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Captain America (2012) (Collected Editions)
Captain America, Vol. 2: Castaway in Dimension Z, Book Two
Captain America has spent twelve years as a fugitive wandering the wasteland of Dimension Z, battling the Zola virus within him and travelling with a boy he has raised as his own. Now, the Sentinel of Liberty brings the fight back to Dimension Z's godlike oppressor Arnim Zola when Cap becomes the last remaining hope for the native species, the Phrox! A lone soldier waging a one-man crusade to stop the spread of Zola's consciousness in this world and his own, can Captain America turn the ti de in the odd war of this backward realm? Battling savage mutates, Zola's twisted Captain Zolandia, and even his own adopted son, Steve Rogers stares death in the face and makes the hardest decision of his life when he pays the deadly price...to escape from Dimension Z! COLLECTING: CAPTAIN AMERICA 6-10
136 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
August 31, 2015
Ok, that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
So, I've (accidentally) read this entire run out of order, starting with Iron Nail and then backing up to read Loose Nuke, and now finally I'm reading the Dimension Z stuff. Unfortunatelly, I'm still on a roll with the backwards thing, because I need to read part one of this Castaway story.
I'm gonna be honest, it may not happen. My library doesn't have it, which means I'd have to dig around in Marvel Unlimited, and...fuck it. It's too much effort for something I'm not terribly interested in.
Plus, I wasn't in love with the art...
Spoilers!
I'm doing you a favor if you don't want to read this.
The basic story is that Steve got trapped here in Dimension Z by Zola. He stole/saved Zola's son, and raised him as his own for 10 years.
This is where this book picks up.
Zola & his daughter Jet steal the kid back, and brainwash him into hating Steve.
Alright. Then they start up a machine that will take them to our world, and infect (not sure how this works) everyone on Earth with Zola's consciousness. I don't really get that part, but whatever.
So, Steve is trying to stop the machine, save Ian, save the inhabitants of Dimension Z (because Zola is melting them down and turning them into Super-Soldier zombies), and trying to get Jet to see that her dad is a bad person.
Unbelievably, he manages to get Jet to turn on her father with a few After School Special pep talks.
Anyhoo, Jet agrees to help Steve, and begins freeing the captured slaves.
Meanwhile, Ian is on a murderous rampage and attacks Captain America. Steve can't bring himself to fight his son, and gets his ass handed to himself pretty heartily by the kid.
Steve is begging him to remember who he is, and at the last minute, Ian breaks Zola's brainwashing.
But...
Sharon Carter picks that moment to pop into Dimension Z, sees Ian holding a gun over a battered Steve, and shoots him.
Really? I had a hard time buying that she would just shoot a kid without at least attempting to disarm him. Or shouting a Stop! or a Freeze! or something!?
Whatever.
Turns out, only a few minutes have passed for her since Steve disappeared from Earth. She believes Steve only thinks he's been here raising Ian for the last ten years, and hauls his ass up to go save the world from Zola's machine.
Jet has freed the prisoners, but starts having second thoughts when Sharon announces that she's planning on killing Zola. But Sharon is just so darn sweet and cuddly that she helps Jet understand it's for the best.
*rolls eyes*
You know, Sharon was in bitch-mode from the moment she stepped into this comic. I wasn't very sad to see her go, to be quite honest.
I mean, she shot a kid & yelled at a chick for not wanting to kill her dad.
Way to be, Agent Carter!
She did get a pretty badass death though.
Jet & Steve make it back through the portal to Earth, but when he tries to squeeze back through to Sharon & Ian, it looks like hundreds of years have passed.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
There's an epilogue thing that makes it sound like Zola may have overtaken Sharon's body (she's alive?!), and that Ian maybe didn't die when Sharon shot him in the neck and he fell into a pit of lava (seriously?!).
It could happen!
The end.
Eh. It was alright, and at least now I have a little more background for the newer volumes.
So, I've (accidentally) read this entire run out of order, starting with Iron Nail and then backing up to read Loose Nuke, and now finally I'm reading the Dimension Z stuff. Unfortunatelly, I'm still on a roll with the backwards thing, because I need to read part one of this Castaway story.
I'm gonna be honest, it may not happen. My library doesn't have it, which means I'd have to dig around in Marvel Unlimited, and...fuck it. It's too much effort for something I'm not terribly interested in.
Plus, I wasn't in love with the art...
Spoilers!
I'm doing you a favor if you don't want to read this.
The basic story is that Steve got trapped here in Dimension Z by Zola. He stole/saved Zola's son, and raised him as his own for 10 years.
