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Given Falcon and Captain America have fought together countless times I didn’t know what to expect from this Generations issue. The Generations series have all been rather good as they’ve had heroes of today meet their original counterparts when they were younger. This issue sends Falcon back to the past and to my surprise, it might be the most important Generations issue yet!
So what’s it about?
Why does this matter?
Nick Spencer writes his first Generations issue and, spoiler alert, it ties into all the rest in a surprising way. This might have the most meaning and explanation as far as what the point of these one-shot issues are, which gives it all the more reason to be on your pull list.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
This issue opens with Falcon being interrogated as authorities attempt to determine where Falcon was the minute all the heroes vanished. It’s a reminder that these Generations issues actually happened and they disappeared only for a brief time. This scene bookends well with the ending, which has Falcon and other heroes reflect on what they saw. Spencer does a good job showing Falcon reflect on what he saw and make the events in this issue feel like important ones. It’s not often characters appear to have learned something especially in a single issue. I think Spencer did that and more.
Going into this issue I was not on board: Falcon going back to World War II seems like a rather ridiculous plot, but stay with it. The issue actually serves to explain a few things, but also sets Falcon on a mission that’s incredible. Seriously, the adventure he goes on in this issue are long lasting and could stick with him forever if whoever writes him in the future keeps this issue to heart. This issue not only tackles social issues in our history, but also the importance of those who make their own way. Which in a effect is what “Marvel Legacy” is and will be all about. Many Marvel characters wear the same costumes, but it’s about blazing your own trail for what you believe in that truly matters.
Paul Renaud draws this issue and gives it the grit required of a comic set mostly in World War II. Some of the most interesting pages are montages with a lot of captions, but you wouldn’t know it due to the art drawing your eye and keeping you informed. Over two pages readers get almost all of Captain America’s history–the big beats at least–and Renaud nails these moments.
One minute you’re fighting Hydra and the next you’re fighting for Civil Rights.
It can’t be perfect can it?
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This issue is slow to get going and it takes a bit to really understand what Spencer is doing. That’s partly due to the use of time, which you probably can’t speed through, but I wasn’t sold on this issue until page 8. In part because it’s not clear what the point of any of it is, a failing of some of these Generations issues, but also because the real hook comes later.
Is It Good?
If you read only one Generations issue read The Americas. It not only tells an incredible tale in its own right, but lends purpose to the entire idea of the Generations issues.
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