Captain America #695 review: Marvel apologizes for the last two years

To say it’s been a rough year for Captain America is an understatement. Yet can an Eisner award-winning team save him?

Captain America #695

Writers: Mark Waid & Chris Samnee

Artist: Chris Samnee

Colorist: Matthew Wilson

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2017 has been quite a year. The world has been getting used to a new presidential administration, and tempers are flared. Even worse, certain forces representing vile philosophies and movements have emerged with great vigor. Every night on the TV news it seems like a new instance of organized hatred is on the march or staging an attack. Yet for the last two years, Captain America, the sentinel of liberty himself, has been secretly the leader of the fascist organization, HYDRA.

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Nick Spencer’s story, which climaxed in Secret Empire during the summer, got a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons. It led to the unfortunate feat of making Captain America pro-Nazi on co-creator Jack Kirby’s 100th birthday. Marvel editors had to literally insist that HYDRA were never intended to be inspired by Nazis and the last sixty years was a fever dream. Yet finally Secret Empire ended, the genuine Captain America returned, and all was right in the world again. Right?

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A Return to Old Glory!

To say that the subsequent run of Captain America had to be as inoffensive as possible is putting it bluntly. As a result, Marvel Comics have turned to an old scribe who’s worked on the franchise before, as well as his current artistic collaborators. Mark Waid had written Captain America from 1996-1999, which was a run interrupted and mangled by crossovers such as Onslaught, Heroes Reborn and Heroes Return. Yet now, Marvel has a chance to allow him a chance to redeem his hero!

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Much like Superman, Captain America more often than not represents the moral center of his universe. While this doesn’t mean he’s perfect, it does mean that his pursuits are always in the name of defending America’s ideals. Too many writers often look upon him and see something which needs fixing or sprucing. “He’s too corny,” naysayers say. Yet Mark Waid understands that he doesn’t have to break what isn’t broken. Instead, he executes Cap’s true character excellently.

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Coupled with a fresh “renumbering” adding up all previous issues, this debut issue covers several eras. It revisits the origin of Captain America, stating in no uncertain terms that Steve Rogers rights Nazis and fascism. Once the mood is set, it fast forwards to after World War II and when Captain America had just been thawed out in modern times. One of his first exploits in this new era was against a terrorist group called Rampart who invaded a police station in Nebraska.

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Of Fascists and Festivals!

Rampart were yet another incarnation of fascism, this time called “white supremacists.” Captain America manages to overcome ten-to-one odds, despite nobody knowing who he was. This includes two children who happened to be in the station on a field trip, Donna and Jacob. Separated from their teacher in the melee, Cap encourages Donna to protect the smaller Jacob with his personal decree. The large should protect the small, and that’s simply all there is to it.

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Fast forward a decade, and a more weary Steve Rogers is on the open road. He’s reclaimed both America and his mantle from a(nother) HYDRA impostor, yet his mission never ends. Rogers finds that Burlington, Nebraska has since been named “Captain America, Nebraska” in his honor. The town which likely houses less than 10,000 people holds an annual celebration in honor of their hero every year. It brings about tourists, cosplayers, fans, critics, and colorful merchandise.

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Thanks to recent events and the local festival, Steve Rogers attracts little attention even in civilian garb. People assume he’s simply another fan dressed as the hero. As such, Rogers explores the festival on his own terms. He has a fascinating debate with a hot dog vendor, who is part of a conspiracy who believes the “frozen in ice” origin was a government con job. Yet there are also testimonials from people who Cap has touched, from a fireman to a small boy, and then some.

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The Captain America We Know and Love!

As much as it seemed like Cap was there to check in on an old haunt or examine how the public sees him, it wasn’t his only motive. It seems like Rampart has returned, and has decided to choose the annual gala as their staging ground for a new attack. Yet Captain America is one step ahead, and is once again able to save the small town in Nebraska. However, as always Cap takes no glory, instead heralding the heroism of citizens around him. He reunites with Donna, and continues on.

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Mark Waid and artist/co-storyteller Chris Samnee tell a simple yet elegant tale. The pair seek to brush past the recent controversy and cynicism surrounding him, and return Cap to his roots. Both have utter faith in who Steve Rogers is and how appealing that alone is, and execute that in spades. Rogers is a humble man whose strength isn’t in his shield or being a super-soldier, but in his bravery and compassion. He can inspire everyone around him, and is the worst foe to tyrants.

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While there is a larger subplot regarding Rampart, that’s not what this tale is about. It is about redefining Captain America and showing that he doesn’t need to change with the times. It’s the times that should change with him. Celebrations or devoted followers are things which often embarrass him at worst or puzzle him at best. He genuinely believes a school teacher who tends to her kids in a crisis is just as heroic as he is, if not more so. Waid has a perfect voice for Rogers.

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A Hero Needed Now More Than Ever!

Chris Samnee, as always, produces a jaw-dropping and glorious issue. Colored by longtime collaborator Matthew Wilson, the pair amaze with scenes of Captain America in action. There is an elegance and graceful precision into how they depict Cap in action. And of course, they have a lot of fun with the shield, whether genuine or a prop imitation. Captain America’s colors are as vibrant as ever, as they should be. There are cute nods to other stuff, like Capt. Americat from Spider-Ham.

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Mark Waid and Chris Samnee won an Eisner award for their groundbreaking run on Daredevil. Their reunion on Black Widow was less successful, yet still incredibly interesting. This will be Waid’s second chance on Captain America, and this time he has one of the best artists in the business alongside him. Despite their incredible characters, there are times many writers and artists at Marvel take them for granted. Waid doesn’t with Cap, and it shows.

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Next: Glimpse how they handled Natasha from Black Widow #6

While Captain America has been in print at Marvel since 1941, the character doesn’t have as many heralded runs as other franchises, such as Spider-Man. In fact they’re so rare that the last major one was from writer Ed Brubaker, whose ideas seemed to inspire most of Cap’s recent films. Yet now may the time for a new legendary run for Marvel’s defender of the red, white, and blue. Waid and Samnee have produced a hopeful, feel-good first issue, and odds are high that it won’t be the last.