Captain America #40
This review written by James Hunt on Jul.17, 2008.
Brubaker’s epic “Death of Captain America” story has been moving smoothly over from issue to issue now since the first, fatal comic in which Cap was struck down. While the plotting has always been masterful and the twists carefully engineered, something about the story in the final part of the trilogy (The Man Who Bought America) has kept me from enjoying it too much. The 4th part, contained in Issue #40, has brought back what was missing – the gut reaction to events.
While the whole issue is mostly a tense action scene that intercuts between two Caps fighting and Sharon once again attempting her escape, the amount of character work packed in is impressive. 50s Cap is kept in a confused, righteous rage, while Bucky attempts to calm him down while doubting his own ability to do so. Meanwhile, Sharon and her hostage, Sin, debate just who is more important to the Skull, while the masterminds behind the entire scheme bicker amongst themselves. For the first time this arc, all these characters seem like 3-dimensional people rather than pieces on Brubaker’s chessboard, and I’ve started caring about the story all over again.
Epting’s art also hits a real peak with this issue, and there’s a final page reveal that looks almost as iconic in itself as Epting’s depiction of Cap’s death. The last panel gives the unusual impression of putting the reader in the Red Skull’s shoes, of all people. It’s guaranteed that you and he are thinking the same think the moment you recognise what Sin has done.
With only two issues to go before the “end” of the epic story, one has to wonder exactly what the status quo is going to be. Bucky has already started showing up as Cap outside of his title, so maybe it’s time for him to start properly interacting with the Marvel Universe – whichever direction Brubaker takes, it’s certain that it’s going to be a truly brilliant read.
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July 17th, 2008 on 7:24 pm
[...] I’ve been sick all week (well, since Monday, a paltry three days) and have read Captain America 1-39 during that span. Today Captain America 40 came out. The goodness continues. It provides everything you were wanting to see at the end of 39, which was a bit of a tease. And it still ends on quite a cliffhanger to boot. Check out a review by Comics Daily of Captain America #40. [...]