What do you think?
Rate this book
Captain America: Steve Rogers (Collected Editions)
Captain America: Steve Rogers, Vol. 1: Hail Hydra
He's back! The original Sentinel of Liberty returns, with a new shield, a new team, and a new mission! And he's not the only one! Like the saying goes - cut off one head, two more will take its place! Hail Hydra! Collecting Captain America: Steve Rogers #1-6, and Free Comic Book Day (Captain America) #1.
164 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2016
46 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Nick Spencer
998 books345 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
June 17, 2017
3.5 stars
Some spoilers! But seriously, this has been out for a while...
I was kinda afraid this was going to be some political thing, and god knows I hate that sort of shit. Honestly, if I wanted other people's opinions on the state of my country/ world, I could just log on to Facebook and scroll through the hilariously witty (yet SO poignant!) memes from my friends on the far left or far right. Goddamn, that unfollow button has been a lifesaver!
So it was with that nonsense in mind that I finally decided to wade into this 'controversial' comic book.
How was it?
Well, as my dear friend Jeff would say, Hail Hydra!
Whoa! It was actually a lot better than I had hoped! Sure, there was quite a bit of poking at the politics in America right now, especially in the first few issues, but once you get past the initial ranty shit it sorta tapered off and made way for the story. And I thought using the Cosmic Cube Kid to rewrite Steve's memories was a fantastic way to turn him into Hydra's top agent.
My opinion? Spencer put some effort into his new origin story and I quite enjoyed all the flashbacks. I know a lot of my friends were annoyed with how dialogue heavy this was (and it was!), but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Yes, there was some fat that could have been trimmed. A lot of fat, actually.
shrugs
Overall, though, I didn't get bogged down (too much) by the exposition.
I also liked seeing how Captain America was working behind the scenes, making him responsible for quite a few of the Civil War II 'mishaps'.
But the main thing I loved was that even as an evil Hydra agent, Steve is still somewhat decent. <--in an extremely fucked up way!
The best villains (think: DOOM) always truly think that they are the hero of the story. And by making Rogers a true believer in what Hydra stands for, he's the perfect example of someone who was indoctrinated by some culty belief system and thoroughly believes in its righteousness.
Bottom Line: Captain America is still my favorite Marvel superhero (supervillain?), and Nick Spencer is a talented writer. I have faith that this is going somewhere cool...eventually.
Some spoilers! But seriously, this has been out for a while...
I was kinda afraid this was going to be some political thing, and god knows I hate that sort of shit. Honestly, if I wanted other people's opinions on the state of my country/ world, I could just log on to Facebook and scroll through the hilariously witty (yet SO poignant!) memes from my friends on the far left or far right. Goddamn, that unfollow button has been a lifesaver!
So it was with that nonsense in mind that I finally decided to wade into this 'controversial' comic book.
How was it?
Well, as my dear friend Jeff would say, Hail Hydra!
Whoa! It was actually a lot better than I had hoped! Sure, there was quite a bit of poking at the politics in America right now, especially in the first few issues, but once you get past the initial ranty shit it sorta tapered off and made way for the story. And I thought using the Cosmic Cube Kid to rewrite Steve's memories was a fantastic way to turn him into Hydra's top agent.
My opinion? Spencer put some effort into his new origin story and I quite enjoyed all the flashbacks. I know a lot of my friends were annoyed with how dialogue heavy this was (and it was!), but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Yes, there was some fat that could have been trimmed. A lot of fat, actually.
shrugs
Overall, though, I didn't get bogged down (too much) by the exposition.
I also liked seeing how Captain America was working behind the scenes, making him responsible for quite a few of the Civil War II 'mishaps'.
But the main thing I loved was that even as an evil Hydra agent, Steve is still somewhat decent. <--in an extremely fucked up way!
The best villains (think: DOOM) always truly think that they are the hero of the story. And by making Rogers a true believer in what Hydra stands for, he's the perfect example of someone who was indoctrinated by some culty belief system and thoroughly believes in its righteousness.
Bottom Line: Captain America is still my favorite Marvel superhero (supervillain?), and Nick Spencer is a talented writer. I have faith that this is going somewhere cool...eventually.
February 7, 2017
Following Avengers Standoff, Steve Rogers is young and hunky again thanks to the cosmic cube kid Kobik – except Kobik, secretly coerced by the Red Skull, not only made Steve young again but made another major change that fundamentally altered his character.
I can’t really talk about this one without going into spoiler territory so: SPOILSIES AHEAD!
That said, the first issue of this book caused a helluva lot of hubbub for Marvel when it came out last May so some of you might already know what’s up. Cap is nowgay for pay part of Hydra. Hydra being Marvel’s version of the Nazis, the choice was largely considered in poor taste given that Cap’s creators, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, were both Jewish. Turning Cap into a Nazi and on his 75th birthday?! Marvel were desperate to offset some of the attention from Geoff Johns’ DC Universe Rebirth #1 (which was released on the same day as Captain America: Steve Rogers #1), and, while it worked, this seemed to be going too far for some.
Though I can understand the criticism behind the choice, I wasn’t getting my knickers in a twist over it. It’s just superhero bullshit, it doesn’t mean anything – it’s just cynically designed to grab headlines and generate sales (check and check), and there’ll be a reasonable-ish explanation over what happened (also check) before the status quo is restored. The premise was actually the only part of this book that I thought was interesting – my main problem was how most of this volume is plain boring!
