Steve Rogers is back in action.
Marvel is making the unprecedented move of publishing two simultaneous, ongoing Captain America comics from the same writer. With both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson sharing the mantle of Captain America, perhaps that's the only way to give each hero his proper due. But with a creative team as strong as this one, does Marvel really need an excuse to launch a new series?
Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 builds very closely on the events of the Avengers: Standoff crossover. Perhaps a little too closely, as this issue's main flaw is its predictable structure. This is a fairly standard first chapter, as writer Nick Spencer introduces the characters, re-establishes Steve's status quo and sets the stage for bigger conflicts to come. There's a pretty heavy dose of exposition-driven narration, which wouldn't be quite so bad if Spencer's Standoff chapters didn't also go out of their way to recap recent events in Cap's world. Appealing to new readers is all fine and well, but at some point you have to trust that they'll be able to dive into the pool and stay afloat on their own.
Still, this book has all the ingredients for a memorable Captain America saga. Spencer is able to put new twists on the old "man out of time" formula, with Steve readjusting to being young and healthy again and Sharon Carter now grappling with being the aging veteran. It's also fun to see Spencer follow his own example from Captain America: Sam Wilson and give this series a more ensemble focus. The dynamic between former sidekick Rick Jones and current sidekicks Jack Flag and Free Spirit is especially entertaining.
However, it's Spencer's take on Red Skull and Hydra that stands out the most here. Much like its sister series, Captain America: Sam Wilson is steeped in contemporary politics. Spencer has re-imagined Hydra as a grassroots terrorist organization that recruits disaffected youngsters by appealing to their fears and insecurities. The parallels between Red Skull and a certain divisive Presidential candidate are undeniable, but appropriate in the context of the story Spencer is telling. This Hydra speaks to our times far more than the one that was all about costumed minions and giant underwater bases. The fact that Spencer devotes so much time to fleshing out the background of one particular Hydra recruit helps a great deal in that regard. Unfortunately, this issue isn't so kind to Baron Zemo, who comes across as a bit of a buffoon rather than the legitimate rival to red Skull he should be.
Saiz's art is predictably excellent. His style seems to have evolved even since his recent work on Avengers: Standoff, boasting a more expressive, stylized approach to character designs and facial work. Saiz keeps the action flowing smoothly throughout the issue, while also devoting a great deal of attention to the emotion of every scene. There's a palpable sadness to the story of Hydra recruit Robbie Dean Tomlin. There's a tenderness to the scenes between Steve and Sharon. Saiz's colors do tend to be a bit heavy-handed (particularly when it comes to skin tones), but the more understated use of color in the sepia-toned flashbacks works very well.
While this book follows a fairly predictable first-issue structure, it's clear from the ending that the series won't be sticking to convention for long. The big twist in this issue has already attracted plenty of interest and notoriety online. It's important to remember that this is just the first step of a much bigger story. Regardless of your thoughts on the cliffhanger, be glad that Spencer is willing to take risks with such a well-established character.
The Verdict
Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 doesn't offer the most exciting start for this new series (at least, not until the final sequence), but it does feature a talented creative team digging in with some of Marvel's most iconic characters. Spencer's depiction of the new Hydra alone is proof that this isn't just any old Cap comic. Saiz's artwork only furthers that impression. Hopefully there's nowhere to go but up as this new series moves beyond the setup phase and continues building new challenges for Captain America.
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