Comic book reviews for Captain America Reborn #5, Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?, and Captain America Reborn #6 by Ed Brubaker
Captain America Reborn #5 by Ed Brubaker
I wonder who’s going to win this epic battle between Steve and the Red Skull? Or hey, have I already been spoiled by Steve’s numerous appearances in other Marvel comics?
Of course the cover’s nothing but a tease. Steve and Bucky aren’t going to be fighting anymore.
I almost think that Brubaker wrote this entire comic to have Hitch draw an army of M.O.D.O.K.s lead by Crossbones in a two-page spread. That and the Red Skull as the iconic Uncle Sam. I suppose since the plot’s outcome has already been spoiled, it’s time for writer and artist to have fun.
Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield? by Ed Brubaker
So why did this get released before the surprise issue #6 of Captain America Reborn? Marvel really needs to do a better job on these release dates. I assume whatever Steve saw in the future — about Bucky dying — is going to revealed in #6?
I really enjoyed the art duo of Butch Guice and Luke Ross. The flashbacks to WWII were extremely well done, and I really liked the styling for Natasha and Sharon. Both women had a ’60s spy look to them. The only art part I did not like was how they drew present Bucky out of uniform. He just didn’t look quite right. Steve also looks a little odd in his ending scenes with Obama; however, in many ways it works with just how much Steve’s body type does not fit in a suit-jacket.
I’m hoping that Steve giving up his shield will be a little different than the last time he did. Last time, it was disillusionment. Which was really the one of two endings for him post-Civil War.
This time it’s supposed to be to save Bucky. However, there’s no way he’s not disillusioned with Norman Osborn’s current rule. I liked Steve’s talk with President Obama. (Even though Osborn running H.A.M.M.E.R. under an Obama administration just feels off.)
I’m also wondering how Steve giving up his shield will work into the other comics currently running. Especially since Steve has made a very special and pivotal appearance already in every single one of them. Though this isn’t to say that Steve hasn’t adopted other personae before.
I like Bucky as Captain America, and I’m fine with him continuing to do so for the time being. However, answering who will wield the shield is not really answering the bigger question of what to do with Steve Rogers in continuity.
Captain America Reborn #6 by Ed Brubaker
While this issue certainly suffered from a completely spoiled climax, I did really enjoy it. One of those how much do I love Steve Rogers things. This makes me happy because Steve is awesome and this is what he does. Even in battle, Steve is still a stand-up man.
The irony of Steve having the perfect Aryan body is always lost on the Red Skull. Though it’s questionable how much Nazi racism is still part of the Red Skull’s manta. Yes, it’s an easy recruitment statement for him to pick up disposable henchmen. Mostly, the Red Skull’s just a fascist. And if anything, fascism is really what Captain America fights these days. Oh, and super villains.
I don’t wonder if Red Skull jumped into Sin’s body. Especially with the whole foreshadowing about her having a burnt face, or her father’s face. That would be a creepy level for Brubaker to take this story to. Plus, she’d be a continuing main villain for Captain America to fight with who’s updated. As we have an updated Bucky as Captain America, it is fitting to have an updated Red Skull as Sin. Both of them essentially taking their father’s places in the struggle for good and evil. It’s a nice symmetry.
Likewise, the killing of the Red Skull makes a nice endpoint to Steve’s journey as Captain America.
I’m curious about Steve’s vision of the future. The death of all the heroes, which is straight out of War of the Worlds. (Could it be the cancer universe from Marvel’s space titles? Or is this just another random apocalyptic world?)
While it’s great to see Sharon so happy, there has to be some lingering PTSD. However, I don’t think she’s going to be trusting therapists anytime soon.