Steve Rogers returns as Captain America this July!

With the new movie coming out this July 22, it was only a matter of time until this happened (again)!

Announced by Marvel Comics and reported by the likes of Newsarama and The New York Daily News, Steve Rogers will once again don the stars and stripes uniform and take up the shield, as he once again becomes Captain America in the new Captain America #1 comic coming out this July, taking the reigns away from his partner Bucky Barnes, who is the current Cap at this point of time. Longtime scribe of the series Ed Brubaker will still retain his position as the writer of the new relaunched title, with Civil War illustrator Steve McNiven joining him for art duties! That's right, Cap's getting a reboot and going back to #1 on the serial lists, just in time for the movie and for new readers to catch up on.

The news comes as both amusing and disappointing to hear about. It's great to have Steve Rogers back in the uniform and all, but I've taken to and respected Bucky Barnes run as Cap for the duration of Brubaker's run on the title. Ever since he "killed off" Rogers in the aftermath of Civil War and placed his onetime WWII partner on the costume, he's done great things with the character and did wonders showing that he certainly can wield the shield if push comes to shove. On the other hand, nothing will replace Steve Rogers - He's the one true Cap and there's no denying that the role was tailor made for him since he became the one and only Super Soldier to exist. It was fun seeing the role passed and poked around, but ever since Steve returned (and in a rushed and underdeveloped "Captain America: Reborn" storyline I might add), it already foreshadowed the inevitable happening - that he's going to be Captain America again sooner or later. We saw two Caps fighting together during the events of Siege, but Rogers willingly dropped the responsibility to Bucky so he could give his friend a new sense of purpose and direction, while taking up the mantle as the new "Top Cop/ Nick Fury" of the Marvel Universe. So much has come to pass in the Captain America stories since ED Brubaker took over, and I've stuck around the title since the writer made the jump to it way back in November 2004. It's fitting that he gets to relaunch it again in time for the new flick... but will I stick around and still collect it? Only time will tell for sure. The prospect of having Steve McNiven as artist only adds fuel to the fire. We'll just have to wait and see come July... which also has Chris Evans taking up the mantle in the big screen adaptation flick - Captain America: The First Avenger!

For more details and the official press release, visit Marvel.com, Newsarama, and The New York Daily News!

Captain America #1 is due in comic shops this July at $3.99!

Comic Book Review: Captain America: Reborn #6

Finally, after months of unbearable wait and pain, the final issue of Captain America: Reborn is now in comic book stores everywhere. The mini chronicling Steve Rogers' return to life was originally a five issue limited series, but was extended by Marvel Comics to six as "the event was too big to contain on five issues only". The question is... was it worth the wait? With the end already a forgone conclusion and almost every other Marvel book heralding Steve back among their ranks, the surprise factor is pretty much absent at this point, and people already know the original Cap is back. However, what the faithful and those who stuck around til the end want to know is HOW he returned, and that is depicted in this final issue. Does the climax live up to its potential or does it "epic fail" itself miserably? Read on and find out.

Captain America: Reborn #6
Written By: Ed Brubaker
Illustrated By: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice
Variant Covers By: John Cassaday and Joe Quesada

In the heart of Washington D.C, the battle between good and evil has reached its pinnacle. Deep within the recesses of his own mind, Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, wages a desperate war for control over his body and soul, currently possessed by his eternal rival, The Red Skull. In the real world, the Skull has overpowered the new Captain America, Bucky Barnes, and his forces are slowly overwhelming the rest of the Avengers, who are fighting a desperate fight to free Cap and his compatriots. Knowing the odds are against them tenfold, Steve and his allies still fight on, determined to win at all costs no matter what happens. By the time everything is said and done, the legacy of Captain America will be decided, and whether Steve Rogers will be the same or not remains to be seen.

After six issues of time travel nonsense and mind exchanging goop, this was the ending we get?

