Issue # 1 – All-New Captain America (2014)
Title: All-New Captain America #1
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Stuart Immonen
The Buzz: Captain America is black! Which is all-new except for those other times that happened. In all seriousness, I was interested in checking out this title because I really liked Sam Wilson/the Falcon in the Winter Soldier movie, and I was keen to see him in his own comic.
All You Need To Know: This part is pretty much spelled out in a helpful info page, but in short: Steve Rogers is old now, because alternate dimension, and he has an adult foster son, Ian AKA Nomad (which is a codename Steve himself used back in the day when he was feeling disillusioned about America). Old!Steve has handed the shield and Captain America title on to Sam so he can retire in a boat with Old!Sharon.
Story: Eh, you know what, there’s some Hydra fighting, and some introspection, and Nomad kinda thinks he should have got to be Cap instead. Possibly some kind of spy plot with shooty soldiers, but I didn’t take in much. There are no women in this comic except for a brief panel with Sharon Carter. There’s nothing here for me.
Art: This is pretty gorgeous, actually, I like Immonen’s work a lot and his depictions of Sam in particular as the new Falcon Cap (he still has his wings!) come across beautifully in reds and blacks. The idea of a Captain America who is a man of colour is hugely powerful, and I’m glad they gave this to an artist who was able to convey that in iconic imagery – I’m sure many of these pictures will be floating around and remembered long after they roll back the storyline to give the back shield to Steve Rogers (come on, like they won’t).
But What Did I Miss?: If Captain America type comics are your sort of thing, then I think this actually works fine as an intro to a new series, and I really appreciated the ‘Previously in Captain America’ info page. If, however, you came here like me because the Marvel Cinematic Universe Falcon is adorable, then you may be disappointed at the general tone which has a higher proportion of violent action to witty banter than I personally enjoy.
Would Read Issue 2?: Nah, probably not, I think the idea of Sam Wilson as Captain America is great but I have no interest in following a title that’s mostly Grimdark & Guns. Let me know when Dani Cage is Captain America and I’ll try the comic again…
PREVIOUS ISSUE #1 POSTS
Thor #1 (2014)
Spider-Woman #1 (2014)
