Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsAn Old-School Hero for the New-School Fan
BySeanon June 2, 2013
Captain America is one of the oldest comic book superheroes around, and for good reason: he is a timeless metaphor for justice, honor and duty. Very few characters in any medium convey such a strong message of doing what's right. However, in the Winter Soldier, Book One, the question becomes: is he still relevant?
Ed Brubaker's acclaimed run on Cap starts here, weaving a tale of political intrigue, World War II flashback sequences, romance, friendships lost, and mystery. Brubaker uses the fact that Steve Rogers is steeped in history to his advantage all throughout his writing, making several references to the Sentinel of Liberty's prior exploits in conjunction with modernizing the character. His writing is superb and consistent throughout, with very few lulls in the story.
The artwork is strong, and Steve Epting's effort should be commended as highly as Brubaker's work as a writer. The two work very well in tandem to create a somewhat dark atmosphere around a much more jaded Cap than we're used to.
Speaking of which, this isn't your grand-father's red, white & blue extreme patriot Captain America. This is a man who loves his country and will do anything to protect it, but seems to be worn down from everything that's happened to both America and himself. He trudges forward almost begrudgingly, and the reveal of the Winter Soldier nearly breaks his psyche.
This is a very good book, one that really provides a new, interesting perspective of Captain America that has become the standard going forward. It's subtly intriguing, and while not world-shattering, is an extremely solid read from start to finish.