Captain America #38 Review

CAPTAIN AMERICA #38
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting

After all the hype and praise I gave this series last year, going so far as to name it my Best Ongoing Series of 2007, I'm really becoming disenfranchised with this book due to the incredibly slow burn Brubaker is employing ever since Bucky took over for Steve as Captain America. The story has completely stalled and it's like watching paint dry at this point. While this is the best paint I've ever watched dry, it's still extremely boring.

Yes, we're getting some action every other issue, but it consists of Bucky and/or Falcon beating up faceless AIM henchment or watching the villain get away. And all I can figure out about the Red Skull's master plan is that he wants to get his candidate elected president, which is not until November (not sure what the date is in the Marvel Universe, but I assume it would match up with our November). On top of that, it's been like that for months now.

However, there are signs of life here. The "Steve Rogers" that Sharon Carter found a few issues ago? Well, turns out he's the Grand Director, which several readers successfully guessed at in my comments. I was unfamiliar with his backstory, but the issue does a good job of summarizing who he is, what he did and what, ultimately, happened to him. For those curious, he was the 1950's Captain America that replaced Steve when he "died". He had a modified Super Soldier serum and Nomad was his "Bucky" during that time. Faustus eventually got a hold of him and turned him into the Director and tried to start a race war, which our Cap eventually stopped. But not before the Director had half his body burned. They didn't explain where he'd been or how he was "asleep" for all this time.

Obviously, Arnim Zola has been working on his restoration and Faustus is handling the reprogramming. He'll be playing the part of Steve Rogers and sowing more confusion among the populace. I imagine he'll openly back the 3rd Wing Party, the Red Skull's independant platform for his candidate, as well.

This lead to the requisite "breaking in" period for Bucky as he and Falcon attacked some AIM goons at an abandoned factory before Zola made his escape, leaving them with nothing but a burning building.

Verdict - Check It. Wait for a trade is probably the best advice. I'm flat out yawning after reading it. It's the same stuff with two steps forward, 3 steps back for story progression. We're exactly where we were six months ago and I'm left wanting more.

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