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Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #1-4
Captain America: Steve Rogers - Super Soldier
Originally a 90-pound weakling from New York City's Lower East Side, Steve Rogers was transformed into Captain America by the legendary Super-Soldier serum - shortly before the formula was lost, seemingly forever. But now, years later, the grandson of the treatment's creator has rediscovered the serum and plans to sell it to the highest bidder. Suddenly, Rogers is confronted with the possibility of a world overrun by Super-Soldiers, in which any despot willing to pony up the cash could have his very own unstoppable army. Can Rogers prevent the formula from changing hands before it's too late? Collecting STEVE ROGERS: SUPER-SOLDIER #1-4 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1.
152 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2011
7 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,800 books3,039 followersEd Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 27, 2022
This was an okayish read for sure.
So Steve is carrying out some mission where he learns that the grandson of Erskine is selling some porto version of super solider serum to US enemies and well he has to stop him but what he discovers is an old flame of his maybe alive and his new/old enemy Machinesmith pulling the strings of this whole thing and what he does next and how he stops this and the twists and turns with his super solider serum and despite that how he stops the threat of his foe and the love story.. the old wounds of people he knows come and go.. ahh you feel it <3
Its really well done and is fast paced and the best part about this book easily and I like how this leads into him becoming Cap again and establishes the threat of Shadow council once again and I like the art for sure, its really well done and accentuates the story! Next up: Cap vol 2 of brubaker!
PS- There is also a backup of the first Cap comics and its alright I guess.
So Steve is carrying out some mission where he learns that the grandson of Erskine is selling some porto version of super solider serum to US enemies and well he has to stop him but what he discovers is an old flame of his maybe alive and his new/old enemy Machinesmith pulling the strings of this whole thing and what he does next and how he stops this and the twists and turns with his super solider serum and despite that how he stops the threat of his foe and the love story.. the old wounds of people he knows come and go.. ahh you feel it <3
Its really well done and is fast paced and the best part about this book easily and I like how this leads into him becoming Cap again and establishes the threat of Shadow council once again and I like the art for sure, its really well done and accentuates the story! Next up: Cap vol 2 of brubaker!
PS- There is also a backup of the first Cap comics and its alright I guess.
December 31, 2018
This was fine. Honestly, what I liked the most was seeing how Steve works solo. He usually has at least one partner with him on his missions but, in this one, he did all the retcon and research on his own for the most part.
This was a short series and, it really doesn't seem to carry over into anything else except that this storyline is relived in Steve's nightmares in Captain America (2011).
Still, this was enjoyable enough, I suppose. Not quite a recommend from me.
This was a short series and, it really doesn't seem to carry over into anything else except that this storyline is relived in Steve's nightmares in Captain America (2011).
Still, this was enjoyable enough, I suppose. Not quite a recommend from me.
March 5, 2011
There’s a comic called Marvel Zombies where the superheroes of the Marvel universe have been re-imagined as flesh eating undead monsters. I don’t know why they bothered. It seems redundant to have a series dedicated solely to the characters being zombies when half of them have already come back from the dead in their regular comics.
I haven’t gotten to the story of how original Captain America, Steve Rogers, returned yet, but apparently he’s leaving the official Captain America name and outfit to his old partner who took over for him. Instead, Steve is operating under his own name with a new uniform in this series. But I’d be willing to bet a good chunk of money that Steve Rogers will be back in the traditional red, white and blue uniform by the time the Captain America: First Avenger movie comes out next summer.
Oh, Marvel and DC Comics, look how cynical you’ve made me.
Now that I’ve got the bitching out of my system, I can tell you that this is actually a damn good story. Ed Brubaker continues to be one of my favorite comic writers. While I’ve rolled my eyes at the idea of the ‘death’ of Captain America, the storyline has been the best stunt killing and resurrection of a major character that I‘ve read yet.
In this collection, Steve hears that the grandson of the man who invented the super soldier serum that turned him from a skinny weakling intoBarry Bonds Captain America has rediscovered the formula and plans to sell it to any nation with the cash. In this new role, Steve seems as much a spy as a flashy hero, and the story takes some surprising twists. Good artwork also helps deliver a fast and fun read for any comic fan.