Nick Spencer weaves a ponderous and rather unexciting story from Cap’s secret Hydra roots. Sharon Carter (who’s suddenly old for some reason) is on Capitol Hill trying to expand SHIELD’s powers while Maria Hill waits to go on trial for Pleasant Hill (see Avengers Standoff). Meanwhile Steve is secretly furthering Hydra’s resurgence while also plotting against Red Skull.
There are extensive flashbacks to Steve’s new past as a kid in 1920s Brooklyn when Hydra first took an interest in him which had the stereotypical drunk/abusive father figure and an unexciting entry into Hydra’s world. Is it necessary to go so in-depth into this fake history if it’s only going to inevitably get retconned? It doesn’t even have entertainment value.
Factor in Spencer’s usual verbosity and overwriting (several pages are devoted to a single Hydra stooge’s autobio only for him to kill himself immediately after – what was the point??) and it’s a slow-moving, dull read.
Things go from bad to worse halfway through when Civil War II intrudes and steps all over the Hydra storyline. I am so fed up with stupid events fucking up neighbouring books like a mushroom cloud of shit! Bah. Anyway, if you don’t want to be spoiled before reading that event book, avoid this one as it gives away two major character deaths. It’s amusing to see also that this is the second Civil War II tie-in that references Minority Report, which is basically what that story is ripping off – Rick Jones incredulously asks something like “Really, has no-one seen Minority Report?!”
Jesus Saiz’s art is solid and I like Cap’s new shield, an appropriate callback to his original WW2 shield given his 75th anniversary. His famous circular shield is with Sam Wilson who’s currently sharing the mantle of Captain America, hence the “Captain America: Steve Rogers” distinction in the title.
The story has a couple of interesting moments and it has the potential to be good but very little happens in this one, despite the extra-long issues, making for a largely dreary comic. The Civil War II sidetrack was an unwelcome divergence too. Captain America: Steve Rogers, Volume 1: Hail Hydra is a disappointing celebratory book for this iconic and beloved character. Happy belated 75th (76th this year), Steve – you deserved better!
I can’t really talk about this one without going into spoiler territory so: SPOILSIES AHEAD!
That said, the first issue of this book caused a helluva lot of hubbub for Marvel when it came out last May so some of you might already know what’s up. Cap is now
Though I can understand the criticism behind the choice, I wasn’t getting my knickers in a twist over it. It’s just superhero bullshit, it doesn’t mean anything – it’s just cynically designed to grab headlines and generate sales (check and check), and there’ll be a reasonable-ish explanation over what happened (also check) before the status quo is restored. The premise was actually the only part of this book that I thought was interesting – my main problem was how most of this volume is plain boring!
Nick Spencer weaves a ponderous and rather unexciting story from Cap’s secret Hydra roots. Sharon Carter (who’s suddenly old for some reason) is on Capitol Hill trying to expand SHIELD’s powers while Maria Hill waits to go on trial for Pleasant Hill (see Avengers Standoff). Meanwhile Steve is secretly furthering Hydra’s resurgence while also plotting against Red Skull.
There are extensive flashbacks to Steve’s new past as a kid in 1920s Brooklyn when Hydra first took an interest in him which had the stereotypical drunk/abusive father figure and an unexciting entry into Hydra’s world. Is it necessary to go so in-depth into this fake history if it’s only going to inevitably get retconned? It doesn’t even have entertainment value.
Factor in Spencer’s usual verbosity and overwriting (several pages are devoted to a single Hydra stooge’s autobio only for him to kill himself immediately after – what was the point??) and it’s a slow-moving, dull read.
Things go from bad to worse halfway through when Civil War II intrudes and steps all over the Hydra storyline. I am so fed up with stupid events fucking up neighbouring books like a mushroom cloud of shit! Bah. Anyway, if you don’t want to be spoiled before reading that event book, avoid this one as it gives away two major character deaths. It’s amusing to see also that this is the second Civil War II tie-in that references Minority Report, which is basically what that story is ripping off – Rick Jones incredulously asks something like “Really, has no-one seen Minority Report?!”
Jesus Saiz’s art is solid and I like Cap’s new shield, an appropriate callback to his original WW2 shield given his 75th anniversary. His famous circular shield is with Sam Wilson who’s currently sharing the mantle of Captain America, hence the “Captain America: Steve Rogers” distinction in the title.
The story has a couple of interesting moments and it has the potential to be good but very little happens in this one, despite the extra-long issues, making for a largely dreary comic. The Civil War II sidetrack was an unwelcome divergence too. Captain America: Steve Rogers, Volume 1: Hail Hydra is a disappointing celebratory book for this iconic and beloved character. Happy belated 75th (76th this year), Steve – you deserved better!
November 27, 2017
Captain America is back fighting the good fight
or so it seems.
Hail Hydra honestly makes me wonder if Nick Spencer was hugged as a child. He took one of the most wholesome mainstream heroes and twisted him into something vile. I'm so glad my 3 year old son doesn't read comics yet because he'd likely either cry his eyes out, ask me a million why did that happen questions, and/or sit dumbfounded. Captain America is his favorite character right now and this would mess his world up. Doing this with Cap is the equivalent of doing all these weird things with other heroes:
With that out of the way I have a morbid curiosity I guess about this series. Now that it's finished I find myself wondering what happened in it and so I'm stepping into it. This really reads as a what if Captain America story rather than a believable tale because no one would believe Cap would be like this. This makes the DCU's apathetic Superman look perfectly normal by comparison.
or so it seems.
