MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Derek Landy
ART: Federico Vicentini
COLORS: Matt Milla
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITOR: Alanna Smith
COVER: Dan Mora with David Curiel
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Bengal; Butch Guice with Frank D'Armata; Ziyian Liu
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2020)
Rated T+
Sam Wilson/The Falcon created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan; Falcon costumed designed by Alex Ross
James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby; The Winter Soldier created by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting
Sam Wilson a.k.a. The Falcon is a Marvel Comics superhero. Wilson/Falcon first appeared in Captain America #117 (cover date: September 1969). The Falcon uses mechanical wings to fly, and he has limited telepathic and empathic control over birds.
James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes is a Marvel Comics superhero. Writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby introduced “Bucky” as a sidekick to Captain America in Captain America Comics #1 (cover-dated March 1941). Published by Marvel's predecessor, Timely Comics, Captain America Comics #1 also introduced Captain America.
Over six decades later, writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting reinvented Bucky as being brought back from supposed-death to be the brainwashed assassin called “The Winter Soldier.” The character, which debuted in Captain America #1 (cover dated: January 2005), was the villain slash adversary in the 2014 film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will team up in an upcoming Marvel Studios television series, “The Falcon & the Winter Soldier,” for the Disney+ streaming service. Marvel Comics is getting in on the action with a five-issue limited series entitled... Falcon & Winter Soldier. It is written by Derek Landy; drawn by Federico Vicentini; colored Matt Milla; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.
Falcon & Winter Soldier #1 opens at the Indiana home of Bucky Barnes, where he and his cat are enjoying some morning solitude. Then, a group of men, armed with military-style weaponry, break into the house to kill Bucky. [This attack is similar to the one that heavily-armed German security forces launched into Bucky's apartment in the 2016 film, Captain America: Civil War.]
Later, in New York City, The Falcon decides to pay a visit as Sam Wilson to the local office of an agency called the “Office of Federal Utilities.” There, he finds an entire office of dead people... and the Winter Soldier, but Bucky says he didn't do it – kill all these people. So, it seems that the dramatic attempt on Bucky's life has reunited The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. They decide that they will have to hunt down the identity of the new leader of Hydra, but a gifted new killer is also hunting them.
I bought a copy of Falcon & Winter Soldier #1 for a friend of mine to read. I was a little interested in it, as a fan of The Falcon, but not enough to purchase it for myself. I got it back and decided to read it, and I have to admit that it was way better than I thought it would be. Writer Derek Landy offers a simple, but straight-forward story. There is a goal, uncover Hydra's new secrets, and there is a shocking new adversary, a gifted young killer. The cover of Falcon & Winter Soldier looks like it belongs to a high-octane action comic book series, and it turns out that Falcon & Winter Soldier #1 reads like an actual, honest-to-goodness, high-octane action comic book.
Artist Federico Vicentini is not a polished illustrator and draftsman. Some of his figure drawing and background details look awkward and funky. However, his storytelling is clean and clear, especially important for this genre of comic book. Matt Milla's coloring is good enough, but not particularly imaginative, and Joe Caramagna's lettering is by-the-books, but good enough.
Falcon & Winter Soldier #1 is not great, but it is the kind of satisfying start that could make me come back for the second issue. I might even buy the inevitable trade paperback collection.
7 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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