CAPTAIN AMERICA #48
"America Lost, Part IV of IV"
Not Recommended (2/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer/Pencils: Dan Jurgens
Inks: Bob Layton
Colors: Avalon Studios
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
I remember Dan Jurgens... the Dan Jurgens who wrote some strong Superman stories for DC Comics. The Dan Jurgens who created a novel concept in Booster Gold. And the Dan Jurgens who wrote that wonderful story in this very title about a World War II veteran whose family gathered around his deathbed. That Dan Jurgens... well, his work is nowhere to be found in this comic book. What we get here is some cliched and annoyingly predictable plotting, along with art almost devoid of backgrounds.
Captain America, Namor, Nick Fury and Sharon Carter learn the origins of the Red Skull's ally -- the new Hate-Monger -- and in the process, they discover he's no villain they can just take out with a well-placed punch or kick. The Hate-Monger tries to overwhelm Cap with hatred and uses one of the hero's allies against him. Also, the Sentinel of Liberty takes care of some business left unfinished for almost six decades.
So it's the old use-the-villain's-powers-against-himself-gambit, is it? Of course it is. His power is to spread hatred, so the reader, if s/he has any brains at all, knows that acceptance and fellowship will be used to defeat him. This is far from inspired writing, and it's been done far better by others.
I've always enjoyed Jurgens's super-hero pencilling style, and though I never noticed it before, I see there's a strong John Byrne influence at play in his stuff. It's most apparent on the cover. Layton's style is a great choice for inks over Jurgens's work, but the collaboration just doesn't grab my attention like I thought it would. Backgrounds are surprisingly lacking. The story seems to take place in a colorful void. And getting back to the cover, did you notice that the American flag at the bottom has only 36 stars?
Jurgens tacks an ending onto this story arc that just doesn't flow well. He turns his attention to the memory of Bucky Barnes, Cap's World War II teenage sidekick. The scene is meant to be touching, but it feels forced instead. It comes from out of nowhere -- not only at the end of the book, but the beginning of this issue as well.
Note: This comic book was released on Oct.17, not Oct.24.
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