This is where this book picks up.
Zola & his daughter Jet steal the kid back, and brainwash him into hating Steve.
Alright. Then they start up a machine that will take them to our world, and infect (not sure how this works) everyone on Earth with Zola's consciousness. I don't really get that part, but whatever.
So, Steve is trying to stop the machine, save Ian, save the inhabitants of Dimension Z (because Zola is melting them down and turning them into Super-Soldier zombies), and trying to get Jet to see that her dad is a bad person.
Unbelievably, he manages to get Jet to turn on her father with a few After School Special pep talks.
Anyhoo, Jet agrees to help Steve, and begins freeing the captured slaves.
Meanwhile, Ian is on a murderous rampage and attacks Captain America. Steve can't bring himself to fight his son, and gets his ass handed to himself pretty heartily by the kid.
Steve is begging him to remember who he is, and at the last minute, Ian breaks Zola's brainwashing.
But...
Sharon Carter picks that moment to pop into Dimension Z, sees Ian holding a gun over a battered Steve, and shoots him.
Really? I had a hard time buying that she would just shoot a kid without at least attempting to disarm him. Or shouting a Stop! or a Freeze! or something!?
Whatever.
Turns out, only a few minutes have passed for her since Steve disappeared from Earth. She believes Steve only thinks he's been here raising Ian for the last ten years, and hauls his ass up to go save the world from Zola's machine.
Jet has freed the prisoners, but starts having second thoughts when Sharon announces that she's planning on killing Zola. But Sharon is just so darn sweet and cuddly that she helps Jet understand it's for the best.
*rolls eyes*
You know, Sharon was in bitch-mode from the moment she stepped into this comic. I wasn't very sad to see her go, to be quite honest.
I mean, she shot a kid & yelled at a chick for not wanting to kill her dad.
Way to be, Agent Carter!
She did get a pretty badass death though.
Jet & Steve make it back through the portal to Earth, but when he tries to squeeze back through to Sharon & Ian, it looks like hundreds of years have passed.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
There's an epilogue thing that makes it sound like Zola may have overtaken Sharon's body (she's alive?!), and that Ian maybe didn't die when Sharon shot him in the neck and he fell into a pit of lava (seriously?!).
It could happen!
The end.
Eh. It was alright, and at least now I have a little more background for the newer volumes.
May 3, 2019
Honestly... this whole volume was just full of why?
I don't understand it except to say - I'm actually glad Marvel probably reined this in a bit because I read Deadly Class and I know how bad it could have gotten.
This is one of the darker Marvel books I've read and that's not a compliment in this case. Hey, why don't you fall in love with this kid and then watch the love of Steve's life shoot him in the throat? It doesn't matter that the kid comes back, Steve still saw that happen. He watched his girlfriend shoot his son in the throat. That's fucking horrible.
Then theres the sexualization of Jet (Jet Black, isn't that just the worst name?). The age difference between her an Ian didn't seem that big but then, 11 years later, she's basically drawn for fap material and Ian's this cute little boy. Again, it's clear men were in charge of this book. It's a shame because I look at how Nebula isn't sexualized at all in the Guardians films and this is essentially the same kind of character: a brainwashed daughter of a murderous villain that learns to be good. We didn't need her showering, her outfit that didn't protect any part of her body, or her wanting to fuck Captain America. None of that shit was necessary.
One of the worst things was having Captain America say his abusive, alcoholic father was a good man. Like, what a way to say "fuck you" to Sarah Rogers. Why? Just.... why? I don't give a shit if he donated a ton of money to an orphanage and save a box of puppies from a burning building: he put his hands on his wife and beat the hell out of her, he's a piece of shit. End of story.
Overall, this... just didn't have any the good points I liked in the first volume, aside from Steve loving his son. Everything else just reminded me why I sometimes hate reading books by male writers. Good god.
I don't understand it except to say - I'm actually glad Marvel probably reined this in a bit because I read Deadly Class and I know how bad it could have gotten.
This is one of the darker Marvel books I've read and that's not a compliment in this case. Hey, why don't you fall in love with this kid and then watch the love of Steve's life shoot him in the throat? It doesn't matter that the kid comes back, Steve still saw that happen. He watched his girlfriend shoot his son in the throat. That's fucking horrible.
Then theres the sexualization of Jet (Jet Black, isn't that just the worst name?). The age difference between her an Ian didn't seem that big but then, 11 years later, she's basically drawn for fap material and Ian's this cute little boy. Again, it's clear men were in charge of this book. It's a shame because I look at how Nebula isn't sexualized at all in the Guardians films and this is essentially the same kind of character: a brainwashed daughter of a murderous villain that learns to be good. We didn't need her showering, her outfit that didn't protect any part of her body, or her wanting to fuck Captain America. None of that shit was necessary.
