I’ve been annoyed that Rick wasn’t included in this variant (and the entire series) since it first came out so I attempted to draw him in the shirt myself :)
Avengers #108 (Englehart/Heck & et al, Feb 1973). The Vision and Captain America concoct a convoluted plan to defeat the Space Phantom and the Grim Reaper. There’s been an almost delirious amount of retconning lately, and it’s an interesting device for the moment — discovering new plots and relationships between the panel margins…
Avengers #107 (Englehart/Starlin & et al, Jan 1973). The Space Phantom and the Grim Reaper conspire to transplant the Vision’s synthezoid brain into Captain America’s body. I truly doubt Vision’s really gonna go through with it, but the suggestion that his lovesick misery might conceivably drive him to it is pretty neat.
From Captain Marvel Vol. 3 #6 by Peter David and ChrisCross. Rick hides Moondragon in the bathroom bound and gagged and blindfolded blasting Limp Bizkit (it was 2000, don’t judge) rendering her entirely sensory deprived. Also he didn’t dress Moondragon in that fetish outfit, that’s what she just wears (at the time). That’s Marlo, Rick’s on again, off again paramour looking justifiably shocked.
The sequel to Monday’s post. Some time later, Rick Jones parts from the Avengers to seek his original friend, Bruce Banner. The Hulk eventually resurfaces in New York, with Rick on his tail, and crosses paths with Cap. Rick is almost hurt in the Hulk’s rampage and Cap brings him to Avengers HQ.
Then the exact same thing happens. Rick goes through Cap’s closet again and puts on the Bucky uniform again! Only this time, he stands up to Cap, and convinces Cap to teach him the ways of the super-sidekick. Thus begins Rick Jones’ short tenure as Bucky. Neither of them seem to remember that this exact situation happened fairly recently.
Cap’s reaction here, by Jim Steranko, isn’t quite Kirby’s portrait of his utter horror. But I do love his accusatory finger-point as he shouts, “Bucky’scostume!!”
A very strange moment from early Avengers. Rick Jones, apparently oblivious to Cap’s guilt and depression since being unfrozen three issues ago, just parades around in his dead sidekick’s costume. The look of absolute horror on Cap’s face immediately snapping into terrifying anger is tremendous.
Avengers#7, August 1964. w: Stan Lee; a: Jack Kirby.
