In the winter of 2004, the Captain America title relaunched with Ed Brubaker at the helm. In the succeeding eight years, it's been renumbered and relaunched again (and is on the verge of another, as part of Marvel's whole "Marvel Now!" thing), with Brubaker at the helm throughout (as well as handling various spinoffs and ancillary titles like Captain America: Reborn, Secret Avengers, the Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier miniseries, and the Winter Soldier title that Brubaker will be continuing on for a few more issues). It's probably the most acclaimed Marvel Comics product during the last decade. #19, which came out today, marks the end of it.
The halcyon period has been over for a few years, I think. It certainly was never bad, but after Steve's return in Captain America: Reborn I think he had played out his biggest story for the character. The rest was just some more standard superhero stuff. The first 42 issues, in particular, are just one great story after another, from "Winter Soldier" to "The Death of Captain America". He made me a huge fan of Steve, and also of Sharon, Falcon, Black Widow, more minor presences like Spitfire, and revived numerous villains. And, of course, there's the return of Bucky, a story that had "bad idea" written all over it until it became one Marvel's greatest.
His influence on the Captain America property will be felt, one imagines, for years to come. Particularly with the nature of the second movie.
The final issue, without getting into spoilers, is the strongest in a good while. As a conclusion, it was unexpected, but it felt perfect, which is perhaps the best way to end things.
The halcyon period has been over for a few years, I think. It certainly was never bad, but after Steve's return in Captain America: Reborn I think he had played out his biggest story for the character. The rest was just some more standard superhero stuff. The first 42 issues, in particular, are just one great story after another, from "Winter Soldier" to "The Death of Captain America". He made me a huge fan of Steve, and also of Sharon, Falcon, Black Widow, more minor presences like Spitfire, and revived numerous villains. And, of course, there's the return of Bucky, a story that had "bad idea" written all over it until it became one Marvel's greatest.
His influence on the Captain America property will be felt, one imagines, for years to come. Particularly with the nature of the second movie.
The final issue, without getting into spoilers, is the strongest in a good while. As a conclusion, it was unexpected, but it felt perfect, which is perhaps the best way to end things.
