Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #5

July 1, 2007

Quick Rating: Fair
Title: Acceptance
Rating: T+

The funeral for Captain America.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Pencils: John Cassaday
Inks: John Cassaday
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: John Cassaday, Michael Turner (Variant)
Publisher: Marvel Comics

After what seems like an eternity, Steve Rogers is finally put to rest… or is he?

Marvel has been really pushing this book hard as the next “big thing,” the next issue that’s going to have everybody talking. After having read it that big moment is… well… if you can figure it out, you tell me. Don’t misunderstand, it’s not a bad issue, it’s just that there isn’t anything in here even remotely interesting enough to justify the work of the hype machine.

Even calling this the “Iron Man” issue is dubious, as more than half the issue is concerned with Falcon’s eulogy for Cap at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral is okay – there are several nice flashbacks to Cap’s past, all illustrated beautifully by John Cassaday. After a while, though, the eulogy starts to sound more like a roll call of everyone who felt welcome to attend the funeral.

The final scene is actually far more preferable to me. It’s even more quiet, and the few characters who appear are absolutely the ones that should be involved in a moment like this one. And I must give Jeph Loeb credit for being one of the few writers in the past several months to write Iron Man as a human being instead of a cartoon supervillain. Without giving anything away, I can only assume this last scene is the bit that’s supposed to have everyone talking, as it can easily be interpreted as Loeb putting the pieces where they need to be for the inevitable resurrection.

As funeral issues go, it’s not a bad one. It’s just not as big a deal as it’s been made out to be.

Rating: 6/10

Captain America (2005 Series) #26

May 22, 2007

Quick Rating: Good
Title: The Death of the Dream Part Two (an Initiative tie-in)
Rating: T+

With Cap dead, how will his friends carry on?

Writer: Ed Brubaker
Pencils: Steve Epting
Inks: Michael Perkins
Colors: Frank D’armata
Cover Art: Steve Epting
Publisher: Marvel Comics

As skeptical as I remain about the whole “Death of Captain America” storyline, the immediate aftermath (immediate? Geez, it feels like years…) of the death is handled pretty well. Just days after Steve Rogers is gunned down, we see how the Marvel Universe is reacting to his death through the eyes of four of his major supporting players – Sharon Carter, Falcon, Bucky and the Red Skull. Each of them, of course, has a unique relationship with Steve, and each of them allows us to peer into different parts of the Marvel Universe to see just how the world is reacting to the horrific events.

All four of the stories have their strong points, with Falcon being the most interesting to me. I’m trying hard not to draw parallels to the Death of Superman lo those many years ago, but it’s not easy to avoid them, especially when you have Sam Wilson pulling his best John Henry Irons impression (in that he’s the only character who really seems, spiritually, to be establishing himself as a true successor to the fallen hero).

Bucky’s story is pretty good as well, but the last page of this issue – which no doubt will have many fans reaching for the champagne – left me really cold. Without getting into spoiler territory, there are two major problems with it. First of all, it feels very similar to another post-Civil War storyline that’s going on at the moment, although at least in this case it feels about a trillion times more in-character than in the other. Second, I simply can’t imagine that anyone believes it will actually happen.

Steve Epting’s art (joined, I assume, by Mike Perkins and Frank D’armata, although I can’t be sure because for some reason the full credits appear to be missing from this issue) is as great as ever. I’m quite impressed at how this art team has crafted a style that melds superhero imagery with a more realistic visual sense.

A good issue, to be certain, that will probably be of more interest if you’re into the other stories currently fitting into this particular mosaic.

Rating: 7/10

Somebody’s First Comic Book: Avengers (1963 Series) #189

Wondering what Somebody’s First Comic Book is all about? The explanation is on this page!

TITLE: Wings and Arrows

CREDITS:
Writer: Steven Grant (Plot by Grant, Mark Gruenwald & Roger Stern)
Penciller: John Byrne
Inks: Dan Green
Letters: Jim Novak
Colors: Ben Sean
Editor: Roger Stern
Publisher: Marvel Comics

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: I recognize Captain America, of course… saw that Thor trailer during the Superbowl. I thought Hawkeye was from MASH, though.

IMPRESSIONS: As this issue starts, the Avengers (seems to be your basic superhero team) is finishing up a mission and an old member, the Falcon, is coming back to re-join the group. But evidently, there’s some government rule that the team can only have seven members, so Hawkeye is getting kicked out.

Most of the book follows the now-unemployed Hawkeye as he attempts to find new employment as head of security for a big corporation, which just happens to be attacked by a supervillain called Deathbird. The fight scene between the two of them is pretty good, actually – a guy with a bow and arrow trying to take down a girl who can fly works out surprisingly well, and the writer gives us a very good feel for just who Hawkeye is.

In fact, even though we don’t see the rest of the team for more than a few pages each, we get to know them all pretty well. Especially Yellowjacket, the Vision, and the Scarlet Witch, all of whom are totally new characters to me. And hey, Iron Man and the Beast are in this too! I thought Beast was one of the X-Men though… anyway, we get a feel for what’s going on in all of their lives, and there are even several footnotes that seem to refer to other stories featuring these characters. Neat feature – the script gives you everything you need to know, but if you want to know more, it tells you where to look. I like that.

This was a pretty cool story. Lots of characters, although there’s really a spotlight on just one. Clearly there’s a lot of history here, but it’s nothing that’s particularly intimidating. I’d definitely read more of these characters.

GRADE: B+