Captain America, Vol. 2

Captain America (2011) (Collected Editions)

by Ed Brubaker (Writer), Alan Davis (Illustrator)

Cap struggles to find his faith while the new Hydra rises from the ashes and makes their first deadly moves! And what secret has Cap been keeping throughout Fear Itself? Superstar artist Alan Davis joins the all-star creative team as best-selling Cap writer Ed Brubaker brings you action-packed espionage in the Mighty Marvel Manner!

Collecting: Captain America 6-10

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

120 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2012

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

[Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a man of Captain America’s age is having some ‘performance issues’. heh…heh….

Steve Rogers is worried because during a recent fight with a super-baddie he was temporarily turned back into the scrawny weakling he was before taking the steroids super-soldier formula that transformed him into Captain America. Although he got his mojo back and beat the bad guy, Steve is now haunted by dreams in which he is reduced to his skinny former self.

Now these dreams of losing his power begin coming true as someone starts using Madbombs to turn ordinary New Yorkers into rioting mobs. The Falcon, Agent 13 and Tony Stark try to help Steve figure out what’s happening as they scramble to stop the wave of Madbombings.

Another solid effort in the Captain America series from Brubaker. My first exposure to Cap as a kid was when he was partnered up with The Falcon so I always like seeing him and Sam Wilson work together. It’s an entertaining story with decent artwork, but there isn’t much time spent on what becoming his former self does to Steve from a physiological perspective even though there is a theory that it’s self-doubt that is causing it. That seemed like a missed opportunity.

[Subham · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was alright I guess.

Cap is losing his serum thingy and we see Sharon doing something to MACHINESMITH and seeing what he knows about Cap's condition meanwhile he is dealing with the new Serpent squad and their madbomb and how he saves people, also Tony trying to find whats wrong with Cap and when they do, its an epic fight between Cap and these enemies and some awesome action plus whatever is going on with Queen Hydra and Bravo and their plans. Honestly this comic was a bit boring and like the least favorite thing of mine of Brubaker and it seems like a bit of a drag to read it and the art while good doesn't help that case. So yeah idk read it or not, upto you. Also some nice Hawkeye and Falcon action in here though.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cap has a nightmare where he regresses back to his pre-super soldier form - and then it happens in real life! And of course that’s when Hydra’s Serpent Squad choose to attack with madbombs - what’sa wimpy Steve Rogers gonna do?!

No aspect of this comic interested me in the least. Seeing Cap losing his muscles and then regaining them was a foregone conclusion and everything else - Serpent Squad robbing banks, madbombs causing people to riot uncontrollably, Machinesmith in the background acting like a cut-rate Ultron - was pure blah.

I’m also not a fan of Alan Davis’ art. I know some people really love his style and there isn’t anything technically wrong with it but whenever I see it, I know I’m seeing art from another era, ie. the 80s or early 90s, and it does nothing for me.

Similarly Ed Brubaker’s script is fine it’s just the story is completely and utterly unengaging. Captain America, Volume 2 was as close as I’ve come to feeling like I was asleep while reading!

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a let down with Steve McNiven leaving the title but I imagine he can't maintain a monthly schedule.

Cap is having more issues with his superpowers. Sharon Carter visits Machineman to try and get a cure. Hydra are back in action. Civilians are going insane and starting riots in the streets. Falcon gets a chance to shine as Cap is out of commission.

Overall it's good stuff but feels a bit generic.

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid volume.

I'm a sucker for the stories centered around Steve's unshakeable faith. The thing about Brubaker, he always likes to challenge that. In a good way, mind you. Here, we get a glimpse of the little guy: pre-serum Steve. Once again, Brubaker uses Cap's cast really well. There's a pretty solid cameo from my favorite Avenger, Iron Man. I love when writers remember that Steve and Tony are friends. Tony does everything in his power to help Steve out here. Hawkeye and Sam also have pretty great roles, as well. Sharon is here again, too.

The art is just spectacular. All the awards to Mr. Davis on this one.

A recommend if you're looking for a solid Cap book.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The same as the other comic book omnibuses I've been reading...in both good and bad ways.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid Cap book (although I liked Vol. 1 a little better) in which he's joined by Agent 13, Falcon, and Hawkeye in the non-stop action. I dig Brubaker's style.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story!!! I liked it a lot.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cap's super soldier powers become unstable just as the Serpent Society begins unleashing Madbombs across New York, prompting vicious riots.

There's nothing new about a story in which the hero's powers become unreliable and, frankly, this book does nothing new with it. Well, unless you consider it a metaphor for erectile dysfunction, I suppose.

Worse, this book brings back the Madbombs from a Jack Kirby story, that I absolutely hated when I read it, and adds nothing new to that terrible idea either.

On top of all that, very little is done to advance the main plot involving Queen Hydra and Codename: Bravo either. Only really Sharon Carter's mission had anything positive to add to the series and, to be fair, I did quite enjoy her sidequest here.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were a lot of things I really liked about this particular volume - even more so than the first volume in this series.

