Joss Whedon will return to Marvel for Captain America's 75th anniversary

Writer, director and long-time Marvel Cinematic Universe consultant Joss Whedon will write a backup story in this month's issue of Captain America: Sam Wilson, a celebration of 75 years of Captain America, reports Entertainment Weekly.

The character was first introduced in Captain America Comics #1 in March of 1941, a comic with a cover that famously featured its new hero felling Hitler with a roundhouse punch — a more controversial statement than it might seem now, since America wouldn't actually enter World War II for another nine months. Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, has not been the only man to take on the moniker, though he's certainly held it for the longest.

These days, however, the name of Captain America — and the star-spangled suit — is worn by Sam Wilson, formerly the Falcon, Marvel's first African American superhero. Rogers will, no doubt, appear some where in the anniversary issue, which will consist of several stories. The lead writer and artist on Captain America: Sam Wilson (Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuna) will create a larger lead story, followed by at least two backup features, one written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Mike Perkins, and one written by Joss Whedon and drawn by John Cassiday, says Entertainment Weekly.

Whedon made his first mark on Marvel Comics directly when he began writing the new title Astonishing X-Men, with Cassiday on art. The writer's run introduced ideas like the Cure for the mutant x-gene, which would later be borrowed for the X-Men film franchise. Whedon also took over writing Marvel's hit teen series Runaways from its creator Brian K. Vaughan.

Though Whedon's most well-known contribution to Marvel is inarguably directing what is now the fifth highest grossing film of all time, The Avengers (as well as its sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron), there are doubtless many fans of him, John Cassiday and Astonishing X-Men who'll be excited for this news.

Captain America: Sam Wilson #7 will hit physical and digital comics retailers on March 30, 2016.