Honestly, I really dig Ed Brubaker and all, but this has to be one of the weakest ideas and wrap ups for a Captain America story throughout his time with the character. I tried giving the whole thing a chance, but let's be honest here - If this wasn't a Cap book, I wouldn't be around to see this series to the end. The whole point was to just bring Steve Rogers back, and to have an end result like this just doesn't justify a six issue mini that doesn't have firm substance to grasp and appreciate. I wouldn't be one to judge a book by its cover, but the feeling I got the entire time with Cap Reborn is that it tried too hard and too much to be Mark Millar's "The Ultimates", and add to the fact that Bryan Hitch is the artist on board, that's too much of a coincidence already. It just didn't work out for me, and to have an ending that shouts cliche all over it makes me feel things could have ended in a better light. Not to spoil those who are anxious to read this book, but everything is sorta deja vu with Millar's Ultimate wackiness and 80's crossovers, and those concepts have already come to pass that to bring Captain America back in a similar manner is such a waste of time and potential. So many characters were underused and out of proportion, and to serve up a narrative that felt more like one of those animated Marvel movies is not what you'd call the epic comeback of the century. Honestly, the 90's did better with "The Reign Of The Supermen", and bringing back the Man Of Steel there after his death was a nice touch. To use the "lost in time" concept for Cap as an explanation for his return totally knocks off the importance of his death a few years ago, and one can only wish things could have been done differently instead.

While I have my reservations about the script and all, I can't fault the artwork for doing a bang up job of presenting pleasant looking work. Fans of the Ultimates will still get a kick out of Bryan Hitch's pencils, and they serve well to display a tale that has more in line with his previous works than regular Earth 616 continuity. Fellow artist Butch Guice also lends a helping hand to assist Hitch when the going gets tough, and while both men may have similar penciling styles, it's the coloring that makes their works blend in together in a semi-consistent fashion. There's lots of fighting and chaos happening around here, so those looking for some sweet action scenes and spread shots may be satisfied with the results. Variant covers are also available with this final issue, and Hitch draws his version ala Ultimates (again) with Cap on the head. John Cassaday, Joe Q, and others draw two more covers as well, with Cassaday's (pictured above) standing out as a personal favorite among the variants.

To sum things up, Captain America: Reborn accomplished the job it set out to do - bring Steve Rogers back to the land of the living. However, the plot and pacing utilized in this series was just not in par with the classic tales and arcs Brubaker did in the regular Cap book, and it leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of those expecting a big and epic return from the Sentinel Of Liberty. True, at least Steve's back, and I wouldn't call the series a fluke or a failure either. It's just that there were higher expectations coming from those who felt a great heartache over Cap's death a few years ago, and measuring up his return to that classic just doesn't hold up. Truth be told, you can skip this series and go directly to the aftermath one shot special, "Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield", which surprisingly came out a month before this issue and told a better story that's more in line with Brubaker's style. In the end, Cap Reborn was not the rebirth I expected it to be, and a story that's easily forgotten than remembered.

Rating - 4/10

Comic Review: Captain Americe: Reborn #5

At last, a new Captain America Reborn issue is available at newsstands... but it's not the final chapter yet. There's still a lot going on that needs to be told, and with that Marvel has extended the series to 6 issues, making this one heck of a cliffhanger by the time you're done reading the book. With Steve Rogers set to return to a Marvel Universe rampant with evil and Dark Reign, will he get out of this predicament with his mind and soul intact? Let's find out how everything fares with this issue.

Captain America: Reborn #5
Written By: Ed Brubaker
Illustrated By: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice

After being pulled out of time and placed back in the present day, Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, has finally returned... but not all is what it seems. With the help of Norman Osborn, Doctor Doom, and Arnim Zola, Cap's eternal archnemesis and rival, The Red Skull, has taken control of his own body, leaving the star spangled hero trapped within the corners of his own mind. Aware of this diabolical plot engineered by the Nazi mastermind, Bucky Barnes and crew race to the H.A.M.M.E.R Helicarrier to stop the Skull's insidious plot and rescue Steve and Sharon Carter. However, things don't go too smoothly for the heroes, and all may be too late as "Captain America" prepares to make his move, which may spell doom for Steve Rogers, his friends, and the entire United States.

