Captain America and the Falcon, Vol. 1: Two Americas

The Falcon has gone rogue!

Sam Wilson has infiltrated Guantanamo and broken out a prisoner. Now reports have it that the Avenger has taken the escapee to a known drug lord's Cuban compound. What's going on here? Has Wilson reverted back to his Red Skull evil origins?

Captain America has been granted 24-hours to locate the Falcon and get to the bottom of the rogue hero's actions. When his time is up, SHIELD will neutralize the Falcon without prejudice. Normally, such an assignment is easy peasy for the Sentinel of Liberty. But an incoming hurricane to the Caribbean is making it difficult for Steve Rogers to safely arrive on Cuban shores. 

Eventually, the Captain catches up with Sam Wilson and the escaped prisoner. It turns out that the fugitive is a reporter for the Daily Bugle who uncovered a biological weapon in one of the operations of the drug cartel. Post-9/11, the kingpin has been providing key information on terrorist cells to the American intelligence community in exchange for immunity. To wipe out such valuable Intel would severely hamper the new war on terror. 

Thus, the CIA or some other clandestine government agency has sought to silence the reporter who happens to be a close associate from Sam Wilson's past. With Captain America now on the scene, it appears Sam's friend will return to the Big Apple to reveal the scoop of the century. But when Captain America slaughters the drug lord's entire headquarters of bodyguards and lieutenants, it's revealed that something is seriously wrong. There's an impostor Cap assigned to terminate all parties related to the blotched biological weapon, including the real Steve Rogers!

This 2004 book was one of the worst Captain America and the Falcon volumes that I have ever read. Actually, the writing was pretty good. Christopher Priest, going just by his last name at the time pens an Ed Brubaker level story of espionage, betrayal and conspiracy. It was the art and the layouts that were a hot mess. So maybe this is one of the worst stories starring some of my favorite characters that I have ever looked at.

First is the artwork by Bart Sears. The heroes look ridiculous. Overly muscular. Proportions are all wrong. The eyes look googly, like they're all cross-eyed. And the body language is rather silly looking like our heroes have to pee really bad. It would be funny if this was a work of parody like MAD or Not Brand Echh.

Then there's those layouts. They're all over the place. Several pages are framed with unnecessary posed images of Cap and the Falcon. Then there's those 2-page splashes that are supposed to go from left to right and somehow end up those wandering paths taken by Billy in The Family Circus. If ever those black trail dashes were needed to guide the reader's eyes as to where to travel, it was here in the pages of this opening salvo. 

The first of 2 volumes, other than what was the truth behind the super bug bio-weapon that Falcon and his reporter friend discovered, I've no interest in knowing what happens next. That's how awful Sear's art was. Maybe if I found a copy for $3 or less. Otherwise, a quick search on Wikipedia should suffice. This one is definitely getting turned back in for trade credit.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #147

After several issues devoted entirely to the 'Siege of Darkness' storyline, there's an almost clean slate to the anthology series. Wolverine has been gone for a while and Danny Ketch bid adieu last issue. Taking over the Ghost Rider feature is the most punk rock of all the Spirits of Vengeance, the aptly named Vengeance.

A little about Vengeance. In human form, he's Michael Badilino. Former member of Special Forces, Badilino is a rough and tough New York City cop. Some think he's a part-time vigilante when he's not on patrol. Those guys don't know the half of it. 

There's a new killer on the streets of the Big Apple and it's causing Badilino's 'Ghost Rider' sense to go off. The murderer is meta-human called Psiphon, who gains power and endurance from feeding off the negative emotions of others. I think you can tell where this is going as Badilino is a big bad ugly and his alter ego, Vengeance is even meaner.

Unlike most other issues of this series, the Vengeance story is the only multi-parter. Falcon stars in a drama involving his day job as a social worker, an abused child and a string of arson cases. Native American hero, American Eagle is back in New York trying to save a pair of Indian teens who have run in with the wrong crowd in the big city. 

