Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: Two Americas (Part 1 of 4)
Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
Written by: Christopher Priest
Pencils by: Bart Sears
Inks by: Robert Hunter
Colors by: Mike Atiyeh
Letters by: Virtual Calligraphy’s Dave Sharpe
Assistant Editors: Andy Schmidt, Nicole Wiley & Mark Sumerak
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel
Why Marvel, Why Now?
This week, March 10th in particular, I will mark my 1 year anniversary at 411. Over the last year, with more than 65 reviews under my belt, much of my focus has been on DC – I have a modest monthly pull list dominated by DC titles. Having said that, I have picked up the odd non-DC title, but nothing captured my imagination at the “House of Ideas” other than X-Treme X-men – although I left that series after penciler Sal Larroca was unceremoniously dispatched from the title. I’m still a HUGE fan of writer Chris Claremont, but dropped the book anyway. I also wasn’t happy with a forced event-driven sequel to God Loves, Man Kills in the pages of X-Treme (although I loved GLMK) to tie in with the X2 movie (a great movie BTW).
I have also been clear, over the last year at 411, that I like super-heroes (term copyrighted by DC and Marvel – sheesh) and am not a fan of the trend to make the industry’s costume-clad super-powered folks “real”. While the current Captain America series, under the Marvel Knights banner, is a poster-child for my gripe in this regard, I was pleased to hear that Marvel was launching a “new series” with Cap that would be rooted in Marvel’s “main” or 616 universe. Although my glee was quickly met with confusion as I am still unclear about how all of the Captain Americas (for example) at Marvel (616, Marvel Knights, Ultimate, etc., etc….) “fit”. Putting my confusion aside, I decided to give Captain America and the Falcon #1 a try.
I figured that reviewing a Marvel title in my anniversary week at 411 was a nice way to start my second year here. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a trend. We’ll just have to see.
Captain, My Captain
The story of Captain America is one many of us are familiar with….
We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s first Super Soldier. Steve Rogers will be that man. Better than he was before. Better . . . stronger . . . faster. (Although that does sound remarkably like the Six Million Dollar Man.)
While many at 411 may see me as “DC guy”, I collected Marvel titles in my youth. One of my favorite runs is the Captain America No More arc that ran from 1987 to 1989 and saw Steve Rogers forced to resign as America’s flag-draped hero. These 19 issues are some of my favorite all time reads.
So, I was pleased to pick up Captain America and the Falcon #1 to see if the magic from more than 15 years ago that had me enthralled in all things Cap could have me under its spell again.
I was pleasantly surprised.
2004 – An Odyssey of Two Americas
The issue opens in Cuba and Captain America in search of his friend the Falcon. To stay incognito, Cap dons a leather jacket, but his shield is tough to hide. He also covered his cowl with a baseball cap with a “C” emblazoned on it. Fear not, this “disguise” is the corniest part of a pretty solid issue.
The story jumps from the present to the past and readers are brought up to speed on how Cap could have ended up in Cuba. Steve Rogers, Cap’s alias, meets with Robbie Robertson (of Daily Bugle and Spider-Man fame), a friend of the Falcon. Cap goes on to regale Robertson with a tale that finds the Falcon helping an enemy combatant at Guantanamo Bay escape. The Falcon met with Robbie before this incident – and Cap wants to know why.
Priest’s Political Peppering
Writer Christopher Priest weaves a not-so-subtle political tale that revolves around an imprisoned innocent reporter mistaken for an enemy combatant, a Cuban drug cartel (possibly developing biological weapons) in league with the US Government and, to use Priest’ own words: “a new America… with new rules. Rule number one — don’t ask questions about people locked up at Gitmo.” (The first arc is called “Two Americas” afterall — the same mantra of former Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards)
Anyhow, Priest’s political views aside, he crafts a very compelling tale that finds Captain America invading Cuba to find his friend. It’s a series debut filled with intrigue, action, drama, and a very unexpected cliffhanger ending. I don’t want to reveal more as it may ruin the surprise.
Overall, Priest does a good job in making this issue accessible to new readers. He explains Cap’s and Falcon’s partnership (the Falcon was trained by Cap’s mortal enemy the Red Skull to be his perfect partner, but turned “good”) and differentiates the two (Falcon is the idealist, while Cap is the tempered realist).
A Hero’s Return
This issue also marks the return of superstar artist Bart Sears to the Marvel Universe. I’ve been a big fan of his since his work on DC’s Justice League Europe in the 1980s. Unlike many of the hot artists of that time, Sears’ style is timeless. His work in 2004 may actually be crisper, and he may tell a story better, but its unmistakable Sears. High energy, action packed, full of emotion. Sears is at his best!
The price of admission is worth it alone for readers to experience the breathtaking work of Bart Sears. Just beautiful.
So…..?
Great art. A solid story with some politicking, but it doesn’t distract from the super-heroics of the issue. Captain America and the Falcon #1 is worth a read.
It may not have the same magic as my fave boyhood Cap read, but this series will cast its own spell on readers.