I haven’t gotten to the story of how original Captain America, Steve Rogers, returned yet, but apparently he’s leaving the official Captain America name and outfit to his old partner who took over for him. Instead, Steve is operating under his own name with a new uniform in this series. But I’d be willing to bet a good chunk of money that Steve Rogers will be back in the traditional red, white and blue uniform by the time the Captain America: First Avenger movie comes out next summer.
Oh, Marvel and DC Comics, look how cynical you’ve made me.
Now that I’ve got the bitching out of my system, I can tell you that this is actually a damn good story. Ed Brubaker continues to be one of my favorite comic writers. While I’ve rolled my eyes at the idea of the ‘death’ of Captain America, the storyline has been the best stunt killing and resurrection of a major character that I‘ve read yet.
In this collection, Steve hears that the grandson of the man who invented the super soldier serum that turned him from a skinny weakling into
January 23, 2014
I have a soft spot approximately two miles wide for MCU Steve, before he gets the serum. It's probably something vaguely maternal about wanting to protect him, but either way, I think he's precious. There's a bit of that here, but not that much. It's a fun little story, even disconnected from the other stuff going on around it (like the issues of Steve's death/resurrection, Bucky as Cap), but it isn't very substantial. There were some bits of Cap canon that I wasn't aware of -- Anita Glass, mostly, but also the villain, Machinesmith.
It is fun to see Steve without his powers, to see that he's more than his powers, that what made Steve happened before he was ever injected with the serum. I love the "phantom" shield that they've drawn in, so it's clear he's using the same tactics he learnt as Cap. It just seems right.
This title definitely isn't a must, though.
It is fun to see Steve without his powers, to see that he's more than his powers, that what made Steve happened before he was ever injected with the serum. I love the "phantom" shield that they've drawn in, so it's clear he's using the same tactics he learnt as Cap. It just seems right.
This title definitely isn't a must, though.
March 5, 2024
This was a surprisingly good read, and the Dave Eaglesham art was some of the best I've seen from him.
The basic premise is the grandson of Professor Erskine, the original inventor of the super solider serum, has rediscovered the formula and is attempting to sell it on the black market to the highest bidder. However there's much more going on than meets the eye. We also get to see the return of the Machinesmith, not the best villain ever but very effective in this story.
This reads like a stand alone, but ends on a cliffhanger. If the ending was ever followed up on I either haven't read it or don't remember it, so for now it's just a cool single volume story. If you like reading about Steve Roger in his short lived "Super Soldier" persona, pick this one up for sure.
The basic premise is the grandson of Professor Erskine, the original inventor of the super solider serum, has rediscovered the formula and is attempting to sell it on the black market to the highest bidder. However there's much more going on than meets the eye. We also get to see the return of the Machinesmith, not the best villain ever but very effective in this story.
This reads like a stand alone, but ends on a cliffhanger. If the ending was ever followed up on I either haven't read it or don't remember it, so for now it's just a cool single volume story. If you like reading about Steve Roger in his short lived "Super Soldier" persona, pick this one up for sure.
February 1, 2024
We re-explore Steve Rogers origin and the meaning of the super serum that gave him powers.
The grandson of the original serum creator has gotten his hands on the formula and Rogers is worried he's making a league of super soldiers to sell to the highest terrorist group. So off he goes to Madripoor!
Along the journey Rogers loses his super powers but still proves to be capable without it.
For some unexplained reason his shield is now non-physical. It's just a hologram that he can make appear to stop bullets. I must have missed something but I thought Rogers dove head first into a volley of bullets... but then he blocks the bullets with his transparent shield that pops out of nowhere.
The grandson of the original serum creator has gotten his hands on the formula and Rogers is worried he's making a league of super soldiers to sell to the highest terrorist group. So off he goes to Madripoor!
Along the journey Rogers loses his super powers but still proves to be capable without it.
