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Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel's Captain America - First Vengeance
The official comics prequel to the Marvel Studios summer blockbuster begins here! As Captain America, Steve Rogers is the inspiration for millions during the dark days of World War Two - but where did he get his inspiration from? How did he meet his best friend, "Bucky" Barnes? And what set him on the path to becoming the First Avenger? New York Times bestselling writer Fred Van Lente (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and star artists Luke Ross (CAPTAIN AMERICA) and Neil Edwards (FANTASTIC FOUR) take you on an all-new adventure to the European battlefields before the movie hits theaters! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST VENGEANCE #1-4 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA SPOTLIGHT.
168 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2011
3 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Fred Van Lente
1,365 books321 followersFred Van Lente is the New York Times-bestselling author of comics as varied as Archer & Armstrong (Harvey Award nominee, Best Series), Taskmaster, MODOK's 11, Amazing Spider-Man, Conan the Avenger, Weird Detective, and Cowboys & Aliens (upon which the 2011 movie was based), as well as the novels Ten Dead Comedians and The Con Artist.
Van Lente also specializes in entertaining readers with offbeat histories with the help of his incredibly talented artists. He has written the multiple-award winning Action Philosophers!, The Comic Book History of Comics, Action Presidents! (all drawn by Ryan Dunlavey), and The Comic Book Story of Basketball with Joe Cooper (Ten Speed September 2020).
He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Crystal Skillman, and some mostly ungrateful cats.
Van Lente also specializes in entertaining readers with offbeat histories with the help of his incredibly talented artists. He has written the multiple-award winning Action Philosophers!, The Comic Book History of Comics, Action Presidents! (all drawn by Ryan Dunlavey), and The Comic Book Story of Basketball with Joe Cooper (Ten Speed September 2020).
He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Crystal Skillman, and some mostly ungrateful cats.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 26, 2016
Read this review and more on my blog.
Captain America: First Vengeance ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Although it is not necessary to read any of these tie-in graphic novels, I would highly recommend reading any of them as they give additional backstory that is not included in the movies.
Since this is a movie tie-in, I expected the art style to be very close to who the movie feels, as well as what the characters look like. Unfortunately the art style used did not resemble the movie characters in any notable way. I found this to be very disappointing considering that Van Lente had access to set photos, costume photos and numerous other items that he could reference to make this tie-in as close to the movie as possible.
When a graphic novel is advertised as 'The Offical Comics Prequel To The Marvel Studios Summer Blockbuster' (that is what it says on the back), I expect the art work to very close to the movie.
The storyline jumps around from during WW2 (where majority of the Captain America, The First Avenger movie takes place), to 1930 when Steve was a young kid. It does not add too much plot in the overall scheme of things, but it does make some of the choices made in the movie make a lot more sense.
We also get to see how Steve and Bucky became friends, as well as their continuing friendship during WW2. My heart was very happy to find out how deep their friendship runs and from such a young age (and chances are that this will make Steve's and Bucky's friendship in Captain America: Civil War make more sense as well).
Captain America: First Vengeance ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Although it is not necessary to read any of these tie-in graphic novels, I would highly recommend reading any of them as they give additional backstory that is not included in the movies.
Since this is a movie tie-in, I expected the art style to be very close to who the movie feels, as well as what the characters look like. Unfortunately the art style used did not resemble the movie characters in any notable way. I found this to be very disappointing considering that Van Lente had access to set photos, costume photos and numerous other items that he could reference to make this tie-in as close to the movie as possible.
When a graphic novel is advertised as 'The Offical Comics Prequel To The Marvel Studios Summer Blockbuster' (that is what it says on the back), I expect the art work to very close to the movie.
The storyline jumps around from during WW2 (where majority of the Captain America, The First Avenger movie takes place), to 1930 when Steve was a young kid. It does not add too much plot in the overall scheme of things, but it does make some of the choices made in the movie make a lot more sense.
We also get to see how Steve and Bucky became friends, as well as their continuing friendship during WW2. My heart was very happy to find out how deep their friendship runs and from such a young age (and chances are that this will make Steve's and Bucky's friendship in Captain America: Civil War make more sense as well).
January 9, 2015
Another awesome comic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was interesting to learn what led up to Captain America: the First Avenger. Can't wait for Captain America: Civil War!!!!
April 5, 2021
A solid connective story - supporting the First Avenger movie. Dealing with a bit more background for Steve Rogers, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, and Johann Schmitt. And the scientist who made them both possible. The most interesting part was the motivations and reasoning behind the way Red Skull went about trying to convert Rogers, which was not well executed in the movie. I think the biggest missed opportunity here is that story is not explored far enough.
It is a good in support of watching the movie, but not great, and not much on it's own.
It is a good in support of watching the movie, but not great, and not much on it's own.
November 27, 2018
This is a compilation of the prequel comics to the CA: First Avenger Movie and it elaborates the tale of Steve Rogers a little more. We learn more about him as a kid, more about Erskine and it ends with the movieverse beginning. I enjoyed it. The illustrations were gorgeous as well. I love the really nice artwork in modern comics!
