Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti have been firing on all cylinders when it comes to their Captain America run. Not only has the duo managed to make the idea of Cap’s first meeting with Doctor Doom an intriguing effort while tying neatly into Marvel continuity, but they’ve been exploring the “man out of time” aspect in a new light by showcasing how similar, and how different, Steve Rogers is to his successor David Colton. Even the cover by Ben Harvey reflects this duel of ideals, featuring a picture of Cap with the Avengers covered in blood. Captain America #5 finally shows how their conflict comes to a head, and thankfully keeps up the same momentum as previous issues.
The reason why Steve and Colton have come to blows is that Colton’s discovered their mission to liberate diplomats from Doom’s grasp was really a wet works mission to cover the United States’ role in bringing him to power. It pushes him over the edge, but as the flashback sequences reveal, he was almost always teetering on that edge. It would have been easy for Zdarsky to paint Colton as a zealous soldier, but instead, he chose to show how someone can either lose faith in the ideals they’ve dedicated themselves to or the lengths they’ll go to make those ideals matter.
It’s a sharp contrast to Steve’s actions; throughout the issue, he’s constantly defusing fights, talking to people, and trying to reason with them. It brings to mind a line from Captain America: The First Avenger, where Abraham Erskine tells Steve before he’s injected with the Super Soldier Serum: “Whatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. That you will stay who you are, not a perfect soldier, but a good man.” Trying to save everyone he can makes Steve a good man, and more than his shield or his superhuman abilities, is what makes him a great hero.
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Schiti continues to deliver absolutely gorgeous artwork, no matter the scene. Even people standing and talking have plenty of detail in characters’ facial expressions, not to mention their body language. That doesn’t mean that Schiti skimps on the fight scenes, as a battle between Steve and Colton turns brutal pretty quickly. Each punch and kick has genuine weight, and it’s choreographed like two men fighting for their lives. Frank Martin’s muted colors bring a somber feeling to the scene, shifting to a sepia tone for the Colton-focused flashbacks.
The ending of this comic doesn’t tie everything up in a neat bow, and that’s for the best. Sometimes leaving a story open-ended so that readers can form their own opinions is the right call. I also love Steve’s reason for fully joining the Avengers, because he wants to help people; it’s the sweet note in an otherwise bittersweet ending.
Captain America #5 brings a somber, yet thoughtful end to its first story arc, with its creative team continuing to bring their A-game to the proceedings. Between this series and the stellar work he did on Avengers: Twilight, Zdarsky is proving to be one of Cap’s best writers and I can’t wait for the next story arc.
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