Hail Hydra honestly makes me wonder if Nick Spencer was hugged as a child. He took one of the most wholesome mainstream heroes and twisted him into something vile. I'm so glad my 3 year old son doesn't read comics yet because he'd likely either cry his eyes out, ask me a million why did that happen questions, and/or sit dumbfounded. Captain America is his favorite character right now and this would mess his world up. Doing this with Cap is the equivalent of doing all these weird things with other heroes:
With that out of the way I have a morbid curiosity I guess about this series. Now that it's finished I find myself wondering what happened in it and so I'm stepping into it. This really reads as a what if Captain America story rather than a believable tale because no one would believe Cap would be like this. This makes the DCU's apathetic Superman look perfectly normal by comparison.
January 4, 2022
The title of this book should be Captain Exposition: Steve Rogers. Wow, was this a slog to get through. After hearing all the hullabaloo in the media when the first issue hit stands and then reading Avengers: Standoff, I knew exactly where this was headed. I just didn't think Spencer would need to write a novel to explain it. It just shows the amount of hoops you need to jump through to contrive the shock value of Cap working for Hydra.
I found the scene where Red Skull was recruiting people absolutely ridiculous. Because you know who I want to go listen to because I'm mad about the direction the country is headed in? A Nazi war criminal with a skull for a face. Plus, I hear this nonsense enough in the news with Trump as president. I don't need it in my comics too.
As the book goes on, we get to see Cap's new history as a child. As it goes on, it makes less and less sense. Especially after he goes to a reeducation camp. The story still needs to tie in with the army and getting the super soldier serum from Dr. Erskine to make any sense whatsoever.
The Civil War II issues were kind of neat. Although you need to read Civil War II first or you won't know what's going on. They show how Cap manipulates things behind the scenes.
I found the scene where Red Skull was recruiting people absolutely ridiculous. Because you know who I want to go listen to because I'm mad about the direction the country is headed in? A Nazi war criminal with a skull for a face. Plus, I hear this nonsense enough in the news with Trump as president. I don't need it in my comics too.
As the book goes on, we get to see Cap's new history as a child. As it goes on, it makes less and less sense. Especially after he goes to a reeducation camp. The story still needs to tie in with the army and getting the super soldier serum from Dr. Erskine to make any sense whatsoever.
The Civil War II issues were kind of neat. Although you need to read Civil War II first or you won't know what's going on. They show how Cap manipulates things behind the scenes.
February 6, 2017
This was interesting.
So unlike mostly everyone on the internet I didn't cry and die when they announced Cap would be Hydra. I didn't slit my wrist, claim racism, and shave the side of my heads in a shield (I shit you not I followed someone on Twitter who did this). No, I let Nick give his writing a chance. If it sucked I'd call it out. If not...
Well it's in the middle. Let's talk about one thing Nick does sometimes that drives me insane. Needless exposition AND massive amount of dialog. Some of it interesting, some of it made me want to take a nap (which I did!) The real dreadful parts are issue 2-3 which felt like a slug to get through and just dropping reasons why without SHOWING instead of TELLING.
On the flip side the last few issues build up very well. Creating a much bigger and better picture of who Cap is now. How he operates. I loved they didn't just turn him into Red Skull or make him stupid and rash. He's smart, tactical, and ready to take down everyone to let Hydra live. It's scary how easy it is for him to destroy the foundations of so many heroes while also working on killing a certain someone.
Overall the second half is very strong, and the first issue is good. If you keep with it Cap delivers both on current issues and learning about his past as a Hydra warrior. A solid 3/5
So unlike mostly everyone on the internet I didn't cry and die when they announced Cap would be Hydra. I didn't slit my wrist, claim racism, and shave the side of my heads in a shield (I shit you not I followed someone on Twitter who did this). No, I let Nick give his writing a chance. If it sucked I'd call it out. If not...
Well it's in the middle. Let's talk about one thing Nick does sometimes that drives me insane. Needless exposition AND massive amount of dialog. Some of it interesting, some of it made me want to take a nap (which I did!) The real dreadful parts are issue 2-3 which felt like a slug to get through and just dropping reasons why without SHOWING instead of TELLING.
On the flip side the last few issues build up very well. Creating a much bigger and better picture of who Cap is now. How he operates. I loved they didn't just turn him into Red Skull or make him stupid and rash. He's smart, tactical, and ready to take down everyone to let Hydra live. It's scary how easy it is for him to destroy the foundations of so many heroes while also working on killing a certain someone.
Overall the second half is very strong, and the first issue is good. If you keep with it Cap delivers both on current issues and learning about his past as a Hydra warrior. A solid 3/5
February 3, 2017
Boring. Cap has been reverted back to being young again, basically at his prime but it comes at a price. It was on national news that Cap is now working for Hydra, and the how of this is explained in this trade.
The problem I have with this is, there's so much cliche. Story points have been mined from many other stories and simply reused here. There's also a LOT of exposition: the characters are just explaining EVERYTHING to you. This trade takes place during Civil War II and not having read that, they didn't do a very good job of explaining exactly what was going on. While this trade doesn't resolve the fact that Cap is with Hydra, you can already see enough of where it is going.
The art is weird, at least in the first couple of issues. Instead of drawing and inking in details, many of it is defined simply by the coloring making the whole thing seem half-assed. In particular, the stripes on Cap's costume at his stomach. And, for some reason, Sharon Carter is a lot older now. The artist tries to draw her that way but now she looks like a man.
No real interest to finish this. Don't get me started on how Marvel is sidelining the classic heroes and not even giving them the original costumes.