One of the worst things was having Captain America say his abusive, alcoholic father was a good man. Like, what a way to say "fuck you" to Sarah Rogers. Why? Just.... why? I don't give a shit if he donated a ton of money to an orphanage and save a box of puppies from a burning building: he put his hands on his wife and beat the hell out of her, he's a piece of shit. End of story.
Overall, this... just didn't have any the good points I liked in the first volume, aside from Steve loving his son. Everything else just reminded me why I sometimes hate reading books by male writers. Good god.
June 4, 2016
Romita Jr's art is very specific, very much it's own style, and it takes some attitude adjustment to truly enjoy it. But in this book, at least at the beginning, it becomes something so much more.
Which comes down to White's very modern colouring. He does the digital painterly thing of soft curves, multiple layers and a blended palette, and it complements JRJr's work incredibly well - the added depth mutes all JRJr's distracting ragged edges and makes for something very easy on the eyes.
(Cap apparently lets the inner hippie finally come out, to provide a better example to his son than his hardened military ass)
I'm thinking this book is where Remender's therapy really started to take hold, because the hard-hearted characters had a total reversal change of heart after just one or two speeches from The Great Softie, Steve Rogers. Ugh. So tedious.
At least there's some great imagery:
And some horrifying slips of the pen:
(Or is this mutation a result of living in this alternate universe too long?)
In one of the recaps the editor describes Sharon Carter as "Cap's lover", and all I feel is the shudder that word will bring for the rest of my days:
There's some echoes of better sci-fi scattered throughout this book: I don't think Remender is intentionally cribbing from our collective pop culture, but it's a reflection of my ennui with this run by Remender that my brain is being reminded of things I enjoyed more - and feeling robbed in the process.
The battles rage, the war climaxes, and many die. The end.
Which comes down to White's very modern colouring. He does the digital painterly thing of soft curves, multiple layers and a blended palette, and it complements JRJr's work incredibly well - the added depth mutes all JRJr's distracting ragged edges and makes for something very easy on the eyes.
(Cap apparently lets the inner hippie finally come out, to provide a better example to his son than his hardened military ass)
I'm thinking this book is where Remender's therapy really started to take hold, because the hard-hearted characters had a total reversal change of heart after just one or two speeches from The Great Softie, Steve Rogers. Ugh. So tedious.
At least there's some great imagery:
And some horrifying slips of the pen:
(Or is this mutation a result of living in this alternate universe too long?)
In one of the recaps the editor describes Sharon Carter as "Cap's lover", and all I feel is the shudder that word will bring for the rest of my days:
There's some echoes of better sci-fi scattered throughout this book: I don't think Remender is intentionally cribbing from our collective pop culture, but it's a reflection of my ennui with this run by Remender that my brain is being reminded of things I enjoyed more - and feeling robbed in the process.
The battles rage, the war climaxes, and many die. The end.
October 12, 2020
Damn this second half was heart pounding badass and sad.
With his son taken from him steve uses everything he has to find Zola. While he's making his way to his son, his poor boy is being brainwashed by his father and somewhat sister. Though now his sister is starting to second guess Zola's true self. But when Zola begins the brainwashing it might be too much for the boy to handle and Steve might lose to time.
This is a brutal confrontation with a father who would do ANYTHING to get his son back. Inner monologue is amazing as Steve pushes his body well past his limits and it all makes sense. The intense showdown, the grief from loss, and the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everything works real well here to the point when a surprise guest comes in it gets even better.
While I really enjoyed the first half of Dimension Z, it's book 2 that elevates it to become one of the best stories for Cap. Sure the art can teeter on meh but overall, it works for this book. A 4.5 out of 5.
With his son taken from him steve uses everything he has to find Zola. While he's making his way to his son, his poor boy is being brainwashed by his father and somewhat sister. Though now his sister is starting to second guess Zola's true self. But when Zola begins the brainwashing it might be too much for the boy to handle and Steve might lose to time.
This is a brutal confrontation with a father who would do ANYTHING to get his son back. Inner monologue is amazing as Steve pushes his body well past his limits and it all makes sense. The intense showdown, the grief from loss, and the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everything works real well here to the point when a surprise guest comes in it gets even better.
While I really enjoyed the first half of Dimension Z, it's book 2 that elevates it to become one of the best stories for Cap. Sure the art can teeter on meh but overall, it works for this book. A 4.5 out of 5.