For some unexplained reason his shield is now non-physical. It's just a hologram that he can make appear to stop bullets. I must have missed something but I thought Rogers dove head first into a volley of bullets... but then he blocks the bullets with his transparent shield that pops out of nowhere.
January 7, 2023
So never been a CA fan, but I am a fan of Ed Brubaker as a writer, and he did this one just 'pulpy' enough to be fun read. :)
March 13, 2011
Writing starts off pretty cheesy - has Brubaker stretched himself too thin? Has he lost his edge? Doesn't get any better either. Villain is definitely C-list, doesn't even have me as worried as bad as a 60's Batman TV show villain. Art is good (better than I could ever draw) but looks cartooney not realistic. Prolly accounts for a little of the distance I feel from the story. Oh well, hope Brubaker finds his muse real soon.
February 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this. There was an interesting plot that seems to be wrapped up nicely in the end, but then is left open for more... The inclusion of the reprint of Captain America # 1 was great.
July 12, 2019
One of the issues I have had with reading Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America especially since
Captain America: Reborn
was that once Brubaker made it clear that it would be Bucky and not Steve Rogers carrying the mantle of Captain America, that it was obvious, at least to anyone who has been reading comics for more than a year, that eventually Steve Rogers would one day return as the Captain America.
Since Brubaker was content to continue this facade (and it was completely possible that Brubaker had no intention of letting Steve be Captain America again--unfortunately it was fait accompli that if Brubaker didn't do it himself, the next creative team would) he still had to deal with the fact that Steve Rogers was still running around out there and essentially was still a bad ass. Since in all likelihood Steve was going to return to being Cap, Brubaker (probably at the behest of Marvel editorial) had to remind us that the "real" Captain America was still running around out there.
As Cap stories go, this one is fairly boiler plate, but still focuses on Brubaker's desire to be faithful to the rich history of Cap by bringing back a classic Cap villain and linking some of the story back to Captain America's origins. The collection even goes so far to add a reprint of the Cap's original story from 1941, ostensibly to make a connection back to a woman from Cap's past, but really as filler because it's hard to justify a $20 price tag for a 4 issue trade paperback.
At the end of the collection there are some setups for stuff that will probably creep up once Steve is Captain America again, but that's just speculation on my part. As for those setups, some of them seem ripped from Captain America's existence in the Marvel Ultimate Universe, but there is a new twist on that old chestnut. It's the potential for what's down the road that makes this worth reading. Well that and the fact the Steve Rogers is indeed a bad ass.
Since Brubaker was content to continue this facade (and it was completely possible that Brubaker had no intention of letting Steve be Captain America again--unfortunately it was fait accompli that if Brubaker didn't do it himself, the next creative team would) he still had to deal with the fact that Steve Rogers was still running around out there and essentially was still a bad ass. Since in all likelihood Steve was going to return to being Cap, Brubaker (probably at the behest of Marvel editorial) had to remind us that the "real" Captain America was still running around out there.
As Cap stories go, this one is fairly boiler plate, but still focuses on Brubaker's desire to be faithful to the rich history of Cap by bringing back a classic Cap villain and linking some of the story back to Captain America's origins. The collection even goes so far to add a reprint of the Cap's original story from 1941, ostensibly to make a connection back to a woman from Cap's past, but really as filler because it's hard to justify a $20 price tag for a 4 issue trade paperback.
At the end of the collection there are some setups for stuff that will probably creep up once Steve is Captain America again, but that's just speculation on my part. As for those setups, some of them seem ripped from Captain America's existence in the Marvel Ultimate Universe, but there is a new twist on that old chestnut. It's the potential for what's down the road that makes this worth reading. Well that and the fact the Steve Rogers is indeed a bad ass.
