Captain America: Red Menace, Vol. 1

Captain America (2004) (Collected Editions) #3

by Ed Brubaker, Mike Perkins (Artist), Javier Pulido (Artist)

Fan-favorite creators Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting bring the most talked-about Captain America story in 40 years to a heartbreaking conclusion. Cap faces down his personal demons, in a hand-to-hand battle with the Winter Soldier. But he's not just fighting for victory, he's in a struggle for the heart and soul of everything he's ever cared about, and the results will send tragic echoes throughout his life for years to come.

Collecting: Captain America 15-17 & 65th Anniversary Special

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2006

About the author

Ed 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.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

" . . . The Red Skull claimed what he was seeking here held the secret to crushing the Allied forces, and we were to prevent that coming to pass, by any means necessary." -- Captain America

Here's the funny thing about Red Menace - I wasn't really enamored with the present-day storyline that comprises the initial two-thirds of the volume. At times it was a particularly brutal and sadistic (not to mention sort of thinly plotted) tale, but the saving grace here - and the only real reason I'm giving this volume a marginal 'good' rating - was the third act flashback called 'Secrets of Iron & Fire.' It featured Cap and Bucky, accompanied by Sgt. Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos (yes!!!), on a 'behind the enemy lines' WWII mission. It was a stylishly tight little adventure - featuring a different artist and coloring scheme than the rest of the volume, and quasi-reminiscent of the 60's-era Fury & Commando issues - that breathed some necessary life into an otherwise dreary book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, in my attempt to read all of Brubaker's run, I checked this out from the library the other day.
Yeah, I'd already read it, but I wanted to see what this volume contained.

Red Menace starts off with Crossbones trying to remind Sin that she's Red Skull's daughter.
She had been mind-wiped (or reprogrammed?) by S.H.I.E.L.D. to believe she was just a normal happy gal.
Of course, Crossbones idea of 'reminding' her includes a lot of punching and waterboarding.
But, hey, whatever works, right?
Eventually, she remembers who she is, and they embark on a cross-country killing spree.
Ahhhhh. Young Love....



Meanwhile, Captain America and Sharon are hot on the trail of the recently de-programmed Winter Soldier, Bucky.
The trail leads them to an idyllic small town, where nothing is what it seems. They find out that A.I.M. has an underground facility here, and secretly runs the town.
Then Cap gets Sharon drunk and...*Bow-Chica-Wow-Wow*
Fine. That's not quite how it happened, but the the question of whether Steve wears boxer or briefs is finally answered!



You're welcome, ladies.



Big Battle!
A.I.M. has been taken over by Sin & Crossbones, so Sharon, Cap, and S.H.I.E.L.D rush in to take those bastards out!
I just knew he wore boxers!

This volume ends with a flashback story that explains why Bucky was snooping around the town to start with.
It's a good story involving Nazis, a giant robot, Red Skull, the Howling Commandos, and a giiiiiirl.
Unfortunately, these were more innocent times, so we don't find out Bucky's preference for boxers or briefs...yet.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars. After having mixed feelings about the first story arc of Brubaker's run on Captain America (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Vol. 1 and Captain America: Winter Soldier, Vol. 2), I am happy to say that my man-love for Brubaker is back at full throttle. I thought this volume which begins the second story arc was terrific.

Cap is at his best when he is dealing with the worst villains and in Cap's world there are none more badassly vicious than CROSSBONES who is second only to the Red Skull himself as my favorite Cap villain. As a sweet, added bonus, we also get a healthy dose of the psycho murderous talents of SIN who is the only child of the aforementioned Red Skull.

The story begins shortly after Crossbones has broken out of a SHIELD facility where the good guys had been trying to reverse the brutal psychological conditioning Sin had received at the hands of dear old dad. It seems that the Skullster needs some work in the old parenting department. However, it turns out that Crossbones liked the old "psycho" Sin and uses some extreme methods to force Sin's original (evil) personality to emerge.

This is all just set up for the real story which I don't want to give away any spoilers beyond generally saying that the two "lovebirds" proceed to go on a vicious, murderous, but oh so excellent, rampage that reminded me a little of Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers . Of course this rather anti-social behavior quickly brings them into conflict with Cap for a little of the old "ass kickaroo."

Good solid writing, nice art and a gritty, interesting plot showcasing Cap doing what he does best. Looking forward to Volume 2. Recommended!!

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Brubaker could have almost two full issues without Captain American there after the comic being CALLED Captain America.

Saying that, it works for the most part. This gives a big look into Crossbones, a crazy piece of shit, and his new girlfriend Sin (Who is Red Skull's daughter). Together they begin their spree into murdering people and stealing shit. Getting Caps attention and doing horrible things. The 2nd half is Cap and his girl going off to find Bucky while also trying to stay on Crossbones trail.

This isn't as big and epic as Winter Solider storyline but it works in a lot of ways. Basically giving us a deep look into the villains as well as a more laid back Steve. The relationships are meshed well and show the contrast between a somewhat healthy one and an insane one. On top of that the ending build up is pretty great. The one off backstory is okay, not really that interesting, but for Bucky fans it's worth reading. A 3.5-4 out of 5.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really good!