December 27, 2019
I can respect what the writer was going for here, but ultimately I found the story to be just too far out, and the blocky, acid-trippy art just reinforced that impression.
Also, as frequently seems the case, the final showdown sequence seemed underwritten, just a series of stylized panels and then...show's over, folks.
Also, as frequently seems the case, the final showdown sequence seemed underwritten, just a series of stylized panels and then...show's over, folks.
February 21, 2022
This one was really good!
It starts with Zola taking Ian back from Steve and well the heart of the father triumphing and him fighting to save his son and well Zola plans to invade earth now and has turned his base to a fortress and well he also brainwashes Ian and its cap vs his son until he wins him back only to lose him again, the coming of Sharon and well the heart-turning of Jet and seeing what she does now and the epic finale of the battle with Zola but victory doesn't come at zero cost as we see the consequences of it all and its sad and wow so full of emotion for Steve, its everything on the line! I loved the whole ending particularly and well things are gonna get more interesting going forward and as for the art it gets so much better with this volume!
It starts with Zola taking Ian back from Steve and well the heart of the father triumphing and him fighting to save his son and well Zola plans to invade earth now and has turned his base to a fortress and well he also brainwashes Ian and its cap vs his son until he wins him back only to lose him again, the coming of Sharon and well the heart-turning of Jet and seeing what she does now and the epic finale of the battle with Zola but victory doesn't come at zero cost as we see the consequences of it all and its sad and wow so full of emotion for Steve, its everything on the line! I loved the whole ending particularly and well things are gonna get more interesting going forward and as for the art it gets so much better with this volume!
July 10, 2014
Probably should have re-read volume 1 before reading volume 2. I'd forgotten a lot of what happened in Dimension Z, so it was hard to follow at times.
Remender writes a very different Captain America comic to Ed Brubaker. He kind of needs too, because if he tried to re-create what Brubaker did, fans wouldn't be interested. The problem is, I'm not very interested in a Captain America that isn't Brubakers Cap. It's more down to personal taste than Remenders writing.
The internal monologue is still there, but Remenders is mostly Steve reminiscing about his Father and remembering his father from when he was growing up, because he's dealing with being a father himself in Dimension Z.
What stood out to me the most though was John Romita Jrs artwork. I really like JrJr, because he did a lot of Spider-man stuff while I was reading it when growing up, so I'm used to seeing his style. Some people call it clunky, and criticise his facial expressions at times, and they're not entirely wrong to do so. But the power he injects into his work during actions scenes is amazing. You can feel the explosions as you're reading. Also - Dean Whites colours! They really help his art stand out here. JrJr is better suited to solo books than team books. His work here is better than what he did for Bendis on the Avengers.
Remender writes a very different Captain America comic to Ed Brubaker. He kind of needs too, because if he tried to re-create what Brubaker did, fans wouldn't be interested. The problem is, I'm not very interested in a Captain America that isn't Brubakers Cap. It's more down to personal taste than Remenders writing.
The internal monologue is still there, but Remenders is mostly Steve reminiscing about his Father and remembering his father from when he was growing up, because he's dealing with being a father himself in Dimension Z.
What stood out to me the most though was John Romita Jrs artwork. I really like JrJr, because he did a lot of Spider-man stuff while I was reading it when growing up, so I'm used to seeing his style. Some people call it clunky, and criticise his facial expressions at times, and they're not entirely wrong to do so. But the power he injects into his work during actions scenes is amazing. You can feel the explosions as you're reading. Also - Dean Whites colours! They really help his art stand out here. JrJr is better suited to solo books than team books. His work here is better than what he did for Bendis on the Avengers.
November 19, 2022
Oddly, I rate this book better than vol.1 for opposite reasons.
While the art is half-disappointing- namely JR Jr on a rough sketch spree, Janson, Palmer and White remain excellent- the intensity of the plot is particularly impressive.
Cap becomes some raw force of nature, standing up again and again against all odds and basic reason. His inner monologues are gripping and his indomitable will and goodness force respect.
I’m usually not a big admirer of Remender but I must say he nailed Cap to the core.
It’s intense action from beginning to end with heart-wrenching twists, something I did not expect when embarking on this weird journey in dimension Z.
While the art is half-disappointing- namely JR Jr on a rough sketch spree, Janson, Palmer and White remain excellent- the intensity of the plot is particularly impressive.
Cap becomes some raw force of nature, standing up again and again against all odds and basic reason. His inner monologues are gripping and his indomitable will and goodness force respect.
