Captain America: Patriot is about a young man thrust into the role of a living legend. When Captain America dies, he’s forced to take up the mantle of his most cherished hero, asked to stand for all he stood for and be all that he was. As he eases into the role, he not only learns more about what it means to be a walking symbol of freedom – he learns more about himself.
…this probably sounds a lot like the whole Bucky Cap thing. It is. And it’s not.
Captain America: Patriot is about the life and times of Jeff Mace, the third man to take up the mantle of Captain America. Like the first Cap, Jeff loves his country and is more than willing to fight and die for it. Unlike the first Cap, Jeff doesn’t have any super-soldier serum backing him up – he’s a just an overeager reporter for the Daily Bugle who’s really, really good at kicking ass. At first, he tries to emulate the man by taking up the mantle of the Patriot, a localized Captain America of sorts. He does well as a street level hero, even starting up his own successful team, but he still feels that he can do even more…and that chance comes to him when the second Captain America dies, and his country looks toward him to continue the legacy.
Patriot excels at is making you like Jeff Mace and the people around him; by the end of issue one, you have a clear feel for the guy’s motivations and you genuinely get where he’s coming from. We meet the people he works with, see the sort of life he leads, and even though it does feel a bit cramped at times, it doesn’t cross the line into rushing territory until the very end.
For the most part, it’s all thanks to the dialogue. Karl Kesel has an ear for the 1950s way of talking, but he has enough restraint to not go overboard. Everything feels natural, and it really shines in the tenser moments, when the line between Jeff’s personal life and heroic role start to blur. And while I will say that I don’t care much for Mitch Bretweiser’s shadowy art style, he and Karl work well together, creating poignant and believable scenes.
When our hero mourns the loss of his fallen friend, his sullen face and darkened expression tell it all.
When two would-be lovers say their farewells on a rooftop, you can almost hear the heartbreak in their voices.
And when Jeff Mace first dons the red, white and blue, there’s an undeniable and overwhelming sense of triumph.
It’s a feel good sort of comic, right up until the last issue where things start to get bloated. The final issue is mired in cloak and dagger politics, a real punch in the gut after the first three flowed so well. It’s a low-note, and it feels more like a hurried attempt to rap things up than a natural end – disappointing.
But 90% of this series is solid, and that’s an A grade. It won’t sway any hearts and minds if you’re not big on Captain America, but for those who are or for those who like exploring the tidbits of Marvel history or for those who just want a solid story about a good man – you’d be hard pressed to find a better read.