Alright, we've reached the penultimate chapter to the story chronicling the return of Steve Rogers, and even as the rest of the Marvel Universe welcomes him back with open arms, this saga is just wrapping up and telling the tale of how ol' stars and stripes is getting back in the saddle. Originally, this was supposed to be a 5 issue miniseries, but in typical mega blockbuster and superhero comic fashion, this was a story too big to contain itself within that given limit, and as a result, a sixth issue was commissioned to wrap things up and slated for release next month in January. Given that this series is stretching things a little bit too much, I was honestly hoping for things to end already, especially with the outcome so obvious and already reflected in comics as of late, such as last week's issue of the Invincible Iron Man. I still admire Ed Brubaker's writing talent, but in terms of execution, bringing back Cap this way is a little bit too convenient for long time readers like me. Don't get me wrong, he knows a lot about the Cap Mythos and does well in portraying the character in the comic medium, but I wish he delivered more of that "espionage style" and mystery punch he's utilized so well in the regular Cap book for a few years now. In a stark contrast, executing Steve Rogers' death a few years ago was just sheer perfection, and to bring him back this way kind of ruins the effect and importance that event had with readers. I would have preferred things being handled without revolving around the concept of time-travel, but this Lost-esque approach has already had its wheels turned, so the only end result left is to see things until its conclusion. The only saving fact is that we have Steve back... and it's been quite a while since we've seen back in the land of the living.

For this issue in particular, Brubaker went all out an provided the much awaited action bits - case in point - the ultimate showdown between the old Cap and new Cap, Bucky Barnes. Since Bryan Hitch is handling most of the pencils here, the final battle feels a whole lot like the Ultimates... with the absence of the witty and satire laced dialogue Mark Millar presented in his books. Brubaker instead delivers monologues and head to head conversations that will have the comic book fan breezing through without holding their breath for a moment. The splash pages are wonderful art though, and you'll get plenty of Cap vs Cap time in the latter parts of the issue. In the other side of the spectrum, original Cap is looking for a way out of his new predicament and comes face to face with the Skull in his own mind, trying to reclaim dominance over his own body. I would have loved a fist to fist battle that was adjacent with the present day Cap vs Cap battle, but both fights lack a little more substance... which is possibly being saved for the last issue. Butch Guice also lends his talents to help Hitch with the illustrations, and you'll hardly notice the difference, unless you look and analyze every panel and page.

For all that its worth, Captain America Reborn #5 is a steady and fast paced read compared to its time twisting and mystery laced predecessors. It's chalk full of action, and the only qualms one will probably have is that it should have ended then and there, but there's one more issue to go, and in true Ultimates style fashion, everything else has to move on and proclaim the end result even before the series has wrapped up. I'm still a fan of Brubaker and would love to see his take on Steve and Bucky post Reborn. Next week's "Who Will Wield The Shield" one shot should reveal how those two come to terms, and what the fate of both Captain Americas will be.

Score - 6/10

Comic Review: Captain Americe: Reborn #4

Quite a while has passed since we've seen heard anything about Captain America and his mighty shield in the comic universe. Besides taking up the costume of his partner and successor Bucky Barnes this past Halloween, I've had a bit of a dry spell in the Reborn front, and I was hoping that the latest issue would land in my lap before I donned the mask and wielded the shield for some All Hallow's Eve fun. Unfortunately, there was a bit of delay on the issue's front, so readers got it on the next week instead, which was this past Wednesday. The latest Marvel Previews and solicitations also delivered the news that the miniseries would be extended to six issues instead of five, making the definite return of Steve Rogers a little more anti-climactic than for what its worth. Rest assured, the original super-soldier's coming back, but will he ever be the same? That's exactly what Reborn's all about, and so far, it's a little more confusing than I expected.