I’m usually not a big admirer of Remender but I must say he nailed Cap to the core.
It’s intense action from beginning to end with heart-wrenching twists, something I did not expect when embarking on this weird journey in dimension Z.
June 4, 2018
I really want to give Remender’s story four stars because it’s pretty good, maybe a little fast-paced, however, this was the climactic finale of the Dimension Z arc, so it's a little better than a straight three stars (3.5, I think). The thing though...John Romita Jr scribbled this stuff like he drew it in a week, man. I was never a big fan of JR Jr’s art to begin with even though I feel quite a bit of nostalgia that supplements it going back to ‘80s X-Men and Spidey days, but some of these panels and pages are downright yikes.
Still, I enjoyed the storyline, especially after Brubaker’s decline. I’m looking forward to the next arc with Carlos Pacheco taking over the artwork and seeing how Steve recovers from
Still, I enjoyed the storyline, especially after Brubaker’s decline. I’m looking forward to the next arc with Carlos Pacheco taking over the artwork and seeing how Steve recovers from
December 5, 2015
So Marvel Now killed Wolverine (again...), and now this????
Please someone call back Brubaker and please someone else stop Romita Jr from drawing again...
Please someone call back Brubaker and please someone else stop Romita Jr from drawing again...
March 22, 2016
Shit gets a little Cronenberg, which is cool, but it's not the right amount. Maybe too Cronenberg, maybe not enough. Hard to say.
Also, Dimension Z is not the same as Section Z, the NES game I convinced my dad to buy by saying I'd played it before and it was awesome. It's not awesome. It's hard and confusing as fuck. Although the opening animation is cool, and the music is sweet.
My review of this series mostly has to do with what Dimension Z isn't. Know this: Dimension Z blows, and you can end up there if you get on the wrong subway.
Also, Dimension Z is not the same as Section Z, the NES game I convinced my dad to buy by saying I'd played it before and it was awesome. It's not awesome. It's hard and confusing as fuck. Although the opening animation is cool, and the music is sweet.
My review of this series mostly has to do with what Dimension Z isn't. Know this: Dimension Z blows, and you can end up there if you get on the wrong subway.
January 19, 2023
This was a lot better than the first part.
March 8, 2014
Oh, how I love your work, Remender, but come on, how much physical punishment can one character take, before it just isn't believable anymore?
I am probably giving away a slight spoiler here, but the majority of this trade is Cap being beaten, brutally in a series of fights. That really is the bulk of this volume. There is the twist at the end, involving how long Cap has been in Dimension Z, that I think everyone saw coming, since the beginning of this arc, and then there is one twist that makes you wonder what they are planning in the Captain America editor's office.
So, why do I give it a four? Because, John Romita, Jr. seems to be an expert in drawing brutal violence. I would much rather have him draw severed heads and stabbings for Rick Remender, than draw a single issue more of Kick-Ass. Also, the narration by Cap is fantastic. No one seems to write a narration of a character suffering better than Rick Remender. He really is a masochist when it comes to the treatment of his main characters.
I am probably giving away a slight spoiler here, but the majority of this trade is Cap being beaten, brutally in a series of fights. That really is the bulk of this volume. There is the twist at the end, involving how long Cap has been in Dimension Z, that I think everyone saw coming, since the beginning of this arc, and then there is one twist that makes you wonder what they are planning in the Captain America editor's office.
So, why do I give it a four? Because, John Romita, Jr. seems to be an expert in drawing brutal violence. I would much rather have him draw severed heads and stabbings for Rick Remender, than draw a single issue more of Kick-Ass. Also, the narration by Cap is fantastic. No one seems to write a narration of a character suffering better than Rick Remender. He really is a masochist when it comes to the treatment of his main characters.
April 4, 2014
I think this is one of those cases where the idea was better than the actual execution.
I liked the idea of a pulp/sci-fi adventure with Cap, unfortunately while I was reading this one I was just hoping that it would be over quickly and we could move on to the next adventure.
This whole TPB just felt like Cap was taking a beating the entire time and mumbling his way through the story.
I love Remender's work... But these first two trades that opened up this new chapter in Captain America's history were fairly lackluster.
I only hope it gets better.
January 15, 2015
Poor Sharon. So Ian survived? I wonder what will happen to Jet and see if she will able to adjust to Earth. Hope Steve will be okay.
June 23, 2017
Hmm...kinda lost the plot. Not a cap book anymore, a SciFi Remender book,which is fun, but also starts to go fairly mainstream boring after a bit...