First: a character doubting himself. I always enjoy this not because we see Cap as "weak", but because Cap having a sort of identity crisis and struggle gives depth to his character, and makes his eventual comeback all the better.

Second: Iron Man/Tony Stark! Tony's tech always adds a cool science edge to the comics, and who minds seeing both Iron Man and Cap in the same comic?? But most of all, I absolutely love the dynamic between them. In the MCU movies, you see them disagreeing an awful lot except in the heat of battle; here, though, you get to see the close friendship that the movies lack. I really wish that element of their relationship was in the movies - and maybe after they finish the Civil War, it will be; who knows? I really like seeing them as friends instead of just "colleagues". There's a plate in here where Cap says, "you should've worked on THAT (i.e. the more global crisis at hand) instead of worrying about ME"; and Tony says, "yes... my priorities are All screwed up... I'll remember that next time". (First: love the typical Tony Stark smartass tone implied here, and second: obviously the smartass tone is used to sort of cover up 1) how much pressure he's under to figure out the tech and help Cap save the world, and 2) that what Cap said was, in Tony's mind, a dumbass thing to say - of course you take care of your friends first.) Love. It.

Third: we get a lot of Avengers cameos here - some scenes with just Hawkeye and Cap are cool - in addition to the return of a certain villain who will not be named. Falcon is throughout the comic, as well, and Beast is borrowed from the X-Men to come and help Tony figure out what's up with Cap. Sharon (i.e. Agent 13) gets a pretty badass section of her own, as well. And I have to say, as much as I love the tragic MCU Cap who isn't romantically involved with anyone else (which I do love, I do!!), it's kind of nice to see a woman in his life to help balance him out.

And, of course, who saves the day? Well, you'll just have to read it yourself. Let's just say, it figures. ; )

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic really makes it obvious how much the new Captain America comic has changed — that it’s now a superhero comic again, not the espionage comic that Brubaker wrote in the previous volume. The result is fast-paced and not particularly deep, but it’s well-done superheroism with a continuing nice supporting cast that has expanded to include many Avengers. Overall, a fun book though an overly quick read.

[J.M. (Joe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of holes in this storyline, and it was way too rushed. Hawkeye is treated like some afterthought sidekick and the whole plot of how Steve’s body is cut off from the Super Soldier serum is way too contrived. Sharon is the only real bright spot in this story arc, and yet Steve treats her like she’s just some mannequin to whine at rather than someone who risks her life yet again to save his dumb butt.

This would be a two-star read if I didn’t love Alan Davis so much (so it’s 2.5 rounded up)...and unfortunately this isn’t his best work by a long shot. His art looks rushed; he seems to try to kinda-sorta draw Clint in the person of Jeremy Renner too, but he just doesn’t quite pull it off.

Yeah, gotta say I’d been looking forward to reading this arc, and I’m a bit let down. Gotta love Cap, but this storyline is better off skimmed and mostly forgotten, aside from Sharon’s (and maybe Sam’s) part in it.

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had read all of the Brubaker Cap series but it turns out I missed the beginning. The Alan Davis art is always a highlight.

[Sik4 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. 404 scénario missing.

[Thomas Salerno · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rip-roaring Captain America adventure with all the fast-paced action and suspense of a Marvel summer blockbuster! Overall, a really fun read.

In this installment of the adventures of the star-spangled crusader, Captain America's perennial foes, the terrorist organization known as Hydra, have possession of a device that can induce mass hysteria and cause ordinary citizens to riot uncontrollably! To make matters worse, Cap's superhuman powers are on the fritz and he's plagued by self doubt. Obviously, since this is a superhero book, you know from the get-go that the timing is more than mere coincidence.

Brubaker handles exposition and backstory incredibly well here. Even though I've started reading at Volume 2 which builds upon and references previous stories that I have not read, I was not once left feeling lost or confused. I feel that if you have even a passing knowledge of Captain America, or have at least watched one of the two Captain America movies or the Avengers film, you will have very little problem following the narrative here.

I love how Brubaker makes excellent use of Cap's stellar supporting cast! Hawkeye, Falcon, and Agent 13 all get to see some action. Even Tony Stark and Beast make appearances!

The artwork is amazing! Great pencils and the colors pop right off the page. Can't praise the art enough.

All in all, first-rate superhero escapism for longtime fans and newcomers alike!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume of Ed Brubaker's relaunched Captain America series carries on straight from the end of the first volume, with Cap dealing with some very strange changes as his Super Soldier Serum keeps giving out, reducing him to a 98 pound weakling mid-battle. Plus, Hydra and the Serpent Society are out for blood, and they have Madbombs (which induce insanity in those around them) to back up their claims.

Drawing on the work Brubaker did in the Steve Rogers: Super Soldier mini-series, this second arc is enjoyable but over-long. A lot of time is spent on these Madbombs, but they don't seem to be anything other than a throwback to earlier Cap stories before Brubaker took hold of the book, and they don't add much to the plot. I think one less issue or so and this would have gotten a full five stars.

