World Famous Comics: The Death of Captain America, Vol. 2
The Death of Captain America, Vol. 2
By: Ed Brubaker Publisher: Marvel Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Marvel Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 160 Publication Date: June 04, 2008
Product Description: The Winter Soldier held prisoner by the Red Skull! While Sharon and the Falcon race to his rescue, they're about to cross paths with the Mighty Avenger that Tony Stark has sent hunting our rogue hero - The Black Widow! Will the Red Skull kill both Cap and Bucky? It's anyone's guess, as the second arc of the epic "Death of Captain America" storyline opens with a bang! Collects Captain America #31-36
The trilogy's darkest hour will lead to its brightest night Fantastic. Great, great stuff. I never liked Bucky but Brubaker has turned him into a stalwart character.
Starts with a BANG!!!!!!!! The first few pages has you saying WHAT!WHAT! This is an action packed, no holds bar comic. Captain America is a true man amongst super humans. But that doesnt stop him from having dismantled numerous bad guys. The first book is an instant classic. IF YOU ENJOY COMIC BOOK GENIUS AT ITS BEST. pick it up!
Re-living the American Dream... - Red Skull henchman: "Remember, the Red Skull rewards only those who--" - BLAANG! (Cap's shield ricocheting off a henchman's dome) - The new Cap: "Sorry... No evil Nazi rewards for you."
Having already set the stage by orchestrating the assassination of Captain America, the Red Skull and his associates continue to solidify their plan to bring about America's downfall, this time by targeting the nation's financial establishments. This, even as, in the wake of Steve Roger's passing, a new Captain America emerges. But this new incarnation is much darker and is prey to doubts. Because he isn't blessed with the super-soldier serum, he sports firearms to compensate. And, as he soon learns, the world isn't quite prepared to accept a substitute.
Brainwashing, double agents, gripping intrigue, bristling action, and several surprises. THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, Vol. 2: THE BURDEN OF DREAMS maintains and builds on the momentum brought about by the shocking event(s) in The Death of Captain America, Vol. 1: The Death of the Dream. Volume 2: THE BURDEN OF DREAMS collects issues #31-36 of the monthly series and continues to showcase one of the best, most compelling runs this title has ever had. Ed Brubaker's taut storytelling and the marvelously gritty, noirish artwork by Steve Epting, Mike Perkins and Butch Guice just keep on launching the reader into amped-up mode. And all this with the titular character not even in the picture.
Ed Brubaker instead makes very good use of Cap's supporting cast, particularly that tortured soul James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, formerly the Winter Soldier and, before that, Captain America's teen sidekick. But he's all grown up now, and the Winter Soldier, in case you're new to this scene, is one relentless and uber-formidable combatant. Tony Stark, Natasha (the Black Widow), and Sam Wilson (the Falcon) all play prominent roles, even as they're still coming to grips with Steve Rogers' death. Sharon Carter (Agent 13), in particular, is going thru her own hell, seeing as how she was responsible for *SPOILERS* and that she's recently found out that she's *SPOILERS* (if you've read Volume One of DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, then you already know). Not to mention, the mind manipulator Dr. Faustus is still playing mental silly buggers with her. One subplot I'm particularly sinking my teeth into is the Winter Soldier and the Black Widow's relationship, which dates all the way back to WWII. And I know that Iron Man is devastated by Cap's death, but I can't help but hate on the ol' Shellhead, for his actions in the Civil War. I was hoping the Winter Soldier, who blames Stark for Cap's death and had intended to kill him, would put him thru the wringer. So, yes, by the way, one of the issues treats us to a slugfest between Iron Man and the Winter Soldier. And how does that brawl end? Well, with a letter...
Bonus stuff in this trade include Brubaker's script for issue #34, costume designs of the new Captain by Alex Ross and Steve Epting, and a three paged story of the new Captain being interviewed for Good Morning, America (written by Brubaker, illustrated by Mike Perkins).
I won't mention who steps into Cap's shoes, although it's really a no-brainer if you've been following this series. But I salivate at the possibilities which this new and very different Captain America brings up. To gauge by the protestors' derisive reaction to his efforts to calm them down, his tenure isn't off to a breezy start.
I will say, though, that I'm not too keen on the tweaked costume. But, then again, that being my only gripe, I'd say that this series really is living up to its reputation as one of the best comic books currently going around.
Another assumes the mantle Ed Brubaker continues to impress me with his direction in the saga of Captain America. I love the espionage, and the flashbacks to WWII. The war is such the root of the character, that to ignore it in favor of colorful modern enemies, is to diminish the essence of who Captain America is. I applaud the daring of the editorial staff of Marvel to allow Ed and his team to explore this direction of the mythos of the Captain, and I for one, can't wait to see where they take the characters next.
The best creative team in comics today Plenty has been said about the initial story, (after all, it was national news) and the fact that the book is still selling over a year later, after the death of the titular character, should make clear the craftsmanship going on here. The creative team won the Eisner for their efforts and it was well-deserved. It is usually my habit to at least give a synopsis but I just can't seem to see the point. I have been reading comics for 40+ years and Cap has never been this good. If you like superhero comics, read this book. Nuff said.
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