The last story involves those former Danny Ketch Ghost Rider allies, the Masters of Silence. This 8-pager is their last appearance in the Marvel Universe. But other than why I've gleaned from the Marvel Wiki, is about all I know about the story. It's forgettable.

I'm happy with the new Ghost Rider feature. It's a breath of fresh air. The American Eagle story keeps making me wish that Marvel would have made a fish out of water title with the character back in the 90s. And I loved- I mean LOVED that Falcon story. Powerful stuff that features Sam Wilson's true superpower- social justice. But gee, I wish I could have recalled that Masters of Silence story. They're such a stylistically appealing group of heroes. But obviously, they were grossly misused. 

3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #23

Despite what it looks like on the cover, Cyclops is not fighting against those minions of the Mole Man, the Moloids. It's some sort of mutant clone creature from this insipid story starring the leader of the original X-Men.

After 10 chapters, Black Panther finally gets a lead on whether or not his mother might still be alive. Basically in chapter 2, Black Panther meet the man who claims to know where she is. Then 7 parts later, Black Panther finally meets back up with the guy- only to learn the informant is dead! 

The two one-and-done stories are both uplifting. The Falcon story focuses more on his career as a social worke;r working to end the cycle of violence with one of his clients and his embattered son. The other tale stars the wheelchair bound member of the Wolfpack known as Wheels. He's fallen for a older girl in school who happens to have a abusive boyfriend. You'd think someone confined to a wheelchair might shy away from taking on a bully. But Wheels is part of a superhero squad and has got bravery to spare.

Yes, those 2 stories do have some gritty real world scenarios. But they both end maybe not with a fairy tale ending. But they do end with hope. The Cyclops and Black Panther stories are major bummers. I'm really wondering why I was such a fan of this series when I was a kid in the 80s. Because 2020's me is too depressed by some of these stories.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars. 

Marvel Zombie #1

This is one of those titles where when I saw the premise, I slapped myself in the head and was like 'why didn't I think of that!’

Back in the 1970s when the Comics Code eased the restrictions on horror comics,
Marvel bought the rights for the word zombie. They then quickly put out a comics black
and white magazine called Tales of the Zombie. It follows a young man named Simon
Garth whose turned into one of the undead by a voodoo priest. But unlike most
Zombies, Garth retains a small vestige of his humanity and becomes a wandering enemy
against practitioners of the dark arts.

Tales of the Zombie lasted only 10 issues. Marvel's trademark on the word ‘ zombie’ was
found to be too vast to litigate misuse. Any legal claim was soon forfeited. But what about
Simon Garth? Did Marvel give up on him too?

Marvel's original Zombie has come and gone over the years. Garth has appeared in
several team-ups titles and even had a miniseries and a chance at being one of the
Howling Commandos unit of SHIELD monsters. He even popped up in the fourth series of
Marvel Zombies. Only he wasn't really the Zombie old timers like myself grew up with---
until now!

This one-shot takes place sometime after God knows which latest chapter in the Marvel
Zombies series. Manhattan's remaining few is protected by just a small handful of
superheroes lead by Daredevil. Recon by Falcon is showing the zombie horde about to
prepare a final offensive when one of the child survivors befriends one of the walking dead
and allows it into camp.

It's Simon Garth and the heroes are quick to notice that due to a mysterious talisman worn
by him, thezombie can be controlled. Seeing their one chance at survival, the heroes are
going to make Simon into a suicide bomber of sorts! But will destroying such a gentle
creature as Simon turn the heroes into an even more uncanny monster than the dead
that stalk them?

This was a really good story. It had an insane ending. But it was jammed packed with action,
excitement and brains. I enjoy the art work by Stefano Raffaele and I didn't want this story
to end! Of course, this being the Marvel Zombies franchise, it's not going to end anytime
soon.

One of the best Marvel stories I have read in a year that has been more of a downer for
the House of Ideas than a plus.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Captain America, Volume 5: The Tomorrow Soldier (Marvel NOW!)

