Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Captain America

Well if it is the real one I don't mind as long as the story-telling keeps up this high of a quality. I've not picked up a Cap solo title since he was a werewolf and I'm actually enjoying this one.

Variant cover for #6 coming out. Here's a link (as if you've haven't guessed who the Winter Solider is yet):

http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/CapAmerica/cap6variant.jpg

Regardless, I can't help but think of it as Marvel ripping off "Batman" and "Hush"...

I just wonder what villainous identity Uncle Ben will adopt when he returns...

Didn't you know?!


Uncle Ben was

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...the REAL Hobgoblin!


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At any rate, I have confidence this'll be handled better than "Hush" if indeed the case... :rolleyes:

I don't see this ripping off "Hush" so much as maybe the Red Hood storyline going on now. Brubaker and Winick got their writing jobs on their respective titles at the same time and talked over a year ago about what they were planning. In fact the big reveals in both Batman and Captain America were supposed to happen in the same week but CA was delayed. At least according to this article.

Oh, and Brubaker brings up a good point in the afore mentioned interview. Bucky's death was a retcon. There was never an original comic where he was shown being blown up. That was all done years later.

It is a compelling argument, but it isn't entirely true that Bucky's death was only seen in flashback. Cap and the Avengers went back in time to the event way, way back in Avengers #56. They were returning to the present just as 1945 Cap and Bucky were heading for the plane, though, so I don't recall if they saw the explosion.

Not that I would expect the above to make a difference now.

I think the point may have been that Cap & Bucky were together in WW2, after WW2... and then after their book was cancelled they were revived a few years later, still together. THEN, 10 years later, they find Cap frozen in a block of ice, and he tells how Bucky was KILLED in the closing days of WW2. Which totally contradicted several years worth of Cap & Bucky stories, to say the least.

Sure, Jack Kirby wasn't around on Cap's series (he left after the first 10 issues, in fact) and there you had Kirby doing a brand-new Cap story, so I suppose HE felt it was his place to do whatever he wanted with "his" character. But about 10 years later, Steve Englehart finally decided (in his first C.A. storyline) to come up with an explanation about how "Cap" was still active after WW2.

Meanwhile, if you go back to the early 50's when Cap's series was revived, it's interesting to compare those issues against Simon & Kirby's FIGHTING AMERICAN which was being done at the SAME TIME. It's clear S&K's book was light years ahead of what Lee & Romita were doing! FA was so much BETTER than the 50's C.A. it really makes you glad Lee & Kirby decided to "ignore" all the Cap stories after WW2 the way they did.

He's way too young to be the "real deal". This guy looked to older than Jack Monroe. In fact, he liked exactly like Jack Monroe. I realize this is because Jack had plastic surgery to look like Bucky Barnes, but even surgery can't explain this level of similarity.

OK, finally read it. Some thoughts:

- The death of Neal, the SHIELD agent at the end of the issue, "I think I can disarm it" was prefectly similar to Bucky's Silver Age death. And that character was very flawed and likeable in the beginning of the issue. This is just very good writing IMO.

- The understated respect shown to and from all of the SHIELD agents, the military officers, Fury, Sharon and Cap is very nicely done. This, more than anything else, reminds me of the Lee/Kirby Silver Age.

You know, a few pages ago in this thread, I was saying that I really thought if it was Bucky it would be a dumb idea. But...the more I read these Cap issues, I'm kinda feeling that I should retract that statement.

It's the writing. It's just so damn good. Brubaker is one helluva a writer and that shines through here. It cannot be denied that this is the best Cap I've seen in ages. Actually, this is probably the best Cap since Grell's run (and I liked Gruenwald's long run and Waid's brief first run).

Jason Todd in Batman just seems so stupid and so poorly executed, that it reeks of 'hack writing'. Yet, Bucky's appearance here (if it's him) is quite the opposite--all b/c of the writing. Of course, we don't know if it's Bucky yet, and I'm pretty damn interested.

I also have to say that the art is phenominal(sp? ). Crossgen, if nothing else, served a great purpose in getting these great artists some recognition, and I'm glad to see them working on Marvel's top stuff these days.

If it really is him, this will likely be explained as him being put "on ice" inbetween missions, which retarded his aging. Indeed, I believe he's in that tank the Red Skull is looking at in the first ish of the storyline.