Captain America: Reborn #4
Written By: Ed Brubaker
Illustrated By: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice

Still trapped in a time lapsing limbo that's turning into an eternal nightmare, Steve Rogers faces moments in his life as Captain America that he only wished he could change for the better. Stuck and with no other means to escape, his only hope for salvation lies with the rest of his comrades in the present day, who have received the message he entrusted to the Vision during one of his brief time jumps. Meanwhile, The Red Skull arrives in Latveria, home of Doctor Victor Von Doom, to pursue unfinished business with the dictator and his trusted scientist, Arnim Zola. With the help of Norman Osborn, The Skull's plans to finally put one over his eternal enemy may just come to fruition, and the key to his victory lies in the unwilling hands of Cap's lover and killer, Sharon Carter.

In light of everything that's happened so far in Reborn, I really just want Ed Brubaker to end it all and bring back the espionage story telling many adored in the regular Captain America title. The fact of the matter is, it feels a too cliche already how Steve Rogers is going to come back to the land of the living. With the way he's being brought back to life after being gone for so long, it already deconstructs everything Bru achieved in making his death have such an impact in the entire Marvel Universe. As I stated in the previous issues' reviews, manipulating and writing around the concept of time travel/ displacement is a very touchy subject, and with somebody like Cap who's already been brought out of the ice and killed "realistically", it just cements his place among the many characters in comic book history who have eluded death through impossible means. Heck, if DC's Blackest Night were to hit the Marvel Universe now, it would probably make more sense than seeing Cap become a "Slider" who has "Quantum Leap" moments he has no control over. I'm a little too disappointed at the obvious storytelling Reborn is leading me to, and I just hope we see some sort of redeeming quality when the final two issues hit the stands in the next few months.

Looking at the other aspects of the book, Brubaker still has his A game in delivering the action and drama moments the Cap series has been known for under his tenure. We get into each and every character's head, especially Steve as he ruminates about his time displaced situation, wishing for a way out of moments in his life he wished he could change for the better. In certain ways, Reborn is more of a glorified refresher and jumping in point for those who don't know anything about Steve and his past during WWII and beyond. Aside from that, we also see more from the Red Skull and his minions, and a slightly expected guest appearance by the Fantastic Four's archnemesis, Dr. Doom. Doom's time machine figured greatly in the pages of the regular Cap book and Reborn, so it's no surprise the monarch makes his presence known to lend a helping hand to Herr Skull, upholding a deal he made with Norman Osborn. Cap's allies on the other hand get little screen time in this issue, still one step behind saving their ally and Sharon Carter from the bad guys. Speaking of Sharon, it seems her role in this entire conspiracy is finally made known, with the epilogue of this issue revealing an obvious plot device I knew that was coming since it was "carefully hinted" in the Cap books last year. It feels a little deja vu at this point since I've seen it happen to Cap before, but it's a given he's going to get out of this one alive and well. How that's done we'll just have to wait and see.

On the art department, Bryan Hitch lends some of his best work again which pretty much reflects the same dedication and style he used in the Ultimates years ago. Butch Guice helps him out with some of the pencils, and that guy's work is nothing to complain about either. Both men are good at what they do, and while it took me a while to accept this as Earth 616 storytelling, there's no doubt that Reborn has A list pencilers handling the art duties. Trust me, it may take a while to shake off the "Ultimates feeling", but once you get over it and look at this as a Cap book, it's all good and fine.

In the end, Captain America Reborn #4 is an issue fans of the star spangled avenger shouldn't miss and check out. If you've been collecting the book since the start, you owe it to yourself to finish it up since there's only two issues to go. Steve's return may be a little bit jarring, but there's no doubt that readers will be smirking and happy when we see the original red, white, and blue reclaim his title and shield and kick the living daylights of the bad guys who have been rampaging the Marvel Universe while he was away. This was a decent issue, but it lacked a little bit of punch at the surprise at the end. I just can't wait til this all ends, and we get Cap back in our corner.

Score - 6/10

Comic Review: Captain America: Reborn #3

This has been out for over a week now, but I finally took some time off to write a review for the current issue of this must read series... Did I just say "must read"? Well, yes actually. It goes without saying that Captain America's return was eventually going to happen, but the execution in Reborn was met with lukewarm reception at best, due in part to the time traveling mumbo jumbo that's supposedly the springboard that launches the star spangled avenger back to the present. It's not a concept I'd totally embrace from the get go, but knowing Ed Brubaker, he's not one to be underestimated. He took us by surprise with Cap's death years ago, and after reading this issue, I'm convinced that things are starting to pick up, action wise at least.

