The Death of Captain America, Vol. 1 (v. 1)
by Ed Brubaker
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Book Reviews of The Death of Captain America, Vol. 1 (v. 1)
Book Review: Captivating Even Without Steve Rogers
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a guy who waits for the collected editions of my favorite comic books, so my knowledge of the death of Steve Rogers arrived long before I read the actual volume in which it occurred. And you want to know something? It didn't lessen the impact one iota.
This is because Ed Brubaker's Captain America is masterful. This is not a title looking to shock you in one-and-done scenarios, this is a title where each issue builds off the prior and the author clearly has an epic plot in mind. The story progresses organically and logically.
Collecting issues #25-30, Steve Rogers dies in the first installment and then his supporting characters take center stage. Brubaker gives us a level of richness and complexity with Tony Stark, Sharon Carter, the Falcon, Nick Fury, the Black Widow, and Bucky Barnes rarely seen in comic books. The fact he keeps Captain America just as intriguing and captivating without Captain America is proof enough as to why this man won the Eisner award.
Now we all know who the current Captain America is, and this volume, as well as the preceding issues of this series, really sets up the events leading to Barnes donning the Captain America mask. It makes total sense and it didn't feel at all forced.
In fact, I'd like to briefly congratulate Brubaker for reinserting Barnes into the Marvel Universe in a seamless, rational, and consistent manner. Unlike another once-thought-dead partner, Barnes has been handled with care and intelligence.
Furthermore, Steve Epting's art is the perfect compliment to Brubaker's realism. While cinematic in execution, Epting delivers characters and action that are believable yet extraordinary. His angles and layouts please the eye while strengthening the overall story.
Brubaker's Captain America has been a delightful and unpredictable joy from the get-go, and I look forward to seeing where he takes us next!
~Scott William Foley, author of The Imagination's Provocation: Volume I: A Collection of Short Stories
Book Review: for all its qualities (which are many), it fails to satisfy
Summary: 3 Stars
i'm a big fan of ed brubaker's work on captain america (you can find my thoughts on the previous volumes in my review of the captain america omnibus that precedes this volume). this title is the only ongoing comic book i buy regularly, and i've enjoyed it immensely. ed brubaker is writing one of the best books on the shelves, and it's a joy to read even without the title character (though his presence is felt, and will surely loom over this book until his eventual return). i am actually much more interested in the winter soldier (aka bucky barnes, cap's former partner) as a character than captain america himself, so the new direction for this title is very promising. and the creative team does a good job crafting a story that makes me care, keeps me engaged, and feels like it's going somewhere. that said, there's just not much story here. it's fun to read, but by the last page we haven't gone very far from where we started. now, perhaps six issues isn't enough time to have expected a showdown with iron man (whom bucky blames for cap's death), but i expected more development than this. what we have here is the first act of a story that in no way could stand alone. it ends on a cliffhanger, and if you follow this book in this collected format (as opposed to monthly floppy comics) you'll be reading the conclusion to this arc rather deep into the year. i understand that the nature of ongoing comics dictates that the story never properly "ends," but there's just not enough story here to satisfy. the first chapter of brubaker's run (featuring the return of bucky) suffered similarly, but at least it benefitted from the mystery of the winter solider's identity. read alongside the next volume this will probably be quite good, but it's basically futile on its own.Book Review: The Death of Cap Storyline starts with a Bang , Literally.
Summary: 5 Stars
Captain America is dead. His book is still running. His book is still selling well. His book is still AMAZING, if not even better than what it was before.
The first volume of the Death of Captain America collects issues 25-30 and its an amazing collection. This is a deep story, not simply just the gimmick many ppl thought it would be, when they first read about Cap dying. After Captain America dies, the book follows up on the supporting cast that Brubaker has set up from previous issues. Bucky, Sharon and the Falcon get a lot of screen time, as does Tony Stark, Shield, the Skull and his minions. All parts of this are equally as intriguing, Sharon's drama, Bucky's search for revenge and the Red Skull's plan unfolding slowly, which adds to the intrigue of what it.
This storyline is BIG and Brubaker knows it, all the subplots that have been unfolding over the first 25 issues of the book are picked up on and the death of cap feels organic, and intensely tragic, as do the events that come unfold after it. Whenever you think, things aren't working out for the heroes, don't worry, they'll eventually get worst
The art by Epting and Perkins are also perfect fits for Brubaker's writing, sometimes its hard to tell apart who is who, because they are both outstanding.
This book is an absolute Gem, do yourself a favour and pick it up if you want a great tale about Superheroes, Espionage and Tragedy.
Book Review: Like I said before, the dream is dead, for now...
Summary: 3 Stars
Ed Brubaker's (Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, Sleeper) run on Captain America has been loaded with espionage and action, and while it has been both a critical and commercial hit, I've never seen what's been so great about Brubaker's run on the title. Now, Brubaker's much lauded event during his run on Captain America is collected here, with The Death of Captain America. In the aftermath of Civil War, Steve "Captain America" Rogers is shot and killed by a sniper's bullet, sending ripples throughout the Marvel universe. In the wake of Cap's death, the Winter Soldier chooses a side, the Falcon searches for the truth, and Cap's S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent ex-girlfriend Sharon makes a shocker of a discovery. Whether or not hearing of Captain America's death wowed you or drew one long groan from you, you have to admit that Brubaker can weave one intriguing and interesting story here. In the aftermath of Cap's death, Brubaker manages to hold your interest, but as any longtime comic reader (or short term) will tell you, this definitely isn't the end for the star-spangled Avenger. Steve Epting's artwork is solid as usual, but other than that, The Death of Captain America is only worth checking out for die hard fans of Cap, or loyal followers of Brubaker's run on the series.Book Review: Captain America dies and the series just gets better
Summary: 5 Stars
You'd think a story titled "The Death of Captain America" would be the end for the series, but it turns out, surprisingly, to be a new beginning, a breath of fresh air. While Steve Rogers will be sorely missed, the book's supporting cast fill his shoes admirably. As Agent 13 and the Falcon search for Rogers' killer, Bucky embarks on a single-minded mission to assassinate Tony Stark, who he believes is responsible for the death of his oldest friend. Meanwhile, the Red Skull and his cohorts, Arnim Zola and Dr. Faustus, plot the destruction of America from behind the scenes.
Ed Brubaker has always been one for bold moves and here he makes the boldest--yet by killing off the main character, he has opened up so many more opportunities. And as the final pages of this volume show, he has allowed room for a new bearer of the shield, as well. This story is epic in scope and extends beyond this volume, but it's well worth the time. Every issue rewards the reader as more and more of the Skull's twisted plot is revealed and the good guys get closer to the truth.