All-New Captain America #1: Review

Review: I’m sorry, there’s only one way to put this: I think Captain America with wings looks stupid. I was on-board with promoting Sam “Falcon” Wilson to wield the shield, though it seemed way too soon since the last new Cap left (Bucky, in summer 2011). But I never suspected he would keep the big red wings in the new job. Yes, it provides opportunity to create Cap action sequences like have never been seen (‘cause Cap hasn’t had wing before, duh) but it’s going to take me along time to get used to it. And besides, no other change of identity for such a major character has lasted for very long. I think Bucky Cap was likely the best one of these and that lasted a little under four years—and most of that was because Steve was dead; it took the first movie to put Steve back in the colors (after Ed Brubaker finished making life hell for Bucky). So I’m sure Sam will be back in the ol’ red-and-white-but-not-blue eventually. Or at least gets a costume change. Oh yeah, the rest of the comic…. Well, the issue is filled with a lot of action (including vertical because of, y’know’ wings) and more humor than I’ve seen in a Remender comic. And along with Sam Cap this is also the first big showing for Ian Nomad and that is what really piqued my interest—the working relationship between the two new guys is a bit shakier than one would expect. Ian is clearly smarting at not having been chosen for the role and lets Sam know this. And that ending! Ed Brubaker liked to bring up old Cap villains but at least he spread them out over several years—and he passed on King Cobra and the Armadillo (who really isn’t a villain). As for the art, I have been a big fan of Stuart Immonen since his ULTIMATE SPIDEY days and he does quite an impressive job here. In fact, aside from the wing situation, this is a very good debut for a new series—and one where something actually happens at that!—much better than the ill-advised “JRJR does Kirby sci-fi for a grim Remender story” that it follows.

Comments: Issue takes place before the events of AVENGERS AND X-MEN: AXIS. First full appearance of the new Captain America and Nomad, at least officially. The assembled villains at the end include Baron Zemo, Armadillo, Baron Blood, Crossbones, King Cobra, Sin, Taskmaster, Viper. Hydra Agent Bob Dobalina is a gag reference to a song by the Monkees, beloved by Baby Boomers of all ages. A fuller account of Sam’s family background was presented in CAPTAIN AMERICA #277, recently added to this library.