Captain America: Reborn #3
Written By: Ed Brubaker
Illustrated By: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice
Variant Cover By: Leinil Yu

Still trapped in a time loop that makes him relive the early days of his life, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, desperately tries to keep his sanity while looking for a way to reach his comrades in his own time. One pivotal moment provides him with the opportunity to do so without disrupting events in history, but will his message get across successfully? In the present day, Norman Osborn has played his cards right, successfully outing Sharon Carter to the public as "Cap's Killer" and capturing Bucky Barnes, the new Captain America, in order to execute his own plans of resurrecting the original. With the odds stacked against their favor, can Steve Rogers' friends find a way to save him and themselves before Norman and his allies have their way?

If the beginning of the series seemed a little too ostentatious, things finally become much more Brubaker like in Captain America: Reborn #3. The writer beckons long time Cap readers and newbies to bite the hook that is Steve Rogers' return, and whether he was successful or not in the first few issues, rest assured, this is where you should start paying attention to what's going on now. It feels and weighs more like a Captain America story now. Sure, the wheels are already turning with the "stuck in time" concept, but finally we're seeing results: Steve is self aware of his predicament and is looking for a way out; Bucky gets captured and confronts Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts; and Cap's allies are still busy trying to bring their friend back, with a few loose ends they need to take care of ASAP. It's a gratifying feeling to know that we're two issues down until the big conclusion of this miniseries, and once this is over, there's a special one-shot issue in December that will determine who will carry the shield once and for all. No duh it's always going to be Steve, but again, I'll leave the writer to decide what happens and, hopefully, surprise me.

While the twists, turns, and action Ed was known for in his regular Cap run are present in this book, I still find some irregularities and quirks that need some proper explanation before the series concludes in the way we think it will. For instance, in one flashback, Cap speaks to the Vision and asks him to "save, delete, and bury" information that his allies could find in the present. It's a pretty convenient way to get his location across, and somewhat impossible given the means and the situation. Also, Bru makes Steve body "mysteriously vanish into thin air", leaving Reed Richards and Namor stumped as to how it happened. I myself can't fathom how it just disappeared before their eyes, but again, it'll probably be explained in the next issue. It could be the work of the time loop concept... or a hidden agenda perpetrated by the Red Skull and his minions. Speaking of Cap's mortal enemy, he makes his big comeback here. Last seen in the monumental issue #600, Skull's not been himself lately, trapped in a new body that wasn't his choice to begin with. Fortunately, thanks to the machinations of Arnim Zola and Norman Osborn, he can finally make his move, and he's got his daughter Sin and trusted bodyguard Crossbones back with him. I'll admit, the Skull sequence is another cliffhanger that's making itch to read the next issue already, but its great that Bru's bringing him in now. After all, it wouldn't be a Cap book without good ol' Reddy to oppose the red, white, and blue.

If I wasn't aware that this was a Cap book, I'd still be mistaking Bryan Hitch's pencils here for his previous work, The Ultimates. Guaranteed, the art will blow readers away and does the story great justice, but for someone who has always appreciated Hitch's work on the Ultimate universe, it's still hard to think of this as an Earth 616 story. At least the book is getting the results it needs - flashy, spectacular art direction. I also have to commend Butch Guice for keeping up the pace when partner artist's hands are tied. His work is just as remarkable as Hitch's, and sometimes I can't really tell the difference between the two unless I take a clear and closer look. The variant cover art by Leinil Yu (pictured above) is stunning as well, and alongside the regular cover, it makes for great posters to buy in the future should Marvel ever release it.

Again, Captain America: Reborn delivers another solid read fans wouldn't dare want to miss. It still has a lot of confusing, Quantum Leap moments, but there are enough action scenes and funny bits that balances things out, which should give the Cap reader reassurance that things are going to be alright from here on out. I'm expecting a big pay-off for myself and everyone investing on this series, and I'm not just talking about the obvious return of Steve Rogers. As I said, Bru and company may have something up their sleeves, and we'll just have to bare with this time traveling rollercoaster ride until the big reveal shows itself and sees things through. So far, things are getting better.

