The Alpha Review
By Andrew Uys
I’ve heard that trade paperbacks — a run of comic issues collected into a graphic novel — are all the rage today. But which ones are worth your time? This column aims to put the spotlight on the spectacular trades — at least according to this writer. And just for fun, we will start with the letter “A,” and each subsequent review will follow with the next letter of the alphabet. While you might object to my taste or my opinion, I hope that this column will help save you time and money when you are next buying a trade paperback, as well as effort in alphabetizing.
C is for Captain America: The Death of Captain America 
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting and Mike Perkins
Marvel, 2007
Captain America is one of comic’s oldest heroes, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941. He is certainly my favourite hero, having the moral character of Superman and the “human” aspect of Batman. What I mean – and this is what initially attracted me to Captain America – is that he doesn’t have any of the super powers that often define other heroes. He’s the peak achievement of human physical potential, and yet he can hold his own against virtually any other costumed character. While I have enjoyed the many runs of Captain America comics in the last twenty years (and through collecting back issues), Ed Brubaker’s Captain America is my favourite. Captain America was relaunched in 2005, with Ed Brubaker writing and Steve Epting and Mike Perkins providing the art. For many fans, this latest volume has been highly controversial, due to both the return of Bucky Barnes (now the Winter Soldier), and most recently, the death of Captain America himself. This latest trade paperback deals with his death and the immediate aftermath, collecting issues 25 to 30.
Civil War was touted as redefining the Marvel universe, and though it certainly had its share of big reveals and action filled moments, delays in shipping soured many fan’s opinions of the event. While this wasn’t as much of a problem for me, I did feel that the end of the Civil War was rather lame. For those who aren’t familiar with the premise of the Civil War, hundreds of innocent civilians died while the New Warriors tried to apprehend a group of villains and in response the US government demands that all costumed heroes register and reveal their identities. Captain America refuses to be the hatchet man of this scheme and goes underground while Iron Man becomes the leader of the registration movement. During a titanic battle in Manhattan, just as the anti-registration forces are about to win, Captain America surrenders and Iron Man wins. The way that this final scene was brought about seemed contrived and rather weak. It also left the status quo more or less unchanged – the registration forces were in power and those that had opposed it went further underground. Fast forward to Captain America #25. I have to admit that I knew nothing about what was to going happen in this issue of Captain America and just happened to drop by my local comic book store that day, managing to secure a copy. Without ruining the story in this trade, Captain America is killed – obviously, as this is the title of the trade itself – and the following issues focus on the secondary characters as they deal with Cap’s death. While many fans felt that this was another Death of Superman sales boost (and certainly, Captain America #25 sold far more copies than any other issue of this run), other people, myself included, felt that Brubaker had been following a plan from the beginning of his run on Captain America. Brubaker has, in fact, said that while the moment of death had been influenced by the demands of Civil War series; it had always been part of his larger plan. Another concern of long-time Captain America fans was whether the book could really continue with the absence of the main character. I feel that Brubaker’s story just keeps getting better and better, but you really should pick up this trade and decide for yourself.
For me, the death of Captain America was the real end to the Civil War storyline, providing a visual and emotional punch that seemed to be lacking from the mini-series itself. Ed Brubaker’s writing is fantastic, and not just in his development of Captain America. Brubaker has re-invigorated the back up cast that was often found in earlier Captain America volumes, building up our emotional investment in them, and providing the basis for the reader to actually care about Captain America without Captain America. Steve Epting and Mike Perkins provide amazing art, and their styles blend together seamlessly. While I heartily recommend this trade paperback, you won’t go wrong if you decide to start at the beginning, collecting the first five trades that have already been published. They are (Captain America) Winter Soldier Vol. 1 & 2, the harder to find Red Menace Vol. 1 & 2, and Captain America Civil War, which leads up to issue 24. To my knowledge these trades do leave out one issue, #10, which was the tie in to House of M, and has no bearing on the regular Captain America continuity. For those that want to read everything but don’t want to have to scrounge through back issue bins, there is a Captain America Omnibus that ends with issue 25. Still, if you want to read the aftermath of Cap’s death, this is the collection for you. Brilliantly written with fantastic art, this story is a perfect addition to any Cap fan’s collection or just a fun read for anyone who is trying to stay abreast of events in the Marvel universe.
Brubaker’s Cap run has been AMAZING the entire way through. What an fantastic writer he is.
I couldn’t agree more. In some ways, I really miss Steve Rogers, and really want to read more Brubaker-penned Steve Rogers Captain America stories. In other ways, I think the story is even better with him dead. I find Bucky so interesting and am really excited to see where he goes from here. And Sharron? What’s going to happen to Sharron?
It’s almost always the first comic I read when I get back from the nerd store. It’s actually one of the series that changed me from a “trade waiter” to someone who goes every week to buy comics.