Post by goldenfist on Feb 28, 2008 9:51:04 GMT -5
Here's a review from Ign.com reviewing Captain America #35.
Maybe you didn't like the idea of a new character wielding the shield. Maybe you just didn't like the new costume. Regardless of the reason, not everyone was excited about the debut of the new Cap in Captain America #34. It didn't matter in the end, though, because Ed Brubaker delivered the literary equivalent of a smashing piledriver to all the naysayers. Issue #34 was one of the best comics of the year so far, and the follow-up is every bit as stellar.
Bucky spent so much time suiting up or hiding in the shadows last issue, he didn't have a whole lot of time to beat up bad guys. Some readers complained, not without warrant, that they didn't even get a good money shot of Bucky in action. Those readers should be pleased with this issue, as Bucky spends most of his time bashing in teeth of practicing the art of shield-throwing. Last month's terrific cliffhanger leads to some literal riots in the streets of Washington. Cap jumps right into the thick of battle and proves that, even lacking the Super Soldier Serum, he's a more than formidable fighter.
I actually liked that Brubaker made the new Cap's first fight against Americans - policeman even - rather than Nazis or something. It underscores the vast difference between Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers as well as the increasingly gray area of evil in the Marvel Universe. My only complaint in this area is that no one in the issue seems to care that Cap is back from the dead. I'm waiting for that special, heartwarming moment where the crowd cheers his return, but I suppose I'll have to wait a while longer.
The art was one area where things could have gone south for this issue. Steve Epting, his busy schedule having apparently caught up with him, is entirely absent this month. Butch Guice steps in, and I'm quite honest when I say you almost won't be able to tell the difference. I don't know what it is about Epting's style that allows for artists like Guice and Michael Perkins to so easily replicate it. All I really care is that Captain America is able to maintain a consistent look.
If this issue has a flaw, it's the slightly weak ending. This isn't the first time in recent months Brubaker has relied on a slightly forced ending to cap off an issue. I sympathize that ending issue after issue on a satisfying cliffhanger is one of the more difficult aspects of writing comics. However, when a series is as good as this, lone flaws stand out all the more.
Review Score:9.3 OutStanding
Here's what another reviewer thought about Captain America
#35.
For those of you who are wondering: yes, I still hate Captain America’s new costume, still wonder why Alex Ross (or whomever was responsible for the new look) decided Captain America should wear the Puerto Rican flag and still think Bucky Barnes looks like he slipped Freddy Mercury’s leotard over Steve Roger’s uniform. That doesn’t change the fact that I love Bucky Barnes as the new Cap, and continue to love Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting and Mike Perkins’ sprawling Captain America epic, one of the finest modern runs in comics history. (The omnibus collection of the first 25 issues remains on my very long list of Expensive Things I Must Someday Get Around to Buying).
I should also point out, for those wondering (and if you’re reading this, I assume you’re wondering), that I’m not as enamored with this and last issue as Jesse or others seem to be. Yes, the arrival of the 21st century’s Captain America – one who’s as disillusioned and morally ambiguous as the country he represents – definitely rings true and relevant to these modern times, as does the new modus operandi of the Red Skull and his cohorts (including the recent mortgage crisis in Red Skull’s scheme to take over America? Brilliant). I think my problem and reservation with this Second Act is that we’re only two issues into Bucky’s tenure as the new Captain America, and I’m already tired of him reflecting on how Steve Rogers would have handled a situation if he were alive. That’s not a good sign. God knows I’ve had enough of characters lamenting the death of Steve Rogers. Then again, I’d probably be screaming foul if Brubaker didn’t include these compulsory reflections, so I probably should just get over it.
You see, the hardest part about reviewing individual comics in this day and age is that it’s sometimes difficult to analyze a single part of a much, much longer epic without having your opinion of the smaller picture tainted by the larger one. As far as the overarching story that Brubaker has been telling since issue one (and its now clear this series has always really been about Bucky), this title is absolutely Grade A. But as Jesse pointed out, the qualities of the individual issues (specifically the cliff-hangers), are sometimes not as spot-on as the sum of its parts, if that makes sense. So yes, I’m loving the new Captain America and continue to love the direction of this series, I’m just not as head-over-heels with these issues as some.
As far as the art goes, I honestly had no idea this issue was handled by a fill-in artist until I read Jesse’s review, which should tell you all you need to know about either Butch Guice’s ability to replicate Epting’s style or my general stupidity. Take your pick.