It starts with the torture of Sin by Crossbones as he is trying to make her remember who she is and it's brutal for sure but I like the way it's done and then she comes back and they target AIM while Steve and Sharon are still looking for Bucky and well go after AIM and crossbones now and then we get a story in the 40s where Steve and Bucky team up with Howling Commandos and how they are targeting Skull in a place where he discovers some ancient automaton and its a great Bucky story and compliments the story in the present really well. The search for Bucky continues and their battle with Sin soon!

[The Lion's Share · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best volume so far in the omnibus.

What made it for me was the recap anniversary edition of how Bucky fell in love. It reminded me of the captain America white issues that have recently come out. Delicately handled with great character interaction and fantastic artwork. Some wonderful reminiscing.

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 65th Anniversary special was the best part of this volume.

I don't really like what was done with Syn. I'm... incredibly tired of female villains who are actually just being abused and manipulated by the men in their lives. It makes the female villain Coates gave us in his current run even more refreshing. If Syn had came into her own as a villain trying to fulfill her father's legacy all on her own, I would've been interesting. Not in her because, hello, still a nazi, but at least i wouldn't have had to watch her be beaten and slapped by Crossbones before jumping his bones (for some reason).

Anyway... yeah, the classic Cap and Bucky comic was great.

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok start. Didn't love the art but I say that about a lot of Marvel.

[Jaye Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This clapped ass. It begins with Crossbones torturing the Red Skull's daughter who has been brainwashed by SHIELD to forget who she is. His method works and then she knows her name, Sin, and they go on a murder spree together. So romantic. Sharon Carter gets a tip that the Winter Soldier was seen in a small town fighting something so Captain America and Sharon go to the small town but it isn't as it seems: AIM has a facility there.

Legit this was so good?? It was such small town murder mystery but on a bigger scale. The vibes were so good and I really like Steve and Sharon together. They are such a power couple & I love it. They got that will they / won't they energy for sure. But also my man is ready to DIE for his pal Bucky and that also fuels me.

This volume felt really short but the story was tied together very well. There was also the story of a mission back in the 40s that tied to why Bucky was in that town to begin with.

[Jasmine Cardona · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL I EVER READ!!!!!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not just the writing - after being away from this run of Brubaker's Captain America for a couple of years, I get to appreciate the art so much more now.

It's not just that the art looks realistic - there's a level of professionalism, taking great pains to get the inking, the colour shading just right - that sets a mood of dark and foreboding in this work. I *feel* so much more in these stories because I'm immersed in the scenes. Perhaps it's something like the use of black borders around letterboxed movies - same immersive effect.

The story is just as powerful as the first reading, and the silly 60s-style story at the end was fun but hardly essential to my enjoyment - was more like a suspense-builder to stretch out the time between big events.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues the Brubaker version of Cap, with Sin as Red Skull's daughter Red Menace, off on a killing spree across America. And Cap and ex-Sharon spend more time as a team together… So the storyline proceeds from Winter Soldier, and the writing and art are just a cut above most superhero comics, superior story, dialogue, surprises… I like his noir stuff better than his superhero stuff, just a personal choice, but what he did to contribute to superhero comics through this character and story isn't exaggerated. Worth checking out. I mean, Captain America is not a character I was remotely into, but because of Brubaker, I am going back and reading this, and liking it!

[Aarthika · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume was just okay, despite being short in length it actually felt like it took ages for me to get through it. Also I feel bad for Sin, and what she was put through.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love comics but sometimes they do some really stupid stuff. I mean, I get it. You try to create stories for characters that have been going on for decades. You’ve got be creative . . . but this?:

A Nazi madman has a daughter named “Sin” that he intentionally raises with hate and evil so she will be evil like him but her memory gets “wiped” so another super villain tortures her to remind her of who she is and then they go on love and mass murder road trip . . .

Ok, it’s still fun. Just don’t think too much about it.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

there's some weird steve/sharon stuff that happens in this one that i had completely forgotten about lol

[Trike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume unfolds like a murder mystery as Captain America and SHIELD follow up on reports of strange events hinting at deeper conspiracies. Going beyond the usual superhero fisticuffs, it has a bit of James Bond-style spycraft and romance. It's good enough to get me to read the next volume.

[Ryan Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly "meh" for a Brubaker story.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. It combines the new styles with the story, and acknowledges the old style with the flashbacks.

[Lloyd Dolberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun continuation in the saga of Captain America, A.K.A. Steve Rogers, and the Winter Soldier, A.K.A. Bucky Barnes.

The volume opens up with one of Cap's deadliest Rogues Gallery characters, Crossbones, breaking Red Skull's daughter, and only heir, Sinthia Schmidt, out of a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility where they had been working to "rehabilitate" her. At first, Sinthia has no memory of her past or any clue she's the daughter of Red Skull, but, after some brutal torture methods used by Crossbones, he is able to kickstart her brain back into remembering everything and she comes forward to him with the idea of "painting the world red". She then dons the moniker of SIN, and the two of them go on a blood lust fueled murder rampage across the Midwest very reminiscent of the film Natural Born Killers (but much more intense and violent).

