Captain America, Volume 1: The New Deal (Marvel Knights)

In this collection of the first six issues of the Marvel Knights Captain America series, Cap is assigned to free a small town from terrorists. The entire town is being held hostage and will only be freed if Captain America dies. Before his infiltration, the Sentinel of Freedom is offered a new type of dog tag that will register if the Avenger is alive or not. It turns red when the wearer's life functions cease.

However, when Cap notices that all of the terrorists are wearing this experimental technology, he smells a rat and goes on a rampage throughout SHIELD headquarters. Thus begins a global trek that will pit the first Avenger against a new foe who represents an age-old terror.

Marvel Knights is supposed to be a grittier PG-13/ R rated version of the Marvel Comics. While the fight scenes are more graphic than most Captain America comics that I have read, there’s very little else objectionable in this series. The language is PG, there’s no sex, no nudity either. As for Captain America, he’s wholesome and stands for his morals and nation without compromise.

I can see elements of the Winter Soldier film in this book. Cap’s uniform is more streamlines and more geared for protection and supply. His mask even conceals a helmet. Also, Steve Rogers’ unease with being lied to by Nick Fury and his SHIELD superiors is similar to the unsettled feeling Chris Evans’ Cap has towards the heli-carrier program.

I was very happy with this book. There are some plot lines left open, especially as to just who is operating behind the scenes of the US government to supply these new dog tags that not only report of a soldier’s health, but can even kill. I’ve got a pretty good understanding as to how SHIELD got a hold of this tech, but there’s still some question as to the morality of the agencies supply line. The New Deal has a definite ending- no “To Be Continued Here.” However, I think volume 2 probably delves more into these loose ends. Hopefully, I will get my hands on that book shortly and see.

Lastly, I want to talk about the art. It’s very clean and the inking is superb. I just love the sketched quality of the pages and the muted color palette. The covers are excellent and look like the patriotic posters of World War II enlistment campaigns. Artist John Cassaday is the perfect Captain America artist.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.