Well as I expected, Ed Brubaker and Steve McNiven did a fine job of restarting Captain America.  I’ve been waiting a long time for Steve to get back into the red white and blue, and I knew, (as many others speculated) way back when they announced the Captain America movie, that Steve’s sabbatical was almost over.  In case it sounds like I didn’t like Barnes in the positioned of Cap, … good, cause I didn’t

This first issue of the new series drops Cap right into the thick of things.  Drudging up some past memories and haunting him with what could be an old friend turned enemy 65+ some odd years ago.  The comic reads like a spy novel with revelations being thrown at the reader through action and flashbacks.  The dialog was short and to the point and it fed us just enough to keep the mind in the story, but not so much as to distract from the fine work of Steve, Mark and Justin.  Of the variant covers offered (yawn) I chose the one by the team that did the book and left the others for the more feral collectors out there.

SPOILER WARNING: I wasn’t too happy with the way the team handled the flashback sequences, I felt the shifts as kind of jarring moments of, ‘Wait, I was just watching Steve get dressed for something, how did I end up with Cap fighting… Oh, this is his mind wandering though past memories, Ok.’  then later, he gives chase through the busy streets of Paris and his quarry, in order to escape, fires a grenade under a car behind Steve which blows up.  Steve leaps out of the way barley avoiding the flames and debris.  He recalls something else from 65+ years ago and rushes his crew all back to the states … Not to put to fine a point on it Steve old buddy, but the flaming car that you dove out of the way of was just in heavy traffic seconds before your quarry shot the grenade under it.  Shouldn’t we be checking for survivors in that wreckage?  I mean you are still a hero right?  Then in the parking lot outside the hospital back in the good ol’ USA, I get that the jacket and shirt Steve was wearing had been blown up and torn off, and I get that he pulled his mask and gloves on as he got to his feet and threw the shield through a car taking out several baddies with one of his fantastic Cap only throws.  But he was still wearing his tattered jeans and grey shoes when  the car tries to run down Sharon, but with no time between catching the shield and moving to save her he leaps over, takes the hit from the car and rolls off with Sharon in tow… he had time to change his boots and pants?!

That’s all nit picky stuff though and the over all feel and flow of the book did not disappoint me.  For any trued Captain America fan, I do recommend you pick this up.  Its obviously the start of a fast paced and twisted ride through Caps background and future.  Can’t wait to see where they take us next.  Any following comic reviews may be delayed somewhat as I have ordered a subscription to this book and am not sure if I will get mine the same day they hit shelves or not.  Regardless, I do hope you all join me in this story.  I’ve always felt the initial reading of the book was a step into their world for the reader, but to get further enjoyment, it would be great to hear from others out there what they may have seen or liked about this destined for greatness series.

Three cheers for Steve Rogers Captain America, back in the star spangled shield slinging red white and blue action!  Hip, hip … Hooray! Hip, hip … Hooray! Hip hip … Hooray!