Marvel’s latest “Captain America” series by writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and artist Leonard Kirk recently wrapped up with issue #30. Marvel launched an enjoyable mini-series called “The United States of Captain America” written by Christopher Cantwell with art by Josh Trujillo and more that just concluded. Captain America needs a new ongoing series to call home now! Thankfully, Marvel is gearing up for a huge Captain America relaunch. The House of Ideas is even doubling down on the character and giving us not one, but two new ongoing series! Before the two mini-series start, Marvel is getting ready to prepare a “Captain America” #0 issue to introduce both comic books! In recent years several writers have had a hard time crafting a solid Captain America story despite the iconic hero’s presence. “Batman Beyond: Neo-Year” #1 writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing are writing the new series alongside novelist and “Riot Baby” author Tochi Onyebuchi. Artist Mattia De Iulis who is slated to draw the #0 issue. Does “Captain America” #0 live up to the legacy of Marvel’s classic hero?
Written by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Tochi OnyebuchiCover by Alex Ross
Illustrated by Mattia De Iulis
Lettered by VC’s Joe CaramagnaWhen Arnim Zola launches a catastrophic attack on New York City, he meets his match—in Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers! In the explosive battle that follows, two Captain Americas prove better than one, and Sam and Steve decide they might just keep a good thing going… Tochi Onyebuchi (BLACK PANTHER LEGENDS), Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly (KANG THE CONQUEROR) and Mattia De Iulis (THE MIGHTY VALKYRIES, INVISIBLE WOMAN) kick off an incredible new CAPTAIN AMERICA saga—you won’t want to miss what comes next!
In the opening pages of “Captain America” #0 writers Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Tochi Onyebuchi write a familiar sequence. Villain Arnim Zola has returned with an insane plot featuring a missile. Lanzing, Kelly, and Onyebuchi write a Zola who is clearly going for the joke here. Zola’s lines read like they were freshly unearthed from a dump truck of Captain America cliches. Zola fires off several groan-inducing Z-themes puns in honor of Zola’s name. “Captain America” #0 reads like the opening of a subpar Marvel film as opposed to the next issue of an important Captain America comic book story.
Lanzing, Onyebuchi and Kelly write a script that starts with cliches that never really end. Instead of finding a new direction for the Captain America franchise, this script just uses relationships that were previously established by other writers. This issue carries a fair amount of action but it is hard to remember any specific plot details by the time you close the issue. This script needed a less decompressed plot with more guest stars in The Marvel Universe. Even for a throwaway story like this, Marvel’s editorial could have spared one additional hero or villain to make the plot complicated enough to keep modern readers interested. This script is retro to a fault and will simply not keep readers engaged for a long span of time.
Mattia De Iulis draws beautiful figures that can little stiff on the page in some sequences. Some of the faces Iulis draws on the characters don’t quite stay the same between each panel. The shading and colors in the panels really help the issue stand out from other books on the shelves. Iulis draws figures who require a lot of shading in the colors for maximum effect. Iulis rises to the challenge with the colors and uses the reflection of lasers to illuminate Steve’s face in a thrilling sequence.
Iulis draws so many details in each item on the page. However, there are lots of panels in the issue that barely have any figures or details in the background. Iulis is excellent at drawing robots and science fiction elements. Also, the page where Iulis changed up the design really stood out in the issue. I hope that going forward, Iulis will utilize the opportunity to ensure that he is utilizing the page to tell the absolute best story he can! When the individual pieces of the colors and shading come together, Iulis draws a few breaktaking sequences. The double-page spread where Rogers and Wilson are tossing the shield at Zola is a triumphant moment in the issue.
Continued belowIf “Captain America” #0 represents the best that the upcoming twin Captain America titles have to offer readers might be in trouble. The straightforward nature of the script will have readers checking their phones for something interesting that the comic book does not provide. Arnim Zola’s lines are funny but the average Marvel throwaway villain is incredibly monotonous at this point. The more familiarity you have with the Captain America franchise the less novel “Captain America” #0 feels. It’s disappointing that “Captain America” #0 has such a basic plot. Going forward Marvel must ensure that zero issues are the introduction to new concepts from the upcoming creative team.
“Captain America” #0 should be an important lesson for Marvel. With so much Captain America content available on so many mediums, Marvel should not ship a comic book that isn’t exploring a new idea. These throwaway villain issues are one of the worst tropes established by Marvel over the past couple of years. If writers are exploring a cliche in the space of comics there should be a commentary on it. Kelly, Lanzing, and Onyebuchi have fallen into the exact cliche they were attempting to subvert. The artwork for the series from Mattia De Iulis is impressive.
Final Verdict: 6.0 – “Captain America” #0 is an underwhelming first taste of two important upcoming Marvel comics.