Score - 7/10

Comic Review: Captain America: Reborn #2

Captain America: Reborn #2
Written By: Ed Brubaker
Illustrated By: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice

Somebody pulled a Quantum Leap move on me, and that person is Ed Brubaker.

The physics of Time Traveling is a concept I wouldn't touch for the life of me, especially when it concerns comic book history. After reading the final pages of Captain America:Reborn #1 last month, I was left with a gaping, open mouth and an expression of "What The Heck just happened"? Is it really hard to bring Steve Rogers back from the grave in a convincing manner? Sure, the guy's been frozen, paralyzed, thrust into a parallel world, and shot in the gut with a fake gun, but how difficult is it to make a comeback from the grave without creating a paradox in time? Brubaker is really testing the waters here, but after the events of issue #2, I'm even more curious where things lead to, and the whole event's got me hooked like a fish asking for more bait.

Discovering that he's reliving events of his past life, Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, knows something is amiss, but all he can do is watch events go by as they are, stuck in a limbo that circulates around pivotal moments in his history. After securing evidence that Cap may not have truly died, his allies search for a way to bring him back, not knowing that Norman Osborn has made his move and has plans of his own for America's Fallen Son. Meanwhile, the new Captain America and Black Widow search for clues inside a H.A.M.M.E.R helicarrier, not knowing that they are walking into a world of trouble, which could make things more complicated for Steve's resurrection.

As a fan of Captain America going down the line for as long as 20 years, I can't lie that I'm enthusiastic about his return. However, as I pointed out in my review of the first issue, I find the execution of this return a wee bit weird and confusing. Using the concept of Time Travel is a convenient means of seeing someone restored to proper form, and its been done before, but I couldn't imagine it happening to Cap. He's a linear kind of hero who was already placed in suspended animation to begin with and he was killed off through conventional means, so why time travel? I guess Brubaker has plans for this angle, but it feels so much like a Back To the Future/ Quantum Leap setup coupled with a Lost episode. I may not be comfortable about things, but I'm still curious to read about it.

Surprisingly, issue #2 reads more like a Brubaker book this time around. It's probably best to label it as "where things pick up and get interesting". The latter fact is debatable among fans, but personally it got me glued and I enjoyed this issue a whole lot more than the previous one. Steve's plight in time is understandable, and who wouldn't have thoughts like that when you're reliving moments of your past you desperately wanted to change if you could? It's torture in itself, and something far worse than being a man out of time. His allies don't do much except search for clues, but the book does show a fight scene involving New Cap and Black Widow versus Osborn's Avengers and H.A.M.M.E.R agents. As a fan of Buck Cap, I hope he gets a more prominent role in the next few issues. Otherwise, he'll be more of a placeholder that's kept around until Steve returns. As far as the villains go, we see how much of a bastard Norman Osborn can be. Outside being the Green Goblin or Iron Patriot, this cold-hearted genius is still as dangerous as ever, and he'll do anthing and everything to get what he wants.

The plot still feels iffy, but the action and storytelling are well placed. Sometimes, I have a hard time distinguishing this as a regular Cap book since Bryan Hitch is doing the pencils along with Butch Guice. Hitch's take of Cap is so Ultimates, and even his cover to the books is a widespread artpiece reminiscent of that title, so anyone who has read those books will be having that sense of deja vu again. I do enjoy the art, but I can't help feeling its a bit out of place in the regular Marvel timeline. Nevertheless, I'm sold to see this miniseries to its end, just to see how Steve Rogers comes back to Earth-616 with mind, body, and soul intact. One can't help but reflect what's happened before they decided on pushing this event though, and given what has transpired in the past few years since his death, I have mixed feelings about Reborn as a whole.

