Rick Remender’s previous run on “Captain America” never quite took off. While it had its merits, the series never quite rose out from the shadows of Ed Brubaker’s lofty run and Remenders own “Uncanny Avengers.” However, with this second go around Remender and Immonen present a sharp departure, taking these characters in a fun new direction that is sure to grab some attention.
Written by Rick Remender
Illustrated by Stuart Immonen• This is it! The all-new, Spy-Fi, highflying adventures of Sam Wilson Captain America and Nomad begin here!
• Hydra is growing, the terrorist band have has infiltrated the Marvel Universe completely! But what is their ultimate goal?
• United by Hydra, Cap’s rogue’s gallery gathers to take down the new untested Captain America and Nomad!
One of two major reinventions melding Marvel comics mainstay with a new adjective out this week, “All-New Captain America” takes a decidedly more heroic approach. Centered on a the idea of legacy, this new incarnation sees Sam Wilson, hot off Anthony Mackie’s well received turn in Captain America: The Winter Soldier slip into the red and blue. The result is a fun, if somewhat breezy first issue that manages to find footing where the previous volume faltered.
First things first, let’s get this out of the way; this issue is absolutely gorgeous. The team that helped launch “All-New X-Men” as a must-read title continues to work that same magic here. Packed with detail and dripping with vibrant color, each page is a delight to behold.
One of the most interesting things that Immonen and company accomplish here is the way they differentiate Sam Wilson from Steve Rogers. This isn’t just a simple re-skin. Wilson stays very true to his roots as the Falcon, retaining his trademark wings. That makes for a Captain America that relies far more on verticality when bashing on baddies. Steve Rogers, super-human as he once was, often relied on daring acrobatic feats, but Immonen takes this to a whole new level with Wilson. Much of this issue takes place within a sprawling cave structure. Wilson leaps, dives, and glides through pages, literally traversing pages without even touching the ground. This makes for some interesting combat scenarios, especially when Cap’s trademark shield is “thrown” into the mix.
While Wilson makes for a very interesting protagonist visually, he’s not quite as compelling as a character. Remender roots the character in a past full of tragedy, a well-worn super-heroic trope. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this approach (though the internal monologue is a little excessive), it seems to clash with the book’s fun and optimistic new direction. The time spent developing Wilson’s tortured background comes at the expense of developing his current character. The moniker of “All-New” would seem to signify a focus on the future, or at the very least the immediate present. Hopefully future issues will focus more on Sam’s relationship with his current compatriots.
I mention that point specifically because, while I’m not completely sold on Sam Wilson as a lead, Remender and company do a fantastic job of presenting the new ensemble cast. Sam is joined by Ian Rogers, Steve’s adopted son from Dimension Z, who has taken on the mantle of Nomad. While the new generation of heroes takes to the front lines, Steve continues to remain relevant as a sort of “mission command,” similar to Bruce Wayne’s role in Batman Beyond. Of course, he doesn’t let the job cut into his fishing time, retirement certainly has its perks. The banter between these three characters is both organic and amusing. Remender does a great job at fleshing out the strong bonds between this characters, exemplifying the strong theme of legacy that forms the book’s foundation.
While the new “Team America” is arguably the issue’s main draw, it’s Remender’s take on Batroc the Leaper that steals the show. Blending the character’s gymnastic fighting style with an over-the-top anti-American bias, Remender’s Batroc brilliantly toes the line between larger-than-life outrageous and banally comical. If you don’t mind a few jokes at the expense of Americans (it’s ok to laugh at yourself every once in a while) you’ll like find the character to be one of the issue’s highlights. How can one not smile, even just a little, upon hearing the phrase “American Burger-Eater” as an insult?
“All-New Captain America” #1 is a strong proof of concept for a non-Steve Rogers led book. While this certainly isn’t the first time another hero has donned the shield in Steve’s place, it is a bigger departure than natural successor Bucky Barnes. Wilson remains a slightly odd choice for role, something Remender even seems to acknowledge in a conversation with Ian, who many assumed to be the logical choice for the mantle. However, I would argue that the slightly left-field casting works in the book’s favor, creating more interest and intrigue than the issue’s standard plot would suggest. These sort of status quo changes are very rarely long-lasting, but here’s hoping that Remender and Immonen (or whatever artists that may follow) are able to tell some fun and memorable stories with these characters. They’re definitely off to a great start.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – A solid debut, bolstered by fun character dynamics and fantastic artwork.
