I haven’t read Captain America regularly in quite some time, not since Ed Brubaker left. I tried issue #1 of the Rick Remender series (2012), but frankly, the whole concept behind the “Dimension Z” storyline left me cold. I considered buying it again when Cap returned to Earth, and again when he was aged, but at that time I was getting my Captain America fix via James Robinson’s Invaders and didn’t feel the need to buy Cap’s solo title.
I did buy issue #25, though, which introduced Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. Sam Wilson has always been a favorite character of mine, but I was ambivalent about him becoming Captain America. Granted, no one else is better suited for the role, but he is the Falcon (and it’s weird somehow seeing Captain America with wings). I didn’t follow Sam Wilson into his own series, though, because (again), I had no interest in the direction of the initial storyline (Steve and Sam have a difference of opinion and “break up”).
More recently I read the two issues that tied into the “Avengers: Standoff” crossover and really liked them. Sam and Steve have settled their differences, and the shield will remain in Sam’s possession. I have no problem with that decision; he’s earned it. (Although I do think the holographic shield from Mark Waid’s run would suit him better. I wonder what ever happened to that?) There’s also a new Falcon, and all of a sudden Captain America doesn’t look so out of place with wings when flying next to his partner who also has wings. What has happened to Redwing, though?
In anticipation of the new Steve Rogers series, the new Bucky series (Thunderbolts) and the continuation of the Sam Wilson series, I’ve started buying trade paperbacks of the Remender series. I intend to post my thoughts about those, as well as the new series, to this thread going forward.
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I am much of a similar mind to you it appears.
But I did pick up the All-New Captain America (Sam) first trade - in that one he's working with Steve's direction and with Nomad.
I liked that one.
I gotta tell you... when I started looking through recent issues of Captain America lately, I had almost no recollection of the plot of #25. I recently read the "Tomorrow Soldier" tpb (collecting #22-25), though, and it made a whole lot more sense (and proved that Iron Man is still as big a d*ck as ever).
Today I bought the first volume of "The New Captain America" (Sam Wilson), collecting issues #1-6.
The one thing I don't like about Sam with the shield is that it wouldn't be a little bit of trouble when he's flying with it on his arm, it would be a LOT of trouble. Imagine an airplane with a giant frisbee on one wing. It would be impossible.
Maybe they'll add some kind of weapon to his other hand to balance it, although that would make him look too much like a Hawkman copy.
It turns out that the tpb I bought last week (“All-New Captain America—Hydra Ascendant”) does not reprint the early issues of Sam Wilson: Captain America. The tpb I wanted is titled “Not My Captain America.” Apparently “All-New Captain America” reprints a five-issue limited series of the same name. I’m not sorry I bought it, but it’s not the one I wanted. (There’s also another mini-series collection titled “All-New Captain America: Fear Him.”) “Hydra Ascendant” is written by Rick Remender (the previous Cap writer) and “Not My Captain America” is written by Nick Spencer (the current one).
ASIDE: When I told Tracy the title of one collection was “Not My Captain America” she commented, “That’s rude,” but you know that’s exactly what a certain faction of people would be saying if Captain America were real.
I read all of “Hydra Ascendant” on Friday, and I’m about half way through “Not My Captain America.” There is some confusion in my mind about which of these occurs first; there is some contradiction. If I’m reading correctly, “Not My Cap” introduces the new Falcon. The new Falcon takes part in “Hydra Ascendant,” yet “Not My Cap” references “Hydra Ascendant.” Perhaps they occur simultaneously…? I’m not going to worry about it at this time. Here are my thoughts on what I’ve completed so far.
SPOILERS
HYDRA ASCENDANT: The first thing that occurred to me is that this series lacks a beginning. It seems to be continued from somewhere, but I’m not sure where. There’s definitely something missing after “Tomorrow Soldier”; perhaps what’s missing is “Not My Cap.” The “New Hydra” in this story comprises a loose affiliation of former Captain America foes I would refer to as “Not Necessarily Hydra.” There is a new Nomad, who appears to be Steve Rogers’ adopted son Ian from Dimension Z (which makes it increasing difficult to ignore that storyline).
Hydra’s plan is to use the blood of a young Inhuman named Lucas to spread a contagion that would sterilize all humans except Hydra agents who had been inoculated against it. (I don’t know how many Hydra agents there are, but it seems to me this action would seriously jeopardize the gene pool. I don’t think they’ve thought this plan through.)
Sam Wilson now has a relationship with Misty Knight, who is working for SHIELD. She drops the bombshell that Hydra has infiltrated all superhero teams with at least one mole on each team. Hydra has an invention called an “Infiite Elevator” which is a device that allows transport between physical planes. The panel-to-panel depiction of how this process works is unclear, however. I would give it an “A” in concept but a “D” in execution. There are two twists to what would otherwise be clichés which I will not spoil at this time. Oh, and Redwing is in this one, too. There is one final twist I will reveal: at the very end, Sam learns that Misty is not, in fact, working for SHIELD.
I don't know if there are any memorable Cap stories since Brubaker.
Well...Al Ewing's Captain America and Mighty Avengers was pretty good actually...but it's probably not what you're looking for
I have really enjoyed what I have read so far of Nick Spencer's Captain America (#1-2, 7-9). Not quite ready to post about those yet because I still have #3-6 in my possession but waiting to be read.
There is one "innovation" on currently display in the current "Captain America" series of titles I have never seen in a mainstream superhero comic book. In Sharon Carter, we are given a realistic depiction of a main character who is a woman in her middle 50s. I'm trying to think of other realistic portrayals of middle aged women and I'm drawing a blank.
To be honest, Sam shouldn't be able to fly in most situations. As I recall, his wings are glider wings, meaning that he should only be able to glide when he launches from some sort of altitude. Instead, he seemingly can take off from a standstill position. So in my mind carrying the shield while flying is just piling another ridiculous idea on something that's already preposterous.
Captain Comics said:
His wings have been redesigned so many times I figure he can take off from a standing position now. In one scene, two little jets of force are shown as he does so, What I can't buy is Redwing being able to catch a man in free fall. To paraphrase Monty Python, "A 10 pound bird can't carry a 150 pound man!"
Jeff of Earth-J said:
"Are you suggesting that super-heroes migrate?"
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