If a comic book character is killed off, he or she SHOULD STAY dead, but we all know this won't last in the long run. This rule applies, of course, to Steve Rogers, the World War II Super Soldier who transformed into the living heroic symbol of America known as Captain America. When Marvel successfully orchestrated his death in Captain America #25 back in early 2007, we've seen a plethora of great tales told by Ed Brubaker, the mastermind writer behind the diabolical assassination. I, like many, was devastated by the loss, but I knew he'd eventually come back anyway, so heck, I'll enjoy the storyline for all it's worth and see how the entire superhero community reacted to the sad news. It was successful: shockwaves were felt across the Marvel community and every title reflected on his passing. If Captain America's death had one profound effect on the Marvel Universe and its fan base, it made us want to buy the title again and read up on who'd continue his legacy. That responsibility inevitably fell to his resurrected sidekick, Bucky, and as the new Cap, he's done a fantastic job carrying the mantle "in his own way" (wielding the shield with a new costume, accompanied by conventional weaponry). Now, all of this hard work for two and a half years will be shelved off, because guess what, it's time to bring back the symbol of freedom. We won't know how until the next three issues come out, so until then, am I feeling excited? Not really. Am I ready? Well, bring it on.

Score - 7/10

Comic Review: Uneasy Returns...

Alright, it's time to get down to business... and it starts with good ol' comics.


The first day of July has graced us with highly anticipated comic book reads this week. I went to my local shop this afternoon to pick up these babies, and one of the titles as expected had multiple covers that were just too good to pass up. Of course, I'll get right into detail with what these covers are as I move along with the entry. Since these are the first reviews to be featured on this site, I'll start things off by giving a little background information about the book, then move towards my personal critique of it story and art wise, and finally ending things off with a rating score ranging from 1-10. Take note, these are just my personal thoughts - no one has to agree with them and you can judge for yourselves how good the title is when you pick them up. Also, be aware that there WILL BE SPOILERS revealed, so if you're one to shy away from surprises, I suggest you STOP READING FROM THIS POINT FORWARD. Now, without further delay, here they are:


Batman and Robin #2
Written By: Grant Morrison
Illustrated By: Frank Quitely

The first issue of Batman And Robin introduced substantial new changes in the eternal saga of the Dark Knight. The most obvious among these is the fact that we have a new Batman - Dick Grayson, who's taken up the mantle after the supposed death of his mentor, Bruce Wayne. Also, Tim Drake is no longer Robin, as the role has been passed to the young and arrogant Damian Wayne, the genetically created offspring of Bruce and Ra's Al Ghul's daughter, Talia. There's books worth of backstory to follow on how all of this came to be, but this is pretty much what the current situation is, and what the reader has to know - hence the banner "Batman: Reborn" displayed on the upper right corner of the cover.

The very first page of the issue shows a disappointed Dick, unmasked, sitting on the steps of his new headquarters, recounting his problematic day to a worried Alfred Pennyworth. It's then understood that the next scene takes place a few hours ago, in which Batman and Robin meet Commissioner Gordon "for the first time" and proceed to handle trouble happening inside GCPD itself. The police station is under siege by a group of circus freaks seeking to release a villain captured by the dynamic duo last issue. Even as the crisis is averted thanks to the quick efforts of the heroes, things do not run smootly between the two, resulting in a misunderstanding that leaves things complicated. As the new Batman renews his resolve to fight crime his own way, Robin finds himself in the heart of trouble, with the mastermind behind it all showing himself and setting his plans into motion.

Once again, Morrison and Quitely have a steady pairing that delivers another interesting issue that keeps the pace up and makes me stick to this book like flypaper. While issue # 1 introduced us to the new team, their first adventure, and a new cast of villains, #2 follows it up by establishing relationships and dynamics played between the characters in the book. Batman and Robin introduce themselves to the GCPD and Gordon, who already has his suspicions that things are quite different yet somehow familiar. As we catch the action drawn beautifully by Frank Quitely, we begin to see how hard it is for the new Batman and Robin to work together as a team. Dick's dedication to teach Damian is challenged by his reckless behaviour and violent outburts, a relationship that parallels Bruce Wayne's own troubles long ago with Jason Todd. Morrison also writes in a beautiful heart-to-heart talk scene between Alfred and Dick, where the former reassures the latter by acknowledging he is not his mentor, yet can treat the role "as a performance" wherein "the spotlight is on him now"and the show must go on. I like the pun on the cape, and the introduction of a new Bat vehicle is always a welcomed sight. As for the villains, they're atypically common freaks to make for batfoes, but it's this pig character that I'm curious about. Nothing was fleshed out here in this issue, but hopefully we'll get more bangs in the next one. It's these moments that make B&R a simple comic book to read and enjoy with enough humor, action, and drama to keep the pages rolling and demand for more in return. More is what we'll get in the next month, so hang on to your hats, batfans, and stay tuned for the next episode.

