Karl Kesel and Mitch Breilweiser’s Captain America: Patriot collects material from Captain America: Patriot #1–4 by Kesel and Mitch and Elizabeth Breilweiser, the story “Old Soldiers Never Die…” from All-Winners Comics 70th Anniversary Special written by Kesel with art by Steve Uy, and What If #4 (1977) written by Roy Thomas with art by Frank Robbins. The main story features Jeffrey Mace, The Patriot, who first appeared in The Human Torch #4 (1941), tracing his story from reporter at The Daily Bugle to superhero defending the homefront from fifth columnists during World War II, to one of the replacement Captains America.

Kesel’s work helps to fill in continuity gaps and explain the Captain America who appeared in Captain America #59–75 (November 1946 – February 1950), with Mace becoming the third Captain America. William Naslund, originally the Spirit of ’76 (first appearance in The Invaders #14 [1977]), succeeded Steve Rogers after the Rogers’s disappearance toward the end of the War. The story from What If #4 originally explained Naslund’s role as a replacement Cap as well as his fate, which Kesel incorporated into his story. As Marvel originally ignored the 1950s Captain America issues following Steve Rogers’s return in Avengers #4 (1964), this story helps explain the complicated post-war and 1950s stories. There was a third replacement Cap, William Burnside, who first appeared in Captain America #155 (1972), though Captain America #600 explained that he recognized Jeff Mace as a substitute and not the original. He later found a copy of the Super-Soldier Serum and used it to become a new Cap just as Mace retired from the role. To that end, Kesel concludes his story with the final official pre-1960s return Cap making his appearance.

Kesel has certainly done his research into the postwar years, including discussion of blue-ticket discharge from the military and the beginnings of what David K. Johnson termed “the Lavender Scare.” He also captures the spirit of what Captain America represents: not the nation as it is, but rather what it can be and how it’s a work in progress. He also has some fun with the All-Winners Comics 70th Anniversary Special, portraying Namor complaining about Otto Binder’s portrayal of him in the in-universe comic book about the team. Binder, of course, worked on the real comic book and even wrote the story, “Menace From the Future World” (in All Winners Comics #21 [December 1946]) that Kesel references at the beginning of his anniversary special. In order to show how it all connects, this volume concludes with What If #4, the only canonical story in What If that laid the groundwork for Kesel’s own work. The art from Mitch and Elizabeth Breilweiser is particularly stunning and adds a sense of history to the story. ( )

Very solid restoration and expansion of a C-List hero with a part of a greater legacy. ( )