Comics Fondle

I bitch and moan–frequently, whenever I get the chance–about Ed Brubaker’s pseudo-six issue arcs at Marvel. They might even say one of six, or one of five, but they’re really one of twelve or one of ten. So I knew going in to these issues of Captain America, Brubaker was going to cliffhang (this time it’s a little more honest, because a collection was solicited as the first part of the story, not its own thing).

I also make broad statements about Brubaker’s best Marvel work (it’s the second Criminal arc), but… finally.. Brubaker’s turned in six excellent Captain America issues in a row. The trick? Get rid of Steve Rogers. Brubaker runs these issues like a novel of a certain type (you know, The Godfather maybe), lots of characters doing lots of things other characters don’t know or do know they are doing. It’s big and thick and Brubaker develops as it goes along and it is, truly, a very artistic approach to a superhero melodrama. See, Brubaker never really gave a shit about Steve Rogers as a character–as a symbol, as a friend, sure–but it was always more interesting to see him with people than alone. (This severely contrasts Robert Morales’s brilliant Captain America arc from a few years back–the big difference–Brubaker seems a little afraid of Steve Rogers).

But Brubaker loves Bucky. Hell, Bucky’s a Sleeper badass in a mainstream superhero book. He’s great. Bucky is Brubaker’s early Punisher cameo in Daredevil all the time. The Sharon Carter freak-outs, the conflicted Falcon–hell, the conflicted Tony Stark–it’s wonderful, wonderful stuff.

Epting’s art even goes far towards making one forget how stupid Civil War was and how dumb Marvel’s getting these days. I’m not crazy about all Epting’s art, all his photo-referencing (he even just puts pictures in occasionally, for backgrounds), but he does set a mood for this story and the mood works.

Brubaker’s juggling a cast of about fifteen right now and it seems like he’s going to pull it off. I haven’t been excited about a Brubaker Marvel superhero book in a long time (for Cap, the first issue killed the buzz, for Daredevil, the first issue of the second arc did it… Iron Fist is an exception), but I can’t wait to see what he’s going to next here.

A-

Technorati Tags: Captain America, Ed Brubaker, Marvel Comics, Review, Steve Epting, Television

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