CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 ADVANCE REVIEW

[Andrea Speed]

Reviewer: Andrea Speed andy@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Out of Time, part 2

Is he … well, you know … really dead?

<a href="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/media/86/captainamerica2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/86/captainamerica2.jpg" align="left" border="0"> </a>Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Steve Epting
Artist, Pages 3-5 & 11: Michael Lark
Colors: Frank D'Armata
Letters: Virtual Calligraphy's Randy Gentile
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Production: Jerry Kalinowski
Cover Art: Steve Epting
Publisher: Marvel



Review: It should be obvious to anyone who read the first issue of this Captain America relaunch whom I‘m referring to, but for those who didn’t read it, I’m in the awkward position of not being able to reveal the identity of the potentially dead guy. No, it’s not the Cap (obviously), but one of his rogue’s gallery. A very big name in his rogue’s gallery, in fact.

As this issue starts, Cap gets the news of what happened to this man - let’s just call him the Stiff - and doesn’t believe it. Even when he sees the Stiff for himself, he can’t believe it. The guy who bedeviled him and made his life hell for decades has finally ended up on the wrong side of a bullet? In a way, it’s too simple and too good to be true, and that’s not including the fact that in comic books, dead only means dead if you’re a C list character or lower. But that isn’t the worst part for Steve; in fact, there’s two shocks for him. First, what the Stiff was planning before he died. Although it looks like a key component is missing, there’s something still in effect; something rather nasty. And two, it’s who SHIELD suspects as the killer of the Stiff.

Brubaker’s clipped, austere dialogue is not hard boiled patter per se, but it often comes close, giving a bracing dose of reality to this fantastical series. In fact, I think Kurt Busiek boils it down nicely on the letter page, and I can’t top that.

Epting does a great job on the art, which sometimes reminds me of Deodato’s ASM work. It has the same smooth, painted look and occasionally photo realistic faces. Lark guest stars in some black and white flashback sequences, that have a lovely clear, sketchy look to them, like sour memories. The coloring by D’Armata is richer and better than his work in this week’s New Avengers.

Just like the Ellis penned Iron Man, this is turning out to be a relaunch worth the bloody renumbering.




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Buy Captain America online now from X-World and Save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=90&cat=CAPTAIN+AMERICA+)

[Blake Petit]

Y'know, I usually like Brubaker's crime stuff better than his spy stuff, but I got the first issue of this because I love Cap. And I really, really dug it. I'll stick around.

Is it really a spoiler to name the character shot on the last page of last issue, though? :hrm:

[Andrea Speed]

As I said, it might be to those who didn't read it. So yeah, I'm staying mum to be on the safe side.:D

[Lord_Magneto]

I hate Captain America almost half as much as i hate wolverine... well.. even less, but still, i hate him. but i decided to give this a shot, both because of your review and because i'm curious as to who get shot. is it bucky?:p

[Andrea Speed]

:LOL:

Yes - Bucky is shot. Bucky is bereft of life; he rests in peace. If we hadn't nailed him to the perch he'd be pushing up daisies.

[Ammar Al Subahi]

Originally posted by Lord_Magneto
I hate Captain America almost half as much as i hate wolverine... well.. even less, but still, i hate him. but i decided to give this a shot, both because of your review and because i'm curious as to who get shot. is it bucky?:p

How come you hate Cap?

[Ryan Read]

I'm really impressed by this take on Cap. It's really good and well written. And it's after midnight, so Happy New Year everyone. I'm a bit drunk.

[Walt Kneeland]

as is becoming a sort of mantra-type thing for me....I'm not at all fond of the price ($3 +/- $.05) is just a bit MUCH for a single issue--and with the various books DEBUTING at that price, the 'standard price' goes up, they'll very likely lose me.

More on-topic...

I was actually surprised/shocked at the kill in # 1, even after having been convinced via review(s) to give the series a shot. Question now, I suppose, is...is it worth nabbing as a single, or wait for the inevitable trade? I'm thinking offhand, I may stay on-board for the first story, and see how it goes. :confused:

I checked Cap out a couple times before "Heroes Reborn," Nabbed the first (and 2nd?) issue of the HR Cap before a comics-hiatus; got back in for the Glactus story in HR. Picked up the entirety of vol. 3, and picked up 4 or 5 issues of vol. 4.

I've enjoyed the character in the various incarnations.

...and it's nearing 3:30am.

I hope everyone's had a happy new year.

I think my first resolution shall be similar to a character in "Dork Tower": "I resolve to spend less on comics in 2005..." (...than?) "...than the GNP of a small nation." :D

~Walt

[Blake Petit]

:LOL: -- Points for the Dark Tower reference.

The Waid/Garney run of Cap still goes down as the best run I've ever read of the character. (The first Waid/Garney run -- the second one was still pretty good, but not AS good.) Still, if the first issue of this was any indication, this could be the best Cap has been in quite a long time.

[Walt Kneeland]

I understand the first waid/garney run was before Heroes Reborn? I recall there being some issue with them being taken off the book for HR, but getting it back when it shifted back to the Marvel Universe proper.

When did that particular run begin, and are there any stand-out issues one should be on the lookout for? (I have the "Man Without a Country" story, and if that didn't finish the original vol. 1, I have whatever issue(s) closed out vol. 1 in that summer with Onslaught.

Not that I REALLY need more fodder for searching back-issue/bargain bins, but what the hey... ;)

thanks,

~Walt

[Archangel 2029]

I like how Brubaker is writing Cap. From Cap's actions you can tell that he is still reeling from the Avengers Disassembled event and fighting Bad guys in a very un-Cap way. This all makes sense considering what happened.