nonetheless, and she kisses him during a lapse in the fighting. They’re immediately shot at, and Steve calls her a little nut and asks if she’s trying to get them killed. She laughs and says he’s too serious.

4 – The fighting is interrupted by a stream, and Faustus invites everyone inside.

5 – Instead of going inside, Steve tries to escape, getting him, Sam, and Sharon knocked out. Faustus has them thrown into the Psycho Pit, where Sharon sees something horrifying.

6 – Sharon’s screams echo, but they don’t penetrate the room where Faustus is trying to figure out Steve’s psychological weakness.

7 – Sharon and the others see and smell a monster, but Steve is convinced it’s an illusion and tells her to get a hold of herself; his shield goes right through it.

8 – They realize that someone is messing with them. But then the supposedly-dead Skull appears and Steve decides he doesn’t want to risk it. They attack the Skull and disappear into his gaping mouth.

9 – They find themselves in darkness, where they imagine the worst. Steve urges them to fight it, and then his rogues’ gallery shows up.

10 – Steve grabs Sharon’s hand and runs, saying what’s out there can’t be any more insane than this. But then he sees Bucky, begging for help, and Steve falls for it. This time, it’s Sharon who tries to talk him around. Bucky means nothing to Sam, though, so he jumps at Bucky and shatters glass, ending Steve’s nightmare.

11 – On the other side of the glass, they find the rubber masks of their enemies, and of Bucky. Sharon remembers that there are cameras all over the place.

12 – They destroy the camera watching them and sneak around, finding Sharon’s parents have been locked up on Faustus’s orders.

13 – Steve realizes their enemy is Faustus. He also realizes he’s meeting Sharon’s parents. When they tell him that Faustus’s flunky lured them there to cure their daughter, he thinks they mean Sharon, who quickly tells him she was sworn to secrecy, and he wasn’t supposed to follow her! And then she explains that her sister was Peggy Carter, the woman he knew only by a code name. Sharon as a girl is seen in the background of Peggy in the hospital. Peggy’s doctors said even a happy shock could destroy Peggy mentally, so her family never told her that Cap came back. Sharon claims to join SHIELD to meet Cap (which doesn’t mesh with her intro, but it’s been eight years since that was written). She fell in love with Cap after meeting him.

14 – Sharon explains that she always rejected his multiple proposals because she felt she was emotionally betraying Steve. But with Peggy being cured, Peggy would know. Steve goes to rescue Peggy, thinking that she was the first girl she ever loved and the last, until Sharon. He should have guessed Sharon and Peggy were sisters – they looked so much alike.

19 – Cap punches Faustus hard enough to send him flying for the Carters.

20 – Sharon has told her parents how wonderful Cap is. But no one has yet told Peggy about Sharon and Cap being together.


Astonishing Tales 18 [ 8 ]
"Gog Cometh"
Writer: Mike Friedrich
Penciller: Dan Adkins
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Stan Goldberg
On Sale Date: March 20, 1973

8 – Even though Sharon isn’t working for SHIELD any longer, she’s still tipped them off about the original super soldier serum being copied.


Captain America 163 [ 3 5 9 11 ]
"Beware of Serpents"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: April 10, 1973

3 – The Carters, along with Cap and Sam, return to the Carter family mansion in Virginia, where they’re met by their butler, Smithers. Sharon encourages Peggy and Cap to go on a walk together, not having the heart to break it to her that Cap has moved on and fallen in love with Sharon instead.

5 – The Serpent Society reads in the paper that Faustus has been arrested and Cap has gone to his girlfriend’s in Virginia.

9 – They go to Virginia to attack him; Sharon and Peggy stumble upon the fight and realize that Cap is hurt.

11 – Sharon looks on as Peggy sees to Steve’s wounds.


Captain America 164 [ 4 ]
"Queen of the Werewolves"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Alan Lee Weiss
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Jim Starlin
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: May 15, 1973

4 – Everything seems to be going well for Steve – among the good things are that Steve and Sharon are happy.


Captain America 165 [ 8 9 ]
"The Yellow Claw Strikes"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: June 12, 1973

8 – Sharon and Steve are at the Carter family mansion in Virginia. He has to go to New York again and wants Sharon to join him, but Sharon wants to stay and support Peggy. He tells her that thinking like that is another reason why he loves her, but don’t ever yell at him about not involving her in his battles. They kiss, and Sharon tells him not to make light of this. She hates to see him go. Sharon hears a noise and they separate. It’s Peggy.

9 – Peggy tells them that there’s a campaign to paint Cap as a vigilante. He thinks it’s ridiculous and leaves.


Marvel Team-Up 13 [ 14 ]
"The Granite Sky"
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: June Braverman
Colorist: Glynis Wein (Oliver)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: June 26, 1973

14 – Flashback to Sharon and Nick sending the Grey Gargoyle into space.


Captain America 166 [ 9 15 ]
"Night of the Lurking Dead"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Dave Hunt
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: July 10, 1973

9 – Steve discovers the smear campaign is real and, even though for Peggy’s sake he has to keep his and Sharon’s relationship a secret, he decides to hear Sharon to hear a friendly voice. Sharon immediately informs him that Peggy has disappeared. Sharon just noticed an hour ago.

15 – Sam has been getting mail at the Carter mansion.


Astonishing Tales 20 [ 19 ]
"The Final Battle"
Writer: Mike Friedrich
Penciller/Colorist: Marie Severin
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: June Braverman
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: July 17, 1973

19 – Fury half-expected Bobbi Morse to ditch SHIELD for Ka-Zar like Sharon did for Cap, but instead Bobbi and Ka-Zar kiss and separate.


Captain America 167 [ 16 17 ]
"Ashes to Ashes"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: Dave Hunt
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: August 7, 1973

16 – Sharon visits Steve at Sam’s apartment. They make out, and Sharon admits she’s still worried about Peggy, who’s still missing. Their parents are frantic. Sam, not seeing a tie on the door, interrupts to explain that Leila’s been taking care of Peggy. Steve thinks it would be good for Sam and Sharon to go over and see Leila and Peggy right away, but Sam doesn’t think it’s such a good idea for Steve to go, not with the way Peggy hangs on him.

17 – They head over to Leila’s, where Cap admonishes Peggy for running out on her family without warning. Peggy argues that her parents – and particularly her sister – should have realized that after having amnesia for so long, Peggy would want to spend as much time with Cap as possible and fight beside him like in the old days. Cap rejects the idea, telling her that the Nazis were like children to the supervillains of today, and secretly wonders how much it will hurt Peggy to find out he loves Sharon, not Peggy. Meanwhile, Sharon takes a despondent Peggy back to Sharon’s apartment.


Captain America 168 [ 2 8 ]
"...and a Phoenix Shall Arise"
Writer: Tony Isabella
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: John Tartaglione
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: Linda Lessmann
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: September 4, 1973

2 – Steve is worried Peggy may crack when she finds out he loves her younger sister, not her.

8 – Steve worries he’s been partnering with people who remind him of Bucky in some way.


Captain America 169 [ 15 ]
"When a Legend Dies"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: October 2, 1973

15 – Steve goes to Sharon’s apartment to see if she’s seen the smear campaign ads against them, only for Sharon to tell him that Peggy has joined SHIELD so she can train again and once more fight alongside Steve. Sharon tells him that this can’t go on, Peggy has to know the truth about them. He agrees that it’s time he told Peggy, and then as soon as he’s out of sight decides to do some other things first.


Marvel Two-In-One 4 [ 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ]
"Doomsday 3014"
Writer: Steve Gerber
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: April 16, 1974

4 – Sharon and Steve are on a date.

5 – Steve finishes telling her that it’s ironic he has to take off his mask to avoid being recognized. They see people running, and Sharon realizes they’re running from the zoo. Steve jumps in the bushes to change into his costume while Sharon keeps watch, and then they run toward trouble.

7 – They run into Ben Grimm, who invites them to the Baxter Building for coffee.

8 – While Steve and Sharon say hello to Reed and Medusa, Ben accidentally flips a switch on one of Reed’s machines.

9 – Sharon helps bring in coffee. There’s a scream, and Ben jumps up, knocking her tray out of her hands. They rush into Reed’s lab to find a woman there from the future.

10 – Sharon tries to reassure her that she’s safe, pointing out Captain America and the Fantastic Four. The woman knocks her back and runs, claiming that Sharon is lying. When she sees the city, she faints.

11 – Reed realizes Ben accidentally flipped the switch on the time transporter. Sharon helps the woman from the future come to. The woman, Tarin, tells them that Earth has been enslaved, and Sharon volunteers to help liberate the planet.

12 – After they’re briefed, Ben asks if Cap’s sure he wants to bring along Sharon, who explains that she’s a trained SHIELD agent who can handle herself. And then Reed sends them into the future.

13 – Sharon admires the city of the future, including the Planetary Radio-Teleport.

14 – They’re spotted violating curfew and attacked by Zoms. Tarin holds Sharon back as Steve and Ben fight them.

15 – Sharon gets into the fight anyway, but the Zoms can’t feel pain and can’t be knocked out.

16 – The Monster of Badoon comes in as backup, and Zoms manage to hit Sharon in the hit and knock her out.

17 – Steve checks on her and is knocked unconscious himself. All three are carried off as Tarin watches. She vows revenge.


Captain America 175 [ 5 ]
"… Before the Dawn"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: April 9, 1974

5 – Gabe Jones gives Peggy – on one of her first SHIELD missions, if not her first – and Cap some time alone, and Steve reflects that there’s no way for Gabe to know that Cap is in love with Sharon, not Peggy.


Captain America 176 [ Cover 6-7 11 13 16 17 18 ]
"Captain America Must Die"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Linda Lessmann
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: May 7, 1974

Cover – Iconic cover of Steve quitting as Captain America, with Sharon in the background watching him walk away.

6-7 – Steve remembers his past and his present, featuring Sharon’s floating head.

11 – Peggy and Sam go to Sharon for help finding Captain America; Peggy doesn’t know why Sam went to Sharon for help, but it was lucky that Sharon thought to check Avengers Mansion!

13 – Sharon stays in the background as Sam and Peggy try to get Steve to keep the faith (in America).

16 – He asks for time alone, and the others leave, but Sharon stays behind and tells him that no matter what he chooses, she’ll support him. She fell in love with the man under the mask, and if Captain America were never seen again, she’d still have that man. They kiss.

17 – She leaves so he can decide what to do.

18 – Sharon listens as Steve announces that Captain America has to die.


Captain America 177 [ 13 ]
"Lucifer Be Thy Name"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Linda Lessmann
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: June 11, 1974

13 – The news is out that Captain America has recovered, and Steve needs to see Sharon. He tells her how his feelings are hurt that some people hate him, even though he understands why, and she reassures him that she’s happy with what he did.


Marvel Two-In-One 5 [ 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 11 13 15 17 18 ]
"Seven Against the Empire!"
Writer: Steve Gerber
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Michael Esposito
Letterer: Annette Kawecki
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: June 18, 1974

1 – Title page! Steve, Sharon, and Ben are taken to the leader of the Badoon.

2 – Steve is tortured for information as Sharon and Ben remain unconscious.

3 – They retrieve Steve’s memories, recapping the previous issue.

5 – Steve gets free, and Ben comes to. While they fight, Sharon grabs one of the Badoon’s guns on their way out.

6 – They run into reinforcements. Ben seems like he’s going to try to escape in a future car – Steve and Sharon tell him it might be dangerous. Turns out Ben just wanted to throw the car at the Badoon. He gets what he wants.

7 – Sharon holds her own in the ensuing fight.

8 – They escape; Tarin is trying to get reinforcements.

11 – They run into another platoon of Badoon. When they go to fight, one of the Badoon is hit by an arrow. But… none of them have a bow???

13 – While Sharon shoots her gun, more people join the fight.

15 – An army has arrived, with more on the way. Sharon stands at the ready while Steve announces they need a plan. Ben’s plan is to clobber.

17 – Sharon and all the others fight.

18 – Sharon, Steve, and Ben return to 1974.


Captain America 178 [ 9 ]
"If the Falcon Should Fall-"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Phil Rachelson
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: July 9, 1974

9 – Sharon and Steve are enjoying his retirement when Peggy and Gabe Jones visit Sharon, who dreads that they’ll have to lie to Peggy again. Peggy is searching for Cap, and Steve asks for an introduction. Sharon forgot Peggy doesn’t know Steve as Steve. Peggy excuses herself to Steve, saying she isn’t feeling well, and Sharon takes her inside to lie down and relax. Peggy is afraid she’ll never see the man she loves ever again. Sharon tries to comfort her and gets her some water.


Captain America 179 [ 1 2 3 4 8 10 ]
"Slings and Arrows"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: August 6, 1974

1 – Title page. Sharon and Steve are on a date together!

2 – They’ve been able to spend more time together now that he’s retired, and they both enjoy that. Except Steve does feel bad about Peggy. He has to tell her the truth – it feels wrong to deceive her this way! Sharon reassures him that he hasn’t made any advances, and he argues that though he hasn’t since she came out of her amnesia, he did in the 1940’s. He’d meant his deception to protect Peggy from pain, but the confusion has only hurt her more. And now that the emotional beat is wearing thin, they’re attacked by a projectile.

3 – They try to find safety while getting nearly-shot by more arrows, including trick arrows. When Steve’s jacket sleeves are pinned against the wall, Steve bulges his muscles and bares his chest entirely.

4 – Steve wants to go after the archer, who has called him out by name (and by rhyme, because New York, I guess?), and Sharon points out that everyone else will realize who Steve is if he goes after the archer right now – Steve’s face is as bare as his chest. But she can’t answer how the Golden Archer knows Steve’s identity.

8 – Steve talks about the Golden Archer with Sharon while sitting on her fire escape. He spots Peggy and tells Sharon to go inside – he might as well get this over with.

10 – Steve is attacked by the Golden Archer, and Sharon looks after him as he climbs up the fire escape to go after him.


Captain America 180 [ 6 9 ]
"The Coming of the Nomad"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Linda Lessmann
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: September 10, 1974

6 – Steve has let himself into Sharon’s apartment for privacy for a new plan. Turns out, Golden Archer was Hawkeye, and Steve is now inspired to take on a new costume. Sharon is less than thrilled. They’ve finally been able to spend time together. He tells her that he was born for this, and she tells him she won’t stop him, but she won’t go with him, either.

9 – His answer to all this is to go to Sharon’s home, letting her clear the way with her parents, to work on his Nomad costume.


Captain America 181 [ 9 ]
"The Mark of Madness"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Linda Lessmann
Editor: Roy Thomas
On Sale Date: October 10, 1974

9 – Sharon returns to the Virginia mansion to make up with Steve, only to find that he’s left without informing anyone. She suspects he’s out crime-fighting, and she has to contemplate what it means that he loves crime-fighting as much as he loves her.


Captain America 182 [ 5 ]
"Inferno"
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Frank Robbins
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Bill Mantlo
Editor: Len Wein
On Sale Date: November 12, 1974

5 – Sharon has found out via television that Steve is in Seattle as Nomad, and she thinks about what could have been while out on a walk… where she meets the Carter neighbor, Dave Cox.