Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artists: Butch Guice and Mike Perkins
Marvel Comics
If it seems I review Captain America a lot lately, well, there’s probably a reason for that: this book is great. This issue is all about Bucky’s transition into being the new Captain America, mostly through a big fight scene, yet Brubaker still packs in more plot than you get from most books in months.
Bucky finds himself confronted with the team of Sin and Crossbones in this issue and he sets about dismantling them in brutal fashion. This is a great fight scene that amazingly highlights what a great and different Captain America Bucky has become. During this fight be get quite a bit of character development, while Bucky learns that while he has the fighting of Cap down, he needs to work on the proper image.
We also get quite a few hints as the the Red Skull’s master plan, which is quite complex and intriguing. With Brubaker being a crime writer at heart, I’m sure the big plan will fit together wonderfully. That kind of confidence has to be earned, but once earned it really adds to the mystery of the entire affair. Skull’s amusement as he figures out who the new Cap is only adds to the tension.
The issue ends in a huge reveal. The repercussions of this one could shake the Marvel Universe. This could blow over easily, but for now it surely feels like a big deal. A trade almost has to end here to take advantage of this cliffhanger. The payoff could be great of fizzle, but the excitement of the reveal and the promise of a revelation are more than enough to make this must buy!
9/10
