Captain America is thriving when it comes to comics. Not only are both Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers headlining their own books, but soon a new Captain America book will feature the return of J. Michael Straczynski to Marvel’s stable of writers. Before that, we have Captain America #750, which pulls double duty. Not only is it wrapping up the “Cold War” storyline that ran through Sam Wilson: Captain America and Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, but it also has to celebrate 750 issues worth of Captain America stories. It mostly succeeds.
First up is the “Cold War” fallout, which is explored in “Nothing But A Fight” from the Sentinel of Liberty team of Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Carmen Carnero, and Nolan Woodward. This deals with the funeral of Roger Aubrey, who served as Steve Rogers’ old war ally the Destroyer. Steve is also forced to come to terms with the machinations that his friend Bucky Barnes has enacted as part of the Inner Circle. Lanzing and Kelly’s script is full of emotional moments, whether it’s Cap and his allies remembering the Destroyer or Steve confronting Bucky about the actions he’s taken. Carnero’s artwork makes these moments hit as well – there’s a wealth of emotions crossing Steve and Bucky’s faces, with the coloring from Woodward delivering radiant bursts of sunshine throughout the story.
On the opposite side, the Sam Wilson team of Tochi Onyebuchi, R.B. Silva and Jesus Aburtov give us “A Cup of Tea”, which focuses on a singular question: “Why did Sam Wilson decide to become Captain America again?” Onyebuchi slowly unpacks the layers behind this decision, cutting in between Sam having…a cup of tea with Misty Knight as well as a tender moment at his parents’ graves. What really drives it home is Silva’s artwork; the quiet moments hit just as hard as the action packed ones, and believe me when I say this man can draw the hell out of some action sequences. It’s all topped off with bright, vibrant colors from Aburtov – and befitting of a Captain America book, there’s plenty of red, white, and blue throughout.
The rest of the book features multiple tales focused on Sam and Steve. The best ones, in my opinion, are “Reflections” by Stephanie Williams, Rachael Stott, and Matt Milla, and “The Hero” by J.M. DeMatteis, Sara Pichelli, and Matthew Wilson. “Reflections” is a Sam-focused tale that has him ruminating on his time with the Avengers; specifically the time he was appointed to be a member for diversity purposes (yes, this was an actual storyline.) Williams does a great job of showcasing the struggle Sam was going through in trying to prove his worth, and ultimately deciding that it shouldn’t affect his heroism. Stott captures the ’70s era Avengers vibe perfectly with her artwork, presenting artwork that feels timeless yet sleek and modern.
“The Hero” hit me the hardest, especially with how it digs into Steve Rogers’ personal life. This is a tale that only DeMatteis could have written – he digs past the shield, the legend, and shows Steve as a man first and foremost, as the Sentinel of Liberty recounts his friendship with his late friend Arnie Roth. Pichelli’s art adds to that humanity – Steve isn’t in his Cap costume most of the time, which means the reader gets to see his face and the emotions playing across it. Sepia tones from Wilson make the flashback moments feel all the more poignant.
Captain America #750 is both a celebration of the Captain America legacy as well as a roadmap to its future. If you love the character, you owe it to yourself to pick this issue up. No matter who wields the shield, the creators behind this issue understand the power that a hero like Cap holds.
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