After a brief hiatus, Captain America returns this week with the start of a new story arc titled “Doom’s Shadow” as the road to Marvel’s next event, Armageddon, begins. With Doctor Doom’s empire gone, a power vacuum has formed, with many factions vying to gain more power or even take Doom’s mantle. Standing in his way aren’t just heroes and villains, but factions, as is revealed in Captain America #6.
We may be five months away from “Armageddon,” but it’s very clear that the story begins in The Will of Doom, and in this issue. Chip Zdarsky does a lot of heavy lifting, often with lots of exposition and dialogue, to establish the various sides seeking to control the balance of the world. At the center of it all is Captain America, who is disillusioned with following orders, especially after the last story arc. Like a ball in a pinball machine, this issue is all about Cap unsure, but eventually finding his rightful place in the complicated machinations of global politics.
This is a pretty dense read, with dialogue and captions sometimes covering nearly every inch of panels. Could it have used more action and scene changes to keep things moving? Probably, but it also lays most of the groundwork so the espionage elements can really begin.
Even when a dictator is removed, some think they should bring it back.
Credit: Marvel
That isn’t to say the last few pages don’t have a bit of fun when it introduces the various super-human soldiers Cap will be working with. These are humans with elevated powers, not superpowered beings, which we learn is a major factor in Nick Fury forming his team. It’s an interesting element that makes the story arc feel meaningful.
Another idea introduced here is that a despot like Doctor Doom is vanquished, only for some to think another should be put in his place. Most know Doctor Doom is bad, but those with money and the strings to control things certainly see the benefit of a puppet leader put back after much of the world liked being ruled by a dictator. Similar to One World Under Doom, a thread like that feels a bit too close to home given America’s politics these days, so anyone seeking escapism may find that element less appealing.
Art by Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar keeps things moving, even if, quite literally, characters are sitting, standing, or walking while they talk. The comic reads like Zdarsky needed to get a lot of things across, and the art team does its darndest to keep the character acting on point. Visually, standouts are the cliffhanger, with a positively striking panel depicting a threat to Cap, and the introduction of the various Nick Fury super soldiers, all of which look cool.
Captain America #6 is a deliberate, dialogue-heavy launch of a new story arc that prioritizes groundwork over fireworks. While it occasionally buckles under the weight of its own exposition, the issue succeeds in positioning Steve Rogers at the center of a morally compromised world struggling to replace Doctor Doom’s fallen empire. It’s a cerebral start that asks readers to invest now so the espionage and action can pay off later.
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