Captain America #42 Review

Captain America #42
It's been over a year and a half since Ed Brubaker did the impossible by killing American hero, Steve Rodgers from the regular Marvel series. Since then there was a long period in which there was no Captain America in his own book. Then readers were shocked and disappointed when James "Bucky" Barnes took up the mantle of Captain America. Issue #42 is the final chapter in a saga which will most certainly go down as monumental in the world of comics.

The book begins with the new Cap, Bucky, saving the life of presidential candidate Gordon Wright; deflecting a snipers bullet from The Red Skulls daughter, appropriately named Sin. Meanwhile, long-time friend of Steve Rodgers, Falcon and SHIELD agent, Black Widow attempt to rescue Sharon "Agent 13" Carter.

This carefully crafted epic by Brubaker has been so deliberately paced and has unfolded with a grace not seen in comics for a very long time. That being said, there is one problem with the concluding chapter. These last two chapters of the saga seem a bit rushed compared to the previous twenty issues.

This is the most apparent by the sudden and drastic change of sides by Dr. Faustus. He was at a time comparable to the evil that is The Red Skull, then he abruptly changes sides and attempts to free Sharon. There was no recognizable explanation as to the sudden shift in allegiance. I can only suspect Brubaker did this with the intention of setting up future storylines now that this story has concluded.

The art of Steve Epting is and has always been consistently well drawn. His style, while dark and muddled, brings a certain grittiness to the policical action comic.

Brubaker and Epting's run on Cap will become stuff of legends but one has to wonder where the series will go now that there is officially a new Captain America and The Red Skull, for the time being, is out of the picture. However, I'm sure Bucky and the gang will still go great places in the hands of the Nathaniel Hawthorn of comics, Ed Brubaker.

4.5/5 stars