May 30, 2018
While I'm a fan of Cap I really didn't like volume 1 of this new series written by fan favorite Rick Remender and workhorse artist John Romita, Jr. I still don't like Romita's art for this book, or at least this story, though it seems to be a bit cleaner with more attention given to faces this time around over volume 1. But I'll admit that this story arc's (welcome) end does manage to carry a bit of emotional weight (I am still not liking this arc, and had given volume 1 a two star rating) and so is raised a notch.
Volume 2 here concludes the "Castaway In Dimension Z" storyline where Cap is flung into a world created and ruled by Arnim Zola. Zola has children here, a boy whom Cap saved and adopted as his own and a daughter who was raised under her cruel father's filters. Cap suffers a great deal in surviving this odd and brutal dimension and Remender uses this to show his fighting spirit and indomitable will though tempered by doubts that any normal person would have. There are a couple of surprises at book's end, and they're warranted by the story, but I'll be glad to see Cap get back home.
Volume 2 here concludes the "Castaway In Dimension Z" storyline where Cap is flung into a world created and ruled by Arnim Zola. Zola has children here, a boy whom Cap saved and adopted as his own and a daughter who was raised under her cruel father's filters. Cap suffers a great deal in surviving this odd and brutal dimension and Remender uses this to show his fighting spirit and indomitable will though tempered by doubts that any normal person would have. There are a couple of surprises at book's end, and they're warranted by the story, but I'll be glad to see Cap get back home.
September 30, 2014
Sadly, Remender's Captain America still fails to grab me. I found this volume sufficiently dull that I skimmed fair amounts of it.
The biggest problem is that his characters are entirely subservient to the plot. Both kids undergo suddenly and unlikely changes of heart that are never entirely believable, while Sharon Carter serves as the crux of two major plot points, neither of which is believable either (especially not the first one, in issue #8). The result is that I increasingly didn't care about the story because Remender didn't really earn any of it.
The biggest problem is that his characters are entirely subservient to the plot. Both kids undergo suddenly and unlikely changes of heart that are never entirely believable, while Sharon Carter serves as the crux of two major plot points, neither of which is believable either (especially not the first one, in issue #8). The result is that I increasingly didn't care about the story because Remender didn't really earn any of it.
June 3, 2014
I don't know how I feel about the ending, since I just finished it, but there are a couple of moments, namely the end of issue #8 that hit me harder than I've ever been hit from something I read in a comic book.
This, to me, signifies a high watermark for comics as they've moved on from a decades-long past where emotional and cerebral moments came less often than "fight and retreat" narratives and endless deus ex machinae did.
This, to me, signifies a high watermark for comics as they've moved on from a decades-long past where emotional and cerebral moments came less often than "fight and retreat" narratives and endless deus ex machinae did.
June 25, 2016
Like the first volume, I found myself torn about this one. It's really a good read, and the art is above average. But the story is just so weird, I find myself unable to truly get into it. However, there is some very strong characterization, and a deeper story than the surface weirdness would indicate. There's also a few things I'm confused about which will hopefully be answered in the next volume.
Overall, not a bad storyline, and probably worth reading if you're a Captain America fan.
Overall, not a bad storyline, and probably worth reading if you're a Captain America fan.
October 25, 2014
Another good book from Remender. Captain America gets the crap kicked out of him but never sacrifices his morals. Dimension z was a good tale and I enjoyed all the Ian, jet, Zola story telling. I'm knocking it 1 star because although I liked the art it gets sloppy a lot in the pencil work.
November 27, 2013
An ok ending to the story. A little clichéd. The story went on far too long too. I am a long time Cap fan but this series is headed downhill quickly.
March 31, 2014
This story was flippin' Awesome!
Fantastic art by Romita Jr.
I cannot believe that a Captain America book was so dark and amazing!
Fantastic art by Romita Jr.
I cannot believe that a Captain America book was so dark and amazing!
June 28, 2014
One of the weirdest, yet also most powerful and moving stories I've read in a long time. This is really quite beautiful...
April 3, 2021
Captain America: Castaway in Dimension Z - Book 2. A continuation of my Captain America by Rick Remender revisit.
If you haven’t read volume 1 of this story you will be pretty lost here as it is the concluding part. The artwork is still by John Romita Jr. so if his blocky art style isn’t your thing this work change your mind.
Cap is still wandering and surviving the wastelands of Zola’s Dimension Z. Trying to raise his adopted son. This is a pretty action packed volume, but it also does feel like it’s in a rush to get to the end of this story arc.