The problem I have with this is, there's so much cliche. Story points have been mined from many other stories and simply reused here. There's also a LOT of exposition: the characters are just explaining EVERYTHING to you. This trade takes place during Civil War II and not having read that, they didn't do a very good job of explaining exactly what was going on. While this trade doesn't resolve the fact that Cap is with Hydra, you can already see enough of where it is going.
The art is weird, at least in the first couple of issues. Instead of drawing and inking in details, many of it is defined simply by the coloring making the whole thing seem half-assed. In particular, the stripes on Cap's costume at his stomach. And, for some reason, Sharon Carter is a lot older now. The artist tries to draw her that way but now she looks like a man.
No real interest to finish this. Don't get me started on how Marvel is sidelining the classic heroes and not even giving them the original costumes.
May 28, 2017
I'll warn you before we get into spoilers. Which we will. If you're not going to read this one because "OMG, they made Cap a Nazi!" then I would encourage you to read this review so you know the score. If I can just tell you it's quite a bit more complicated than that, and if that's enough to convince you to read the book for yourself, then skip the rest.
If it matters, I'm going to spoil up to the second issue in the arc.
**Spoilers Ahoy**
This is the famous book that contains Captain America himself saying "Hail Hydra" and that shows Cap is and always has been a secret member of Hyrda.
What's going on, though, isn't that Captain America, the Steve Rogers we all know and love, has actually been in Hydra this WHOLE TIME. What's going on is some of the most comic-book-ass-comic-book stuff that you can imagine.
I'll make it simple as possible: There's a cosmic cube. It is the most powerful thing ever, and it can rewrite reality. Including the past. A cosmic cube becomes a sentient, living being that takes the form of a little girl. Through manipulations, the Red Skull convinces the "cube" to monkey around with history, and one of the significant changes the cube creates is reaching into the past and changing Steve Rogers' entire back story.
And so, Rogers was kidnapped by Hyrda, indoctrinated, and he becomes a Hydra agent. One of the top men.
Top....men!
Here's my take on why this is controversial: Everyone saw this one panel, saw that Cap was in Hydra, and lost their shit. And they never actually bothered to read the book.
This happens a lot in comics because it's super easy to take a visual medium, isolate a part of it, and then freak the fuck out.
After reading the book, I'll make this prediction: This story is going to be altered or changed, and that alteration or change has been planned into the narrative since before it began. This story is not about pulling a fast one or taking a beloved character and making him a bad guy because that's fun to watch. It's going to be a redemptive story for Captain America. It's just a prediction, and I'm not a betting man, but I'd be willing to lay down some serious cash and say that there IS a purpose to this, and that purpose is not to show it's so fun to be a villain or that Hydra is in some way correct to be what it is. It's about putting Captain America in a crazy spot, and we're all wondering how he's gonna get out of this one.
Longtime comic book fans know this: These sorts of things happen in comics constantly. House of M is nearly identical in the idea of altering reality in a seemingly irrevocable way. Civil War II is mostly about whether the future is accurately predictable by someone with special powers, and is this predicted future actionable? Many will probably recall that Captain America was dead a few years back. Dead, dead. As was Bucky. And, you know, about half of superheroes. Fewer remember that lots of Marvel's core characters were "killed" and then put in a pocket universe and...look, weird shit happens in comics all the time, mostly in the service of altering reality.
What makes this an interesting story, if you READ IT, is that it's not just saying, "Boom! Heil Captain America, bitches!" It's asking the question of how our past, the way we're raised, and countless other things alter us, and my suspicion is that it will soon be asking the question of whether there's something "essential" about us that's not changeable.
The worst part of the book is the intrusion of Civil War II. Honestly, Marvel. Just do your crossover books as their own series and leave that shit out of the regular continuity of the other books. Nobody cares. Nobody is going to be like, "Oh shit, I'm gonna buy all your titles now because I need to get all the Civil War II action!" No, just make the event its own book and move on. It's fine. We'll forgive you. Speaking on behalf of fanboys, that shit where we're like, "Um, excuse me, how can Wolverine be in space in Wolverine #167 and ALSO on Earth with the X-Men that very same month?" is over. It's long over. We get it now. We're good. I apologize for that stuff in the past, but with the movies being their own sort of thing, I think we've got it down now.
If it matters, I'm going to spoil up to the second issue in the arc.
**Spoilers Ahoy**
This is the famous book that contains Captain America himself saying "Hail Hydra" and that shows Cap is and always has been a secret member of Hyrda.
What's going on, though, isn't that Captain America, the Steve Rogers we all know and love, has actually been in Hydra this WHOLE TIME. What's going on is some of the most comic-book-ass-comic-book stuff that you can imagine.
I'll make it simple as possible: There's a cosmic cube. It is the most powerful thing ever, and it can rewrite reality. Including the past. A cosmic cube becomes a sentient, living being that takes the form of a little girl. Through manipulations, the Red Skull convinces the "cube" to monkey around with history, and one of the significant changes the cube creates is reaching into the past and changing Steve Rogers' entire back story.
And so, Rogers was kidnapped by Hyrda, indoctrinated, and he becomes a Hydra agent. One of the top men.
Top....men!
Here's my take on why this is controversial: Everyone saw this one panel, saw that Cap was in Hydra, and lost their shit. And they never actually bothered to read the book.
This happens a lot in comics because it's super easy to take a visual medium, isolate a part of it, and then freak the fuck out.
