Captain America #607
Reviewed by David O' Leary
CAPTAIN AMERICA #607 (Cover Date: August 2010)
Story by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Mitch Breitweiser & Butch Guice
Colours by: Dean White
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Reviewed By: David O' Leary
Book Summery: THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE! Zemo and Bucky -- two characters linked through history whether they like it or not. And now Zemo has set his sights on Bucky and plans to destroy our new Captain America one step at a time. Part 2 of the senses-shattering "No Escape" arc will rock Bucky's world to the core!
"No Escape Part 2"
This book is turning into a very interesting examination on how a person handles himself under intense pressure. Brubaker has put a focus on Bucky recently and has been pushing him ever closer to the edge. What has been fascinating is how, in tandem with the art, is how we are slowly seeing Bucky crumble; an image here, a statement there. The mantle of the icon is obviously a crutch that he can't entirely and comfortably assuage.
Alternatively, in Steve Rogers Super Soldier, which Brubaker also writes shows how comfortable Steve is in the role that made him an icon. He may not have the uniform on but Steve will always be the one true Cap. And unless Bucky gets a grip quick he may find himself reduced the role of sidekick once again.
Hindsight is a great thing but since Bucky put on the costume it appears that he has not been entirely at ease in it. There was a recent storyline that showed Bucky infiltrate a facility but he was more comfortable using his Winter Soldier outfit. In this arc we are seeing him act like someone who does not have full control of his surroundings. I know that he may be new to the spotlight but he has been a mirror image of Steve in the role. A scene in the issue shows Bucky working a nano-virus out of his system. In the room with him is Steve and Natasha and they try to talk with him about how lax he has been just keeping his mask on in public. Bucky's response of he only does it in front of cops and emergency personnel rang like a child's response when being chastised by a parent.
Also the opening scene of Falcon being admitted to hospital with Bucky roaring behind him at the doctor's that he is an Avenger and forcing the doctor to make him his top priority. Steve would never do that, I actually think that his behaviour is beginning to cheapen the role of Captain America.
A third example of his naivety is when he is in plain clothes and when hunting for information with Natasha and goes back to the bar where he picked up the nano-virus and bearing in mind that he only said earlier in the issue that he only takes his mask off in front cops and emergency personnel he whips out his Avengers ID and shows the bar man that he Captain America. Natasha makes a remark that that was pretty thick of him.
I have to wonder if Steve is squirming about maybe Bucky is not the right person for the job. I think that this will be addressed eventually.
Mitch Breitweiser has made an enormous impact on me here with his art. We have long sang the praises of the regular artists on the issue but he brings an earthy almost sketchy style to the art that brings a new moody look to the book that wasn't there before but whomever makes the decisions on who draws the book needs to get him on this title quickly.
Aside from studying Bucky in this issue the story moves forward with Baron Zemo making good on his plan to undermine Bucky publicly and his manipulation of Iron Hand Hauptmann ensures he will be a sturdy test of Bucky's ailing control of himself.
Rating the Issue
| Story Story: Overall 8 Concept - 8 out of 10 Plot - 8 out of 10 Dialogue - 8 out of 10 |
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Reviewer Bio
David has been with CR since June 2008 and started out as a reviewer and has expanded to do a couple of columns for the site also; starting with 28 Words Later with artist Declan Shalvey and later 5 Minutes With... where he talks with the industries best and brightest from Kubert to Moore.
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