Captain America, Back from the Dead (sort of)

Goldberg74 · 01-30-08, 09:16 AM

Heard this on Morning Edition (NPR) as I came into work this morning:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=18520433

******* THERE ARE SPOILERS AS TO WHO IT IS IN THIS ARTICLE ********

Quote:

Morning Edition, January 30, 2008 · In the alternate universe of comic books, there's a crisis brewing between the U.S. and Russia. America is being threatened by a former Soviet general and his Nazi partner. Sounds like a job for Captain America.

But Captain America died last year, shot by assassins on the steps of the federal courthouse in New York City.

On Wednesday, a new issue of Captain America hits comic book stores and with it comes a new Captain America. It's not the same character ... he's still dead. But the comic didn't die with him.

Ed Brubaker writes Captain America for Marvel Comics. For the past year, his stories have been about the loss of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America or "Cap," and about the search for his killer. One particular character has featured in many of those tales — Captain America's oldest friend, James "Bucky" Barnes.

"Bucky is kind of a very conflicted character who's trying to find some redemption, and his closest friend is basically taken away from him before he can really reconcile with him," Brubaker says.

Bucky and Captain America fought against the Nazis and the Japanese in World War II. According to Marvel Comics lore, both disappeared in the final days of the war.

This is where it starts to get complicated.

Steve Rogers (Captain America) was found frozen in ice in the mid-1960s and revived to become an American hero, thwarting villains with his signature Shield.

Bucky was also found frozen, but he was revived by the Soviets, who turned him into an evil killer known as The Winter Soldier. This character is now, once again, a good guy, but he's no Boy Scout. Unlike the modern version of Captain America, Bucky carries a gun.

Brubaker says he wasn't trying to stir controversy by adding this element to the Captain America character. But he says criticism comes with the territory when you're writing the adventures of an American icon.

"All liberals want Captain America to be standing on a soapbox outside the White House bashing President Bush," Brubaker says. "All right-wingers want Captain America to be ... over in Afghanistan punching Osama in the face," just like in the first issue, when he was smacking Hitler, the writer says.

There's a link to a page from the book in the link above.

Goldberg74 · 01-30-08, 09:20 AM

Here's the page...

Spoiler:

Nick Danger · 01-30-08, 10:10 AM

The only character who stayed dead while I was reading superhero comics was Robin (Jason Todd). All the rest came back.

Bronkster · 01-30-08, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

The only character who stayed dead while I was reading superhero comics was Robin (Jason Todd). All the rest came back.

Bad news there, Nick ...

Graftenberg · 01-30-08, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bronkster

Bad news there, Nick ...

At least Uncle Ben is still dead.

taffer · 01-30-08, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graftenberg

At least Uncle Ben is still dead.

And so are Bruce Wayne's parents.

Really the only people that stay dead in comics are the parents/guardians of the superhero. Although they did try to change that with the Spider-man clone saga that almost brought back Peter's parents.

slop101 · 01-30-08, 11:59 AM

... and Gwen Stacey, unfortunately, turns out she's a whore.

Chew · 01-30-08, 12:02 PM

Quesada was on Colbert last night talking about Captain America.

Luckily, he didn't request Cap's shield be returned now that there's a new user for it.

taffer · 01-30-08, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slop101

... and Gwen Stacey, unfortunately, turns out she's a whore.

There are two ways to look at that:

1. Pretend the Sins Past story never happened.

2. One More Day made it so Sins Past never happened.

fujishig · 01-30-08, 12:46 PM

Hey, Thunderbird stayed dead (except for alternate reality stuff). Of course, Warpath is pretty much the same thing.

On the DC side, I don't think they ever really brought Barry Allen back, so that remains as one of the biggest deaths-that-stuck-so-far. And of course they didn't really bring the REAL Supergirl back.

I thought Peter David handled the issue pretty well when he had Siren react to Banshee's death in X-factor...

Goldberg74 · 01-30-08, 04:06 PM

Well, the character is coming back, but Steve Rogers is staying dead.