After reading the book, I'll make this prediction: This story is going to be altered or changed, and that alteration or change has been planned into the narrative since before it began. This story is not about pulling a fast one or taking a beloved character and making him a bad guy because that's fun to watch. It's going to be a redemptive story for Captain America. It's just a prediction, and I'm not a betting man, but I'd be willing to lay down some serious cash and say that there IS a purpose to this, and that purpose is not to show it's so fun to be a villain or that Hydra is in some way correct to be what it is. It's about putting Captain America in a crazy spot, and we're all wondering how he's gonna get out of this one.
Longtime comic book fans know this: These sorts of things happen in comics constantly. House of M is nearly identical in the idea of altering reality in a seemingly irrevocable way. Civil War II is mostly about whether the future is accurately predictable by someone with special powers, and is this predicted future actionable? Many will probably recall that Captain America was dead a few years back. Dead, dead. As was Bucky. And, you know, about half of superheroes. Fewer remember that lots of Marvel's core characters were "killed" and then put in a pocket universe and...look, weird shit happens in comics all the time, mostly in the service of altering reality.
What makes this an interesting story, if you READ IT, is that it's not just saying, "Boom! Heil Captain America, bitches!" It's asking the question of how our past, the way we're raised, and countless other things alter us, and my suspicion is that it will soon be asking the question of whether there's something "essential" about us that's not changeable.
The worst part of the book is the intrusion of Civil War II. Honestly, Marvel. Just do your crossover books as their own series and leave that shit out of the regular continuity of the other books. Nobody cares. Nobody is going to be like, "Oh shit, I'm gonna buy all your titles now because I need to get all the Civil War II action!" No, just make the event its own book and move on. It's fine. We'll forgive you. Speaking on behalf of fanboys, that shit where we're like, "Um, excuse me, how can Wolverine be in space in Wolverine #167 and ALSO on Earth with the X-Men that very same month?" is over. It's long over. We get it now. We're good. I apologize for that stuff in the past, but with the movies being their own sort of thing, I think we've got it down now.
May 16, 2017
So I normally don't type reviews but I just finished this book and couldn't help but to type one for this.
What's it about:
Captain America is now part of Hydra (I'm assuming I'm okay not spoiler marking that given the name of the volume and controversy) and Civil War II stuff was added because CHA-CHING!
Pros:
The story is really interesting for sure. It kept me reading and kept me interested despite it's flaws.
There is some really sweet action in this comic.
Cons:
Art could be a lot better. It works really well in a few panels but in some panels it really doesn't and for the most part is really average.
The dialogue... oh boy... the freaking dialogue. Nick Spencer's one of my favorite authors but he really needs to work on the dialogue for this series (but don't change a d*** thing about THE FIX, that's one of the best comics ever). It can be quite cringe-worthy and full of product placement.
The whole HydraCap thing does feel wrong. It's a unique take on the character and all but Cap was meant to be a patriotic symbol in WW2 so it does still seem kinda disrespectful.
Regarding the political controversy:
I seen some people complain that this series is hating on conservatives. As a conservative myself, I don't see it that way though I can see where those people are coming from but I think what it really is, is that there's a villain that happens to have some conservative views though I don't think that's an attack on the right wing.
Overall:
It's not a bad book, just not really good either. I don't think I'm gonna bother reading volume 2. It's still an interesting read. If you see it at the library (where I borrowed it) than it's a decent book to try out.
3 stars.
What's it about:
Captain America is now part of Hydra (I'm assuming I'm okay not spoiler marking that given the name of the volume and controversy) and Civil War II stuff was added because CHA-CHING!
Pros:
The story is really interesting for sure. It kept me reading and kept me interested despite it's flaws.
There is some really sweet action in this comic.
Cons:
Art could be a lot better. It works really well in a few panels but in some panels it really doesn't and for the most part is really average.
The dialogue... oh boy... the freaking dialogue. Nick Spencer's one of my favorite authors but he really needs to work on the dialogue for this series (but don't change a d*** thing about THE FIX, that's one of the best comics ever). It can be quite cringe-worthy and full of product placement.
The whole HydraCap thing does feel wrong. It's a unique take on the character and all but Cap was meant to be a patriotic symbol in WW2 so it does still seem kinda disrespectful.
Regarding the political controversy:
I seen some people complain that this series is hating on conservatives. As a conservative myself, I don't see it that way though I can see where those people are coming from but I think what it really is, is that there's a villain that happens to have some conservative views though I don't think that's an attack on the right wing.
Overall:
It's not a bad book, just not really good either. I don't think I'm gonna bother reading volume 2. It's still an interesting read. If you see it at the library (where I borrowed it) than it's a decent book to try out.
3 stars.
December 2, 2016
[Read as single issues]
Nick Spencer sure can write a Captain America book. His Sam Wilson series is always on point, so it's a no-brainer to let him write Steve Rogers too.
This new direction for Cap is very interesting. Spinning out of Standoff, we see Cap's memories re-written so that he is the perfect Hydra soldier, working for the Red Skull. Seeing one of the Marvel universe's most stalwart figures 'corrupted', but still being the best person in the room even if he has the worst motivations, is a great storytelling tool. This volume sees Steve dealing with the Red Skull, Baron Zemo, and then using the events of Civil War to his own advantage, all while spinning his own web of lies that threaten to trip him up as he goes.
The artwork is by the old Swamp Thing team of Jesus Saiz and Javier Pina, and seeing them together again gives me good flashbacks to their run with Charles Soule at DC. Their visuals have a peculiar sheen to them, but it works - it's like a halfway point between realistic and cartoony, and I really like it.
Controversy notwithstanding, I think this is a compelling, well-told story that takes Steve Rogers in some great new directions. Looking forward to seeing what's next.
Nick Spencer sure can write a Captain America book. His Sam Wilson series is always on point, so it's a no-brainer to let him write Steve Rogers too.
