Marvel Comics 2017
Written by Nick Spencer
Illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino & Rod Reis
Lettered by VC’s Travis Lanham
The handful of heroes remaining discovered that a Cosmic Cube was behind Steve Rogers’ sinister change of heart, and might be able to change him back--if the scattered pieces can be reunited. But to find the Cube shards they’d have to leave the country--and Sam Wilson, who abandoned the mantle of Captain America, isn’t interested in helping them cross the border. Meanwhile Black Widow and a group of younger heroes are seeking a less idealistic way to end Steve Rogers’ rule….
Say what you will about all this but I personally am loving this story. Granted we are seeing the Steve we’ve known and loved for so long as he treks through the pieces of the cube waiting for them to be brought back together. Okay so that summation is my humble theory but I like it and I think it fits otherwise it’s what is actually happening in his own mind and somehow I don’t think that's really happening.
Again I say this would be great as a stand alone series that happens in nothing more than a run in Steve Rogers’ Captain America and not a company wide event but hey i’m not the people running a company, which as we’ve seen they aren’t really running one either but that’s a different story. So i’m only reading the main title not all those incessant tie-ins that they try to make a buck off of and in that regard i’m thrilled with what Nick is doing here. The idea that Steve’s history has been rewritten and the heroes of the world have to finally face a man who at his peak can outsmart, outwit and out tactic them all is being done to perfection.
Seeing how different characters react to what is happening has been one of the interesting factors here. With Maria as sanctimonious as ever, Widow and the kids doing things their ways not to mention those going after the pieces of the cube and even a surprise spotlight on a certain someone that thrilled me like you won’t believe and no not that man at the end who seems to have his allegiance changed as well.
I think the story structure, pacing and delivery here is expertly done and all in all it’s a damn fine story that’s taking place. The fact that there’s so much going on here that we both see and don’t showcases the talent involved here. The characterisation is stupendous as we see reactions that you could have never predicted but really have an honesty about them which comes from a person one who’s beat down emotionally and can’t handle much more. It’s the kind of reaction that I think is believable and while my thoughts and praise of what’s happening may be in the minority we all need to remember a few things, death in comics is transient and never permanent and stories come and go it’s how we see and appreciate them after the next one comes is what’s going to matter in the long run.
Now Andrea and Rod are kicking butt and taking names with this work on the interiors. I love the feel of it as it’s got this whole mood, tone and feel to it that’s as unexpected as Steve’s new history. The attention to detail is phenomenal and that we get such detail then mix it with that subjective kind of ethereal obliqueness that lets you take what’s there and envision the rest is perfect.
For me it’s just the main story that i’m following no tie-ins nothing like that because it’s not essential to this story. What Nick and company bring here is beyond expectation and thrills me with hope for future arcs.