Captain America: Cold War Aftermath

Captain America: Symbol of Truth

by Tochi Onyebuchi, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly

The two Captains America return home to mourn their fallen. Back in Harlem with battle scars and a renewed sense of focus, Sam Wilson sets out to forge a new path - with Misty Knight by his side and a new shield in his hand! Meanwhile, Steve Rogers makes a final stand against the Outer Circle! Using information gathered from friends on the inside, Cap sets his sights on releasing the world from the Outer Circle's influence and ending the Century Game for good! A bold new direction for Sharon Carter! And in honor of 750 issues of CAPTAIN AMERICA, fan-favorite writers and superstar artists spin timeless tales of the Sentinel of Liberty! Collecting CAPTAIN SYMBOL OF TRUTH #14, CAPTAIN AMERICA (2023) #750 and CAPTAIN FINALE.

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2023

About the author

Tochi Onyebuchi is the author of Beasts Made of Night, its sequel Crown of Thunder, War Girls, and Riot Baby, published by Tor.com in January 2020. He has graduated from Yale University, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Columbia Law School, and L’institut d’études politiques with a Masters degree in Global Business Law.

His short fiction has appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Omenana, Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America, and elsewhere. His non-fiction has appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Nowhere Magazine, Tor.com and the Harvard Journal of African-American Public Policy. He is the winner of the Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African and has appeared in Locus Magazine's Recommended Reading list.

Born in Massachusetts and raised in Connecticut, Tochi is a consummate New Englander, preferring the way the tree leaves turn the color of fire on I-84 to mosquitoes and being able to boil eggs on pavement. He has worked in criminal justice, the tech industry, and immigration law, and prays every day for a new album from System of a Down.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars, but it deserved the round up rather than down. The only reason I would consider only giving it 3 stars is that I have not been collecting the Symbol of Truth series. So I don't know enough about Sam/Falcon as Captain America, from what I saw of him at the begining of the Sentinel of Liberty series and in the Cold War especially he seemed to be the more together/better Captain on the day. I just do not know enough about him to connect with his story.

The part of the book shows Sam is a great Captain America, but what about the man in the suit? What about Sam Wilson?

Then, a few short stories, Sam accepting a gift, Steve saying goodbye to an old friend, how both Sam and Steve inspire others as well as who inspires them, and finally, the Endgame.

A good book, leaving me wanting to see what is next for each Captain, their friends and families.thd book finishes with a varient cover gallery of issues 750, code book, and great letters from the writers.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A end to a solid run. The last issue of Sam's book is actually the strongest part of the 3 issues here. I did like Captain America 750 which showcase a real bookend to both Sam and Steve and worked well to close those storylines up. And then Captain America finale was good but you can tell was rushed. It felt like a 2-3 arc stuffed into one, and while entertaining, lacked the punch I had hoped for.

Overall though a very solid run, as most Captain America runs are.

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book officially ends the dual Captain America series that were running, and it sends them out strong. First is the final issue of Symbol of Truth, which is a very small scale and personal story about Sam and Joaquin recovering after the events of the series. I loved how personal it was and how it got into the characters. Then there was a milestone issue, Captain America #750. There were a several stories in this from a bunch of previous Captain America writers as well a story each from the writers of the duel titles. Tochi Onyebuchi finished up his Cap run where it started, by telling the story of Sam’s new shield and what inspired him to keep being Captain America. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing gave us a funeral that also set up the events of Captain America Finale. All of the other stories just served to remind us why we love Captain America and how a character like him has endured for so long. The highlights from the other stories were the Simone and Jurgens stories. Then we get Captain America Finale, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Carmen Carnero finishing their story. Steve and Bucky reunite, and finally take down the outer circle. It’s an epic battle told in small, personal segments. I liked it a lot, it was a satisfying conclusion to the story, even if it could have been a little longer. Carnero became a favorite artist of mine. I love how Cap is drawn always a little different from everyone else, it digs into that man out of time idea. I also love how she does movement and these very collage like environments that tell a story without words. This book ends a very fun and exciting era of Captain America, and it does it well.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but like I've said in my other reviews of the series, I just wasn't into this storyline. The problem with this volume was that it felt rushed. We had this long story taking place over several issues and slowly unfolding, and then it's like they just decided to end it and crammed a hasty ending into one comic. It felt like a TV show that had been running for years that got canceled, but the network gave them one final episode to wrap everything up, and the one episode just wasn't enough time to do it.

A bit of a disappointing ending.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aftermath is an accurate title in that this is clean-up material that's ultimately skippable. The odd part, though, is that I don't think it was intended to be skippable: the Century Game is actually concluded here, in bombastic, sped-up fashion. I guess I liked that bit, and Roger Aubrey's funeral with its many cameos.

