Captain America #2
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve McNiven, Jay Leisten, Dexter Vines, and Justin Ponsor
I felt the first issue last month was a strong debut issue, not perfect, but enough to get me to come back for a second issue. Brubaker was showing signs of attempting to write a straight superhero title, and coupled with McNiven’s art…we had the potential for something great. Of course, the first issue is only as good in my book as the ones that follow it, as I’ve come across plenty of top notch first issues of books that completely fell apart before the first arc has even wrapped up. Like the current volume of X-Men, for a recent example, I quite enjoyed the first issue but didn’t even bother to finish buying the arc after the second and third issues disappointed.
Captain America manages to fall into another category though, thankfully, as I actually enjoyed this issue far more than the first one. Bru gives us some backstory on his freshly created characters and plots by giving us the origin and powers of Jimmy Jupiter, and to say that it’s more than a little bit crazy powerful for World War II would be an understatement. I mean, this kid has the power to walk in and out of a dreamworld and bring whoever he wants with him either way, hell, he can use it to teleport! Obviously he’d be some military superweapon if he was ever discovered, which he is, and which he almost becomes. Bru introduces and wraps up the characters involvement into World War II in just a matter of pages, and it’s fluid to the point where I didn’t even find myself questioning it as a retcon by the time it’s done. It even explains how our new former-ally-turned-bad-guy from last issue doesn’t seem to have aged a day in its own way. Big props to Bru for getting this all across nice and easy without forcing it, not unlike his creation of the Winter Soldier in the previous run.
The supporting cast adds a lot to this title as well, and I can’t say I’m surprised. In the previous Captain America run Sharon Carter was a constant presence, and Bru had her voice down, and thankfully that continues here. Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan made scattered appearances and were always welcome additions to the cast as well. The report between these characters is a great part of this book, with Nick and Dum Dum being the old war buddies, the friends that not only remind the reader that Steve is more than just a walking flag. There are long and well established histories between these three men, and while I miss Secret Warriors, I’d be happy to see Fury find his way here full time. Then there’s Sharon, one part Cap’s girlfriend, one part his partner, she brings a wide assortment to the table. As seen early on in the issue, she easily provides the voice of the reader asking “what?” when the old soldiers talk about Jimmy Jupiter and Codename: Bravo, forcing much needed exposition without it feeling forced. She also provides a tether that humanizes Steve more than anything, and while I hate to say it’s just because of the relationship, it really does go a long way towards making him feel like more than just a guy who wears a costume…even if she’s a spy and he’s a superhero. Then there’s the fact that all three have such experience with Cap that they just work fluidly together when the time comes for action.
Speaking of action, there’s a lot of it in this issue, and it’s great. Well paced, well put together, and it looks fantastic. Steve McNiven is a superstar, and he brings a lot to this title for as long as he’s able to keep up with his deadlines. Jimmy Jupiter’s dreamworld looks great, as do the things that come out of it; and McNiven works the fantastic into a world that looks pretty real. The character look great, Nick and Dum Dum have an aged look to them despite not looking their ages at all, while Sharon can have the soft and fresh face during a social time but go hard and serious the second action kicks in. Steve looks like Captain America should, he’s iconic. The face work on him is great too, and it goes along with the writing. With his mask off he looks like a guy who isn’t completely confident, who has second guesses and knows he makes mistakes. With the mask on, however, he exudes confidence and looks like a leader among men.
Ed Brubaker always showed a knack for writing Steve Rogers, and his previous run on Captain America really was must read up until the time when Steve came back from the dead. It feels like he’s prepared to get back to what worked before, and while he’s going the superhero route this time instead of going into politics and world issues, that isn’t a bad thing. To be completely honest, I don’t know if I could have taken another Cap run like the last one. After several years of not getting to see Steve shine and kick ass and throw his shield around, I’m happy to see just that. He fights Hydra agents and smashes people in the face with his shield while Fury and Sharon shoot people. It’s awesome!
Overall?
8/10
