Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Captain America has became one of my favourite characters over the last few years, mainly due to Ed Brubaker's run. I am however happy that someone as talented as Rick Remender has taken over from him. Remender has truly been one of the writers that I have enjoyed reading from over the last year, and I'd say he's been the best writer overall over the last year, along side Scott Snyder.
Plot
This issue is set 1 year after the first, and Captain America is still in Dimension Z. He has looked after Ian Zola who he "stole" from Arnim Zola, and Ian considers Captain America to be his father. Ian as also aged dramatically over the last year, as he was an infant just a year prior,which means that either Ian ages quicker, or time moves differently in Dimension Z.
Review
This was a fantastic issue, and this story is really starting to interest me. I wasn't initially sure if I'd like this story when I started this issue, and especially considering it jumped a year, but as it progressed it got very interesting, and crazy, and is the story that only a comic book could tell as good. Remender has done a brilliant job in this issue, and I've liked that he has put a lot of thought into Dimension Z, and that it has all these unique things happening in it. I also like that Remender is going deeper into Cap's childhood, as it show that life wasn't always like it is now, but I'll talk more about that further down my review.
I actually really enjoyed the art in this issue, and thought that John Romita Jr did a brilliant job. There are a lot of haters of JRJR's art, and it is noticeable why. I personally try to like his art, but most of the time it's very inconsistent, and not good enough, with Kick-Ass related series being the only exception. I did however think that he did a much better job on this issue, ans although there are still lots of inconsistencies it is better than most of his previous work. I wasn't too sure on how he drew the Dimension Z creatures, as I liked the initial shape, and look of them, but felt that they lacked detail, and looked very rough, which didn't appeal to me. I also wasn't to sue on the way he drew Ian. Don't get me wrong detail wise he was brilliantly drawn, but at certain points he looked to much like Hit-Girl, which isn't a good thing especially considering he's a boy.
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| One Year Later |
The fact this issue is set 1 year after the first was interesting, and although as I said I didn't initially like this, I felt that this was one of the things that made the comic as interesting as it was. The way Cap, and Ian have bonded over the last year, being the only person each of them has really seen, with Cap looking after Ian, like he was his own son was easily noticeable in this issue, and probably the thing I liked most about the issue. The way that Ian has grown as much as he has in the space of a year, being a small infant in the last issue, and looking like a 5-7 year old was probably the most shocking, and interesting thing about this issue, and this issue had weird creatures. The way Ian sees Cap as his father is also an interesting thing, and I'm sure that Zola won't be happy if he finds out that Ian lives. I am looking forward to seeing the development of this character over the next few issues, as I have became very interested in the character after reading this issue, and think he'll have a bigger role to play than he already has.
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| Steve's Childhood |
This series so far has also shown you Captain America's childhood. Although they seem slightly irrelevant (sure there will be a reason for them) I've enjoyed seeing Steve's childhood, as it's always nice to see that Captain America wasn't always the strong brave hero he's known as. The thing that has shocked me in these sequences however has been the violence, as there's always someone getting a severe beating, whether it's Steve or his mother. It was also interesting to see that the person bullying Steve went on about his dad being a bum, and also saying nasty things about his mother. I do however hope that Steve sticks up for himself some point in this part of the story, as it will show the courage, and pride that has been built up in him, and will also show that he's always had the traits he's know for as Captain America.
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| Captured |
Dimension Z itself is very interesting, as it has all these weird creatures that speak a funny language, and all appear to know who Zola is. The late part makes total sense however, but besides that I'm more curious to where this dimension actually is let alone what inhabits it. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Cap deals with the creatures of Dimension Z more in the next issue, as he was doing a good job before getting captured. I'm also interested to find out more about the leader of these people who Captain America tries to talk to at the end of the issue. It will also be interesting to see how Cap deals with having to look after Ian at the same time.
Final Verdict
This was a brilliant issue, and I'm really looking forward to how it progresses. I would highly recommend this issue to anyone, and if you're not a fan of JRJR's art Id' still recommend as the story itself is defferent, as well as being very good, and very interesting.
Rating 4.5/5
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: John Romita Jr.
This was the Marvel NOW! series I was most sceptical about. I love Rick Remender's work in general, especially on Uncanny X-Force, and Venom, but following such a great run left by Ed Brubaker, which has been the best Captain America run I have ever read I wasn't sure that even Remender's skills could top this.
Plot
This issue starts with a flash back showing Captain America's mother getting beat up by his father. It then cuts to the present where we see Captain America taking down the Green Skull. Captain America then goes to meet his girlfriend Sharon Carter who has a present for his 90th Birthday. Cap then lands up getting captured by an old foe, Arnim Zola.
Review
Not a bad first issue but I have read a lot better. Remender has done a brilliant job at taking over from a very popular run and although the start wasn't as exciting as that run or most of the Marvel NOW! series starts, he has understood the Captain America character perfectly, especially with how he had Cap make a bad attempt at sexual innuendo. I also loved how Remender structured this issue giving us a brief introduction, followed by some action, followed by a proper introduction, and finishing with more action. I also liked how like he did with Uncanny Avengers he's brought back a classic Cap villain who hasn't been in the series for a we while now. I'm also looking forward to seeing if he introduces any more classic villains in future issues or stories.
I wasn't too sure what to think when I first heard that John Romita Jr was doing art on this series as I really try to love his art but most characters, especially superheroes don't suit his style. He's brilliant on series like Kick-Ass and The Amazing Spider-Man but other series like Avengers weren't quite as good. His art in this issue wasn't bad and in certain places very good, but the usual thing that happens with his work on these types of series' is that it's good in certain sequences and bad in others. Like for instance I like how he draws Captain America, which is the main thing, and I liked how he drew Sharon Carter, in uniform, but I didn't like the way he drew her with her hair up, which made her look look like a different character. I know I'm nitpicking at things here but his art during fight sequences are hit or miss also, as he draws the Captain America battles brilliantly but when Cap's dad was beating his mother at the start of the issue her eye looked a little too swollen.
The return of Arnim Zola in this issue was also a nice surprise and I am happy to see Remender use a classic villain in his first story. Most good starter stories to new series usually have a relatively unknown character as the villain but I was happy to see a difference this time with Zola as the villain. I also think it will be interesting to see how Cap deals with this villain who he's faced before and if Zola will bring something new to try and take Cap down.
The action throughout this issue was brilliant and I loved how the issue both started and finished with action. The fight between Captain America and the Green Skull on the plane at the start of the issue was brilliantly done. I also liked the action at the end and how Cap realises that he has to act fast against Zola.
I liked how Sharon Carter was added to this issue as I think her relationship with Cap has been one of the best things the series' have had over the years. I just love how you can see the age difference between them by the way they talk, and I find it funny whenever Cap tries to talk in a less old fashioned way, or say a more modern phrase. It's also nice to see that Cap takes all the jokes about his age, or when he's from light heartedly and how that's made their relationship lasting I also like the idea that even though he is the Man Out of Time he's found love with two people from the same family as Sharon's aunt Peggy Carter was Cap's love interest during World War II. I also hope that Remender continues to use her in other issue but only if he can make it fit into a good story.
Final Verdict
This was a good issue, but not great. I have read ton's of better Cap stories, and some of them have had slow starts like this, so I hope this story gets better. I would highly recommend this issue and am looking forward to the next.
Rating: 4/5
