Back in the 70s, Steve Rogers gave up the Captain America identity for the better part of a year. He did so after wrapping up a case in the previous issue in which the head of a secret criminal empire within the U.S. government was revealed to be none other than the President himself! (This was the mid-70s, after all, when Tricky Dick Nixon had just been outed for his coverup of Watergate and left the White House in disgrace.)
Anyway, Steve tossed his shield aside - you can still see it bouncing on that cover! - and renounced the star-spangled outfit to show his disgust over how corrupt his government had become. Of course his use of the word "forever" leaves a little to be desired...
In looking back, it's interesting to note that two of the key figures in Cap's current situation - if being dead can be considered a situation - are shown on this cover from 30 years ago. There's Iron Man, the semi-villainous figure behind the Superhero Registration Act, and right beside him stands Cap-girlfriend Sharon Carter, who inadvertantly delivered the death blow to her beloved man.
I'll admit to having a disproportionate fanboy nostalgic love for this cover, considering how exciting it was to teenage me to consider a superhero giving up his job in protest of a political scandal. Sadly I can't imagine any modern day hero reacting that way, though.
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