I love being able to write an easy review, you know what I mean? I’m mainly kidding; writing a thoughtful, sometimes critical review of something you’ve read is very satisfying, but with the oversaturation of stories in the world of comics, it can feel really nice to be able to say, “Damn, that was some really great storytelling with gorgeous art.” Thankfully, I am confidently able to say that about the first five-issue arc of Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti’s Captain America, which has finally (finally!) been collected and released in trade paperback form.
Don’t get me wrong, Zdarsky is writing about incredibly complex topics and themes, like war, freedom, trauma, and fascism, but even with all of these heavy things that could weigh down the plot, this comic still feels like a superhero comic. Yes, it made me think and reflect. But it was also just incredibly enjoyable to read in one sitting, and wow, is it an impressive take on Steve Rogers, an iconic hero whose origin story has in many ways been beaten dead into the ground.
Marvel
Captain America Vol. 1: Our Secret Wars follows Steve on his first heroic mission after his defrosting, while simultaneously showing the journey of a forgotten Captain America, David Colton. The debut of Colton, as a post-9/11 Captain America, is done incredibly well, making his descent into anger and violence make sense, even if the reader still abhors the senseless “justice” Colson eventually decides to bring upon the soldiers of Latveria. This first arc culminates in an attack on Doctor Doom, setting the stage for Marvel’s first major event post the fall of Emperor Doom, Armageddon.
Honestly, I really don’t have any major critiques of the story itself. The tone is pitch-perfect, dark and depressing but injected with Steve’s thoughtful hopefulness and slight naivete. Whenever there is a depiction of the war in Iraq post-9/11 in comics, I am always wary, but Zdarsky manages to explore a realistic depiction of an unnecessary war and the crimes done against the civilians of Iraq. He handles this reality while also making you feel empathy for the pain Colton is going through as the lies of American imperialism fall before his eyes.
Marvel
Valerio Schiti’s art is just absolutely gorgeous, which is no surprise because I don’t think he has ever not blown it out of the park. Steve’s “updated” blue costume that the US Army forces him to wear is very well designed, the fight scenes are electric and engaging, and the way Schiti illustrated the devastation on Colton and his mother’s faces really hits you in the feels. Plus, Doom is truly larger-than-life in this comic, and while Zdarsky’s writing for Doom is astounding (making Doom stand out in a year where every other comic features the villain?!??), the art really cements that vibe. Frank Martin’s muted yet somehow still vibrant colors are also a standout, especially for Colton’s sepia-toned flashback scenes, which elicit the exact feeling of moroseness and regret the plot needs.
I think this story works incredibly well when read in trade form. The arc flows really well, and the emotional hits of the story are a lot more impactful when you’re able to absorb them all at once. This is a smaller trade than I would like, but I understand that there are no “filler” issues in this series, and the next arc is more than five issues, so it wouldn’t make sense to wait to include them or split them up. I am annoyed that there is only 1 full-size variant cover in the end; I think for such a thin book they could have included 2-3 more. Also, this trade is being released almost exactly one year to the day after the comic’s first issue debuted! If I were a trade reader, I would be really annoyed about how long I had to wait!
This is a good comic. It really is as simple as that. Grounded but exciting storytelling, evocative and engaging artwork, and a setup for future stories that works incredibly well without alienating newer readers. If you haven’t read Captain America by Zdarsky and Schiti yet, now is your chance, and you really don’t want to miss it!
You must be logged in to post a comment.