Alan Davis' artwork is superb, with a smooth, clean style that makes everything seem suitably superheroic and really highlighting the differences between Steve in his Captain America form and his prior state. It was going to be difficult to follow Steve McNiven on the book, but Davis manages easily.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume continued the storyline from the previous volume, and I had the same type of issues. This volume did seem slightly better to me, and it also had some ties to the old "Madbomb" story that Kirby did in Cap back in the 70s. Overall, still a little too much sci fi for a Captain America story to me, but I've certainly read worse. The Alan Davis art is great, as I've always been a fan of his art. Overall a good volume but still not one of the better Cap stories.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable comic. I really enjoy Ed Brubaker's Cap storyline. Who is Queen Hydra? Who are the Serpent Squad? I wouldn't want to be affected by a Madbomb. Those seem quite weird. I wonder what will happen to Machinesmith.

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder if when a comics creator writes a definitive run for a particular book that perhaps runs longer than it should, if said creator feels they need to avoid going to the well too much for certain hero vs. villain combinations when writing the title character or team. If a creative team writes Batman for instance it's almost a given that that team will write an arc featuring the Joker--it just wouldn't be fair to prevent that team from using Batman's most well known villain. However, when the run continues, how much Joker is too much Joker? I'm reminded of one of my favorite runs in comic history--John Byrne's run on The Fantastic Four, a book that is almost always associated with Doctor Doom. However, Byrne's run lasted for five years, but the high water mark is around Fantastic Four #260 where Doctor Doom "dies" during a battle between himself, Terrax the Tamer and the Silver Surfer. Late in his run, Byrne attempted to bring Doom back (if for nothing else to resolve a discrepancy where the "dead" Doom showed up in the original Secret Wars (the Jim Shooter one, not the Jonathan Hickman one.)) But the implementation of the Doom Returns story arc was poorly implemented and created messes for creative teams to come. Was this because Byrne was starting to get burned out with Fantastic Four? One can only speculate.

I bring this up, because in the previous volume Captain America by Ed Brubaker, Volume 1 , Brubaker introduces a new set of familiar but different villains that appear to be who are going to be the villains that will be the primary antagonists for Cap going into the end of Brubaker's run. The problem here is that the best of Brubaker's work on Captain America involved the Red Skull. One has to wonder when he began this last part of his run on Captain America (the title was started over at issue 1 in the previous volume) if Brubaker didn't seriously consider bringing the Skull back instead of the new version of Hydra and associated adversaries as introduced in the previous volume. However, Brubaker has demonstrated on his run on the various Cap titles that he has a reverence for what came before (almost to a fault) and as someone who attempted to clean up the Doom story himself perhaps he was trying to avoid going to the well one too many times and screwing things up in the process. Perhaps the coming volumes also featuring the Winter Soldier will allow him to wrap things up with the Skull as the primary adversary. That's probably the play I would make here, but maybe that's a little too obvious.

There are classic Captain America villains in this volume for the long time fans, but there is nothing about the leaders of the "new Hydra" in this volume for me that sets it apart from previous Hydra stories. Perhaps the coming volumes and the Winter Soldier series will provide some context that will make me view this volume in a better light than the output of someone, who as my friend Steve put it, seems to be running out of steam.

[Melissa Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first collection from this 2011-2012 series was a welcome return to Ed Brubaker's world of Captain America and his allies. This collection never felt like that, and was ultimately just OK. I didn't love the art and thought it undermined what was otherwise a welcome focus on Sharon Carter, who sometimes appeared with distracting and ridiculous Barbie proportions that are an unfortunate throwback to comics from not so long ago.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun plot, based in some old and new continuity. They mentioned old race riots and I think I've heard of that story, as well as this plot spinning out of the Steve Rogers Super soldier book by brubaker. The plot where Steve loses his powers has certainly been done before, but by purposefully referencing previous times they make something new out of it. Decent art, Alan Davis is a smooth artist. All in all, nothing too special but not bad.

[Casey Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it 3.5 Stars if I could. The illustrations are much better in this volume than some of the other Captain America volumes I've checked out, and you get the sense that there's a bigger story slowly being worked toward, but honestly the story and the pages is pretty mediocre. I just keep thinking myself, cap needs more and better villains

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Davis ART!
story is okay
Alan Davis Art!
Nuff said

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain America will still be Captain America even without his power.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story,can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that in this scope of issues Brubaker lost pace of stories and the power of feelings by main character.
First volume was the better.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic gave me pre-serum Steve and that's all I need. Oh, man, he's 100 pounds of piss and vinegar and I love every ounce of it.

Also, beginning to understand why Sharon Carter is awesome.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could watch Alan Davis draw forever.

[Jota Houses · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tras unos números iniciales decentes, la seri pierde los dibujantes buenos y comienza un descenso a la irrelevancia. Paso de comentar más.

[Dalton Wyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to have Steve’s powers fade away when he gets an adrenaline rush. Cool nanotech that even Tony Stark missed on an initial scan.