This new direction for Cap is very interesting. Spinning out of Standoff, we see Cap's memories re-written so that he is the perfect Hydra soldier, working for the Red Skull. Seeing one of the Marvel universe's most stalwart figures 'corrupted', but still being the best person in the room even if he has the worst motivations, is a great storytelling tool. This volume sees Steve dealing with the Red Skull, Baron Zemo, and then using the events of Civil War to his own advantage, all while spinning his own web of lies that threaten to trip him up as he goes.
The artwork is by the old Swamp Thing team of Jesus Saiz and Javier Pina, and seeing them together again gives me good flashbacks to their run with Charles Soule at DC. Their visuals have a peculiar sheen to them, but it works - it's like a halfway point between realistic and cartoony, and I really like it.
Controversy notwithstanding, I think this is a compelling, well-told story that takes Steve Rogers in some great new directions. Looking forward to seeing what's next.
May 6, 2017
This was OK, I suppose. It had decent artwork and was fairly entertaining. I honestly don't see what all the fuss was about; there's nothing really new here, it's just another mind-control/timey-wimey/alternate-reality story with a slight twist.
To be honest, if I was slightly disappointed it's because I expect better from Nick Spencer, as his work is usually in the five star range for me.
Maybe he'll surprise me in volume two.
To be honest, if I was slightly disappointed it's because I expect better from Nick Spencer, as his work is usually in the five star range for me.
Maybe he'll surprise me in volume two.
August 17, 2019
This is a good story but I hate seeing Steve part of .
January 22, 2018
Pretty good take. I'm definitely intrigued.
March 5, 2018
5 🌟
Interesting that Steve is now a Hydra agent. Glad that he is in a relationship with Sharon Carter. Wonder what will happen when they find out what he did to Jack. Hope Cap will be back to normal soon. :-(.
Can't wait to read Captain America: Steve Rogers, volume 2!!!!
Interesting that Steve is now a Hydra agent. Glad that he is in a relationship with Sharon Carter. Wonder what will happen when they find out what he did to Jack. Hope Cap will be back to normal soon. :-(.
Can't wait to read Captain America: Steve Rogers, volume 2!!!!
November 20, 2017
HAIL HYDRA!!!!
August 25, 2017
The first third or so of the book is promising, opening with some good action scenes and unintended topical allusions to disgruntled Americans essentially becoming domestic terrorists. Sharon Carter (to quote sheriff Taskmaster: "I like the whole Mrs. Robinson vibe" - true that, TM) is always a plus, too. But by the end this train jumps the tracks with all the dialogue and 'flashbacks.'
February 6, 2017
My disappointments with Cap's love affairs & the whole Hail hydra spiel aside, I cannot deny my curiosity to read the next volume (and Civil War 2). ‘Controversial’ may it be, Cap’s new arc has my full attention; I’m particularly curious about how it’ll tie/continue into Civil War 2.
September 8, 2019
Druhý čtení a vnitřní dilema. Jak tohle sakra hodnotit?
Sám o sobě je první book super politickej thriller, Capova agenda je (až na poslední sešit) promyšlená a čtenář chce vědět, co bude dál - 4*.
Jako člověk co četl celej run + Secret Empire krčím rameny. Víc jak půlku knihy zabírají "falešný" flashbacky, které slouží jenom k tomu, abych pochopil jednání postavy, kolem které proběhne 1 meh event (Marvel měl takovej PR průser, že Spencerovi změnil konec a celý build-up šel vlastně do kytek).
České vydání je mi stále velkou záhadou.
Sám o sobě je první book super politickej thriller, Capova agenda je (až na poslední sešit) promyšlená a čtenář chce vědět, co bude dál - 4*.
Jako člověk co četl celej run + Secret Empire krčím rameny. Víc jak půlku knihy zabírají "falešný" flashbacky, které slouží jenom k tomu, abych pochopil jednání postavy, kolem které proběhne 1 meh event (Marvel měl takovej PR průser, že Spencerovi změnil konec a celý build-up šel vlastně do kytek).
České vydání je mi stále velkou záhadou.
December 7, 2016
If there could possibly be such a thing as blasphemy in comics, this would be it. I don't even have words sufficient enough to describe the contempt that I have for this book, and the pre-schooler attempt to make Captain America an agent of Hydra. Nick Spencer should join Adolph Hitler in the ranks of being punched in the face by Captain America. It's pathetic.
October 22, 2016
Although had an amazing start and the first 3 issues were pretty good, it short of just fell apart to coincide with the Civil War 2 story line and needed up being rather messy.
March 1, 2021
Has all of Captain America's past been a lie? Have we been fooled by a traitor into believing he is the ultimate sentinel of liberty?
.... well kinda. Nick Spencer continues his story from the Pleasant Hill event, taking us to a darker place than anyone expected. I remember when this came out, the uproar and outrage of not only comic book fans (though they were the worst) but the general public as well, regarding how much of a betrayal the events of this book were to fans of Captain America. And while I certainly understand their position, I didn't find it to be the case at all. I mean this is comics, and things change drastically all the time... only to revert back down the road. I see this only as a plot device that a writer is using to tell his story, not a betrayal of the core of the character himself.
...but I digress. The story itself is a bit convoluted and felt very much over explained at times. I find Nick Spencer to be a writer who is really good at writing dialogue, but when it comes to monologuing, he tends to go into more Claremont levels of over exposition. And while this allows the artist to take center stage, it still becomes a bit of a chore to read.
