Customer Reviews

The Death of Captain America, Vol. 1 (v. 1)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i'm a big fan of ed brubaker's work on captain america (you can find my thoughts on the previous volumes in my review of the captain america omnibus that precedes this volume). this title is the only ongoing comic book i buy regularly, and i've enjoyed it immensely. ed brubaker is writing one of the best books on the shelves, and it's a joy to read even without the title character (though his presence is felt, and will surely loom over this book until his eventual return). i am actually much more interested in the winter soldier (aka bucky barnes, cap's former partner) as a character than captain america himself, so the new direction for this title is very promising. and the creative team does a good job crafting a story that makes me care, keeps me engaged, and feels like it's going somewhere. that said, there's just not much story here. it's fun to read, but by the last page we haven't gone very far from where we started. now, perhaps six issues isn't enough time to have expected a showdown with iron man (whom bucky blames for cap's death), but i expected more development than this. what we have here is the first act of a story that in no way could stand alone. it ends on a cliffhanger, and if you follow this book in this collected format (as opposed to monthly floppy comics) you'll be reading the conclusion to this arc rather deep into the year. i understand that the nature of ongoing comics dictates that the story never properly "ends," but there's just not enough story here to satisfy. the first chapter of brubaker's run (featuring the return of bucky) suffered similarly, but at least it benefitted from the mystery of the winter solider's identity. read alongside the next volume this will probably be quite good, but it's basically futile on its own.

This book collects issues 25 to 30 of "Captain America volume 5", written by Ed Brubaker, with art by Steve Epting and Mike Perkins. These issues make up the story arc "The Death of the Dream", the first act of a new epic storyline "The Death of Captain America" (the next act being "The Burden of Dreams"), which opens with, obviously, the death of Captain America. This captured headlines around the world last March, the biggest event to rock comics since the death of Superman some half-score and a few years earlier.

Addressing that comparison head on, "The Death of the Dream" is superior to "The Death of Superman" in every way (except for sales, but it's a different market today, and #25 still became the top-selling comic of the 21st century so far, thankfully unseating the first issue of Frank Miller's appalling "All-Star Batman and Robin"). For a comparison, look no further than the villains. To kill Superman, DC's cabal of writers (a talented bunch, don't get me wrong) came up with Doomsday, a mindless killing machine with no discernable motivation (that came later) who appeared out of nowhere to score the fatal blow against the Man of Steel, and since then has been doomed to a spiral of increasingly ineffective appearances ever since. Cap meets his end at the hands of a coalition of his mortal enemies: Doctor Faustus, Arnim Zola, Sin, Crossbones, and, of course, his archenemy the Red Skull. And the Skull's plan, coopting Cap's longtime girlfriend Sharon as the triggerwoman, is simply devastatingly evil. This story gives the Skull the victory he's sought ever since the first issue of "Captain America Comics" back in the 1940s.

And that's only the first issue, after which the focus shifts to a trio of characters from the supporting cast: Bucky, aka the Winter Soldier, suddenly finding himself feeling utterly alone and angry at the world; Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, Cap's longtime partner in the modern era; and Sharon Carter, aka Agent 13, Cap's girlfriend who finds herself also his assassin, unable to relate this to anyone. Her story is perhaps the most arresting of the three, although Bucky takes centre-stage, deciding to target SHIELD Director Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, who he blames for Cap's death. Brubaker should also be commended for his even-handed take on Iron Man, whom hacks like J. Michael Straczynski and Reggie Hudlin turn into a fascist punching-bag. Making a late entry onto the scene is Natasha Romanova, aka the Black Widow, the wily Russian SHIELD agent and Avenger whose past holds an interesting secret.

As related, this is only the first act of a new epic story, so there is no finality to be found at the book's end, only the springboard to more thrilling adventures; and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I really enjoyed it, especially the first book (#25), where the Cap was assassinated. It gets a little weak here and there, though that could just be because I don't read Captain America and neither know the other characters or care about them.

Ed Brubaker has yet to write a bad Captain America comic. How this series continues to flesh out story lines despite the title character being dead is what makes this book so interesting. Captain America's death was and will be remembered forever as an industry changing event. This book captures the death of an icon in just a few panels. It's historical for Marvel fans of all ages.

I mean when your dad, who hasn't read a comic in 30 years, says "wait...they killed Cap? What!? I need to read that issue" then you know theres something big within this book.

This is everything you would expect it to be. It is Heart-wrenching, but essential for every comic lover. The art is second to none, and it a truly exquisitely written tale.

Gut-wrenching (more so for Cap than us) this sparks off the whole trilogy in fine form. Epting so-realistic-its-unbelievable artwork shines through as the true star of this series, but Brubaker's excellent dialogue and script is never far behind. More twists and turns than an average Irish country road, this is great stuff. Can't recommend highly enough.

For that matter why not kill off all comic characters and start over. Heck it's easier than actually CREATING any new characters, plots, stories. Just reread Captain America comics by Lee, Kane, Steranko, Kirby and Colan. It's like night and day compared to the drivel collected in this volume. That said, this collection is better than all of Marvel's "original" output in the past 4 years.

Buy the Captain America Essentials.

Well after read this book i was glad i got it from this site to start ED Brubaker did the captian proud. The only thing i can and i am not sure if it was done on purpose the book was binded up side down when i received it.
It maybe a printing mistake or done on purpose would love to hear if anyone else have the book upside down and backward from the binding of the book. all in all i love i will keep it for my children

I bought this for a friend and cannot speak first hand to the quality. However, he had no complaints other than the fact that one of the greatest superheroes of all time got knocked off. So pessimists and self-loathers enjoy!

You'd think a story titled "The Death of Captain America" would be the end for the series, but it turns out, surprisingly, to be a new beginning, a breath of fresh air. While Steve Rogers will be sorely missed, the book's supporting cast fill his shoes admirably. As Agent 13 and the Falcon search for Rogers' killer, Bucky embarks on a single-minded mission to assassinate Tony Stark, who he believes is responsible for the death of his oldest friend. Meanwhile, the Red Skull and his cohorts, Arnim Zola and Dr. Faustus, plot the destruction of America from behind the scenes.

Ed Brubaker has always been one for bold moves and here he makes the boldest--yet by killing off the main character, he has opened up so many more opportunities. And as the final pages of this volume show, he has allowed room for a new bearer of the shield, as well. This story is epic in scope and extends beyond this volume, but it's well worth the time. Every issue rewards the reader as more and more of the Skull's twisted plot is revealed and the good guys get closer to the truth.