Every now and then, the Big Two will put out series with a take and approach so unique they stand out among all the tales of their classic characters. One such series is finally back in print this week: Robert Morales and Kyle Baker’s Truth: Red, White, & Black. Readers who’ve been following Marvel and Captain America for long enough have likely at least heard of it, although it has historically been somewhat difficult to track down. How does the series hold up almost twenty years after its initial publication?
So what’s it about?
For those unfamiliar with the series, here’s a plot summary:
In every war, there are legends. And World War II birthed Captain America, the heroic Sentinel of Liberty. But in this shocking re-examination of the 1940s Super-Soldier program, a hidden and controversial chapter of history is declassified at last! Meet the unit of African-American soldiers who were involuntarily subjected to the U.S. War Department’s brutish efforts to refine the Super-Soldier Serum. And hear the story of Isaiah Bradley, who overcame all odds to don the famous red-white-and-blue on the battlefield! Robert Morales and Kyle Baker hit home with a touching, timely and thought-provoking tale that spans decades!
Serious subject matter with a cartoonist’s spin
The first aspect of Truth that jumped out to me when I found issue #1 by chance years ago was the artwork. Kyle Baker is not just a comic book artist but also a cartoonist, and that’s very evident in his work. His stylistic choices with regards to characterization and action are quite exaggerated, whether characters are fighting on the battlefield or just talking at their homes. For example, the explosions throughout look gigantic and impressive but never are grimly deadly, and there’s a pronounced lack of realism in how events are rendered in general.
Marvel
And frankly? That’s all to Truth’s benefit. The series’ story is specifically rooted in the horrors of war and the U.S. military’s mistreatment of Black men, those soldiers deemed most expendable. As the story progresses there are even depictions of concentration camps and their horribly abused prisoners. Truth doesn’t shy away from any of this subject matter; it faces it head-on, and much of the imagery is very upsetting. With that said, Baker’s stylistic choices here are very tasteful. With how much art in general treats Black people’s pain flippantly and with a traumatizing photorealistic approach, it’s nice to see a series that doesn’t lose sight of its characters being people as opposed to objects to disturbingly marvel at the injury of.
Beyond being tasteful given the subject matter, Baker’s work is also full of life and personality. Not only is Isaiah Bradley instantly recognizable and distinct as a character, but so are the rest of his squad mates. The most affecting figure here might be Sergeant Luke Evans, whose compassion and gruff army mentality are both expertly conveyed. The visual characterization is also strong enough that one could easily glean each protagonist’s personality and role in the larger group even if all the text were omitted.
Marvel Comics
My only small qualm with the art comes toward the very end, with a hall worth of photos (the context of which I won’t describe as to avoid spoilers). Most of the photos are drawn and therefore fit in with the rest of the larger image, but a few photographs have actual photographs transposed within them. This mixture of media hinders what should be (and to be fair, mostly still is) a poignant moment because the contrast is just too jarring. There’s one specific photograph of a comic creator whose inclusion just feels bizarre given that said creator wasn’t one of the co-creators of Steve Rogers or Isaiah Bradley.
But how is the premise itself handled?
The core concepts of Truth are ones that, if they’re going to be dealt with in a superhero comic, need to be approached with basic care, research, and respect. Fortunately, that is the care here. Morales and Baker manage to successfully ground the story within a specific historical context, even incorporating the publication of the original Captain America Comics #1. This edition includes Morales’ personal research notes in the back, and they cite not just the historical events referenced but also dozens of books and other sources where readers can find more information on said events.
Marvel
The first few issues of Truth manage to successfully introduce Isaiah and all his squad mates in relatively little page-time. Part of what makes these introductions so impactful is that they relay what these characters’ family lives are like. For example, one has a child on the way back home while another is working through a troubled relationship with his parents who disagree with his political leanings. Because we are given a firm grasp on who all these men are before the war, we’re better able to see how it changes them over time, as well as what core motivations and aspects of their personalities only get sharpened by the conflict.
With all this said, this isn’t the sort of book that one finishes feeling satisfied. That’s not to say there’s a sense of something lacking. Rather, it’s the sort of book that leaves one to ponder what wasn’t shown on-panel. What happens to the characters in the time between the series’ early events and its flash-forward to the present day? How do these experiences sadly mirror those of real people? These questions aren’t given easy answers that are meant to pick the reader back up emotionally. While there are some very sweet moments in the series’ latter half, they don’t attempt to paper over the tragedies both inflicted and still ongoing. Perhaps it is a testament to how seriously Truth treats its subject matter that I was left unable to sum up my feelings succinctly upon closing the book.
Marvel
The wrap-up
There are very few superhero comics that even belong in the same conversation as Truth: Red, White & Black. The degrees of research and thought put into it are clearly evident, not just in the literal citations at the back of the book but in the ways its story unfolds and its characters keep moving forward, through horror and all. Your mileage may vary on how well the subject matter is executed upon; the premise is certainly not a fluffy or easy one. Nonetheless, regardless of how one ultimately feels upon finishing Truth, it would be hard not to appreciate that these creators were given so much freedom to craft a Captain America story unlike any before or since.
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