Marvel NOW! Review: Captain America #1 by Rick Remender and John Romita Jr

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Captain America #1
Written by Rick Remender
Art by John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, and Dean White

The short of it:

You might forget this, but Captain America is quite the old man. A child of the depression, being frozen in the ice may have frozen his aging, but it doesn’t negate the fact that he’s ninety years old. Currently, though, he’s fighting an eco-terrorist named the Green Skull that is looking to wipe out New York; which means Steve has to stop the guy and make sure the plane crashes harmlessly into the water. All the while the guy has a gun that makes trees grow out of people. Cap has to make short work, despite clarifying that the encounter was weeks in the making, and doesn’t have the time to wait for the Avengers to come pick the guy up. He’s late for a very important date, as even though it’s his birthday you don’t leave Sharon Carter waiting. After all, she’s not just his liason, she’s also his girlfriend.

They have a talk about them mixed in with the mission at hand, a subway car traveling an old forgotten line that SHIELD just discovered and acquired a password to use. Things get serious between them before they get split, only one passenger space left on the train. Steve takes it, and is quickly bound with cuffs as the train goes….somewhere else. A new dimension, one where he is greeted by monsters and a drugging, where he wakes back up strapped to a chair with his blood being removed. A world where Arnim Zola seems to be in command, at least where he is at. A baby in a tube, and a villain at his side, Steve does what he is one to do. He makes one hell of an exit, and kicks as much as ass he can on the way out.

However, there’s a bit of a twist as to just who exactly the vile one is here, with an ending that leave you wondering just where things can go from here.

What I liked:

  • I liked the intro, even if it was just Steve’s dad beating up his mom, because her lesson to her son is the cornerstone of Captain America. You always stand up. You don’t lay down because it’s easier, or because it’s the less painful path. You stand up, you put your foot down, and you don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do.
  • They spoiled Zola as the villain a while ago, but it doesn’t take any enjoyment away from the issue. I’m a fan of the crazy head in a robot gut, and the premise this story brings of him not necessarily being the bad guy is an interesting one to say the very least. I mean, yes, there was definitely torture in play, but he’s got what could be decent reasons behind it.
  • Steve and Sharon talking about marriage and their future is the kind of relationship moment that I always look for, and rarely see, in mainstream comics. Two characters discussing a potential giant shift to their status quos that would take a title in directions it really hasn’t been to go in.
  • John Romita has been pretty hit or miss the past few years, but this is one of his good issues. He draws a great Cap, and Sharon is an instant improvement over the way he drew the women of the Avengers last year. Zola is creepy, and the entire other world looks great. Which also requires credit to the inker and colorist, who help him bring this story to life. Dimension Z looks awesome.
  • I really liked that the story began at the end of some random mission. It didn’t feel like Steve was getting ready for some brand new set of adventures, when his previous ones never really ended, and made it feel like a time jump instead of a relaunch.

What I didn’t like:

  • How the hell did that baby survive the last few pages of this book while being hidden in the shield that Steve is using to break all of his falls?
  • Really, the premise to get Steve on the train pulled hard on my suspension of disbelief. Yes, the inner monologue later clarified that he knew it was a dumb thing to do, but he still did it. He knew absolutely nothing about what could or would happen, and he hopped on board without backup.

Final thoughts:

Another enjoyable debut issue of Marvel NOW!, seriously, they are on a roll here.

So it’s the fourth of July in this book compared to….when is it in the other books? I’m assuming the timeline of this book is set up so that Steve can take a long adventure without seeming like he’s gone in other titles, but does that put them before or after this book? Really, I’m just wondering how this will play out with Uncanny Avengers, the other book Remender is writing that features Cap.

I have to wonder if this arc is going to be Steve raising this kid, only to go back and want a family, and Sharon no longer be interested.

The downside to this new status quo is that we probably won’t be seeing his supporting cast for a bit, so I guess that means he’s getting a new one!

Man, this was a really elaborate setup to get the Super Soldier Serum.

Wait, wasn’t Red Skull living in Zola’s body?

Overall: 8.5/10

A lifelong reader and self proclaimed continuity guru, Grey is the Editor in Chief of Comics Nexus. Known for his love of Booster Gold, Spider-Girl (the real one), Stephanie Brown, and The Boys. Don't miss The Gold Standard.