Review Score: 8.8
Maybe you didn't like the idea of a new character wielding the shield. Maybe you just didn't like the new costume. Regardless of the reason, not everyone was excited about the debut of the new Cap in Captain America #34. It didn't matter in the end, though, because Ed Brubaker delivered the literary equivalent of a smashing piledriver to all the naysayers. Issue #34 was one of the best comics of the year so far, and the follow-up is every bit as stellar.
Bucky spent so much time suiting up or hiding in the shadows last issue, he didn't have a whole lot of time to beat up bad guys. Some readers complained, not without warrant, that they didn't even get a good money shot of Bucky in action. Those readers should be pleased with this issue, as Bucky spends most of his time bashing in teeth of practicing the art of shield-throwing. Last month's terrific cliffhanger leads to some literal riots in the streets of Washington. Cap jumps right into the thick of battle and proves that, even lacking the Super Soldier Serum, he's a more than formidable fighter.
I actually liked that Brubaker made the new Cap's first fight against Americans - policeman even - rather than Nazis or something. It underscores the vast difference between Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers as well as the increasingly gray area of evil in the Marvel Universe. My only complaint in this area is that no one in the issue seems to care that Cap is back from the dead. I'm waiting for that special, heartwarming moment where the crowd cheers his return, but I suppose I'll have to wait a while longer.
The art was one area where things could have gone south for this issue. Steve Epting, his busy schedule having apparently caught up with him, is entirely absent this month. Butch Guice steps in, and I'm quite honest when I say you almost won't be able to tell the difference. I don't know what it is about Epting's style that allows for artists like Guice and Michael Perkins to so easily replicate it. All I really care is that Captain America is able to maintain a consistent look.
If this issue has a flaw, it's the slightly weak ending. This isn't the first time in recent months Brubaker has relied on a slightly forced ending to cap off an issue. I sympathize that ending issue after issue on a satisfying cliffhanger is one of the more difficult aspects of writing comics. However, when a series is as good as this, lone flaws stand out all the more.
Review Score:9.3 OutStanding
Here's what another reviewer thought about Captain America
#35.
For those of you who are wondering: yes, I still hate Captain America’s new costume, still wonder why Alex Ross (or whomever was responsible for the new look) decided Captain America should wear the Puerto Rican flag and still think Bucky Barnes looks like he slipped Freddy Mercury’s leotard over Steve Roger’s uniform. That doesn’t change the fact that I love Bucky Barnes as the new Cap, and continue to love Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting and Mike Perkins’ sprawling Captain America epic, one of the finest modern runs in comics history. (The omnibus collection of the first 25 issues remains on my very long list of Expensive Things I Must Someday Get Around to Buying).
I should also point out, for those wondering (and if you’re reading this, I assume you’re wondering), that I’m not as enamored with this and last issue as Jesse or others seem to be. Yes, the arrival of the 21st century’s Captain America – one who’s as disillusioned and morally ambiguous as the country he represents – definitely rings true and relevant to these modern times, as does the new modus operandi of the Red Skull and his cohorts (including the recent mortgage crisis in Red Skull’s scheme to take over America? Brilliant). I think my problem and reservation with this Second Act is that we’re only two issues into Bucky’s tenure as the new Captain America, and I’m already tired of him reflecting on how Steve Rogers would have handled a situation if he were alive. That’s not a good sign. God knows I’ve had enough of characters lamenting the death of Steve Rogers. Then again, I’d probably be screaming foul if Brubaker didn’t include these compulsory reflections, so I probably should just get over it.
You see, the hardest part about reviewing individual comics in this day and age is that it’s sometimes difficult to analyze a single part of a much, much longer epic without having your opinion of the smaller picture tainted by the larger one. As far as the overarching story that Brubaker has been telling since issue one (and its now clear this series has always really been about Bucky), this title is absolutely Grade A. But as Jesse pointed out, the qualities of the individual issues (specifically the cliff-hangers), are sometimes not as spot-on as the sum of its parts, if that makes sense. So yes, I’m loving the new Captain America and continue to love the direction of this series, I’m just not as head-over-heels with these issues as some.
As far as the art goes, I honestly had no idea this issue was handled by a fill-in artist until I read Jesse’s review, which should tell you all you need to know about either Butch Guice’s ability to replicate Epting’s style or my general stupidity. Take your pick.
Review Score: 8.8