July 25, 2022
Seguramente Ed Brubaker escribió este spin-off de la gloriosa Capitán América: Renacimiento (2009, Brubaker-Hitch), por presionaes editoriales porque, apriori, parece forzada, hasta innecesaria. No es un mal comic, el genio de Ed Brubaker casi que le impide escribir malas historias, pero carece de la calidad (muchas veces inalcanzable), de la seria de regular del Capitán América, a su cargo en aquella época. El asunto es que, tras la muerte del Capitán América, su lugar pasó a ocuparlo el reintegrado Bucky Barnes, a quien el Capitán (tras su renacimiento, así son los comics), no quiso privar de su momento de gloria, de modo que decide asumir un rol de espía secreto para S.H.I.E.L.D, con otro uniforme, y un escudo tecnológico y retractil (el escudo original, obvio, está en manos de Bucky). Su primera misión es investigar la repentina aparición de uno de los descendientes del profesor Eskine, el fenecido creador del suero del supersoldado. Se sospecha que ese descendiente ha descubierto la fórmulo del suero y quiere profitar con ella, algo que, naturalmente, no puede ser permitido. Pero ocurre que el descendiente sólo quería encontrar a Steve Rogers y usar el suero para el bien, y uno se pregunta ¿por qué sencillamente no intentó comunicarse con él? Como sea, hace su aparición un viejo villano del Capitán, y también un antiquísimo romance suyo, gesto típico de Brubaker, una de cuyas virtudes ha sido siempre su conocimiento minucioso de la historia del Capitán. El argumento queda abierto pues en las páginas finales se da a entender que otros sí han obtenido el suero del supersoldado. Hay que mencionar que el dibujo de Dale Eaglesham, aunque competente, queda incómodo -por convencional y luminoso-con la historia de misterio y detectives que siempre quiere narrar Brubaker, y a quien en Capitán América, la sere regular, acompañó de modo tan perfecto Steve Epting. En fin, no es un mal tomo, pero Brubaker no será recordado por él.
June 25, 2024
Okay, I'm completely sold. Ed Brubaker is the best writer working in comic books today. His writing is of such a caliber that I fear he may be poached away by more lucrative offers, i.e. television or movies.
Dale Eaglesham is an incredible artist, also one of the best in the industry today. He is clearly at the head of the pack of modern comic book artists. His detail, pacing and storytelling are superb. When you combine a great writer and a great artist, you get a work of art like this book. It's a pity that this was the extent of their collaboration for this title.
This series deals with Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, dealing with a black market version of the Super Soldier serum which gave him his powers. It reads like a cross between James Bond spy/espionage and a superhero title. My only gripe is that Steve/Cap uses a firearm. He never did in the past. It's really not a big deal, and it certainly makes a lot of sense, but I still dislike it nonetheless.
Dale Eaglesham is an incredible artist, also one of the best in the industry today. He is clearly at the head of the pack of modern comic book artists. His detail, pacing and storytelling are superb. When you combine a great writer and a great artist, you get a work of art like this book. It's a pity that this was the extent of their collaboration for this title.
This series deals with Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, dealing with a black market version of the Super Soldier serum which gave him his powers. It reads like a cross between James Bond spy/espionage and a superhero title. My only gripe is that Steve/Cap uses a firearm. He never did in the past. It's really not a big deal, and it certainly makes a lot of sense, but I still dislike it nonetheless.
July 6, 2019
Wow. We’ve moved from the days of 4 colour inking and jolly swell language to more contemporary expression. Fast paced and involved a sting followed by a counter sting as Rogers is lured into a plot to make super soldiers with retrieved super serum from the descendant of his earlier pharmacological team. Alas it’s a cure for cancer that is being harnessed by Machinesmith that uses tech to make a replica of a long lost flame. She in turn is overridden by Hank to make the ethereal super villain implode. But wait, there’s a final twist and it seems that Machinesmith May have only been a mechanised sacrificial lamb and Super Soldiers could again be on the menu. We’ll find out in due course. Quaint addendum of first section of 1941 Captain America comic on quality shiny paper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2018
I didn’t like this as much as I hoped I would. The premise definitely had promise for a story I would love: exploring Steve Rogers as a hero and good man before the serum. There is even a little de-serumed Steve, but it wasn’t explored as much as I would have wanted (it is fixed literally like two pages later). I can’t really articulate what about this execution didn’t quite work for me other than that I was disappointed.
