Captain America #196
Published and © by Marvel, April 1976
Title: “Kill Derby”
Synopsis: After initially resisting, Captain America joins a gladiator-style skateboard derby in hopes of retrieving his stollen shield.
Writer: Jack Kirby
Penciler: Kirby
Inker: D. Bruce Berry
Review: An issue after getting bogged down in a storybook political primer (see review of Captain America #195), Jack “King” Kirby gets his “Madbomb” storyline back on track with an all-out-action issue. Yes, the addition of a gladiator-style roller derby on rocket skateboards borders on ridiculous. And, yes, the dialogue is still painfully wooden in places. But the pacing is better, allowing Kirby’s still-dynamic art to carry the day. It’s unclear if the addition of Marv Wolfman as “consulting editor” nudged things along, but this outing shows a definite improvement over the preceding issue.
Grade: B
Second opinion: “The fear of letting democracy die is quite real in this storyline … . It’s scary and it’s also frighteningly prescient .” – Keith R.A. DeCandido, from “Bicentennial Bombast” in “Jack of All Comics!,” 2025
Cool factor: Damn, Jack Kirby could draw a double truck.
Not-so-cool factor: It’s all “freaky traitors” and “kill-crazy kooks.” Yeah, the dialogue isn’t the best.
Notable: According to the annual statement of ownership on the “Let’s Rap With Cap” letters page, Captain America had an average total paid circulation of 180,156 for the 12 months preceding Sept. 25, 1975. … LoC from future Eclipse publisher Dean Mullaney.
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.
Character quotable: “Human greed of the keystone of our success!” – Cheer Chadwick, paragon of privilege
Editor’s note: This review was written July 1, 2026.
