MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Mark Waid
ART: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross (after John Romita, Jr. and Bob Layton); John Tyler Christopher with Ariel Olivetti; Adi Granov; Mike McKone with Rachelle Rosenberg; Jim Steranko
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)
Rated “T+”
Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
“Home of the Brave” Part 1
Captain America is a Marvel Comics superhero. He was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (cover dated: March 1941), which was published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics. Captain America Comics was canceled in 1949, but there was a revival of the series from 1953 to 1954. Captain America fully returned to modern comic books in The Avengers #4 (cover dated: March 1964).
Marvel Comics is in the middle of its “Legacy” event, returning many titles to its original numbering after a decade of relaunching a number of titles with new #1 issues – three, four, and even five or more times. The ongoing Captain America comic book series has a new creative team for the Legacy launch. The team of writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee, the creative duo behind Marvel's critically acclaimed Daredevil relaunch (2012) several years ago, brings Captain America into the “Legacy era.” Matthew Wilson is the colorist, and Joe Caramagna is the letterer.
Captain America #695 begins with a brief recount of how Steve Rogers became the “super solider,” Captain America; his exploits on the battlefields of World War II, and how he disappeared. Then, we learn how Captain America became a legend and an inspiration to the town of Burlington, Nebraska after stopping a group of neo-Nazi, white supremacist-types, something he may have to do again.
I have said that when Mark Waid is good, he is really good. [On the other hand, when he is not good, he can be an exceedingly, irritatingly pedestrian comic book storyteller.] I am a huge fan of Chris Samnee's classic, cartoonists drawing style. In Captain America #695, Waid is in top form, and Samnee hits the heights of throwback, Silver Age comics style.
Waid's script creates a standalone story that epitomizes what seems to be the essence of Captain America's mission and message: the strong protect the weak. We look out for each other against those who would do harm, and every man, woman, and child (of at least a certain age) can lend a helping hand, if they choose.
I love Captain America #695. It is a standalone treat, the kind of single-issue comic book that we need in between long story arcs and of which we don't get often enough. I really like Waid's story. I wish more comic book art looked like Chris Samnee's art. If I were a comic book publisher, my comic books would look like Captain America #695. If you have time to read only one comic book today, read Captain America #695.
[This comic book includes an “Legacy” character summary written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by Valero Schiti; colored by Frank D'Armata; and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna.]
A+
10 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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