Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Steve Epting
SUMMARY:
Published by Marvel Comics for August 2009, this 100-page special is set primarily one year after Steve Rogers’ assassination as a prelude to Captain America: Reborn. Of the five stories, one is a reprint from 1942’s Captain America # 16 by Stan Lee himself.
- Origin (2 pages): by Alex Ross & Paul Dini, with lettering by Todd Klein. Reprinted from 2002’s Captain America: Red, White, and Blue, it’s a lush profile summarizing Cap’s origin.
- One Year After (40 pages): Written by Ed Brubaker, with art by Butch Guice; Howard Chaykin; Rafael Albuquerque; David Aja; Mitch Breitweiser; Frank D’Amata; Edgar Delgado; Matt Hollingsworth; VC’s Joe Caramagna; & Chris Eliopoulos. The after-effects of Steve Rogers’ death one year later impact Sharon Carter; Steve’s 1950’s impostor; an alternate world’s female Bucky & the Young Avengers’ Patriot (with a cameo by Isaiah Bradley); Crossbones & Sin; the Red Skull; and the New Avengers (including Bucky as Captain America). Risking capture by Norman Osborn’s forces, fugitive New Avengers (minus Spider-Man) go incognito to a Central Park candlelight vigil honoring Cap. Sharon Carter stuns the team with cryptic news.
- In Memoriam (12 pages): Written by Roger Stern, with art by Kalman Andrasofszky; Marte Garcia; & VC’s Joe Caramagna & Chris Eliopoulos. Elsewhere, the one-year anniversary of Steve’s death has his ex-girlfriend, Bernie Rosenthal, and their mutual friend, Josh, reflect over their memories of Steve/Cap. Bernie and Josh also remember another late friend they shared with Steve: Mike Farrel.
- The Persistence of Memorabilia (10 pages): Written by Mark Waid, with art by Dale Eaglesham; Paul Mounts; & VC’s Joe Caramagna. The world’s most prolific Cap memorabilia collector, Joseph Paglino, sells off his invaluable treasure trove by auction, with some unexpected results.
- Red Skull’s Deadly Revenge (24 pages): Written by Stan Lee, with art by Al Avison. A vengeful Red Skull escapes prison to bedevil Cap & Bucky with an audacious scheme.
Note: An alternate cover is by Alex Ross. Utilizing page six, it serves as a second printing variant cover by artist Butch Guice. There is also the rare Dynamic Forces variant (which is a silvery version of the Ross cover).
REVIEW:
Considering that its title character has been ‘deceased’ for a year, this anniversary issue is exceptional. Opening with Alex Ross & Paul Dini’s star-spangled profile is a smart publishing choice. Beyond fawning over Steve’s past, “In Memoriam” and “The Persistence of Memorabilia” relive some vintage 1980’s storylines, as well as other reminders per relics Cap once possessed. Both well-written tales confirm that those who knew him think of Steve Rogers as the Captain America, not just one of many Caps over time.
“One Year After” justifies its hefty creative squad by effectively providing varied perceptions of the icon’s demise, particularly in Sharon Carter’s poignant sequences. To writer Ed Brubaker’s credit, the set-up for “Captain America: Reborn” is tantalizing, even if the inevitability of Steve’s return wasn’t ever really in doubt.
Credit should also go to the Marvel time machine re: Stan Lee’s archived Cap vs. Red Skull wartime tale. It’s definitely a ‘Wow!’-type read, in part due to Stan Lee’s crude scripting (i.e. a huge assortment of plot contrivances). Suffice to say, Lee applies a Golden Age kitchen sink approach that even sports a seemingly definitive death. Al Avison’s artwork is better than one might expect for that era. That’s only one of many other surprises, like the amusing sight of U.S. Army Private Steve Rogers smoking a pipe. In impressive fashion, Captain America # 600 nails the necessary marks for what this milestone issue should be.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The first page is a table-of-contents. Cap’s co-creator, Joe Simon’s two-page “My Bulletin Board” reveals some intriguing behind-the-scenes history re: Captain America, some Cap artwork, and even a few swipes at co-creator Jack Kirby. A nine-page thumbnail cover gallery celebrates the complete gamut of Captain America’s 600-issue run, including a glimpse of the Alex Ross cover for this issue.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 10 Stars
