I’ll admit, I haven’t been keeping up with the two Captain America series currently being released. While I enjoyed the first few issues of each, I fell off regularly reading them, as there’s so much coming out and only so much time. But, I tried to keep up with a general idea of what’s going on. And, as expected, the two series have come together for a crossover event, “Cold War” which kicks off here with Captain America: Cold War Alpha.
Written by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Tochi Onyebuchi, the comic and event brings together plot lines from each series. Bucky Barnes is now the Outer Circle’s New Revolution. He’s now teamed up with the White Wolf who he has freed from prison. Steve Rogers’ adopted son, Ian, A.K.A. Nomad, is abducted which has him bringing together his friends and allies Sam Wilson, Sharon Carter, and Misty Knight to help figure out what’s going on. Steve thinks Bucky is still on his side but playing a game they can’t figure out, but what’s shown throws so much into question.
If you haven’t been reading things up to this point, you might be lost starting with Captain America: Cold War Alpha. The issue does what it can to catch readers up but there’s a lot to pack into one issue. The very basics are laid out and you can limp your way through the issue but it’s a tough read and it feels like you’ve come into a film a missed the first half hour. Still, there’s some solid action and the comic captures a good action vibe.
That’s helped by the art by Carlos Magno. With color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Joe Caramagna, the comic has a big screen picture vibe about it. The scenes are over the top, settings feel grand, and the action is on a pretty big scale. None of this comic feels small or intimate, this is a big swing for entertainment.
Captain America: Cold War Alpha has its moments and feels like a summer popcorn action film, but, it also feels like a story that you really need to know what has been going on before. The issue does what it can to catch readers up but it doesn’t quite nail that down and might leave readers even more confused. If Dimension Z or Ian are completely foreign to you, this is a kick off that might fall a bit flat.
Story: Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Tochi Onyebuchi Art: Carlos Magno
Letterer: Joe Caramagna Color: Guru-eFX
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
