As the only Super Soldier in existence, Steve
Rogers in forbidden to do anything more than raise money for war bonds. So,
when he uncovers a smuggling ring operating inside Camp Lehigh, he decides to
take matters in his own hands. I feel that by having Rogers don a leather
jacket and ski cap during his first ever outing was a complete rip-off of Frank
Miller. In his seminal Batman: Year One, Miller has Bruce Wayne first mission
as a vigilante meet a less than perfect ending when the poor little rich boy
discovers that to instill fear in the hearts of criminals, you must dress the
part.
Other
than that small episode of petty theft, I think the continuing reboot of the
Sentinel of Liberty continued to break some new ground. The biggest impact in
this issue was the reimagining of Bucky Barnes. Sure, he’s still a punk kid,
but he’s got an edge and is extremely resourceful. Eventually, this new look on
Bucky will morph into Ed Brubaker’s Winter Solider Bucky.
With
Brubaker’s Bucky, the sidekick to Captain America is actually an adult who just
looks young. Not wanting to put a child in actual danger but looking to answer
to Hitler’s Nazi Youth movement, the government created this sidekick to
inspire America’s youth and to provide some much needed back-up to Cap. The
Bucky in this series is essentially still the Camp mascot who stumbles upon
Steve Rogers changing into Captain America. But, he’s got some fire in his
belly where the Simon and Kirby Buck did not.
Without
this new take on the classic 40s sidekick, I don’t think you would have
Brubaker’s Winter Soldier. There’s just no way is some snot nosed 12-year old
going to be believable as the 20th Century’s most brutal assassin. It’s
just another example of how the Adventures of Captain America were influential
into transforming Captain America into the patriotic media darling that he is
today.
Worth
Consuming.
Rating:
8 out of 10 stars
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