But most of the book is determined to solidify Sam Wilson's place as the Captain America by hitting you over the head with the idea instead of, y'know, actually telling a fun, interesting story with Sam as Cap. Dull dull dull.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume collects the final issue of Sam Wilson's series, as well as the Captain America: Finale and Captain America #750 issues, all of which round off the last two Captain America series as much as possible.

I've mentioned a few times that I feel like these two runs have been cut unceremoniously short, but these oversized issues do go a long way towards tying things up neatly. The Finale issue brings the Century Game to a close, while Sam's final issue gives us some closure on he and Misty Knight, as well as his place in the world as Captain America. Meanwhile, Cap #750 is a nice capstone for everything, including a funeral for Roger Aubrey and a sign of what's to come for our Captains.

A solid conclusion, even if I still feel like there was a lot more to mine here. I'm really pleased with what we did get, at least.

[· · Rating 2 out of 5]

(5 October, 2025)

A bland story, OK art and a rushed ending, big whoop! A good start, with a melancholic reunion of past superheroes, soon takes a downward turn. The resolution of the Outer Circle arc is awful.

The unconnected stories, despite their appeal, distract from the storytelling, but there's a great message here: be the best version of yourself you can be, always. Bucky, for better or worse, gets it; Sam eventually understands he's a person first and then a symbol; and Steve - ahh, Steve - at long last, after years of fighting, knows who he truly is, stating:

"... I finally know myself."

which really means he accepts himself, as we all should.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty quick wrap up to the Cold War miniseries. The Outer Circle, by this time, had boxed themselves into a corner. Their chess game of politics and power? Nullified. This is the ENDGAME. Cap rallies the troops and they use everything they've learned to end the Outer Circle once and for all.
----
There's some really touching moments in this book. The story behind Sam's new shield was pretty powerful. Simple...but powerful. The wrap up between Falcon and Sam was also a nice little piece of caring. Seeing these characters support each other no matter what is a powerful thing.


Bonus: Destroyer, forever...
Bonus Bonus: You'll never fight alone. (Gets you right in the feels)

[Dallas Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finally get why Sam Wilson decided to be Captain America again!

This was a question that bothered me this whole run with how much of a huge conclusion to this identity to Sam we were given years and years ago! And yet how easily he hopped back into the Cap mantle without any qualms in "The United States of Captain America".

The explanations and explorations around Sam in here, including the celebration of his superhero career in #750 really made the volume for me!

Steve, Bucky, and Sharon fans can also eat well in this volume there are loads of conclusions for each of them here too. Lots of mourning in nearly every story, but some solid wholesome bits between.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels very much like a wrap-up of all recent things Cap, as well a retrospective on both Sam and Steve. We do get to see the funeral of Destroyer (Roger Aubrey), the new Destroyer (Sharon Carter), the reunite and rebond of Steve and Bucky, and the final takedown of The Outer Circle. We also see the origins of Sam's new shield.
Overall, if you enjoy Captain America as a character (either one) and have been reading the title recently, you should read this to finalize things before moving onto whatever title Marvel has in mind for Cap next.
Recommend.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one but didn't love it. I enjoyed seeing more about Sam and reading about his inner thoughts. I guess I just didn't like the different art styles. I'm really a big fan of
Carmen Carnero's art style. Glad things were resolved with the Outer Circle and oh my goodness Alpine is such a good cat.
Also, can we just appreciate Bucky's Revolution outfit WITH his hair down. Oh my god, incredible.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

For an ending that felt very rushed in the final issue, the preceding issues felt bloated. You could honestly not even read this and it wouldn't make much difference to what's came so far and where it's probably headed in J. Michael Straczynski's new run. This whole century game deal just wasn't very interesting to me.

[Sarospice · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two titles of Captain America made for a great run. Both Sam and Steve showed aspects of being this symbol and why everyone has ownership of this legacy. However, as I've said before, Steve Rogers is gay gay gay gay gay.... And this volume has about four moments where he says it without saying it. Time for a rainbow flag Captain America. Call me, Marvel.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A suitable finish to a run that was readable, generally unremarkable, but possessed enough glimmers of great storytelling to justify its own existence, with the conflict never being as interesting as when the heroes were fighting each other. I’m glad I read it, but I don’t believe I’d read it all again.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the things I love about Cap is that his real super power is his morality. This series certainly had that but, for me, he was fighting alongside too many characters who need to constantly be reminded of morality.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good graphic novel.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not with a bang, but a whimper. Pretty underwhelming end to the Century Game story arc.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a smidge rushed to conclusion…especially for planning a big long game.

I guess onto the next adventure.

[Gary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 330