Given the strength of Ed Brubaker's writing in general and the inventive and mature nature of last week's Iron Man debut, I had high hopes for the launch of this sister title. To my surprise, as I made my way through the issue, I was struck by just how... conventional Brubaker's take on the Sentinel of Liberty was. All I could think was that I'd read this sort of story before in other Cap series. And just as I thought there was nothing new for me here, Brubaker grabs my attention with a killer of a cliffhanger that capitalizes on the fact that he's lulled the reader into a false sense of security.
Captain America is angry. He's still reeling from the catastrophic events that led to the dissolution of the Avengers -- his family -- and the deaths of several of his "family" members. No, Cap isn't himself lately, as some terrorists quickly learn. Cap's mood has not gone unnoticed, and S.H.I.E.L.D. sends an agent to address the situation. Also aware of Captain America's uncharacteristically uncontrolled state of mind is his greatest enemy, who's plans for revenge and world domination once again revolve around a familiar weapon of unimaginable power.
Steve Epting dark, textured artwork captures the tense and angry mood of the story incredibly well. I love his creepy and inhuman depiction of the Red Skull, and he captures the cold, efficient and intelligent personality of General Lukin. Clearly, Epting was heavily influenced by Butch (Ruse) Guice's work when the two of them worked at CrossGen Comics together. Marvel could have put Guice's name on the credits here, and one would be hard pressed to prove he wasn't involved with the book. Epting also clearly takes some cues from John (Astonishing X-Men) Cassaday's view of the title character, incorporating the same sort of detail in the armored shirt that's a part of the character design.
Every Cap story in which the Red Skull appears seems to contain the same sort of monologue for the longtime villain. The Skull iterates his hatred for and connection to the title character, and he always notes how he's finally come up with a foolproof way to exact his revenge. Every time. One could argue that it's a sign of the character's insanity, of his self-deluded nature, but instead, it comes up as repetitive. It seems as though writers have run out of ideas when it comes to the Red Skull, his motives and his methods. The incorporation of the Cosmic Cube into the plot just reinforces that impression.
Where this storyline derives its strength is in the strong characterization Brubaker has developed for General Lukin. The character is founded on the notion that he is a soldier without a cause, a patriot without a home. I love the air of mystery that surrounds the character, and I look forward to learning more about him. 7/10