May 6, 2019
Read this as part of my way of working through Brubaker’s run on Captain America. This is a cute, quick little story. With Cap, you expect a lot of callbacks to World War II. Brubaker LOVES to have things tie back to Steve’s time in the 1940’s and we get a lot of that here. The story is pretty interesting and Eaglesham’s art is good. It’s just weird this story acts like it was going to do something more but doesn’t go any further than this book.
November 28, 2019
The Steve Rogers story involving a lost love, supervillain Machinesmith and the super-soldier formula is pretty decent, except it's based on a nonsensical premise, that the formula has never worked on anyone but Steve. Um, no, there's Union Jack, Master Man, Warrior Woman, Victorious... so that's a big hand-wave.
But my real issue is that a third of this book is an unrelated crossover event in which Steve helps out the X-Men. It mostly reminds me why I don't read mutant books any more.
But my real issue is that a third of this book is an unrelated crossover event in which Steve helps out the X-Men. It mostly reminds me why I don't read mutant books any more.
January 31, 2019
Surprisingly good. Good art, I really liked how Steve was drawn. The plot was interesting, with spots that highlighted Steve emotions. It was good. Plus, now that I've read it, I realize it's so much more of a secret avengers story than a cap story, so I'll be slotting it into that bind instead.
October 13, 2023
In an era of throwback to try to bring Marvel out of the murk of the events laden 2000s and back into something more nostalgic, it doesn't get much throwback-ier than this. Compares incredibly unfavorably to Brubaker's other work with Steve, but there are some nice bits about "the core of Captain America" that I quite like.
July 21, 2017
I enjoyed the story, I wasn't a fan of the art style, but I still read on and finished it. I didn't know the previous story which was good because at least there wasn't any continuing story that I missed out on. Decent enough read.
September 10, 2019
I think I might like this a little more than I thought I would. It’s a fun little story and a nice reintroduction to Steve after Reborn.
And this also made Steve look like an absolute badass so I always like that.
And this also made Steve look like an absolute badass so I always like that.
February 28, 2020
When did Cap get the "digital" shield? He didn't mention anything about it and this is the first time I've seen it. This wasn't bad, but bad guys trying to use/copy the "super serum" seems to be kinda of overdone by now.
April 30, 2018
An interesting adventure starring Steve Rogers.
May 26, 2018
3.5, but I rounded up.
July 25, 2018
Fun comic, great art. Short but well done. Enjoyed how well it portrays the spirit of Captain America in such a short collection. Plus, love the added origin at the end.
January 7, 2021
Nice story with some really great art. Harkens back to old school Cap with some sharp twists and turns. Enjoy!
April 10, 2021
I'm not the biggest fan of the more cartoony art style but the story was fun and captivating nonetheless.
August 5, 2021
I liked it. Wondering where a sequel would be located.
May 28, 2025
Fun side story and interesting seeing Steve stripped of the Super Soldier Serum
August 12, 2013
What really makes Steve Rogers Captain America?
Some might say that it's not the crazy steroid stuff coursing through his veins, but his spirit.
I would probably say that the mega steroids that enhance every single aspect of his physicality probably have something to do with it. I mean, come on. Spider-Man without the spider bite? Daredevil without the toxic waste spill?
I have to say, it's always weird when superheroes do those Very Special Issues where they do things like tell kids not to take drugs. Sure, kids probably will just end up huffing paint out of a paper bag. But on the other hand, they may become one of the greatest heroes of all time. An icon! "I was a mild-mannered junior high student until I huffed paint out of a magical bag I found buried near the mall. Something in the Krylon spray paint must have activated the ancient magicks in that old bag, and when I inhaled I became...The Inhaler!"
How does Captain America tell kids not to do drugs? Doing drugs is the best thing that ever happened to him. And frankly, if he'd been straight edge, the Red Skull would have blown up America.
