Ta-Nehisi Coates’s run on Captain America has been one of the quieter ones, not really depending on bombastic action sequences to get its point across. Coates has appeared far more interested in making a statement about our current society, using Cap and his mythos to do that. Captain America #30 is very much in line with that way of thinking, featuring a confrontation with the Skull and Cap that’s more brain than brawn.
If you’re expecting a huge fight where the two longtime rivals come to blows with each other, Captain America #30 won’t give you what you want. What it does do is make a statement, something Coates has clearly hinged his entire run on doing — and it’s not hard to make sense of the message he’s giving here. For that reason alone, Captain America #30 won’t be for everyone, but it is definitely the issue Coates has been building up to since the start of his run.
For those who have been enjoying Coates’ take on the character, on the other hand, Captain America #30 is likely to be a hit. His knowledge of the characters’ backstories shines in this issue, with little nods to things that have happened in past runs, including a nod to a certain lost baby that hasn’t been referenced since Brubaker’s first tenure on the series.
The ending scenes include a nice moment for the core cast, wrapping up certain personal stories Coates has toyed with in his run. The final pages give way for a familiar villain to rise to even further prominence in future runs.
All in all, Captain America #30 ended the way most expected — and if you liked Coates’s run, that’s a good thing.
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