One of the coolest aspects of Free Comic Book Day is how publishers give readers a taste of what is to come. That allows your imagination to run wild while you wait for the stories to unfold. Today, Marvel is revealing what Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Captain America will be like, and Jason Aaron reveals a lot about the ancient Avengers strengthening this week’s Avengers #1.
So what’s it about?
Get a taste of what Jason Aaron is doing with the Avengers and the first look at Coates’ Captain America.
Why does this matter?
One of my complaints of Avengers #1 was that I wanted more details on the ancient heroes. This issue gives you that via Odin in a key scene with Black Panther. Plus, the Captain America portion of this book gives us an idea of what Cap will be up against soon.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Odin knows how to sit like a boss.
Jason Aaron writes a very good 10-page issue focusing on Black Panther meeting with Odin to go over an impending threat. Odin’s dialogue helps add weight to the ancient Avengers that were revealed, but also his part in it. There are also some key details that help convey who and what the biggest threat to Marvel’s Earth yet may be. This story serves as a good read before you dive into Avengers #1 tying in as an opener of sorts. Sara Pichelli’s art in this story is excellent (isn’t it always?) and her rendering of the ancient Avengers is quite good.
Coates and Leinil Francis Yu’s Cap story has a lot of foreboding gloom and doom to mull over. Cap appears to be soon facing a threat that pretends to be American but is not even close to representing freedom. Yu’s lines suit the story very well, giving Cap an almost sorrowful look as if he doesn’t want to take on this new battle, but must to uphold freedom in America. The story presented here is almost dreamlike and should pique readers’ interest.
Cap looks on…disgusted.
It can’t be perfect can it?
The Avengers story may come off as confusing to anyone who didn’t read Marvel Legacy or the recent Avengers #1 which came as a surprise. It’s not new reader friendly, though it could spark interest in how it’s written.
The Captain America story is so dreamlike it’s almost uncertain of what it wants to be or what it’s doing. My interest is sparked more because I want to understand what it is Coates is getting at rather than knowing the stakes or threats in play.
Is It Good?
This is a good Free Comic Book Day issue if you’re hyped for Coates’ new Cap and what Aaron is doing in Avengers. I’m not sure how good either are at getting new readers interested, but if you’ve been paying attention to Marvel you’re going to need to read this.
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