If'n you're looking for a good drug story, I have to recommend Batman: Venom (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...) Okay, it's not the greatest story ever written. But at the very least it makes a case for not using enhancing drugs. And I think I would have gotten more enjoyment out of this than all the stupid videos I watched in school, the ones where a multi-ethnic group of children, one of whom was most certainly in a wheelchair because this was the 90's, come across drugs and end up having all these negative effects.
Seriously, I think the goal of 90's parents was to scare the holy shit out of us when it came to drugs. Some guy would take a drug (almost always a pill because I guess they didn't want us to know how to actually consume drugs), turn into a complete moron, giggle, then fall into a chasm or accidentally launch a nuclear weapon or something. Seriously, watch this episode of Captain Planet to get an idea of what we were exposed to (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwDB20...). Especially enjoy the clothes that druggy kids wore. What appears to be a skull wearing a party hat? Oy.
Anyway, back to the book at hand. I think that I'm over comics where the main character loses his/her powers. It's kind of an old trick, and one that doesn't satisfy. Because when I read something called Steve Rogers: Super Soldier, I'm going to be let down when he is not a super soldier. Spider-Man 2? Why with the losing of the powers? I want to see a dude swinging around like crazy, not strolling in nerd journalist clothes.
So let's try something else. And if you want to scare me about drugs, here's an idea. Find the druggies in junior high right now. Take pictures, do a short interview. Then catch up with them every five years. When we see that most of the people who were getting stoned in junior high aren't dead because they tried to run through traffic, but instead they are managing a Red Robin and paying child support to a kid they never even wanted, that might help me think twice.
Some might say that it's not the crazy steroid stuff coursing through his veins, but his spirit.
I would probably say that the mega steroids that enhance every single aspect of his physicality probably have something to do with it. I mean, come on. Spider-Man without the spider bite? Daredevil without the toxic waste spill?
I have to say, it's always weird when superheroes do those Very Special Issues where they do things like tell kids not to take drugs. Sure, kids probably will just end up huffing paint out of a paper bag. But on the other hand, they may become one of the greatest heroes of all time. An icon! "I was a mild-mannered junior high student until I huffed paint out of a magical bag I found buried near the mall. Something in the Krylon spray paint must have activated the ancient magicks in that old bag, and when I inhaled I became...The Inhaler!"
How does Captain America tell kids not to do drugs? Doing drugs is the best thing that ever happened to him. And frankly, if he'd been straight edge, the Red Skull would have blown up America.
If'n you're looking for a good drug story, I have to recommend Batman: Venom (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...) Okay, it's not the greatest story ever written. But at the very least it makes a case for not using enhancing drugs. And I think I would have gotten more enjoyment out of this than all the stupid videos I watched in school, the ones where a multi-ethnic group of children, one of whom was most certainly in a wheelchair because this was the 90's, come across drugs and end up having all these negative effects.
Seriously, I think the goal of 90's parents was to scare the holy shit out of us when it came to drugs. Some guy would take a drug (almost always a pill because I guess they didn't want us to know how to actually consume drugs), turn into a complete moron, giggle, then fall into a chasm or accidentally launch a nuclear weapon or something. Seriously, watch this episode of Captain Planet to get an idea of what we were exposed to (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwDB20...). Especially enjoy the clothes that druggy kids wore. What appears to be a skull wearing a party hat? Oy.
Anyway, back to the book at hand. I think that I'm over comics where the main character loses his/her powers. It's kind of an old trick, and one that doesn't satisfy. Because when I read something called Steve Rogers: Super Soldier, I'm going to be let down when he is not a super soldier. Spider-Man 2? Why with the losing of the powers? I want to see a dude swinging around like crazy, not strolling in nerd journalist clothes.
So let's try something else. And if you want to scare me about drugs, here's an idea. Find the druggies in junior high right now. Take pictures, do a short interview. Then catch up with them every five years. When we see that most of the people who were getting stoned in junior high aren't dead because they tried to run through traffic, but instead they are managing a Red Robin and paying child support to a kid they never even wanted, that might help me think twice.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews