Jason Grasso
Mar 2, 2008, 10:37 pm
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/marvel/0208/CAPA2035_col.jpg"target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/marvel/0208/CAPA2035_colt.jpg"hspace=10 align=left alt="Captain America #35"></a> Reviewer: Jason Grasso, Desperad07@aol.com
Story Title: The Burden of Dreams: Part Five
Look, Captain America now represents the sovereignty of Puerto Rico!
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Butch Guice
Inkers: Butch Guice & Mike Perkins
Colorist: Frank D’armata
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Production: Irene Lee
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Captain America created by: Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
Published by: Marvel Comics (www.marvel.com)
I wasn’t a big Captain America fan up until recently. I’m fully willing to admit that the perception of his character may have been stronger than the reality but that perception (the iconic, patriotic do-gooder) was a tougher sell to someone who preferred flawed, grey-area characters in a less red, white & blue world. Another problem was some of the villains on the other side of Cap’s shield. MODOK, Arnim Zola, and Red Skull are such ridiculously looking villains that it was hard to ever even take this section of the Marvel Universe seriously. But Ed Brubaker has gotten me to completely buy into the Red Skull. Could he pull of this trick again?
This issue picks up in the aftermath of the deadly tragedy at the White House, where mind-controlled S.H.I.E.L.D. agents opened fire on protesters. In response, the government hires a Blackwater-esque “security firm” to help guard D.C. Of course, the Senator leading the charge is quickly revealed to be under the influence of Dr. Faustus.
Bucky is investigating what led to the riots, ultimately finding that Kronas has drugged the protesters, essentially fueling both sides of the riot. When another spark is lit, Bucky quickly gets into Cap gear, grabs his shield and heads into action. He’s a different fighter than his predecessor which makes for a fresh style for the artists to depict, but also more aggressive dialogue. He attempts to subdue the rioting, while getting intel from Black Widow, which leads him to a cliffhanging confrontation with the Serpent Squad. Bucky is becoming confident in his role as the new Captain America, and even a little brash.
Brubaker continues to excel at keeping Captain America a team book, even with a new Cap manning the reigns for only the second issue since Steve Rogers’ death. Falcon searches for Agent 13, while the Black Widow provides support for Bucky in the field. Additionally, Tony Stark continues to play an important supporting part, in perhaps one of the better characterizations we’ve seen of Stark lately. The way Brubaker weaves the characters and their storylines in and out of each other is expertly done. While they’ve gone away from the overt separation (via Chapters) from Act 1, the spirit of collaboration is still very much a part of the title. Though where once the threads ran in many directions, they now have converged in a more focused route.
And that route leads to Red Skull. As he and Faustus discuss their machinations in D.C., another doctor tends to Sharon Carter: Arnim Zola. It’s hard not to chuckle at the sight of Zola. Even the most apologetic of Captain America readers should be able to understand how a casual reader might immediately disregard a comic book with such a laughable visual. But Brubaker is able to transcend a lot of these contrivances and create a believable and ominous evil in the guise of rather outlandish characters, whether in Zola or even Faustus and Skull. Even Cap himself is a visually striking essence, a complete contradiction to most rules of military leadership. Brubaker has done a great job deconstructing the myths and laying down an increasingly compelling political thriller. (Complete with grittier artwork, here with guest artist Butch Guice, essentially aping Steve Epting’s style for consistency.)
Overall, Captain America has not slowed down. Brubaker continues to weave a tale so well-planned that questionable moments almost always have a specific purpose in the grand scheme of things. Even a reader who dislikes Bucky as Cap can’t simply disregard this as something done for shock value; there is a purpose that stays true to the spirit of the title as much as when ol’ Cap was still alive. Though I do hope that MODOK doesn't show up!
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/caphalf.jpg
"Buy Captain America #35 from X-World and Save Big!" ( http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=26037)
Story Title: The Burden of Dreams: Part Five
Look, Captain America now represents the sovereignty of Puerto Rico!
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Butch Guice
Inkers: Butch Guice & Mike Perkins
Colorist: Frank D’armata
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Production: Irene Lee
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Captain America created by: Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
Published by: Marvel Comics (www.marvel.com)
I wasn’t a big Captain America fan up until recently. I’m fully willing to admit that the perception of his character may have been stronger than the reality but that perception (the iconic, patriotic do-gooder) was a tougher sell to someone who preferred flawed, grey-area characters in a less red, white & blue world. Another problem was some of the villains on the other side of Cap’s shield. MODOK, Arnim Zola, and Red Skull are such ridiculously looking villains that it was hard to ever even take this section of the Marvel Universe seriously. But Ed Brubaker has gotten me to completely buy into the Red Skull. Could he pull of this trick again?
This issue picks up in the aftermath of the deadly tragedy at the White House, where mind-controlled S.H.I.E.L.D. agents opened fire on protesters. In response, the government hires a Blackwater-esque “security firm” to help guard D.C. Of course, the Senator leading the charge is quickly revealed to be under the influence of Dr. Faustus.
Bucky is investigating what led to the riots, ultimately finding that Kronas has drugged the protesters, essentially fueling both sides of the riot. When another spark is lit, Bucky quickly gets into Cap gear, grabs his shield and heads into action. He’s a different fighter than his predecessor which makes for a fresh style for the artists to depict, but also more aggressive dialogue. He attempts to subdue the rioting, while getting intel from Black Widow, which leads him to a cliffhanging confrontation with the Serpent Squad. Bucky is becoming confident in his role as the new Captain America, and even a little brash.
Brubaker continues to excel at keeping Captain America a team book, even with a new Cap manning the reigns for only the second issue since Steve Rogers’ death. Falcon searches for Agent 13, while the Black Widow provides support for Bucky in the field. Additionally, Tony Stark continues to play an important supporting part, in perhaps one of the better characterizations we’ve seen of Stark lately. The way Brubaker weaves the characters and their storylines in and out of each other is expertly done. While they’ve gone away from the overt separation (via Chapters) from Act 1, the spirit of collaboration is still very much a part of the title. Though where once the threads ran in many directions, they now have converged in a more focused route.
And that route leads to Red Skull. As he and Faustus discuss their machinations in D.C., another doctor tends to Sharon Carter: Arnim Zola. It’s hard not to chuckle at the sight of Zola. Even the most apologetic of Captain America readers should be able to understand how a casual reader might immediately disregard a comic book with such a laughable visual. But Brubaker is able to transcend a lot of these contrivances and create a believable and ominous evil in the guise of rather outlandish characters, whether in Zola or even Faustus and Skull. Even Cap himself is a visually striking essence, a complete contradiction to most rules of military leadership. Brubaker has done a great job deconstructing the myths and laying down an increasingly compelling political thriller. (Complete with grittier artwork, here with guest artist Butch Guice, essentially aping Steve Epting’s style for consistency.)
Overall, Captain America has not slowed down. Brubaker continues to weave a tale so well-planned that questionable moments almost always have a specific purpose in the grand scheme of things. Even a reader who dislikes Bucky as Cap can’t simply disregard this as something done for shock value; there is a purpose that stays true to the spirit of the title as much as when ol’ Cap was still alive. Though I do hope that MODOK doesn't show up!
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/capfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/caphalf.jpg
"Buy Captain America #35 from X-World and Save Big!" ( http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=26037)