Penciler — Ron Garney
Inks — Bob Wiacek
Colors — Joe Rosas & Digital Cameleon
Letters — John Costanza
Editor — Matt Idelson
Editor in Chief — Bob Harras
What I thought .......
(Note: You may want to read my "Heroes Return" reviews first.)
This issue's premise: Steve Rodgers is returned to the "real" universe. (From the "pocket universe" to the "Marvel universe" as depicted in "Heroes Return.")
This issue stars Captain America who just suddenly showing up in a street in Japan. Unaware of the pocket universe, Cap thinks he was in New York only a few days ago. Cap doesn't have to look very far to find trouble. Japanese protesters are threatening bystanders with death to force the news media to carry their agenda. The protesters wish the abolishment of technology and the return of Japan to a simpler time — a time prior to World War II — a time without the influence of Western civilization.
Captain America, coincidentally, represents all that the protesters are against. And the potential violence is broken up by Cap. How humiliating!
The lead protestor thinks so, as does the protestor's backer, Lady Deathstrike. Of course, Lady D. takes the intrusion of Captain America as a threat to Japan's honor, and decides to retaliate personally. In addition, she sets it up so mass deaths of unwilling participants will help point the way to the cause of returning Japan to more "traditional, non-Western" values. Traditional values like suicide before disgrace — very honorable in traditional Japan.
Cap is alone except for his shield and his "Western" ideals. I won't give away the ending here — but this should be enough to give you the flavor of the story.
What I liked: I liked Waid's story — a good mix of simple and complex, cultural contrasts between West and East, and the final realization that Cap is an "everyman" who can be at home in any society. (And that no matter what society she's in, Lady D. is a loser — because she fails to have respect for human life!). The art was very good. Very high quality.
What I disliked: The story was a bit contrived (OK, it was VERY contrived, I said it), partly because of the fallout from "Heroes Return" and Cap's transition into the regular universe. And Lady Deathstrike as a villain — please! Excellent fit to the story, but not to be taken seriously. The only thing I disliked on the artwork was the cover. In the back of the book Garney goes through a long explanation on the development of the art on the cover, and what he was intending to show. I personally liked the sketch of his first effort better than the final selection.
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