Score - 10/10



Captain America: Reborn #1
Written By: Ed Brubaker
Illustrated By: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice

The hype is over, and now we are graced with the miniseries that everyone's been waiting for, promising the return of the one and only Steve Rogers - The Original Captain America. It's been two and a half years since he was killed off by Ed Brubaker - the man who systematically destroyed an iconic symbol and reignited interest in a title that has people coming back even if the main character is... well WAS dead. Now, he's going to write his return, and one can only hope that it is done so convincingly. Then again, this is the world of comics, so dead people DO NOT stay dead for a long time. Bucky Barnes, The New Captain America, can attest to that.

As I mentioned earlier, this issue comes out with 4 Covers - one by John Cassaday, Joe Quesada, Bryan Hitch & Bruce Guice, and finally Alex Ross. With so much to choose from, it's literally a marketing campaign to make people buy multiple covers for an issue containing the exact same story... and honestly, not all impress me except for the Cassaday and Hitch ones. The Quesada cover isn't too convincing, and the Ross cover, while looking mighty impressive, just looks creepy with Cap screaming out like that...*ahem* Moving on, the issue is now out in retail shops and comic stores, but does it stand up to the hype? Read on and find out.

The story begins with a series of flashbacks, recounting the Life and Death of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. It begins with him fighting in World War II as a soldier who always went on the forefront to fight the good fight, eventually transitioning to how he died - on that fateful day where he was tragically shot down in front of the courthouse he was to stand trial in after the events of Civil War. That day, the world lost its symbol of hope... or so everyone thought.

Fast forward to the present day, new revelations revealed to Cap's lover and manipulated killer, Sharon Carter, suggest that there may be a way to bring the Seninel Of Liberty back to life. She and the Falcon meet up with Hank Pym and the Vision, while the New Captain America, Bucky Barnes, and Black Widow invade a H.A.M.M.E.R Helicarrier that contains evidence left behind by the Red Skull... evidence that could have played a hand at Steve's return. A meeting between Norman Osborn and an old Cap adversary suggest that there is more to this than meets the eye, and the reader is left with a revelation on the final pages of the book that will have people talking and waiting for things to come.

Ok, first things first, if you haven't picked up Captain America # 600 or read the special 8 page prelude in Marvel.com's Reborn page, you might be at a loss at what's happening here. Things are running at a pace that's merely confusing and a little bit disappointing at the same time. The plot device in which Brubaker used to execute Steve's inevitable return sounds too convenient and eliminates the drama and suspense I loved about the main title since he died and Bucky became Cap. In fact, speaking about New Cap, he hardly stands out as a main character here, instead regulated to being one of the sidekicks again... which is a shame considering the build up he had in the last few years. Then again, this book is about Steve's return, but the execution felt too out of place. I'm still curious and hopefully things will be rectified in the coming issues, but as of this moment things are at a moot point. The art is good but confusing to look at sometimes. Bryan Hitch's work here seems more Ultimates than Cap, and Butch Guice emulates that style all too well. I'm not saying it's bad, but I would rather have Steve Epting or Luke Ross handling art duties. Anyway, even with the book's flaws, it's still a must have for Cap readers, especially since the title will be going on a hiatus as of issue #601 until Reborn ends. A not so impressionable first issue for me... here's to hoping things don't screw up.

Score - 6/10

That's it for this week. Here's to more books soon! - Timster