If you haven't read this, make sure to pick up and read the Pleasant Hill event first. It will introduce you to Kobik, who is a sentient cosmic cube in the form of a little girl. Kobik has the ability to completely rewrite reality and she is the one who made Steve Rogers young again. So it all very much leads to this new revelation, as we find out the Red Skull has had a hand in things all along.
An interesting turn of events, I'm curious to see where Spencer will take this story.
.... well kinda. Nick Spencer continues his story from the Pleasant Hill event, taking us to a darker place than anyone expected. I remember when this came out, the uproar and outrage of not only comic book fans (though they were the worst) but the general public as well, regarding how much of a betrayal the events of this book were to fans of Captain America. And while I certainly understand their position, I didn't find it to be the case at all. I mean this is comics, and things change drastically all the time... only to revert back down the road. I see this only as a plot device that a writer is using to tell his story, not a betrayal of the core of the character himself.
...but I digress. The story itself is a bit convoluted and felt very much over explained at times. I find Nick Spencer to be a writer who is really good at writing dialogue, but when it comes to monologuing, he tends to go into more Claremont levels of over exposition. And while this allows the artist to take center stage, it still becomes a bit of a chore to read.
If you haven't read this, make sure to pick up and read the Pleasant Hill event first. It will introduce you to Kobik, who is a sentient cosmic cube in the form of a little girl. Kobik has the ability to completely rewrite reality and she is the one who made Steve Rogers young again. So it all very much leads to this new revelation, as we find out the Red Skull has had a hand in things all along.
An interesting turn of events, I'm curious to see where Spencer will take this story.
August 18, 2019
This is the start of the Secret Empire. We see Captain America as reshaped by the Cosmic Cube. We see how his entire childhood was changed, from his wife beating father to his member of Hydra mother. I'm still not quite sold on the whole Hydra Cap storyline, but at least they are going about it the right way. The plot seems overly complicated, but I'm hoping that all comes out when they pull the trigger on things with Secret Empire (I'm behind in my reading but getting there.)
The art wasn't great but wasn't bad.
Overall I am curious to see what happens next, but this does seem like the type of storyline that could drag so I hope things keep moving along.
The art wasn't great but wasn't bad.
Overall I am curious to see what happens next, but this does seem like the type of storyline that could drag so I hope things keep moving along.
October 3, 2019
Skimmed at the library. Not just no, but hell no.
May 13, 2017
I know there's been (and probably still is) a controversy on Marvel's new take on Cap with him being a Hydra sleeper agent as the result of the Standoff storyline.
I don't care. Either the story is good or it's not, that's all I'm interested about.
And I think it's rather good actually. Apart from the shock value of this revelation, it drives for a spy-thriller angle all upside down since it's from the bad guy. Not to say it's never been done before but look with whom it's done now!
Interspersed with flash backs where Steve is supposed to have grown up as an agent for Hydra, the book shows him placing his pieces for his own agenda, a wee bit different from the Red Skull's... And this Captain America can get his hands dirty if need be.
Then comes CWII, where Spencer artfully interlocks his story with Bendis'. As it happens, this tie-in is really tied to the main event.
If I may give an advice: read the main event using a reading order or before reading this book in order to avoid major spoilers.
After what I've just read in Sam Wilson-Captain America I look forward for what's to follow. Sure, it's going to be retconned one day or another but in the meantime I intend to enjoy this run.
Jesus Saiz and Javier Pina illustrate the book with competence, my preference being for the latter.
I don't care. Either the story is good or it's not, that's all I'm interested about.
And I think it's rather good actually. Apart from the shock value of this revelation, it drives for a spy-thriller angle all upside down since it's from the bad guy. Not to say it's never been done before but look with whom it's done now!
Interspersed with flash backs where Steve is supposed to have grown up as an agent for Hydra, the book shows him placing his pieces for his own agenda, a wee bit different from the Red Skull's... And this Captain America can get his hands dirty if need be.
Then comes CWII, where Spencer artfully interlocks his story with Bendis'. As it happens, this tie-in is really tied to the main event.
If I may give an advice: read the main event using a reading order or before reading this book in order to avoid major spoilers.
After what I've just read in Sam Wilson-Captain America I look forward for what's to follow. Sure, it's going to be retconned one day or another but in the meantime I intend to enjoy this run.
Jesus Saiz and Javier Pina illustrate the book with competence, my preference being for the latter.
July 14, 2023
It's fun to read a lot of the over-the-top classic superhero stuff in this book, but it gets a little derailed by the self-seriousness of the tone.
There's a lot to dissect here. Possibly too much, which is what makes this volume just okay and not great. I think it goes to some convoluted lengths to try and bend the established origin of Steve Rogers. It seems a bit gimmicky.
There's a lot to dissect here. Possibly too much, which is what makes this volume just okay and not great. I think it goes to some convoluted lengths to try and bend the established origin of Steve Rogers. It seems a bit gimmicky.
December 13, 2017
The shock and awe, oh not not Captain! So this is the big issue that got everyone mad at Nick Spencer. I remember seeing him at comic con and he addressed it with a sensible chuckle. No spoilers from me but lets be honest it was bound to cross paths with captain at sometime, it just took some balls to write it. I think the story is fine, its a little long winded but it is intricate writing from Spencer. Kobik is a cool character and i like everything surrounding that part of the story. This book does mesh up with Civil war 2 and I have the same feeling about this book, its fine its just not amazing. Captain has the pitfall of being Mr. boring at times so I do think this was a nice story line they created. To be honest I really dont know if I will read on in the series. All the court/Shield stuff drags it down and I am not a fan of these lesser patriotic heroes either really. The backstory with young Steve is also a but predictable for me so meh.
