Captain America #197
Published and © by Marvel, May 1976
Title: “The Rocks Are Burning!”
Synopsis: Captain America tries to recover his shield from the Kill-Derby as Gen. Argyle Fist’s forces joined the fray.
Writer: Jack Kirby
Penciler: Kirby
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Review: Jack Kirby settles into a steady groove on this mid-’70s return to Cap. As with the earlier installments of the “Madbomb” saga (see reviews), this issue showcases the King’s powerful, kinetic art and penchant for nonstop action. It also features awkward dialogue and stilted characterization, but that’s pretty much the cost of admission for a Kirby comic from this era. What drops this chapter down a notch is the lack of any of Kirby’s signature madcap concepts. His epic imagination is an essential part of what makes these stories work, but this issue is mostly a simple, by-the-numbers affair.
Grade: B
Second opinion: “Motorized skateboards, trite dialogue and somewhat uninspired artwork leaves a bad taste in our mouth. … 2 out 4 stars.” – Marvel Art Review #2, 1976 … “A reader could still be knocked out by Kirby’s dynamism and compositional flair.” – William Schoell, “Superheroic: The Bronze Age of Comics Volume 2,” 2022
Cool factor: Kirby is still the king of big-punching action.
Not-so-cool factor: Still having a hard time with Gen. Argyle Fist, poor man’s Sgt. Fury.
Notable: The “Let’s Rap With Cap” letters page includes an LoC from future Marvel editor Ralph Macchio.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 30¢ variant and a 9p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant. … Beware, this issue contains Marvel Value Stamp (Series B) #78.
Character quotable: “On the very day of this country’s Bicentennial, the Madbomb will go off and end its existence!” – Hesperus Chadwick, Elite villain
Editor’s note: This review was written July 10, 2026.