... and for the record, I hated Bucky then... and I still hate Bucky now.

dadaluholla · 01-30-08, 04:22 PM

Is John Walker (US Agent) still around? I am really enjoying the whole Bucky/Winter Soldier storyline, but I wouldn't mind seeing Brubaker bring the ol' psycho back to pitchfork a few more Watchdogs to death.

Jackskeleton · 01-30-08, 04:31 PM

US Agent is in Omage Flight, the new Alpha flight.

I thought the issue was great. Passing the torch to Bucky was smooth and really, the whole run of captain america has been great even after steve died. Great job on ed's part.

Patman · 01-30-08, 05:47 PM

To me, it felt like we missed an issue between the last issue and this issue.

Rogue588 · 01-30-08, 07:39 PM

I agree. But Brubaker still rocks.

Giantrobo · 01-30-08, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

The only character who stayed dead while I was reading superhero comics was Robin (Jason Todd). All the rest came back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Todd

Superboy · 01-31-08, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taffer

Although they did try to change that with the Spider-man clone saga that almost brought back Peter's parents.

They did briefly come back but it turned out they were robots. Yay for Marvel.

PalmerJoss · 01-31-08, 10:57 AM

Not a surprise at all that Bucky is the new Cap - Brubaker has clearly been setting him up to take over the mantle almost since he started writing the title. Even so, I still enjoyed the hell out of this issue. I hope Brubaker writes this title indefinitely because you know that as soon as he's off the book Marvel will bring back Steve Rogers from the dead.

MBoyd · 01-31-08, 11:46 AM

I havent been to a comic shop (do DCBS still) - did the media attention create a run on the issue like the Death issue?

slop101 · 01-31-08, 12:15 PM

Not really, because it wasn't a surprise like his death was. Retailers knew about this (the book had been building to this for months - no one was caught off-guard) and ordered appropriately, unlike the death issue, which no one expected and was severely under-ordered.

PalmerJoss · 01-31-08, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBoyd

I havent been to a comic shop (do DCBS still) - did the media attention create a run on the issue like the Death issue?

My LCS had stacks of copies, so I don't see anything like last years debacle happening.

Jackskeleton · 02-01-08, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fujishig

Hey, Thunderbird stayed dead (except for alternate reality stuff). Of course, Warpath is pretty much the same thing.

On the DC side, I don't think they ever really brought Barry Allen back, so that remains as one of the biggest deaths-that-stuck-so-far. And of course they didn't really bring the REAL Supergirl back.

I thought Peter David handled the issue pretty well when he had Siren react to Banshee's death in X-factor...

Barry's back. In the last arc of Justice League Legion came about to capture lightning in a rod, they brought back both Wally and Barry. Only Barry's stuck in a rod now.

ytrez · 02-01-08, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackskeleton

Only Barry's stuck in a rod now.

What?

Dai · 02-01-08, 11:17 AM

I'm just waiting for them to bring back Jean Grey.....AGAIN

zombiezilla · 02-01-08, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ytrez

What?

Better'n having a rod stuck in ya, I always say.

01-30-08, 09:20 AM	#2
Goldberg74 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 12,186	Here's the page... Spoiler: __________________ "WHAT DOES THE BEAN MEAN!?" - Kevin on The Office Wii Code: 5525 6439 1664 4091 Mario Kart Wii Code: 1504-6291-6391 (Mikey) My Countdown Counting down to: Going to Chi-Town! Living it up in the Windy City!

01-30-08, 10:10 AM	#3
Nick Danger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 10,365	The only character who stayed dead while I was reading superhero comics was Robin (Jason Todd). All the rest came back. __________________ Not-shopping is not a moral act at this time. --Sally Singer, Vogue Magazine (2/19/09)

01-30-08, 04:06 PM	#11
Goldberg74 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 12,186	Well, the character is coming back, but Steve Rogers is staying dead. ... and for the record, I hated Bucky then... and I still hate Bucky now. __________________ "WHAT DOES THE BEAN MEAN!?" - Kevin on The Office Wii Code: 5525 6439 1664 4091 Mario Kart Wii Code: 1504-6291-6391 (Mikey) My Countdown Counting down to: Going to Chi-Town! Living it up in the Windy City!

