Captain America Reborn: And the movie-based retcons begin

[GiggityGoo]

This isn't a review, so no real spoilers... more a personal taste thing...

I was aware from some of the preview art released by Marvel that during Cap's WW2 scenes, he was going to be depicted with a modified Army helmet instead of his usual cowl. I know this is supposed to be somewhat more "realistic", and it's also something carried over from the Ultimates version of the character, but... I just don't like it.

To some, this will seem like nitpicking, and in some sense I guess it is, but... It's an iconic costume design, it's been around for 60+ years, and since this is a COMIC BOOK and not a MOVIE, don't try to adhere to the real world as much. Keep the proven formula going.

I'm concerned to see what other concessions the comic arm of the Cap universe is going to have to make in the coming months to try to retool the character into what the general public will be seeing in the theaters.

Anyway, the comic itself? Lots of set-up, lots of chess pieces, lots of starting points... can't wait to see where it goes.

Giggity-goo!

[IdentityCrisis08]

I'm only going by pictures I've seen online, but is the Bryan Hitch version:



really that different from what we see on this cover:



Yes, Bruan Hitch's version has the chin strap, but that can easily be put down to today's more realistic interpretations of everyday stuff like that. The cowl/mask in the second picture could be interpreted as a helmet considering it doesn't seem to be connected to the main costume. I have no idea what issue the second one is from, but it looks to be from the 1940s, so arguably the "classic" costume in itself is changed from the original.

[Clem]

I don't like the helmet either. The quicker Steve pulls on his regular mask, the better.

[MyInfiniteAbyss]

Are people going to talk about what happens in the comic? It's 1:20 on the west coast for christ's sake. Let's start some spoilers.

[vbartilucci]

One thing I like about that helmet is the stencilled "A" - very military. Just a nice touch. But yeah, as a one time thing, nice, but I prefer the regular costume.

[redscare]

The quality of art in comics has gotten much better over the years so I don't mind a little revamped detail here or there. The helmet doesn't bother me but isn't the shield supposed to be the original and not the round one? That bothers me.

[edogawa]

it looks horrible..

[SoopDawg]

A helmut in a war zone makes total sense. I'm not mad about it.

[PresidentKang]

Yeah, is this actually a genuine problem or is this a joke? Helmets save lives, people. Generally, when someone is storming a beach with guys on gatling guns on the ridge shooting downwards, they wore helmets. Once in awhile they worked, too.

[bigdi1]

I told the owner of the bookstore I go to that I disliked the helmet and he agreed with me. I can see the helmet being used during the war, but not in day and age. Now on to the book.

I have been reading Cap for years and Ed's story has been the best by far. I am not going to spoil reborn #1, but there are somethings to ask. What are the roles of the Grand Director, the Copy Cap; Rikki Barnes, Nomad; Patriot going to be in the book or are they going to have a role? What's going to happen with Cap's body that was returned to the artic or was that really Cap's body? Who was that in Doom's time device, was it Cap or not. We won't know because Sharon destroyed it. If and when Cap returns, what's going to happen to Bucky. Is he going to stay Cap or take on a new identity?

Who I would like to see in the Captain America; USAgent, Battlestar, Protocide (Clinton McIntyre), Free Spirit, American Eagle and Americop. The way Ed writes and creates story lines, he'd be able to use these characters.

[Ham_Gravy]

I never understood the tiny wings (so fragile for a battlefield hero) or cavalier boots (anachronistic?) and fully endorse Hitch's interpretation (stencil wings and leather lace guards for the boots).

Done.

[bigdi1]

i never understood why heroes wear underwear on the outside of the pants.

[Ham_Gravy]

Or capes if you don't fly.

(Just realized in the great Marvel/DC divide there aren't many Marvel heroes with capes)

[Evil Twin]

Boy that's a dull image. Maybe more "realistic" and detailed, but there's no sense of movement. Captain America on a landing craft storming a beach should leap off the page. Hitch has basically turned Captain America into just another soldier there. Just one in the foreground.

Why is "realism" the "ideal" choice for larger than life figures?

[James_T_Skywalker]

(Just realized in the great Marvel/DC divide there aren't many Marvel heroes with capes)

Well, there really aren't THAT many in DC anymore, either. The Superman family (minus Superboy) and the Batman family (minus Nightwing, if we're looking at pre-BFTC), and Martian Manhunter, are really the only major ones with capes. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Aquaman don't have capes, and that's a majority of the classic "Big Seven" JLA.

On the Justice Society? A couple (Hourman and Alan Scott come to mind). Current Justice League? Dr. Light, and that's about it. Teen Titans? Miss Martian. Titans? Raven, though it's more of a cloak than a cape.

~JTS

[10dollarsuck]

Really like it myself.

It makes sense in a war-time setting, looks good (would have prefered the actual wings myself tho, but meh), works within Marvel's 'real-world canvas' theme and harks back nicely to Simon and Kirbys original conception.

Cool beans all round.

[MyInfiniteAbyss]

(Just realized in the great Marvel/DC divide there aren't many Marvel heroes with capes)

Well, there really aren't THAT many in DC anymore, either. The Superman family (minus Superboy) and the Batman family (minus Nightwing, if we're looking at pre-BFTC), and Martian Manhunter, are really the only major ones with capes. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Aquaman don't have capes, and that's a majority of the classic "Big Seven" JLA.

On the Justice Society? A couple (Hourman and Alan Scott come to mind). Current Justice League? Dr. Light, and that's about it. Teen Titans? Miss Martian. Titans? Raven, though it's more of a cloak than a cape.

~JTS

Captain Marvel/Shazam

[motteditor]

Or capes if you don't fly.
(Just realized in the great Marvel/DC divide there aren't many Marvel heroes with capes)

<EdnaMode>No capes!</EdnaMode>

Catman also wears a cape.

About this series ... I'm only buying it because my dad asked me to, since he wants to read it. (Him: Are you planning to buy it? Me: Don't know yet, will probably look at it in the store. Him: OK, well, can you buy it for me then, since I want to read it.) *sigh*

I thought this seemed very much like a setup issue, which might have annoyed longtime readers of Brubaker's Cap. As someone not in that boat, I appreciated it. While I've kept basically abreast of what's going on and have read one trade of Cap that I picked up at my library, I don't know all the minutiae. I thought this set that up well. Considering it may also get a lot of non-regular readers, I think it was a wise decision to make.

As a Marvel fan, I REALLY liked seeing the supporting cast talking to Hank Pym. He gets a lot of crap, but it was great to see him taking a major role in this instead of shoe-horning in someone like Luke Cage, simply because he's a New Avenger. I did think Vision felt much more like Vision, though, as opposed to Kid Vision. Not that I mind, just seemed incongruous with his general depiction.

[Godlike13]

^^lol dude, I really liked seeing Pym too.

Good issue but wasn't a big fan of the art.

[manvstrees]

i'm glad i can rely on you guys to argue about the really crucial elements in any issue