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Captain America and Batroc #1: Review

May 2011

Kieron Gillen, Renato Arlem

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Story Name:

Traceur

Review & Comments

Rating:

Captain America and Batroc #1 Review by Peter Silvestro (September 7, 2013)

Review: Batroc the Leaper (or “Ze Lepair” as they once called him) is a hard baddie to take seriously—his superpower is kicking people in the face—so Gillen and Arlem went beyond the call of duty in fleshing him out into a real person. He is portrayed here as a mercenary who learns that there are more important things than money: the need to test himself and achieve. True, he is a crook who likes to fight Captain America but the lesson is applicable elsewhere.

Comments: One of a series of one-shots issued in connection with the 70th anniversary of Captain America. Second story reprinted from TALES OF SUSPENSE #85. Collected in a trade edition under the title CAPTAIN AMERICA: ALLIES & ENEMIES.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Captain America and Batroc #1 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Batroc the Leaper is hired by crooks planning a Paris heist to distract Captain America if he interferes. The mercenary traces his planned escape route and meets some parkour runners; after some chat, Batroc considers himself a traceur like them, always testing himself against himself. The robbery goes down, Cap arrives (it’s Bucky in the colors), and Batroc leads him on a chase across rooftops and into a trap. Cap evades it and rescues the parkour runners who, in spite of the danger, admire the villain. Later, Batroc learns that the criminals were caught anyway so he won’t be getting the money he was promised. But he enjoyed the chance to test himself once again against Captain America.

Story #2

The Blitzkrieg of Batroc!

Writer: Stan Lee. Penciler: Jack Kirby. Inker: Frank Giacoia. Colorist: ?.

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

By Peter Silvestro

In response to a cryptic message, Captain America arrives at a convalescent hospital in search of the female SHIELD agent whose life may be in danger. He suspects a trap and he is right: Hydra agents are waiting in the wings as a floor opens and drops him into a basement. There he is attacked by Batroc the Leaper, seeking revenge for his earlier defeat. As they battle, the Hydra killers tell the captive SHIELD agent that there is no way she or Captain America will survive. The contest between the two antagonist moves back and forth until the impatient Hydra agents open fire. An enraged Batroc leaps at the killers and Cap hurls his shield to protect his former foe. The two team up to rescue the SHIELD agent and Batroc, having paid his debt to Cap, escapes through a window.

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