In my 60's re-reading project, I've recently caught up to the issues of TALES OF SUSPENSE where Cap's revival series started. DAMN! Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Chic Stone-- now THESE were the stories that made me a Cap fan in the first place! Seems like episode after episode, he takes on 10 guys at a time without even breathing hard, while making sardonic quips. It's also great to read these in the original printing-- the linework is MUCH sharper than it ever was in reprints.

And then there's SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #13, where Cap teams with Fury's squad. Unfortunately I only have this as a fuzzy reprint, but at least I can still enjoy the story. It's funny when Pamela is complimenting Nick on finally acting like a "perfect gentleman", only moments before that week's big barroom brawl breaks out-- started when Bull McGiveny picks on an un-named blonde private (guess who?). Later on, Fury is surprised to run into the SAME private on a train in Nazi-held France, and gets suspicious when the guy turns down the offer of a hidden machine gun. I suddenly realized what I completely missed the first time I read it-- that arrogant little S.O.B. of a "Hitler Youth" member was really Bucky in disguise! "Better not argue with him, Sarge-- these Hitler Youth can be really MEAN!" It reminded me of how many times Cap & Bucky wore disguised back in the 1st year of their book, when Joe Simon & Jack Kirby were doing it together.

Don't feel too bad - I missed that the first time too.

I guess it was a really good disguise.

You know, the latest issue (#7) was actually really amazing! What a story--Brubaker continues to impress me majorly with his writing.

Now, I like Jack Munroe. Nomad's horrible 90's comic was the first ever comic I purchased with my own money and made my Dad add to his list. So, I'm sorry to see him die, and it was heart-breaking to watch him lose his sanity in his final year of life.

But the writing was very impressive. Brubaker knows how to move a plot along and pace it well, and the final page, where it looks like Nomad wasn't so crazy after all, and really was on the verge of doing something heroic was very ironic and poignant.

Brubaker does seem to know Cap's history very well, and almost appears to be cleaning up loose ends while breaking new ground these days.

Art is still beautiful, and the shadowing is done very well.

...still can't get over how hooked I am on this book, despite waiting in dismay for the big reveal last issue!...

#7 is out? I didn't see it at the shop this week. Dang! I'm not sure which issue I started with on my mail order so maybe this will be in this month's shipment.

#7 was out at my shop, Scooter. If by some chance you missed it, let me know and I'll snag you a copy!

Thanks Cobie!

I'll let you know this week. I have my order list at work so I can pull it up on Tuesday to see if #7 is on the list.

So, I hear #8 is out....and the truth is revealed.

Comments?

Nobody?

Clearly, we're all still in shock.

Just read it tonight.

And once more: WOW. Just, wow.

Above all, its Bruabaker's tight writing, which keeps weaving a well-written, convincing and smart story, packed with clever plot twists, deep characterization and interesting characters. And the art...yes, yes, yes.

Now, the Winter Soldier. I think you're right OM, I am still in shock. But dammit if I can't help but feel impressed by this storyline and surprised at how much I'm enjoying it.

The best part, is where do we go from here? Luskin, the Cube, Cap's showdown with Bucky/Winter Soldier, if indeed it is him, which with the flashbacks and all, it pretty much shows that it is. And then what happens after? This could be years worth of great Cap stories in the future, if done right. I can't wait.

Your own thoughts? Everyone else?

Everyone else still reading this?

#9 just came out, and another intense and incredible issue. More great interaction b/t Sharon, Cap and Fury.

And more Crossbones, Cap's best villain of the last 20 years! It appears there is much more to come than we though, and things aren't over by far for certain characters.

Just caught up with #8 and #9. Still the best Cap series I've read but something is bothering me. Did they just drop the problems Cap was having with his memory? Seems like they built that up every issue then these last two they didn't touch on it at all. I think that mystery is the one that intrigues me the most.

Someone told me Brubaker explained those away (and not necessarily in the comic) as a red herring caused by the Cosmic Cube. But I can't confirm it.

Wish I had paid more attention and realized the Brubaker was doing the new Doom and X-Men minis. If he's going to be telling a story like with the Winter Soldier I probably would have pre-ordered it.

CBR article on upcoming Brubaker minis .

Scott, want me pick up the first issues of either of these for you? It's no prob on my end.

BTW, the Cap House of M crossover was hands-down, without a doubt, the best House of M story told. Heart-breaking and well-written, and a further tribute to Cap.

The idea that he would have wanted to be an astronaught and have a whole other life was sad, albeit another reason why I love Cap.