>>> No, no, no. The “clone” Cap that first appeared in 1991 was the real Cap all along. The Cap that died in 1991 was really the clone Cap created in the original “Clone Cap” story, who took over as Captain America. For the previous 15 years, loyal Cap readers were following the adventures of the clone, as the real Cap took another identity and lived a normal life.

The real irony of this is that in the Captain America title, Cap fought the Red Skull in issue 300, which eventually led to the storyline where Captain America was strapped down, had cells extracted, and those cells were used to clone the Red Skull in Steve Rogers' body. Cap spent at least some of that time unconscious, so it would theoretically be MORE than possible to imply that the REAL Cap has been in suspended animation ever since, and that the Cap who's been running around for the last 24 years was, in fact, his clone.

So clearly, the real Cap died in 1991, still a prisoner of the Red Skull, while it was his clone who continued as Cap and eventually died in the Civil War.

Higgins also did the cover to an issue of Nightmask that was drawn by Keith Giffen doing his second rate Kirby impression. The tale behind that was to undo what Jim Shooter tried to set up in that continuity-the world outside your window. Once Shooter was fired Higgins decided to "piss" on his grave. Justmy 2 cents worth

-hx

It contained numerous contradictions to Savage Sword of Conan#119 or so (the death of his father and family, including Siobhan) and possibly CTB I#119 (his grandfather).

In my research, it really appeared as though, beyond Kennedy over-exaggerating, the media coverage of the whole thing was grossly exaggerated as well, and I mean the coverage from back THEN!

It WAS bold of the show to do the KKK storyline, but really, it wasn't THAT big of a deal.

Apparently already done. I leafed through a new edition of FREAKONOMICS at the bookstore the other day and it included and addendum about their initial Stetson Kennedy account.

Freakonomics makes for an interesting read - though it looks like the authors (Levitt and Dubner) themselves fell foul of an urban legend (relying on Kennedy's acccount), and over-empasised the extent that the Superman radio show damaged the real life KKK . They write that the Superman radio show gave away much of the secret language and rituals, causing the clan to be exposed and ridiculed. However, when one listens to the "Clan of the Fiery Cross" series expecting to hear the secret language and description of the secret rituals peppered throughout the series, none or very little is found. The authors feel that they have been "hoodwinked" by Kennedy and will modify this chapter in a revised edition of the book.

Higgins was one of the worst writers at Marvel. I'm not sure how he got into writing, but he was given Excalibur bookshelf stories and fill-ins, and was writing for MCP. He also took over Power Pack, with the awful storyline that made fans go crazy (Alex turning into a horse, the secret identities revealed). His work was retconned by Alan Davis on Excalibur and Louise Simonson on Power Pack.

He was more or less the "Chuck Austin" of the time.

And I hope I didn’t give any indication that I thought it was one or the other! I was trying to describe it neutrally."

You did describe it neutrally.

I was just curious as to what reason someone would feel the need to retcon a story before it was over.
i.e. Was it truly terrible, or was it that Roy Thomas didn't want his 'baby' (even though it's not) toyed with?

Was the Conan storyline THAT bad?
Or was Roy Thomas showing once again, that he’s the biggest nerd of them all, and didn’t want anyone to harm ‘his’ baby?

I couldn't say.

And I hope I didn't give any indication that I thought it was one or the other! I was trying to describe it neutrally.