July 25, 2020
Simple enough.
Adds details like how Steve and Bucky met in the MCU, shows Bucky helping Steve train for the army, and shows Sarah Rogers, which the films never did. It's interesting Joe Rogers wasn't an abusive jerk in this universe. Not sure if that was intentional or because Lente hadn't read Remender's Cap (can't blame him).
Anyway, I don't have any real complaints. It's certainly not crucial reading.
Adds details like how Steve and Bucky met in the MCU, shows Bucky helping Steve train for the army, and shows Sarah Rogers, which the films never did. It's interesting Joe Rogers wasn't an abusive jerk in this universe. Not sure if that was intentional or because Lente hadn't read Remender's Cap (can't blame him).
Anyway, I don't have any real complaints. It's certainly not crucial reading.
March 8, 2021
Captain America the Adaptation! It's like watching the movie only it's bad and it's going to make you hate yourself and everything around you.
Art is ok.
Dialogue and plot are cheesy and meh..felt like it was something to get over with and be done with as fast as they could because the film was coming up.
Art is ok.
Dialogue and plot are cheesy and meh..felt like it was something to get over with and be done with as fast as they could because the film was coming up.
June 23, 2014
Free comic! (part one)
This doesn't add anything to the movie except a tiny bit of backstory about Bucky, a character who seemed to have been edited out of the movie a bit to much for me to care when he died. Otherwise the comic contained some action that was better portrayed in the movie. Oh well.
That said, I wish the Normandy free comic had looked as dynamic as this. Why couldn't that have been a retelling of a parachute drop from the point of view of a single real soldier who turned out to be a hero, a captain, and American?
This doesn't add anything to the movie except a tiny bit of backstory about Bucky, a character who seemed to have been edited out of the movie a bit to much for me to care when he died. Otherwise the comic contained some action that was better portrayed in the movie. Oh well.
That said, I wish the Normandy free comic had looked as dynamic as this. Why couldn't that have been a retelling of a parachute drop from the point of view of a single real soldier who turned out to be a hero, a captain, and American?
June 30, 2013
Prisoner Bucky <3
December 20, 2025
A tie-in to the first Captain America movie (well, the first MCU one, anyway), intercutting one of Cap's WWII missions alongside the Howling Commandos against Hydra with all-new backstory for Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Howard Stark, Peggy Carter and Abraham Erskine.
This book does exactly what it sets out to do, acting as a prelude to 'The First Avenger' and expanding elements from the movie to give them new depth and context.
In particular I liked seeing Erskine's role in the origin of the Red Skull and the part Peggy (AKA Agent 13, in a nice nod to Sharon Carter) plays in his escape to America. The stuff with young Steve and Bucky was fine, but not really anything we couldn't extrapolate from what's in the movie.
But, it has to be said, that aside from expanding on the movie, this book doesn't do much else. There's the briefest sketch of a plot of it's own, set amid the montage of Cap taking down Hydra bases part-way through the film, but nothing terribly significant or engaging.
What I'm saying is that this is perfectly good as a supplement to the movie, but lacks what would be required for it to stand alone on its own merits.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
This book does exactly what it sets out to do, acting as a prelude to 'The First Avenger' and expanding elements from the movie to give them new depth and context.
In particular I liked seeing Erskine's role in the origin of the Red Skull and the part Peggy (AKA Agent 13, in a nice nod to Sharon Carter) plays in his escape to America. The stuff with young Steve and Bucky was fine, but not really anything we couldn't extrapolate from what's in the movie.
But, it has to be said, that aside from expanding on the movie, this book doesn't do much else. There's the briefest sketch of a plot of it's own, set amid the montage of Cap taking down Hydra bases part-way through the film, but nothing terribly significant or engaging.
What I'm saying is that this is perfectly good as a supplement to the movie, but lacks what would be required for it to stand alone on its own merits.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
November 28, 2021
An MCU tie-in to Captain America: The First Avenger. Follows Roger’s on a mission to an unnamed Hydra-occupied island, where he teams up with Dugan and his crew, Bucky Barnes, Agent Carter, and Howard Stark.
This gives some nice supplemental material for most of the more prominent characters in both the Captain America films and the television show, “Agent Carter”.
This gives some nice supplemental material for most of the more prominent characters in both the Captain America films and the television show, “Agent Carter”.
May 5, 2018
1st Part of the MCU marathon.
You can proceed without it.
Just gives a tiny backstory to Bucky, but none still cares...
The art is decent though.
You can proceed without it.
Just gives a tiny backstory to Bucky, but none still cares...
The art is decent though.
December 27, 2020
ESTA MUY CORTITO PERO ME PUSIERON A STEVE Y BUCKY CONOCIÉNDOSE ASÍ QUE 5 ESTRELLAS CLARO QUE SI
March 3, 2017
I've never been a graphic novel reader but the art blew me away all through eight issues of the series (I think) and I'm glad the same team handled the coloring, art, and lettering which gave the volume a cohesive feel. I could just stare at the panels for quite a bit and get excited with the richness of the hues, the rendered characters were close to the original actors' faces that it didn't jar my reading experience. Van Lente's dialogue is quick and engaging too.