01-30-08, 04:31 PM	#13
Jackskeleton DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca. Posts: 51,903	US Agent is in Omage Flight, the new Alpha flight. I thought the issue was great. Passing the torch to Bucky was smooth and really, the whole run of captain america has been great even after steve died. Great job on ed's part. __________________ *OTHER FORUM TEAM 7 leader*I will not say them here nor there. I will not say them anywhere. I will not say those Words you twit. I will not, will not sayI quit! Leaving a dark wet stain where your brain used to be? weird..tv? The bank is worth the risk

01-30-08, 05:47 PM	#14
Patman DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Duluth, GA, USA Posts: 34,378	To me, it felt like we missed an issue between the last issue and this issue. __________________ PatCave; HT; DVDs; Dragon*Con 2009 According to DGibFen, I'm a "freaking genius." "Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there." - Roger Sterling

01-30-08, 11:59 AM	#7
slop101 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: in your mind Posts: 11,925	... and Gwen Stacey, unfortunately, turns out she's a whore.

01-30-08, 12:02 PM	#8
Chew DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 1999 Location: South of Titletown Posts: 15,826	Quesada was on Colbert last night talking about Captain America. Luckily, he didn't request Cap's shield be returned now that there's a new user for it.

01-30-08, 12:46 PM	#10
fujishig DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 8,887	Hey, Thunderbird stayed dead (except for alternate reality stuff). Of course, Warpath is pretty much the same thing. On the DC side, I don't think they ever really brought Barry Allen back, so that remains as one of the biggest deaths-that-stuck-so-far. And of course they didn't really bring the REAL Supergirl back. I thought Peter David handled the issue pretty well when he had Siren react to Banshee's death in X-factor...

01-30-08, 04:22 PM	#12
dadaluholla DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilmington, OH Posts: 5,274	Is John Walker (US Agent) still around? I am really enjoying the whole Bucky/Winter Soldier storyline, but I wouldn't mind seeing Brubaker bring the ol' psycho back to pitchfork a few more Watchdogs to death.

01-30-08, 07:39 PM	#15
Rogue588 DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: WAS looking for My Own Private Stuckeyville, but stuck in Liberty City (while missing Vice City) Posts: 15,082	I agree. But Brubaker still rocks. __________________ Marshall Mann: "What exactly is your beef with humanity?" Mary Shannon: "I have no beef with humanity. It's the people I can't stand." "I'm not a fan of facts. Facts can change all the time, but my opinion will never change." - Stephen Colbert \| owned \| desired \| ditchin' \| listen Wednesday 10p \|

01-31-08, 10:57 AM	#18
PalmerJoss DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Taxachusetts Posts: 2,316	Not a surprise at all that Bucky is the new Cap - Brubaker has clearly been setting him up to take over the mantle almost since he started writing the title. Even so, I still enjoyed the hell out of this issue. I hope Brubaker writes this title indefinitely because you know that as soon as he's off the book Marvel will bring back Steve Rogers from the dead. __________________ XBox Live Gamertag: AngryPanda27

01-31-08, 11:46 AM	#19
MBoyd DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Texas Posts: 2,405	I havent been to a comic shop (do DCBS still) - did the media attention create a run on the issue like the Death issue? __________________ HD-A1 DMP-BD30 HD-XA2 HD-A35 I started a Comic-Con Social Group! Join for meet-ups in San Diego!

01-31-08, 12:15 PM	#20
slop101 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: in your mind Posts: 11,925	Not really, because it wasn't a surprise like his death was. Retailers knew about this (the book had been building to this for months - no one was caught off-guard) and ordered appropriately, unlike the death issue, which no one expected and was severely under-ordered.

02-01-08, 11:17 AM	#24
Dai Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 286	I'm just waiting for them to bring back Jean Grey.....AGAIN