Naturally, S.H.I.E.L.D. gets involved and sends Agent 13, A.K.A. Sharon Carter to try an intercept them in a small town in Iowa. Sharon broaches Steve with the idea of coming along with her (off the record, of course) and though Cap doesn't seem keen on the idea at first, he realizes that same town was the site of an explosion that many eyewitnesses claim involved Bucky. I won't say more than that on the subject as I don't want to give away spoilers, but it was a fun ride.

The second half of Vol 1 is set in Germany back in 1944 during WWII when Cap and Bucky were in their first years of conflicts with Red Skull. Dropping into enemy territory alongside Nick Fury and his team of commandos, The Howlers, their objective is to regroup with a band of local resistance fighters and figure out what Red Skull's interest in that particular area is. Again, I don't wish to give away spoilers so I'll leave it at that.

Overall, great writing and a fun continuation of the saga. I will say that I enjoyed the art style of the 1944 sequence a lot better than the other, but that's just a personal preference.

[Katlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

15: I found this Crossbones torturing Red Skull's daughter issue really hard to read. I get that it was necessary to the plot and a way to remind us how cruel Crossbones can be, but, man, it was not a fun 23 pages to read.

16 & 17: Solid issues. I appear to have missed some relevant information from some other series (mainly, where is Nick Fury, who is in charge of SHIELD, why people don't like Maria Hill. also, the new avengers are a thing. but maybe I'll jump back to all of that some other time.)

Anniversary special: I love the classic feel of this issue, and I love its connection to the current story more. like, I wouldn't have been mad if they just some unrelated Cap & Bucky WWII story as the anniversary, but the way it was tied to the hotel owner, why Bucky was in that random town, etc was great. I was annoyed with 19 year old 40s Bucky being like "no, you're a girl--you need my help even though I was literally shot yesterday" thing. so I don't know if I really buy that romance.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of this fairly brief arc centers around the activation of Sinthea Schmidt, the daughter of the Red Skull, who has been brainwashed by S.H.I.E.L.D. to believe she is an ordinary citizen. Crossbones, who is seeking to avenge the Red Skull after he was executed by the Winter Soldier, seeks out a Sinthea as a potential new ally. Torturing her into remembering that she is actually the supervillain known as "Sin", the duo now embark on a conscience0free killing spree. AIM is one of their targets, causing this clandestine villainous organization to turn to Cap and Agent 13 for help. While still an enjoyable enough arc, the main issue here is that the stronger story beats from the previous arc are hardly touched here. This volume also includes the 65th Anniversary Special issue, which was a rather forgettable story set in Cap's early days during the war but had some fantastic artwork from Marcos Martin and Javier Pulido.

[Arizona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

If it were another writer, I'd say there was a deliberate parallel being made between what the Russians did to Bucky and what SHIELD did to Sin, but I think Brubaker is just really into brainwashing. We all have our kinks tropes, I suppose.

There is a dark glee to the Crossbones and Sin stuff that makes it more fun to read than the rest. For all that people say Brubaker did for Steve, I don't think he ever made him a fun character to read about, and the Crossbones/Sin sections pick up the slack in that area.

I liked both the photorealistic art style in the main book and the Golden Age-inspired art in the anniversary special.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really just Winter Soldier Part 3. This is not a complaint, as Winter Soldier is my favorite of the Captain America series that I've read.

This volume is the same set of side characters and antagonists with a mild shift from chasing The Winter Soldier while also dealing with the new version of Red Skull to dealing with the new version of Red Skull while also chasing Winter Solider.

It's just a solid story about a set of characters I usually don't care that much about.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good volume, although not as good as the last volume. (Don't take that the wrong way, as the last volume was truly execptional.)

In this volume we see a team up between Crossbones and the Red Skull's daughter, Sin, as well as more backstory on Bucky/Winter Soldier. This seemed like a set up volume where the events will pay off later in the run. Art was good, but I do prefer Steve Epting's art paired with Brubaker.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossbones and the Red Skull's daughter go all Mickey and Mallory across the country. Cap and Sharon Carter go looking for Bucky and discover an AIM project that could be a problem down the road. Then we get a special WWII untold story for the 65th anniversary that's a lot of fun and ties into the ongoing story. Brubaker continues to knock it out of the park. Meanwhile, Mike Perkins does his best Steve Epting impersonation on art.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guess there's a difference between hoping and knowing

I'm getting used to Steve looking all Schwarzenegger, and the art is damn good, especially compared to the 65th art which was the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life, distractedly so, made it hard to read, ick

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of flash backs to the war. Good story with an Indiana Jones feel.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently Cap can run 60mph, Bucky had a secret war girlfriend, and they keep trying to make Cap/Sharon happen.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The World War II story made me so happy, mostly because it's Bucky being cocky and suave and I love him.

[abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5


This was fine. I’m just really over this story. I’ve been reading it for weeks. It’s good but it’s just so a hard story to binge, because it’s super repetitive