- "It's like old times again, being in costume -- on the trail of some strange unknown menace! This is what I was meant to do! This is the destiny I can never escape!"
- ―Captain America
| "Captain America Joins... The Avengers!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Avengers | |
| Title: | "Captain America Joins... The Avengers!" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 3 |
| Cover price: | .25 |
| Cover date: | September, 1969 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Stan Lee |
| Writers: | Stan Lee |
| Pencilers: | Jack Kirby |
| Inkers: | George Roussos |
| Cover artists: | John Buscema |
| Cover inker: | Frank Giacoia |
| Cover letterer: | Sam Rosen |
| Letterers: | Artie Simek |
| Editors: | Stan Lee |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Avengers King-Size Special #2 |
| Next: | Avengers King-Size Special #4 |
"Captain America Joins... The Avengers!" is the title to the first story presented in the third King-Size Special edition of the first Avengers ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Stan Lee with artwork by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos, and lettering by Artie Simek. The second story is called "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" and is written by Stan Lee with artwork by Jack Kirby and inks by Chic Stone. It was lettered by Artie Simek. "Lest Tyranny Triumph" is the third story in this issue and is written by Stan Lee, drawn by Jack Kirby, inked by Frank Ray and lettered by Artie Simek. The fourth and final vignette is called "The Sentinel and the Spy!" and is written by Lee with art by Kirby and Frank Ray. It was lettered by Sam Rosen. All four stories were edited by Stan Lee. All four stories are reprinted from previously published material and all spotlight the character of Captain America. This issue shipped to retailers in September, 1969 and carries a cover price of .25 cents per copy.
"Captain America Joins... The Avengers!"[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Baron Zemo, Heinrich Zemo (In flashback only)
- Sub-Mariner, Prince Namor
- Vuk
Minor characters
- Bucky Barnes, James Buchanan Barnes (In flashback only)
- Hulk, Robert Bruce Banner (As an afterthought)
- Pete, a New Yorker
- Sally, a New Yorker
Organizations
Races
Locations
Items
- Captain America's shield
- Hammer
- Handguns
- Iron Man armor MK III
- Laser weapons
- Mjolnir
- Power armor
- Shield
Vehicles
- Airplane
- Automobiles
- Avengers submarine
- Baron Zemo's drone bomber
- Captain America's motorcycle
- D'Bari space vessel
Powers
- Aquatic respiration
- Armored flight
- Flight
- Matter transmutation
- Size alteration
- Superhuman agility
- Superhuman strength
- Winged flight
Miscellaneous
"The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull"[]
| "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title: | "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Stan Lee |
| Pencilers: | Jack Kirby |
| Inkers: | Chic Stone |
| Letterers: | Artie Simek |
| Editors: | Stan Lee |
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Bucky Barnes (Behind the scenes only)
Villains
Minor characters
- Adolf Hitler (In flashback only)
- Esther (In flashback only)
- Red Skull, George Maxon (Referenced only)
- Shultz
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
- Submarine (In flashback only)
Powers
Miscellaneous
- 1940s
- 1941
- Bondage
- Brainwashing
- Flashback
- Jail (In flashback only)
- Suspended animation
- World War II
"Lest Tyranny Triumph!"[]
| "Lest Tyranny Triumph!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title: | "Lest Tyranny Triumph!" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Stan Lee |
| Pencilers: | Jack Kirby |
| Inkers: | Frank Ray |
| Letterers: | Artie Simek |
| Editors: | Stan Lee |
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Shultz (Actually Bucky in disguise)
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
"The Sentinel and the Spy!"[]
| "The Sentinel and the Spy!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title: | "The Sentinel and the Spy!" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Stan Lee |
| Pencilers: | Jack Kirby |
| Inkers: | Frank Ray |
| Letterers: | Sam Rosen |
| Editors: | Stan Lee |
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Avengers were created by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. They first appeared in The Avengers #1 in September, 1963.
- The character of Captain America was created by writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby. He was introduced in the pages of Captain America Comics #1, published by Timely Comics in March, 1941.
- Avengers King-Size Special 3 redirects to this page.
- "Captain America Joins... The Avengers!" was originally printed in The Avengers #4.
- "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" was originally printed as the second story featured in Tales of Suspense #66 in June, 1965.
- "Lest Tyranny Triumph!" was originally printed as the second story featured in Tales of Suspense #67 in July, 1965.
- This issue was released in between Avengers #68 and Avengers #69.
- "The Sentinel and the Spy!" was originally printed as the second story featured in Tales of Suspense #68 in August, 1965.
- "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" was adapted into the "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" mini-episode of the Captain America animated series in 1966. Most of the animation used in the episode are taken directly from panels from the original story.
- "Lest Tyranny Triumph!" was adapted into the "Lest Tyranny Triumph" mini-episode of the Captain America animated series in 1966. Most of the animation used in the episode are taken directly from panels from the original story.
- "The Sentinel and the Spy!" was adapted into the "The Sentinel and the Spy" mini-episode of the Captain America animated series in 1966. Most of the animation used in the episode are taken directly from panels from the original story.
- The Tales of Suspense stories from this issue have also been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks, Volume 14.