    With the Super Soldier serum removed from his body, Steve Rogers rapidly aged to a man of 70. No longer able to wield the shield, Rogers will have to rely on his allies in SHIELD, The Avengers, and the Falcon to save the day when Armin Zola returns from Dimension Z. Zola seems to be in search of his long lost daughter who betrayed him when she fled to our dimension with Captain America. However, there's more to Zola's scheme than meets the eye and it will take some unexpected guests from Zola's pocket universe to save the day.
 
    In my opinion, the was the best Captain America story of all-time. If Steve Rogers never regained his youth or super-powers, I would be perfectly happy with how the story ended. I loved it. The art was very good. Artist Carlos Pacheco does a fantastic job capturing the style and feel of John Romita Jr. from the 'Castaway From Dimension Z' storyline. It's beautiful stuff!

    Now I want to talk about replacements. If you've kept up with pop culture news in the past few months that you know that someone else is the new Sentinel of Freedom. It's not much of a spoiler as it was on the news and many other news-type outlets, like Yahoo! Steve's replacement is the Falcon and at first I was disappointed about it.

    I don't care that the new Captain America is black. There was a great story published about 15 years ago called Truth: Red, White, and Black in which blacks are used as medical fodder in hopes of replicating the process that turned Steve Rogers into the Super Soldier.  One success becomes Captain America and is used in missions in Italy. It's an awesome chapter in the rich history of Captain America. Then in Young Avengers, the grandson of said Cap is inspired to become the Patriot. He's a great character and the perfect leader for that team.

   So a black Captain America isn't new to me. It's just that I didn't feel it was necessary to have a new Captain America again so soon. It's not even been 10 years since Bucky Barnes was Captain America. I felt that maybe Marvel had run out of ideas or something and I didn't want Steve Rogers to take a dirt nap again. But the way Sam Wilson is granted the right to become Cap while allowing Steve Rogers the dignity to become the new tactical advisor for the Avengers was the right way to transition these dynamic characters while tying up the latest Captain America series.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Captain America, Volume 4: The Iron Nail (Marvel NOW!)

Since it’s been all over the news, internet, and blogs, I’m going to assume my following statement isn’t a spoiler. This is the volume that explains why Sam Wilson (AKA The Falcon) will assume the mantle of Captain America this month.

Last volume, readers were introduced to perhaps the most ludicrous looking villain since Crazy Quilt. That would be Doctor Mindbubble. With his bizarre 60s mod look, derby, and a spigot sticking out of his forehead that produces bubbles, I was really afraid this series had jumped the shark. I was pleasantly wrong about that assumption.

Yes, Mindbubble looks stupid. But his abilities are literally killer. His bubbles can encapsulate a person putting them into a LSD-type fog where their greatest dreams come true. Using the victim's susceptibility, Mindbubble can get them to do anything he wants and then kill you in your dreams. He’s like Freddy Krueger but with better skin. Oh, and the only way to escape a dream bubble is to commit suicide in the dream. Wicked Irony.

The art was very good. The story even better. There’s a new type of helicarrier in this book that has some very interesting tech. I’m not entirely sold by it but it didn’t cause me to hate this volume either.

Volume 5 should usher in the Sam Wilson era as Captain America. I don’t mind him taking the role. I just hope it’s temporarily. Steve Rogers’ Capt is my all-time favorite superhero and I would hate to never see him wield the shield ever again.

Best of luck to you Falcon. I support you but I hope your tenure is brief as only one man can really bear the moniker of the Sentinel of Freedom.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Essential Captain America, Vol. 4 (Marvel Essentials)

WORTH CONSUMING!

It is always a treat to sit down and read some classic Cap tales. I love ’em.

This volume covers Caps battles with the Secret Empire and career as Nomad. Sadly, these tales have already been reprinted recently in color under the trade titles Captain America & The Falcon: Secret Empire and Nomad. Thankfully, there were about 20 issues I had yet to read. However, since I had trouble remembering some of those oft too-reprinted tales (and that I love CA)- I reread those tales too. It was worth the time and effort.