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Captain America and the Falcon #1: Review

May 2004
Christopher Priest, Bart Sears

Story Name:

Two Americas, Part One

Review & Comments

Rating:
3 stars

Captain America and the Falcon #1 Review by (February 1, 2012)
Review: The first thing that strikes the reader about this first story arc is the ugly art: while the layouts are effective, the heroic characters are bulked-up monstrosities, and the artist had the odd idea to place full-length figures of Cap and the Falcon as a framing device throughout the story, rendering the action a bit confusing. And the action is more than a bit confusing, with two Caps and a story that (apparently) jumps back and forth in time. Otherwise the tale is okay, adding a bit more of the superhero vibe to a dark and gritty tale that fits in with the post 9-11 Captain America series. In an interview, Christopher Priest admitted some responsibility for the confusion with his apparent time jumps but laid most of the blame on Bart Sears, whose art made the complicated story nearly incomprehensible.

Comments: Part one of a four-part story. First appearance of the Anti-Cap. First appearance of Alisande Morales.




 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Captain America and the Falcon #1 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

In Cuba, a mysterious American questions a drunken derelict as to the whereabouts of Sam Wilson, the Falcon, who vanished in the country. The drunk fears to get involved as Sam is connected with the powerful Rivas crime syndicate; the American switches from bribe money to threats of violence. The drunk gasps out the words, "Alphabet City, " and his interrogator drops him, leaving some cash in his lap and stepping back to reveal the red-white-and-blue costume of Captain America….

Several hours earlier Steve Rogers was in the office of Joe "Robbie" Robertson, editor of the Daily Bugle, trying to get a line on the Falcon’s whereabouts. Seems Bugle reporter Leila Taylor (and Sam Wilson’s former lover) had been investigating the Rivas drug cartel in Cuba when she discovered something in one of their labs. She tried to smuggle it into the USA and was caught and imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay. The Falcon went down there and busted her out and now they are missing, and Robbie was the last person Sam spoke to before he left. Now Steve wants to know what it was Leila found, and he has 24 hours to get to them before the authorities take over, but as far as Robbie is concerned, Captain America is the authorities….

In Cuba, a strangely sadistic-looking Captain America arrives at a stormy Alphabet City where he finds a shack guarded by criminal types. He fights his way in where he questions a thug about Sam and rescues a woman and child held prisoner….

Hours earlier, Steve confided in the Scarlet Witch how he had encouraged Sam’s idealism and now wonders whether it has gone too far, violating national security….

In Alphabet City, the woman captive gives the dark Cap a lead on where to find the Rivas crime family and Sam Wilson. He won’t take her along because of the danger and she kisses him goodbye….

In Florida, Steve was told that with the coming hurricane, all flights were grounded and he would not be able to go to Cuba….

At the Rivas Estate, Sam Wilson as the Falcon holds the mobsters at gunpoint, announcing his plans to take the captive Leila with him—and Manuel Rivas too, to face justice in America. It’s all about principles. Meanwhile, as the storm grows in fury, Cap enters the estate, leaving a trail of injured thugs in his wake. Falcon tells Rivas, there’s good news and bad news. The good news: Captain America is on his way. The bad news? At this point, Cap enters, picks up an automatic weapon and calmly kills Rivas and his henchmen, then removes his mask to reveal a dark-haired stranger. "That guy ain’t him."



Bart Sears
Rob Hunter
Mike Atiyeh
Bart Sears (Cover Penciler)
Rob Hunter (Cover Inker)
Mike Atiyeh (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Captain America
Captain America

(Steve Rogers)
Falcon
Falcon

(Sam Wilson)
Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch

(Wanda Maximoff)

Plus: Alisande Morales, Anti-Cap, Leila Taylor, Robbie Robertson (Joe Robertson).

> Captain America and the Falcon: Book info and issue index

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