‘Captain America Modern Era Epic Collection: Death of the Dream’ review

If you have never read the 2005 series Captain America by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting, it’s time to finally treat yourself. This trade paperback collection is volume 2 in the Captain America Modern Era series, so I strongly recommend you get volume 1, The Winter Soldier, which received a perfect ten score in our review. These Epic Collections are ideal ways to get some fantastic stories from historic runs in Marvel’s comic book history. Now, get ready to dive into a wonderfully curated collection that deserves to be on your bookshelf. 

Marvel Comics

First, I would like to give major kudos to the Collection Editor Jennifer Grunwald and Collection Assistant Editor Daniel Kirchoffer, as the order of the comics reads perfectly. When these stories first came out, I was buying the single issues and the hardcovers as soon as they were released, and it was always a struggle to figure out how to arrange Fallen Son with the rest of the Cap hardcovers. Now, I have a collection that has it all in one uniform format. Here is the reading order and what is inside the trade paperback collection: 

• Captain America #18 – 21 – Twenty-First Century Blitz 
• Captain America #22 – 24 – Drums of War
• Winter Soldier: Winter Kills – Civil War tie-in
• Captain America #25 – The Death of Captain America, Part 1 
• Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America
  • 1 – Wolverine: Denial
  • 2 – Avengers: Anger
  • 3 – Captain America: Bargaining 
  • 4 – Spider-Man: Depression
  • 5 – Iron Man: Acceptance
• Captain America #26 – 30 – continues The Death of Captain America story 
• Bonuses – Cover Gallery, Issue #25’s Script, Interviews and Introductions

Marvel Comics

Writers Ed Brubaker and Jeph Loeb deliver beautiful, action-charged, character-driven scripts. Brubaker launching this series was the best thing ever to happen to Captain America. The idea of The Winter Soldier took Cap from being an action book and transformed it into one of the best espionage adventure series in comics. I used to say that this volume of Captain America was Bucky’s book. After rereading the issues in this collection, I appreciate how much voice Brubaker gives all the characters involved. This set of comics showcases the heroes in what feels like a team book that could be considered one of the best Avengers or Invaders stories: Brubaker makes you care more about the supporting characters and still doesn’t skip out on Cap. Loeb makes this event sincere by bringing in the rest of the Marvel Universe as they deal with this incredible loss.  

Steve Epting and Mike Perkins were the artists on the Captain America issues, and they are super soldiers in their own right. Their styles complement each other, helping to keep the art consistent, and colorist Frank D’Armata helps massively by working with both. With the Winter Soldier one-shot, artists Lee Weeks and Rick Hoberg do a great job of matching style with the main series, which helps reduce the changes you’ll see when reading the collection. When you get to the Fallen Son issues, there will be many different artists, but the idea does play nice with the story as it takes different characters and shows them processing this situation in their way. 

Marvel Comics

The stories in this collected edition are a significant factor in Captain America’s success within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brubaker took a risk by bringing Bucky back but nails it by making Bucky a tragic character on a redemption arc and making Captain America relevant again. Brubaker’s Cap is deeper by showing there is more to the man than his mighty shield. We get a fierce, strategic, and heroic Cap who takes a stand with his heart and mind instead of his status. Brubaker not only lifts Cap and Bucky but also elevates Sharon Carter, Falcon, Black Widow, and Iron Man by giving us human reactions to super-human drama and adventure.

This excellent trade paperback collection continues Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting’s spectacular run on Captain America. Here is the genesis of the characters and the versions in the MCU, where they gain voice and expand their characters to make them worthwhile and relevant while still timeless. Joining Brubaker and Epting are Jeph Loeb and an elite unit of artists that will take Captain America and his allies on a spy thriller adventure that will keep you entertained as a legend gives all and another walks the path of redemption.

‘Captain America Modern Era Epic Collection: Death of the Dream’ review

Captain America Modern Era Epic Collection: Death Of The Dream

This excellent trade paperback collection continues Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's spectacular run on Captain America. Here is the genesis of the characters and the versions in the MCU, where they gain voice and expand their characters to make them worthwhile and relevant while still timeless. Joining Brubaker and Epting are Jeph Loeb and an elite unit of artists that will take Captain America and his allies on a spy thriller adventure that will keep you entertained as a legend gives all and another walks the path of redemption.

Reader Rating1 Vote

8.8

These stories helped to make Captain America, the Winter Soldier, Sharon Carter, and Falcon become characters you should stop and take notice of.

Ed Brubaker crafts an adventure that gives Cap and his supporting cast voice and relevance.

Steve Epting and Mike Perkins have such clean styles that you don't pick up the change in art, yet some of that continuity is from colorist Frank D’Armata as this trio gives Cap's World a much-needed facelift.

Jeph Loeb, Leinil Francis Yu, Ed McGuinness, John Romita Jr, David Finch, and the late great John Cassady take you on a tour of a hurting Marvel Universe as they process the loss of a legend.

This trade is an excellent era of Captain America comics, and the Epic Collections are the best, most affordable, and most uniform way to get this historic run of Cap.

10

Fantastic