We have Cap fighting Zola’s twisted mutate creations , including Zola’s take on Captain America with Captain Zolandia. Fighting Zola’s daughter Jet Black, along with Zola himself.
There is an unexpected character and couple twists associated with that character. But I wasn’t sold on how they appeared or their actions. It did seem out of character.
Like the previous volume I find this hard to recommend for those that are new to Captain America. It does however wrap up the Castaway in Dimension Z storyline.
If you haven’t read volume 1 of this story you will be pretty lost here as it is the concluding part. The artwork is still by John Romita Jr. so if his blocky art style isn’t your thing this work change your mind.
Cap is still wandering and surviving the wastelands of Zola’s Dimension Z. Trying to raise his adopted son. This is a pretty action packed volume, but it also does feel like it’s in a rush to get to the end of this story arc.
We have Cap fighting Zola’s twisted mutate creations , including Zola’s take on Captain America with Captain Zolandia. Fighting Zola’s daughter Jet Black, along with Zola himself.
There is an unexpected character and couple twists associated with that character. But I wasn’t sold on how they appeared or their actions. It did seem out of character.
Like the previous volume I find this hard to recommend for those that are new to Captain America. It does however wrap up the Castaway in Dimension Z storyline.
March 2, 2025
A couple chapters deal with the idea of nature versus nurture with Steve attempting to rescue Dr Zola’s children. This is mildly interesting. When Sharon appears, her claim that Steve’s been missing for minutes instead of years is confusing. My confusion is compounded by the epilogue. Was Steve in Zolandia for a long time, or was he under the influence of Zola’s mind altering techniques? Lastly, I’m not a fan of the art.
February 15, 2020
Fun, heartfelt, weird and overly long arc.
March 8, 2017
"Father, forgive me. For my sins are many."
After being captured by Arnim Zola's cronies inside Dimension Z, Steve Rogers is separated from the little boy (stolen from Zola's lab over a decade ago) he raised as his own.
Once the bioterrorist gets his son back, he's determined to undo Captain America's 'brainwashing'.
"You are not the first child this brutal thug has abducted and brainwashed. The first boy, Bucky, Steve trained him to fight-- TO KILL-- as he did you, Ian."
Dimension Z is crumbling under their feet. The city transforms into Battle Station Zola, and is set on course for our dimension.
Zola plans to plant his poison where he meant to all along, before the pesky First Avenger got in his way.
Earth.
Turning Zola's daughter, warrior princess Jet Black, traitor against her father, and the woman he though he'd lost forever returning to save his life, Captain America just might be able to save his son and himself.
But-
"Whatever you THINK happened, whatever you THINK is going on-- It's ALL a LIE."
Volume 1 of this series blew me away. I wrote a glowing review of it, gave it four shiny stars, even promised to continue.
But volume 2 just...
Deflated.
The story was solid enough, and Steve's character is still good, but it all felt rushed, like Remender didn't have time to explain what he wanted to happen or something.
Also, the, uh, unpatriotic(?) rant between Ian and Steve came the frak outta nowhere. Whose idea was that?
This next rant is sorta spoilery, but, I hate what they're doing with Nomad.
the evolutions of superheroes have been changed before, but this just feels straight-up bastardized.
No.
Just...
No.
So, this was a lackluster, slightly disappointing end to the Dimension Z arc, but I do still want to continue this run on Cap. Remender is a good author, his one-off on the Winter Soldier and shining gift to the comic world, Deadly Class, have convinced me of that.
Fingers crossed, but I will be reading volume 3. This artist doesn't return, which I hate, but I'm all about the Iron Nail, so I can't really be expected to ignore Loose Nuke.
My interest in HYDRA Ascendant hangs in the balance, though...
Art specs
It doesn't get any better.
Drool.
Drool.
DROOL.
John Romita Jr. was my first favorite comic book artist, and he's yet to be dethroned.
His work on this series was fantastic.
It will be missed in volume 3.
After being captured by Arnim Zola's cronies inside Dimension Z, Steve Rogers is separated from the little boy (stolen from Zola's lab over a decade ago) he raised as his own.
Once the bioterrorist gets his son back, he's determined to undo Captain America's 'brainwashing'.
"You are not the first child this brutal thug has abducted and brainwashed. The first boy, Bucky, Steve trained him to fight-- TO KILL-- as he did you, Ian."
Dimension Z is crumbling under their feet. The city transforms into Battle Station Zola, and is set on course for our dimension.
Zola plans to plant his poison where he meant to all along, before the pesky First Avenger got in his way.
Earth.
Turning Zola's daughter, warrior princess Jet Black, traitor against her father, and the woman he though he'd lost forever returning to save his life, Captain America just might be able to save his son and himself.
But-
"Whatever you THINK happened, whatever you THINK is going on-- It's ALL a LIE."
Volume 1 of this series blew me away. I wrote a glowing review of it, gave it four shiny stars, even promised to continue.
But volume 2 just...
Deflated.
The story was solid enough, and Steve's character is still good, but it all felt rushed, like Remender didn't have time to explain what he wanted to happen or something.
Also, the, uh, unpatriotic(?) rant between Ian and Steve came the frak outta nowhere. Whose idea was that?
This next rant is sorta spoilery, but, I hate what they're doing with Nomad.
the evolutions of superheroes have been changed before, but this just feels straight-up bastardized.
No.
Just...
No.
So, this was a lackluster, slightly disappointing end to the Dimension Z arc, but I do still want to continue this run on Cap. Remender is a good author, his one-off on the Winter Soldier and shining gift to the comic world, Deadly Class, have convinced me of that.
Fingers crossed, but I will be reading volume 3. This artist doesn't return, which I hate, but I'm all about the Iron Nail, so I can't really be expected to ignore Loose Nuke.
My interest in HYDRA Ascendant hangs in the balance, though...
Art specs
It doesn't get any better.
Drool.
Drool.
DROOL.
John Romita Jr. was my first favorite comic book artist, and he's yet to be dethroned.
His work on this series was fantastic.
It will be missed in volume 3.
December 23, 2013
So, I know I've been slobbering all over everything Remender for the last few years, but this was just him phoning it in. For such a strong start, his initial run on Captain America falls flat in the second half- running aground on a pile of cliches. I can't say too much about these things, without spoiling the book for anyone who has yet to read it, but let's just say it isn't what you'd expect from Remender at the outset of a book, but more the disappointing endings we've become familiar with (i.e. the terrible final volume of Uncanny X-Force). So instead of following up what I thought was an amazing 180 on the idea of Cap after 20 years of him fighting the same old villains earthside with an equally amazing second half, he gives us what to me feels like a rush job of the highest order.
The problem with writing Cap is to avoid the kinds of cliches and mistakes that are all over this volume. We can't have a PBS after-school special so blatantly thrown in our faces, like those old GI Joe psa's with their simple morality. On top of what I thought was pretty hokey about the story, Cap gets his ass straight beat the f$%k up. Like, dead as a doornail beat up. The punishment Remender hands down to him via Zola's army is just too too much. Much too much. It goes way, way past the boundaries of absurd, even for a book that is about a man resurrected from the ice of a glacier and now trapped in a different dimension with a mad scientist trying to murder him. Seriously, just knock it off. If you read this, you'll think Cap has zero training and zero abilities and might as well just be a newborn baby for all the resistance he puts up.
Come on, Rick, let's get better at this the next time around.
You too, John Romita. Better stop phoning it in as well. I need bolder lines, thicker lines, stronger. Get on that.
Writing: D
Art: B
The problem with writing Cap is to avoid the kinds of cliches and mistakes that are all over this volume. We can't have a PBS after-school special so blatantly thrown in our faces, like those old GI Joe psa's with their simple morality. On top of what I thought was pretty hokey about the story, Cap gets his ass straight beat the f$%k up. Like, dead as a doornail beat up. The punishment Remender hands down to him via Zola's army is just too too much. Much too much. It goes way, way past the boundaries of absurd, even for a book that is about a man resurrected from the ice of a glacier and now trapped in a different dimension with a mad scientist trying to murder him. Seriously, just knock it off. If you read this, you'll think Cap has zero training and zero abilities and might as well just be a newborn baby for all the resistance he puts up.
Come on, Rick, let's get better at this the next time around.
You too, John Romita. Better stop phoning it in as well. I need bolder lines, thicker lines, stronger. Get on that.
Writing: D
Art: B
February 16, 2017
Wasn't whole heartedly into this story on the first few issues. But damn it all by the end of the first volume I was hook line and sinker!
Loved the touching chemistry between Steve and Ian. Such a sad ending that I felt the weight of. Wherever Captain America goes from here, the scars will haunt him forever.
A different kind of Captain America story, but I loved the hell out of it!
And if course the art is freakin amazing. Can't get enough of Romita and Janson's work!
Loved the touching chemistry between Steve and Ian. Such a sad ending that I felt the weight of. Wherever Captain America goes from here, the scars will haunt him forever.
A different kind of Captain America story, but I loved the hell out of it!
And if course the art is freakin amazing. Can't get enough of Romita and Janson's work!
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