July 28, 2017
HAIL HYDRA!!! I really wanted to hate this book. After all the idea of turning Captain America into a Nazi like Hydra agent should have been a recipe for failure. The truth is my Marvel reading list have been low lately. Nevertheless I still read many of their X-men, Star Wars, and Spider-man books. I heard a lot of people gripe about this book but in truth I do not think people have actually read it. I would like to also point out that there have been many Captain America tales in the past were Steve Rogers was through brainwashing or other means became a villain for some time. In truth this concept of super heroes becoming villains is not a new thing. After all we just had Doc Ock takeover Spider-man's body years ago in The Superior Spider-Man, Volume 1. That story turned out to be amazing. What makes this story so special is all the buildup and back history the writer Nick Spencer uses to create this darker version of Captain America. I do not want to give away the plot because this is a must read for any comic book fan. I will just simply say that the Red Skull realizes his destruction of his foe Steve Rogers aka Captain America by fanning the flames of conflict in SHIELD and the Marvel Superhuman community. The Red Skull then uses a cosmic object to alter the Captain America we have all come to know. New readers can jump into this book without having to know so much continuity because Spencer uses past missions as a backdrop to all the political hearings in the book. I will recommend that readers at least read Avengers: Standoff and maybe Secret Wars before jumping into this book. I fill this will make this story more epic and the plot more crisp. The artwork is not bad but could be better on some panels. I really enjoyed the color palette on the Steve Rogers' childhood flash backs. Now I will warn readers that in this highly charged political climate some may find bits of this book to political. To me Nick Spencer does keep some of the political elements to this story very generic. Although some may think he is criticizing one particular party but to me the methods of Hydra felt like Islamic fundamentalist terrorist our world is facing today. I really am looking forward to how Cap's turn to evil is resolved and what's impact will be in the Marvel Universe. Probably the best Cap story I have ever read since Captain America: Winter Soldier, Volume 1.
January 11, 2017
It was the "Hail Hydra" heard around the world. And boy did the Internet throw fits. And, of course, they were totally wrong.
This is the story of a Captain America who believes himself to be a member of Hydra. Because cosmic cube — a cube that was introduced just months before in the big Standoff crossover. So, it's not like America's top hero had always been Hydra, or whatever idiotic theory fairweather fans were believing. It was just a plot twist, to create an inciting incident for a new Captain America comic. Its success or failure is not in the incitement, but whether Spencer can tell an interesting story based on it.
And thus far it looks like the answer is "yes". A diabolic Steve Rogers, plotting against his friends, while secreting working against them, but simultaneously plagued by his own conscience, that's pretty cool. Especially when supplemented with a history of Rogers that might be a cosmic implant or might be ... something else.
The only place this volume falls down is in the final two issues, with are Civil War II crossovers. On the one hand, they're kinda cool because they walk back through Civil War II and show what was really going on during much of it. On the other hand, they're largely incomprehensible if you haven't read Civil War II, and as a whole the flow of the story has definitely been broken.
So, four interesting issues, then a stumbling fall to the end. Hopefully volume II will get this comic's momentum back.
This is the story of a Captain America who believes himself to be a member of Hydra. Because cosmic cube — a cube that was introduced just months before in the big Standoff crossover. So, it's not like America's top hero had always been Hydra, or whatever idiotic theory fairweather fans were believing. It was just a plot twist, to create an inciting incident for a new Captain America comic. Its success or failure is not in the incitement, but whether Spencer can tell an interesting story based on it.
And thus far it looks like the answer is "yes". A diabolic Steve Rogers, plotting against his friends, while secreting working against them, but simultaneously plagued by his own conscience, that's pretty cool. Especially when supplemented with a history of Rogers that might be a cosmic implant or might be ... something else.
The only place this volume falls down is in the final two issues, with are Civil War II crossovers. On the one hand, they're kinda cool because they walk back through Civil War II and show what was really going on during much of it. On the other hand, they're largely incomprehensible if you haven't read Civil War II, and as a whole the flow of the story has definitely been broken.
So, four interesting issues, then a stumbling fall to the end. Hopefully volume II will get this comic's momentum back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2018
Ok, ok. Disclaimer. As a Jewish reader, I have a lot of problems with where this storyline went. I know Hydra is not the Nazi party, but it's pretty darn close and equatable. To take Captain America, a character created by two Jews in 1940, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, and turn him ostensibly into a Nazi is really really gross. I wasn't going to read this storyline for that reason alone.
But... I really liked Sam Willson Captain America, and I'm a completionist. I "need" to read Steve Rogers Captain America before I can read Captain America: Secret Empire. *sigh*
So now that I've said my piece, the book is a good 3.5 stars.
I like the the involvement of Kobik (really, the only way to have done this, I think), the Civil War II stuff (though it was short), and Cap's new shield (pointy!).
But... I really liked Sam Willson Captain America, and I'm a completionist. I "need" to read Steve Rogers Captain America before I can read Captain America: Secret Empire. *sigh*
So now that I've said my piece, the book is a good 3.5 stars.
I like the the involvement of Kobik (really, the only way to have done this, I think), the Civil War II stuff (though it was short), and Cap's new shield (pointy!).
February 10, 2017
Another solid title ruined by Civil War 2.
September 18, 2018
Lame payoff for all the Hydra hype. Expected more from this, and expected less dialogue. Wow you would have thought Bendis wrote this, maybe the author got paid per word, because this had a ton.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews