Ed Brubaker is proving that he was born to write Captain America. Think of the incrediable run he has had on this series. From his first few Steve Rogers’ arcs, to Winter Solider, Bucky Barnes taking the shield, to this solid start to the Reborn series, Brubaker is writing the hell out of this Marvel icon. Personally, I was unsure of Bucky as Captain America. However, I quickly began to like the character as Brubaker converted me. Brubaker has been so successful in creating a compelling new Capt’ that many fans feel that Steve Rogers is returning too soon. That’s all thanks to great writing.
Steve Rogers is trapped in time and aware of this dilemma. Having no control over these random time shifts, he is reliving major events from his life. This is a great stroll down memory lane for old fans and a nice “Captain American For Dummies” for new fans. Bucky and Black Widow are battling the Dark Avengers as they try and locate Steve. The brains, Hank Phym and Reed Richards, are studying Sharon Carter, trying to discover why she is as Dr. Zola puts it “the constant.” Osborne makes a deal to Crossbones and Sin, bringing back two great Captain America villains who have been benched since Bucky’s donning of the shield. All of these elements blend to create a fun mystery and cool battle scenes. The entire issue reads like a well- produced summer blockbuster movie, with a star director, actors, and a high budget.
Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice draw a nearly perfect issue. The scenes from Rogers past are breathtaking. I was amazed at the fine details, like the mud on the bottom of Captain’s boots. The use of light to create the time slips is spot-on. This issue is largely driven my action sequences and this artist team is in complete control of crafting dynamic panels. Paul Mounts superior color skills need to be mentioned to round out this fantastic effort.
This is good comic booking!
4.5 out of 5
When Captain America died, I remember hearing a Marvel spokesperson definitively proclaim that Steve Rogers is really dead and will stay dead. Ha. The only thing not possible in the Marvel Universe is death; that being said, let’s be fair and give Reborn a chance.
My rating is that Reborn is slightly above average. For those that have been onboard with Brubaker’s run from the beginning, you will appreciate the tiny threads of details and plot points that have been woven throughout these issues. Sharon Carter and her role in the death of Cap is compelling. What happened after her capture? How did she learn that Steve Rogers is alive? Brubaker does a great job making the pieces fit and keeping it believable. Gathering the team of Cap regulars (Black Widow, Vision, Falcon and Hank Pym) makes this feel epic and of great consequence. However, I am not thrilled with the actual “how” of Steve Rogers return. The concept is not new and might turn out to be pretty lame. Ed Brubaker is an extremely gifted author so I trust him, but I am a little scared. The art was powerful. The full page panels of his death and various close ups were memorable.
I’m ready for the next one. Fans deserve an original story if Bucky’s short lived run with the shield is coming to a close. I think Brubaker making sense of this is going to be a tougher job than Rogers returning.
3.5 out of 5
Ed Brubaker continues his legendary run on Daredevil in this great issue. Like grandma’s homemade pasta sauce, this arc has a bunch of elements that have been slowly simmering and mingling with each other. Brubaker’s story is solid, layered, and methodically building to a boiling point.
What impresses me most is the cast of DD. The Kingpin’s return to Hell’s Kitchen is a blast to read as he brutally takes out his competition. Lady Bullseye and her gang of villains are pulling strings and bringing her plan to fruition. Foggy is pissed off and trying to deal with his nutty blind super hero friend (who he recently fired from his law firm). Leland Owlsley is trying to fit into a criminal underworld that may not have room for a B-Lister. Dakota is searching for clues that might just get her killed. Matt Murdock has entered un uneasy alliance with the Kingpin to takedown Lady Bullseye..or so he thinks. All this in one comic!
Brubaker’s rich characters spring to life with Lark and Gaudiano’s art. His classis noir style gives DD that gritty street feel.
Daredevil is one of the most consistently satisfying book each month.
4 out of 5
Ed Brubaker’s Daredevil run continues to rock! The pacing of this book makes it a joy to read. Brubaker knows the story he wants to tell and executes it without filler and fluff. He continues to hide pleasant surprises in a storyline I think I have figured out. Without revealing anything, Daredevil takes it on the chin from a dear friend. On top of that, Kingpin continues to reclaim the Hell Kitchen’s underworld. Brubaker has successfully given the Kingpin a heart and soul. He’s still a ruthless psychopath, but you almost start to feel for him. Almost. Meanwhile, Matt Murdock is dealing with his ever-muddied personal life as he plans to take down Lady Bullseye and the Hand.
Brubaker skillfully makes Matt Muddock and the other DD cast real people. Their lives are messy and difficult. The DD universe is very real and the people seem to breathe the same air we do. This is a tribute to Ed Brubaker’s ability to write real characters.
DD’s multiple artists create a unique atmosphere that is making this title iconic. I am now referring to some other books as “Daredevilish” in style. Rivaling Brukaer’s writing skill is the work of colorist Matt Hollingsworth. Daredevil has a classic, crisp, noir art and Hollingsworth’s skill vaults these pages close to perfection. The panels have a muted, dark quality with burst of appropriate colors. The finished product is a stunning book that is worthy of a few extra reads, just to admire the pages.
While Daredevil is a consistently great read, this arc is particularly fantastic. While I am enjoying Marvel’s Dark Reign mega-event, it sure is nice to read a book without Norman Osborn. Matt Murdock has enough to deal with.
4 out of 5
Captain America is one of the few mainstream superhero titles that just keeps getting better. I started reading Cap at issue one and haven’t been disappointed. That being said, just remember what’s gone on in this title under Brubaker’s writing – the Winter Soldier, Steve Roger’s death, Bucky Barnes picking up the shield and stepping in Cap’s shoes, or boots is more correct. This is anything but a status quo title, yet if never suffers from fatigue or cheap filler issues.
This new arc picks up with the next logical step from our last arc. Cap, now joined with Namor, is tracking down Professor Zhang Chin, a scientist who stole the body of the original Human Torch. Namor’s dialogue with Bucky is spot-on. He reminds Bucky still lives in the shadow of the greatest of heroes. Namor is not as quick to accept a guy with wings on his head and a shield as the new cap. Nevertheless, they are resolved to stop Chin from turning their friend into a monster.
We see Bucky struggling with his past actions as the Winter Solider. Brubaker shows his writing talent by not letting this become too whiny. Steve Epting kicks ass with his pencil in drawing this book and definitely one of my favorite artists right now just because of this book. It’s rare I mention a colorer, but Frank D’Armata makes this book pop. His deep rich colors make Captain America stand out among Marvel books.
Captain America is a great read. It is worth catching up on the trade paperbacks if you aren’t reading this. Keep it coming, Brubaker.
3.5 out of 5
It’s rare when a comic can deliver authentic “holy crap” moments, when an author leads his readers down a path and suddenly throws them in an unexpected direction. Incognito keeps these precious moments coming frequently and powerfully. And you are full of shit if you say that you can
see these coming.
Ingonito follows Zack Overkill, a former super-villain now in the witness protection program. Zack struggles with trying to live a normal life as the temptation to use his powers constantly tugs at him. Lurking in the shadows is a nasty bad guy who is intent on taking down Zack.
The world of Incognito is dark and gritty. No character is filler or predictable. Everyone has their demons and there are all starting to bare their teeth. Author Ed Brubaker has a firm grasp of his characters; he knows who they are, what motivates them, and how to piece them into a great story. This series is only at issue two and it already has the feel of a well-established world. Sean Philips, penciler, perfectly complements
Brubaker’s words.
The only drawback to Incognito is that the dynamic duo of Brubaker and Philips has to delay Criminal, their equally great crime noir title. Good books take time and effort. This one is a winner.
4.5 out of 5
I was leery when I saw the latest story arc for Daredevil titled “Lady Bullseye.” I was sad that DD’s world, hidden in the Hells’ Kitchen dark alleys and mostly shielded from Marvel Universe’s mainstream, succumbed to an alarming current trend, the gender reassignment of well-known male villains.
I hung in there and was glad I did. Lady Bullseye worked. It did more than just work, the story reignited a great title that had recently lost its spark.
Lady Bullseye’s origin was well-written and fits into Daredevils’ world without being forced. This story blends into an organic whole between previous DD arcs and the current events of the Marvel Universe at large. From the first issue, the plot builds as we try to figure out Lady Bullseye’s motives for messing with poor Matt Murdock. We meet another great character, Master Izo, along the way. He’s a boozing, joke-cracking Kung-Fu Master who provides some much-needed laughs without being trite. DD is a dark book with Murdock getting one if not both balls pounded issue after issue.
4 out of 5