November 1, 2021
I mostly read this because I am on a journey into watching the Marvel series/movies/comics in order to get a better understanding of the events. Captain America in general is my least favorite of the Avengers, so this was just for the purpose of what I mentioned above.
June 1, 2021
Bueno acá en esta entrega vemos la "inspiración" de Capitán América, posiblemente yo no haya entendido mucho de estos cómics puesto que no sabía que era una precuela a la película y entre eso y que Steve no es de mis personajes favoritos... se me hizo medio denso.
Sin embargo hay figuras reconocibles como el señor Stark padre y el amigo de Steve, Bucky. También podemos encontrar como dos líneas argumentales distintas, por un lado tenemos al Capitán recibiendo instrucciones de Howard Stark y por otro lado una investigación paralela dentro del laboratorio (¿militar?) al que ellos quieren entrar.
Es entretenido, sí, pero para nada indispensable y no lo volvería a leer! jajaja.
Realmente no hay mucho que agregar a la historia, puesto que a pesar de ser cuatro volúmenes se leen rapidísimo. Como detalle, en realidad son cuatro volúmenes de dos partes cada uno, teniendo en total ocho issues pero como les dije antes, se lee fácil, rápido y es enganchadizo. Una situación curiosa fue el momento en que Steve y Bucky se conocieron de pequeños, si vemos las películas sabemos que ellos son amigos de hace mucho tiempo y ver el inicio de esta amistad fue realmente un mimo al alma, personalmente no por Rogers, sino por Barnes que es uno de mis personajes favoritos!
Sin embargo hay figuras reconocibles como el señor Stark padre y el amigo de Steve, Bucky. También podemos encontrar como dos líneas argumentales distintas, por un lado tenemos al Capitán recibiendo instrucciones de Howard Stark y por otro lado una investigación paralela dentro del laboratorio (¿militar?) al que ellos quieren entrar.
Es entretenido, sí, pero para nada indispensable y no lo volvería a leer! jajaja.
Realmente no hay mucho que agregar a la historia, puesto que a pesar de ser cuatro volúmenes se leen rapidísimo. Como detalle, en realidad son cuatro volúmenes de dos partes cada uno, teniendo en total ocho issues pero como les dije antes, se lee fácil, rápido y es enganchadizo. Una situación curiosa fue el momento en que Steve y Bucky se conocieron de pequeños, si vemos las películas sabemos que ellos son amigos de hace mucho tiempo y ver el inicio de esta amistad fue realmente un mimo al alma, personalmente no por Rogers, sino por Barnes que es uno de mis personajes favoritos!
December 24, 2012
A super quick read and a definite must for anyone who enjoyed the Captain America film from 2011. I didn't really care about the actual main plot; I was more focused on the flashbacks and backstory revealed in them. My favorite parts included Dr Erskine as well as the Howling Commandos. Naturally, the artwork did not exactly match the actors in the film, but they got pretty darn close. I only wish they had more Peggy (surely she had an interesting back story to explore as well?).
December 13, 2013
This is a collection of the first four comic books made based on the Captain America movie. I had a hard time reading it and had to flip back and forth between the pages to keep track of where they were and when in the story they were. It starts out with Captain America skydiving into an enemy lab during WWII and tells the story of how he got there in flashbacks. It was too choppy for my taste.
January 6, 2016
Haha, could they have possibly gotten a dude who cared LESS about Captain America?
Liked parts of it, disliked others, the art wasn't great, but it was a good enough time. The Howling Commandos shit, idk if I buy it, but it was cool anyway.
(blah blah blah talking about emotional hearts in masculinity stories blah blah blah don't mind me)
Liked parts of it, disliked others, the art wasn't great, but it was a good enough time. The Howling Commandos shit, idk if I buy it, but it was cool anyway.
(blah blah blah talking about emotional hearts in masculinity stories blah blah blah don't mind me)
December 28, 2014
Review to follow :)
February 20, 2015
A reasonably interesting story that fits in and around Captain America: The First Avenger. It's entirely unnecessary and the art is middling work for hire done by a mixed bag of artists.
March 10, 2016
*free copy of issue #1 thanks to comiXology*
I'm Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes trash, what more can I say?
I'm Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes trash, what more can I say?
August 11, 2016
A bit all over the place
January 31, 2017
Ehhh...
January 23, 2022
A good tie-in comic that takes place during the events of Captain America: The First Avenger and provides a bit more backstory for Steve, Bucky, and The Howling Commandos.
July 19, 2024
I really enjoyed some sections of this. Unfortunately they were punctuated with long and pointless fight scenes, and back story on Steve Rogers that didn't seem to fit with his character.
September 1, 2016
Not a brilliant comic but it does fill in the gaps before CA:TFA which is interesting.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews