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The United States of Captain America #1-5
The United States of Captain America
Captain America’s shield has been stolen! Nobody understand its value — scientific, inspirational, sentimental and strategic — like the people who have wielded it, so Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson set out on a road trip across America to chase down the thief. But instead they find…the Captains! Everyday people from all walks of life who’ve taken up the mantle of Captain America to defend their communities. And for some reason, the shield thief wants all of them dead. Can Sam and Steve find them first? Christopher Cantwell and Dale Eaglesham celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Sentinel of Liberty with a tour across the United States of Captain America — and some of the industry’s brightest talents join the star-spangled quest, telling the inspirational stories of each new Captain!
COLLECTING: The United States Of Captain America (2021) 1-5
COLLECTING: The United States Of Captain America (2021) 1-5
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2022
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155 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 22, 2022
"How many Captain Americas are there?!" -- Captain Jeremy Merrick, injured U.S. Army officer
"Short answer? A $#!% load." -- John Walker, a.k.a. 'U.S. Agent'
A fun premise - the original Captain America eventually teaming with a number of diverse citizen vigilantes from across the continental U.S. who have taken star-spangled inspiration from him - is marred by a simplistic plot that is simultaneously both of a B-movie level - need some ready-made villains? Nazis, of course! (yawn) - and sometimes awkwardly grating in its attempt at being trendy / contemporary with some of the spouted dialogue or issue stances. (There were a couple of scenes depicting felonious assaults that were just ridiculous.) It's a shame, really, because of number of the new characters were sort of interesting or intriguing but were otherwise ill-served by this volume.
"Short answer? A $#!% load." -- John Walker, a.k.a. 'U.S. Agent'
A fun premise - the original Captain America eventually teaming with a number of diverse citizen vigilantes from across the continental U.S. who have taken star-spangled inspiration from him - is marred by a simplistic plot that is simultaneously both of a B-movie level - need some ready-made villains? Nazis, of course! (yawn) - and sometimes awkwardly grating in its attempt at being trendy / contemporary with some of the spouted dialogue or issue stances. (There were a couple of scenes depicting felonious assaults that were just ridiculous.) It's a shame, really, because of number of the new characters were sort of interesting or intriguing but were otherwise ill-served by this volume.
March 21, 2022
Pretty awesome idea, but poor execution that didn’t do anything for me personally. I liked all of the Captain America’s they brought in, but the villain and plot itself are so uninspired it ends up leading to a terribly mediocre conclusion that has zero stakes. I also hated how USAgent was written in this too, but that’s more of a personal thing. Honestly this was just so bland and I’d recommend you skip unless you love Cap.
February 16, 2022
A speedster dressed like Captain America steals Cap's shield to use it to give Captain America a bad name. Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson go on a cross-country trip after fake Cap and meet a network of people inspired by Captain America called the Captains along the way. Each issue has a backup origin story for each of the Captains written by someone within the community of said Captain which I thought was pretty cool.
A decent premise but it just falls apart in the second half. Those last two issues after they step away from the premise of the "Captains" and focus on the Nazi villains feel like a comic out of the 50's. The writing wasn't very good considering Christopher Cantwell created and was the head writer for Halt and Catch Fire.
A decent premise but it just falls apart in the second half. Those last two issues after they step away from the premise of the "Captains" and focus on the Nazi villains feel like a comic out of the 50's. The writing wasn't very good considering Christopher Cantwell created and was the head writer for Halt and Catch Fire.
April 19, 2022
An interesting start reexamines the American Dream and introduces a diverse cast of characters to don the mantle of Captain America around the country, but it quickly devolves into a retro and ham-fisted superhero team-up road trip with Nazis. (One character actually calls Steve Rogers "the living end of Godwin's Law.") It's like one of those old DC or Marvel comics from the '80s or '90s that existed solely to sell a new toy line.
It's nice that diverse writers like Darcie Little Badger were brought in to write short stories featuring the new Caps, but those little tales are barely able to add a second dimension to the characters and get lost in all the sound and fury of the bombastic main feature.
It's nice that diverse writers like Darcie Little Badger were brought in to write short stories featuring the new Caps, but those little tales are barely able to add a second dimension to the characters and get lost in all the sound and fury of the bombastic main feature.
April 19, 2022
Very good! And I hope it pissed off all the really sensitive, bigoted dudebros, too!
As a very big Captain America fan, this is a perfect series to hopefully get the point across that Captain America is more than just Steve Rogers. I love Steve a lot and this series did a great job demonstrating (for the HUNDREDTH time) that Steve Rogers fights for the oppressed, not out of blind patriotism. The mantle can be held by anyone who does the same and I really loved that Cantwell decided to have the majority of this story be about Sam and Steve going around the country meeting the other captains.
I can feel that some of this was probably a nod to the Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV show - which I didn't like to be honest. I'd much prefer we keep that version of Sam and Bucky's partnership (where Bucky treats Sam like shit and Sam is literally just his support system) out of the comics where they actually have a good partnership and friendship. Please don't drag the MCU's mess into the comics!
However, I think that's partially why this story is about Sam and Steve. They’re my favorite of Steve's partnerships, their banter was hilarious and I liked seeing them discuss their differences in ideals. I loved seeing them take on sort of a mentor type role to Aaron, Nichelle and Aurielle. I wish those characters would show up again in the future, but who knows what Marvel has planned.
I feel like this shows you can have multiple captains at once and, hey, we have multiple spider men, so why not? The shield is so much bigger than one person and each person carrying it makes an attempt to show up for the people the rest of the country leaves behind. Nichelle is a great example of that.
So, I really liked Joe, Aurielle, Nichelle and Aaron. I loved seeing Sam and Steve guide them and help them realize their work is just as important. I am really looking forward to the new books coming out with Sam and Steve!
As a very big Captain America fan, this is a perfect series to hopefully get the point across that Captain America is more than just Steve Rogers. I love Steve a lot and this series did a great job demonstrating (for the HUNDREDTH time) that Steve Rogers fights for the oppressed, not out of blind patriotism. The mantle can be held by anyone who does the same and I really loved that Cantwell decided to have the majority of this story be about Sam and Steve going around the country meeting the other captains.
I can feel that some of this was probably a nod to the Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV show - which I didn't like to be honest. I'd much prefer we keep that version of Sam and Bucky's partnership (where Bucky treats Sam like shit and Sam is literally just his support system) out of the comics where they actually have a good partnership and friendship. Please don't drag the MCU's mess into the comics!
However, I think that's partially why this story is about Sam and Steve. They’re my favorite of Steve's partnerships, their banter was hilarious and I liked seeing them discuss their differences in ideals. I loved seeing them take on sort of a mentor type role to Aaron, Nichelle and Aurielle. I wish those characters would show up again in the future, but who knows what Marvel has planned.
I feel like this shows you can have multiple captains at once and, hey, we have multiple spider men, so why not? The shield is so much bigger than one person and each person carrying it makes an attempt to show up for the people the rest of the country leaves behind. Nichelle is a great example of that.
So, I really liked Joe, Aurielle, Nichelle and Aaron. I loved seeing Sam and Steve guide them and help them realize their work is just as important. I am really looking forward to the new books coming out with Sam and Steve!
January 8, 2022
A Captain America imposter steals Steve Rogers' iconic shield, prompting him to recruit Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson for a cross-country pursuit. Along the way, they met a network of other Captains America, each of which with their own unique backstory and reason to wear the flag. Can a United States Of Captain America come together to stop a country-wide threat?
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, to be honest. My biggest worry going in was that the main plot would just be a vehicle to introduce a load of new characters, but they're all fairly well integrated into the story. They each have a reason to show up or be involved, and they're each unique enough to earn their place in the comic rather than just another down-on-their-luck person who wanted to make a difference (which is fine, but not four times in a row). Cantwell's story actually picks up on a few plot threads from the end of Ta-Nehisi Coates' run that I didn't expect to see quite so quickly.
What helps is that the origin stories for each of the new Caps is relegated to a back-up story in each issue rather than taking up page space in the main story. Each of these is written by a writer with a similar background to the Cap, so there's a Native American writing the Native American, for example, which helps the stories ring true. Some of them are new to comics as far as I can tell, but you'd never know it from reading their work.
The art for the main book is mostly Dale Eaglesham, whose rendering is always beautiful although sometimes a little static. There's a fill-in issue by Ron Lim of all people, which is an odd person to choose as a fill-in but it's fine. The back-ups feature art by Jan Bazaldua, Natacha Bustos, David Cutler, and Jodi Nishijima, in order.
There's not an ongoing Captain America book at the moment, but United States Of Cap fills the gap nicely for now. Well worth a look.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, to be honest. My biggest worry going in was that the main plot would just be a vehicle to introduce a load of new characters, but they're all fairly well integrated into the story. They each have a reason to show up or be involved, and they're each unique enough to earn their place in the comic rather than just another down-on-their-luck person who wanted to make a difference (which is fine, but not four times in a row). Cantwell's story actually picks up on a few plot threads from the end of Ta-Nehisi Coates' run that I didn't expect to see quite so quickly.
What helps is that the origin stories for each of the new Caps is relegated to a back-up story in each issue rather than taking up page space in the main story. Each of these is written by a writer with a similar background to the Cap, so there's a Native American writing the Native American, for example, which helps the stories ring true. Some of them are new to comics as far as I can tell, but you'd never know it from reading their work.
The art for the main book is mostly Dale Eaglesham, whose rendering is always beautiful although sometimes a little static. There's a fill-in issue by Ron Lim of all people, which is an odd person to choose as a fill-in but it's fine. The back-ups feature art by Jan Bazaldua, Natacha Bustos, David Cutler, and Jodi Nishijima, in order.
There's not an ongoing Captain America book at the moment, but United States Of Cap fills the gap nicely for now. Well worth a look.
January 19, 2022
A cool idea but with the art and story feels like made for very young kids. Which was more adult oriented. But yeah didn't do much for me.
October 21, 2021
I love the themes and inclusive new characters. This is the Cap content we needed in 2021. 4.5/5 stars.
April 6, 2022
I liked this quite a bit more than I thought I would. The banter is fun, and I liked the new characters. The concept of a loosely connected network of normal people inspired by Captain America to help their own communities makes perfect sense in concept, and it provided an opportunity to introduce a handful of fun new characters, and the possibility for even more. That said, the actual villain plot this is all based around was unconvincing and shallow. It's no coincidence that the weakest issue is the one that has to focus most closely on that plot.
March 26, 2022
I own this book.
I'm loyal to nothing. Except the dream. I actually said that once. Here's the thing about a dream though. A dream isn't real. When we wake up, it goes away. And we're left yearning inside like something was taken from us.
I loved this mini-series.
I think this book has a really great progression from where we left Steve in Ta-Nehisi Coate's Captain America run. We see a Steve somewhat disillusioned with his position as the patriotic man with a plan, questioning how an idea like Captain America fits into a modern America, when his flat is broken into by someone dressed as him and his shield is stolen and while he and Sam chase down the assailant, they come across Aaron Fischer, a young man who protects runaways on trains while dressed as Captain America. They soon find that there is a whole network of community heroes inspired by Cap who go out of their way to help those surrounding them, whether that is as an advocate for human rights, protecting homeless kids, protecting friends from bullies or simply fixing appliances and being a handy man. Sam and Steve soon rush to protect this network of people from the evil Cap and his team while trying to get Steve's shield back. We have Bucky coming in around issue three and we also get a good arc of him battling with some of the stuff left over from his days as Cap, whether he wanted to or not.
I think this is a great example of a Captain America story. It gets to the heart of the character but it doesn't skirt around the fact that a WASP might not be the perfect example of what modern-day America should stand for. I will say the reason this book isn't getting five stars is that I felt the last couple of issues were really rushed. I know this is only five issues, and the authors probably didn't have a lot of space to play but this is a really interesting premise, I love seeing Sam, Bucky and Steve together and working alongside one another, but I just felt that the last issue went from "oh we have no idea" to "oh we won" very quickly. I would love to have seen this be a slightly longer run, perhaps up to 8 issues instead, and gotten a bit more snark from John Walker too, I really liked John in this series.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot.
I'm loyal to nothing. Except the dream. I actually said that once. Here's the thing about a dream though. A dream isn't real. When we wake up, it goes away. And we're left yearning inside like something was taken from us.
I loved this mini-series.
I think this book has a really great progression from where we left Steve in Ta-Nehisi Coate's Captain America run. We see a Steve somewhat disillusioned with his position as the patriotic man with a plan, questioning how an idea like Captain America fits into a modern America, when his flat is broken into by someone dressed as him and his shield is stolen and while he and Sam chase down the assailant, they come across Aaron Fischer, a young man who protects runaways on trains while dressed as Captain America. They soon find that there is a whole network of community heroes inspired by Cap who go out of their way to help those surrounding them, whether that is as an advocate for human rights, protecting homeless kids, protecting friends from bullies or simply fixing appliances and being a handy man. Sam and Steve soon rush to protect this network of people from the evil Cap and his team while trying to get Steve's shield back. We have Bucky coming in around issue three and we also get a good arc of him battling with some of the stuff left over from his days as Cap, whether he wanted to or not.
I think this is a great example of a Captain America story. It gets to the heart of the character but it doesn't skirt around the fact that a WASP might not be the perfect example of what modern-day America should stand for. I will say the reason this book isn't getting five stars is that I felt the last couple of issues were really rushed. I know this is only five issues, and the authors probably didn't have a lot of space to play but this is a really interesting premise, I love seeing Sam, Bucky and Steve together and working alongside one another, but I just felt that the last issue went from "oh we have no idea" to "oh we won" very quickly. I would love to have seen this be a slightly longer run, perhaps up to 8 issues instead, and gotten a bit more snark from John Walker too, I really liked John in this series.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot.
January 26, 2022
4.25
Some really cool parts about this story. Wrapped up too easily, though. Spoiler: the good guys win. Some interesting points about the intentional subversion of American symbology. I want to next see a network of Captains who do awful things but see themselves as the good guys.
Some really cool parts about this story. Wrapped up too easily, though. Spoiler: the good guys win. Some interesting points about the intentional subversion of American symbology. I want to next see a network of Captains who do awful things but see themselves as the good guys.
Read
December 18, 2022By far, one of my favorite series that I've read. This could have easily been a much longer series, and I think these characters have enough potential for their own spin-off series. While Steve's legacy has cemented him as synonymous with the mantle of Captain, the writers illustrate these subtle and beautiful moments that remind of us why that is, rather than trying to shove it in front of us.
Even more so, I loved the way Sam and Steve reflected on the individual members of the Captains Network. Everything about this series was smart and well thought out, I would argue though, that it was a bit rushed. Give us more time with each Captain, let's see them grapple with the mantle and it's legacy like Steve, Sam, Bucky, and John do. Give us more time to flesh out the various aspects of America they represent, give us more about the transmutation of Nazi ideology and how it persistently rears its head within American sociopolitical culture. There is such a rich story here, and it could only be strengthened with more issues.
Even more so, I loved the way Sam and Steve reflected on the individual members of the Captains Network. Everything about this series was smart and well thought out, I would argue though, that it was a bit rushed. Give us more time with each Captain, let's see them grapple with the mantle and it's legacy like Steve, Sam, Bucky, and John do. Give us more time to flesh out the various aspects of America they represent, give us more about the transmutation of Nazi ideology and how it persistently rears its head within American sociopolitical culture. There is such a rich story here, and it could only be strengthened with more issues.
January 27, 2022
At their core, heroes are supposed to be inspirational. That gets complicated when your hero is wrapped in a flag, and that flag is connected to a lot of different kinds of feelings for a lot of different kinds of people. At the core of this volume is a story involving unabashed evil, and some basic exploration about where that comes from, and the heroes who fight it - and some expansion of the ideas of who exactly that might be. All of that, though, is a device to introduce you to the Captains America, representing some of this country's more marginalized groups - P.O.C.s, First Nations, LGBTQIA, the impoverished - and to push home a message that's bigger than a comic book while also being the reason these red, white & blue action heroes exist in the first place.
October 21, 2021
I like the concept behind it, but it felt like a PBS Kids show.
May 4, 2022
The premise to this is simple: Cap's (Steve) Shield gets taken by some facists and he teams up with Cap (Sam) to chase them across America, meeting people along the way who have taken up the mantle of Captain America to protect their local area and its problems. All the Captain Americas team up at the end to defeat the bad guys.
But... The real message to this comic is much more vital. The US right now is a crazy place, thrown way off of track by people who don't even understand what it means to be human. I'd like to end my review by writing Steve's speech at the beginning of this story.
Captain America, Steve Rogers says:
"I'm loyal to nothing. Except the dream." I actually said that once.
Here's the thing about a dream though. A dream isn't real.
When we wake up, it goes away, and we're left with this yearning inside.
Like something was taken from us.
At least, that's ONE kind of dream.
But lately - spending my days in this country, as the years march on by - I'm starting to think America actually have TWO dreams... and ONE lie.
The first American Dream is the one that isn't real.
It's the one some people expect to just be handed to them and then they get angry when it disappears... when the truth is, it never really existed in the first place.
Germans have this neat word, "Fernweh".
It means "A longing, or nostalgia for a place you've never been, or for a place that might not even exist at all."
We have a word for this in the States: "Americana".
This is the "white picket fence fallacy" that if we're not careful, becomes NATIONALISM, JINGOISM.
That dream isn't real and it NEVER was.
Because that dream doesn't get along nicely with REALITY.
Other CULTURES.
IMMIGRANTS.
The POOR.
The SUFFERING.
People easily come to be seen as "DIFFERENT" or "UNAMERICAN".
The white picket fence becomes a gate to keep others out.
We are at our best when we keep NO ONE out.
A good dream is shared.
Shared radically.
Shared with everyone.
When something isn't SHARED, it can become the AMERICAN LIE.
The lie is a real problem because it comes in the form of an empty promise.
A while back, we told THE WORLD they could come here for a better life.
But too often, we turn our backs on them.
Instead of a DREAM, they get handed a RAW DEAL.
Then there is the SECOND DREAM.
This one's REAL.
But we don't HOLD it.
Or OWN it.
Heck, we can't even TOUCH it.
We REACH for it. We WORK. We TOIL. We STRUGGLE. We FIGHT.
TOGETHER.
We may never reach it, but we NEVER stop trying.
That's MY DREAM.
'Nuff Said.
But... The real message to this comic is much more vital. The US right now is a crazy place, thrown way off of track by people who don't even understand what it means to be human. I'd like to end my review by writing Steve's speech at the beginning of this story.
Captain America, Steve Rogers says:
"I'm loyal to nothing. Except the dream." I actually said that once.
Here's the thing about a dream though. A dream isn't real.
When we wake up, it goes away, and we're left with this yearning inside.
Like something was taken from us.
At least, that's ONE kind of dream.
But lately - spending my days in this country, as the years march on by - I'm starting to think America actually have TWO dreams... and ONE lie.
The first American Dream is the one that isn't real.
It's the one some people expect to just be handed to them and then they get angry when it disappears... when the truth is, it never really existed in the first place.
Germans have this neat word, "Fernweh".
It means "A longing, or nostalgia for a place you've never been, or for a place that might not even exist at all."
We have a word for this in the States: "Americana".
This is the "white picket fence fallacy" that if we're not careful, becomes NATIONALISM, JINGOISM.
That dream isn't real and it NEVER was.
Because that dream doesn't get along nicely with REALITY.
Other CULTURES.
IMMIGRANTS.
The POOR.
The SUFFERING.
People easily come to be seen as "DIFFERENT" or "UNAMERICAN".
The white picket fence becomes a gate to keep others out.
We are at our best when we keep NO ONE out.
A good dream is shared.
Shared radically.
Shared with everyone.
When something isn't SHARED, it can become the AMERICAN LIE.
The lie is a real problem because it comes in the form of an empty promise.
A while back, we told THE WORLD they could come here for a better life.
But too often, we turn our backs on them.
Instead of a DREAM, they get handed a RAW DEAL.
Then there is the SECOND DREAM.
This one's REAL.
But we don't HOLD it.
Or OWN it.
Heck, we can't even TOUCH it.
We REACH for it. We WORK. We TOIL. We STRUGGLE. We FIGHT.
TOGETHER.
We may never reach it, but we NEVER stop trying.
That's MY DREAM.
'Nuff Said.
July 2, 2023
8/10:
I really enjoyed this one! Sure it gets a tad redundant on the “we’ve got Nazis trying to pit Americans against one another” like a lot of Captain America villains, but it’s still very cool to see the formation of the Captains Network including those who take up the mantle of Captain America across the entire country. I love the inclusion of so many characters, and I hope we get to see more adventures from the Captains Network in the future of Marvel Comics!
If you don’t believe how many Captains there are, let me just list them for you:
- Steve Rogers (Captain America)
- Sam Wilson (Captain America/Falcon)
- Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier)
- John Walker (US Agent)
- Aaron Fischer (Captain America of the Railways)
- Nichelle Wright (Captain America of Harrisburg)
- Joe Gomez (Captain America of the Kickapoo Tribe)
- Arielle Agbayani (The Campus Captain America)
- Captain Jeremy Merrick
- and a bunch more unnamed members of the Captains Network
There are lots of stories to tell about each of these heroes, I hope they get some time to shine!
I really enjoyed this one! Sure it gets a tad redundant on the “we’ve got Nazis trying to pit Americans against one another” like a lot of Captain America villains, but it’s still very cool to see the formation of the Captains Network including those who take up the mantle of Captain America across the entire country. I love the inclusion of so many characters, and I hope we get to see more adventures from the Captains Network in the future of Marvel Comics!
If you don’t believe how many Captains there are, let me just list them for you:
- Steve Rogers (Captain America)
- Sam Wilson (Captain America/Falcon)
- Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier)
- John Walker (US Agent)
- Aaron Fischer (Captain America of the Railways)
- Nichelle Wright (Captain America of Harrisburg)
- Joe Gomez (Captain America of the Kickapoo Tribe)
- Arielle Agbayani (The Campus Captain America)
- Captain Jeremy Merrick
- and a bunch more unnamed members of the Captains Network
There are lots of stories to tell about each of these heroes, I hope they get some time to shine!
March 24, 2024
I liked the concept of this story, with different people all over the US taking up the mantle of Captain America in order to help people out. The story itself dragged a little, however. We have Cap, The Falcon, and Bucky all teaming up with "new" Captain Americas (or Captains America?) to battle the Hate Monger.
It was a fun read, but seemed a little tedious for some reason.
It was a fun read, but seemed a little tedious for some reason.
January 21, 2022
Marvel, please give me a Captains Network comic run!!
The ending is a little weak, but I really enjoyed this. It’s what I want Captain America to always be; progressive and wanting a better future for all Americans.
The ending is a little weak, but I really enjoyed this. It’s what I want Captain America to always be; progressive and wanting a better future for all Americans.
September 30, 2022
Appreciate the shoutout to Harrisburg, since that's my area. I like this more for the voices it uplifts than the actual story, and I hope that these new characters are given the space to grow within Marvel.
March 17, 2023
Great ideas with poor execution and a lot of great small character moments that I would love to see encorporated into Captain America 4. In fact I wouldn’t mind seeing a lot of this in the MCU, just improved upon. Overall an enjoyable but not spectacular read.
April 29, 2022
Probably the best modern comic book series I have read in quite a long time.
Read
April 18, 2022Steve Rogers gets his shield nicked as part of (yet another) plot to discredit him and, in the course of tracking it down, discovers a network of people in underprivileged communities who have been taking the Captain America name and variations of the look to help the people around them - queer kids riding the rails, a district without clean water, a reservation, and so forth. Some see the original as a hero, others as a disappointment in need of a rerun of the slightly trying Green Lantern/Green Arrow speech which kicked off modern political superhero books; all are politically unimpeachable (it would have been a much more interesting book if some of them betrayed evidence of the more toxic beliefs which can emerge on the left - maybe a Cap whose 'anti-Zionism' was that little bit too enthusiastic, or tankie Cap?). And all are in danger. With Steve aided by some of the official stand-in Caps like Sam and Bucky, the antagonist dressed as him too, and all the guest star Caps of the week, it's not always the clearest book visually (though it could have been a lot worse, so fair play to the art team there), and it is incredibly earnest. But it means well, is much more coherent than Cantwell's mess of an Iron Man run, and has driven right-wing snowflakes like nobody's favourite Superman Dean Cain absolutely potty, so it's doing at least that much right.
October 9, 2025
My favorite Steve Rogers, aside from his Nazi-punching era, is any run that finds him working alongside everyday Americans. It is in these scenarios that his character really shines, not only in inspiring regular folks to become heroes in their own lives, but by cementing Roger's ideals and vision for the country. Cantwell has Rogers, Wilson, Barnes, and Walker setting out on a trip across the States to track down a group of amateur Captains after Steve's iconic shield had been stolen. In a plot to tarnish the name of Captain America and plunge the already divided country into chaos, these regular citizens who have taken up the Captain mantle soon find a target on their backs as they are framed for a series of crimes and need the protection of the heroes that inspired them.
The setup has a lot of potential, with each wannabe-Cap coming from a different community and showing a different part of the American experience, but in execution it quickly becomes predictably episodic. Captain and Co. arrive. They meet some minority donning a homemade Captain outfit. That character and the plight that is plaguing their community is introduced. Rogers gives them a pat on the back. Rinse and repeat. A better solution would have been perhaps to just focus on one of these vigilante heroes and let the real Captains really dive into their lived experience, seeing firsthand what it is like to live on the fringes of society. Tonally, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and I think that is Cantwell's saving grace. Quips and cute banter between the Captains abound, and it makes some of the painfully on-the-nose plot points less cringey and a tad more digestible. I never thought I'd hear Steve Rogers happily recount a childhood story about almost defacing Gettysburg on a school trip on account of his 10-year-old bladder, but I'm here for it. With so many characters all wearing Captain uniforms, it can be hard to create distinctive voices, but Cantwell nails Roger's out-of-touch, boy-scout energy and wholesome brand of humor and charm. For 2021, it does feel in parts terribly cliché. Of course, the queer drifter Captain has to rock a mohawk and listens to the "Hamilton" OST on repeat. And of course, the villainous collegiate predator is the blonde rich kid, and the hapless victim happens to be an overweight, brown-skinned, scholarship student. I'd expect this in some kind of 90s after-school special, but in the 2020s? C'mon. As for the art, Eaglesham is responsible for the main issues, dealing with the current big bad, while various other artists handle the issues that deal with each of the homegrown Captains' backstories. Eaglesham's art is solid: poses are dynamic, characters are expressive, faces are distinct, and most importantly, his Steve Rogers is jacked — like, forearm-the-size-of-a-toddler-level jacked.
Despite being a bit heavy-handed and lacking in nuance in its attempt at exploring some of the many issues facing this country, it is buoyed by its fast-paced and breezy approach, which makes it a fun enough read, though a forgettable one. Having multiple artists could easily have made the collection feel disjointed, but by having Eaglesham anchor the series' main plot and having only the flashback issues handled by others, the changes in style don't feel as jarring. Though certainly not a must-read, it is lighthearted and well-intentioned fare, albeit a tad sophomoric.
The setup has a lot of potential, with each wannabe-Cap coming from a different community and showing a different part of the American experience, but in execution it quickly becomes predictably episodic. Captain and Co. arrive. They meet some minority donning a homemade Captain outfit. That character and the plight that is plaguing their community is introduced. Rogers gives them a pat on the back. Rinse and repeat. A better solution would have been perhaps to just focus on one of these vigilante heroes and let the real Captains really dive into their lived experience, seeing firsthand what it is like to live on the fringes of society. Tonally, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and I think that is Cantwell's saving grace. Quips and cute banter between the Captains abound, and it makes some of the painfully on-the-nose plot points less cringey and a tad more digestible. I never thought I'd hear Steve Rogers happily recount a childhood story about almost defacing Gettysburg on a school trip on account of his 10-year-old bladder, but I'm here for it. With so many characters all wearing Captain uniforms, it can be hard to create distinctive voices, but Cantwell nails Roger's out-of-touch, boy-scout energy and wholesome brand of humor and charm. For 2021, it does feel in parts terribly cliché. Of course, the queer drifter Captain has to rock a mohawk and listens to the "Hamilton" OST on repeat. And of course, the villainous collegiate predator is the blonde rich kid, and the hapless victim happens to be an overweight, brown-skinned, scholarship student. I'd expect this in some kind of 90s after-school special, but in the 2020s? C'mon. As for the art, Eaglesham is responsible for the main issues, dealing with the current big bad, while various other artists handle the issues that deal with each of the homegrown Captains' backstories. Eaglesham's art is solid: poses are dynamic, characters are expressive, faces are distinct, and most importantly, his Steve Rogers is jacked — like, forearm-the-size-of-a-toddler-level jacked.
Despite being a bit heavy-handed and lacking in nuance in its attempt at exploring some of the many issues facing this country, it is buoyed by its fast-paced and breezy approach, which makes it a fun enough read, though a forgettable one. Having multiple artists could easily have made the collection feel disjointed, but by having Eaglesham anchor the series' main plot and having only the flashback issues handled by others, the changes in style don't feel as jarring. Though certainly not a must-read, it is lighthearted and well-intentioned fare, albeit a tad sophomoric.
February 14, 2022
Cantwell has been writing from a new perspective over in Iron Man, so I thought I would give this a try. Plus I haven't seen Eaglesham's work in awhile.
This story does a couple things: primarily introduces the idea of The Captains. A group of ordinary folks around the US, inspired by Captain America, who dress up and try to help their local area. It also gives a little peak into the psyche of Steve (although nothing really new here) as well as a look at some modern day issues and how/where Steve stands with those. It isn't overly political but at times sounds a little preachy.
The plot involves someone stealing Cap's shield and he enlists the other/previous Captains America to help (they are right on the cover). The dialogue between Steve and his friends shows the friendship between them, often poking fun at Steve, but it's clear there is a bond. The story has a little bit of mystery to it and tries to setup a new threat for Cap, although it feels secondary to introducing The Captains network. This is best exemplified by the obligatory and predictable ending that comes off as half-hearted and the required conclusion. Eaglesham's art has looked better but is still pretty good. Unfortunately he didn't do issue #5 so the series loses some artistic continuity there. A couple issues also have backup stories on the new characters that also have their own artists.
Closer to 2.5 stars than 3.
This story does a couple things: primarily introduces the idea of The Captains. A group of ordinary folks around the US, inspired by Captain America, who dress up and try to help their local area. It also gives a little peak into the psyche of Steve (although nothing really new here) as well as a look at some modern day issues and how/where Steve stands with those. It isn't overly political but at times sounds a little preachy.
The plot involves someone stealing Cap's shield and he enlists the other/previous Captains America to help (they are right on the cover). The dialogue between Steve and his friends shows the friendship between them, often poking fun at Steve, but it's clear there is a bond. The story has a little bit of mystery to it and tries to setup a new threat for Cap, although it feels secondary to introducing The Captains network. This is best exemplified by the obligatory and predictable ending that comes off as half-hearted and the required conclusion. Eaglesham's art has looked better but is still pretty good. Unfortunately he didn't do issue #5 so the series loses some artistic continuity there. A couple issues also have backup stories on the new characters that also have their own artists.
Closer to 2.5 stars than 3.
January 15, 2023
This Story of a Captain Americas team up (or is it Captains America) has a campy, nostalgic feel, reminiscent more of a Captain Planet cartoon. I don’t find this simplistic and boring, in the context. I think it knows that it’s propagandistic, paying deference to classic “Americana” in style, but also ridiculing it. This Captain is your well meaning grandpa (admittedly an overused trope), likeable, but a little slow. He doesn’t know how to use a phone. He says awkward things. But unlike his mid-century incarnation, this Captain America has little patience for institutional authority, ironic for a military man. There is also a sense of frustration, I think, at the attractiveness of neofascists. Why do they keep popping up like groundhogs?! Why won’t these bad ideas just die? Admittedly Nazis are an overused villain, and I often feel bad for the poor Germans who have become the proverbial whipping boy (All countries have done something villainous). But then again, it works here because that’s just the point. There are a growing number of neofascists today and they do wrap themselves in the red-white-and-blue. It’s a bit on the nose, but it’s not the the Nazis of Schindlers List or even Indiana Jones. They remind me more of the Underminer from the end of Incredibles who officially declares war on peace and happiness. I liked it.
June 6, 2022
I read the single-issue comics version of this and I had this on my to-read shelf for way too long but once I started reading it I wish I would have read it much sooner.
The first issue starts off with Cap having an internal monologue about the state of our country and what he says about America is spot on how I currently feel and it was great to see him/the writer putting those feelings into words on the page. Also, Sam and Steve's Banter through all the issues is delightful.
The second issue also hit well with me because it starts in Gettysburg Pa and then goes to Harrisburg which are both very local to me and it was cool to see them around my part of America.
The 3rd one finally brought in Bucky, my favorite character in the Captain America comics, so another plus for me. And it was nice to see Bucky play a more significant part in the 4th and 5th.
If you are a fan of the Captain America comics this is a must-read.
The first issue starts off with Cap having an internal monologue about the state of our country and what he says about America is spot on how I currently feel and it was great to see him/the writer putting those feelings into words on the page. Also, Sam and Steve's Banter through all the issues is delightful.
The second issue also hit well with me because it starts in Gettysburg Pa and then goes to Harrisburg which are both very local to me and it was cool to see them around my part of America.
The 3rd one finally brought in Bucky, my favorite character in the Captain America comics, so another plus for me. And it was nice to see Bucky play a more significant part in the 4th and 5th.
If you are a fan of the Captain America comics this is a must-read.
February 5, 2025
This concept of Sam and Steve finding what the idea of Captain America means to very different people and how they choose to represent the mantle and help others is quite possibly one of my favorite comic concepts ever!
It takes the idea of "anyone can wear the mask" in an interesting direction, given the centuries of heavy political context the idea of America brings.
All the new Captains America are so inspiring and beautiful to see!
I adore seeing Sam and Steve share the mantle again too and how open minded they are meeting each of these new Captains.
The story is well structured and has great through lines.
My only issue with this book is there's no addressing to why Sam, who had dropped the Captain America title beforehand years ago, would instantly put the costume back on at Steve's suggestion again.
That being said, Sam and Steve's banter is really funny and I loved how they each interacted with everyone.
Overall this is kind of an all time great!
It takes the idea of "anyone can wear the mask" in an interesting direction, given the centuries of heavy political context the idea of America brings.
All the new Captains America are so inspiring and beautiful to see!
I adore seeing Sam and Steve share the mantle again too and how open minded they are meeting each of these new Captains.
The story is well structured and has great through lines.
My only issue with this book is there's no addressing to why Sam, who had dropped the Captain America title beforehand years ago, would instantly put the costume back on at Steve's suggestion again.
That being said, Sam and Steve's banter is really funny and I loved how they each interacted with everyone.
Overall this is kind of an all time great!
June 13, 2022
It is definitely Captains America, thank you for continuing to point that out, Sam. I liked all the new Captains America although I did have to question the one-legged tights on the gymnast's uniform. That seems like it would be very impractical. Also, why on earth did she go after the guy who wasn't holding the gun first in the diner? The guy with the gun was the bigger threat!
Also, why hypnotize Speed Demon as a patsy stand-in for Cap? I think most people would know that super speed is not part of any Captain America's skill set, so it's amazingly obvious he's an imposter.
For the first time, the sound effects stood out to me as really silly.
Also, why hypnotize Speed Demon as a patsy stand-in for Cap? I think most people would know that super speed is not part of any Captain America's skill set, so it's amazingly obvious he's an imposter.
For the first time, the sound effects stood out to me as really silly.
October 15, 2022
In THE UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, Steve Rodgers and Sam Wilson (Falcon) set off on a journey to find Steve's stolen shield. In the process, they meet and learn from diverse individuals donning the garb of Captain America and fitting for justice in their lives. And they track down who is behind besmirching the shield. Of course it's Nazis, but that's probably the most realistic element of this story...because it's always Nazis. With the help of Capts across the US, Steve learns that Captain America is more than just an individual - it's a concept, one that can live in anyone's heart and actions as long as they fight for freedom for all.
January 31, 2025
So, this is terrible. This is an obvious case of a writer not really getting the character as much as he thinks he does. Captain America makes so many laughably bad decisions that would never happen its insane. The book is supposed to show that we (society) can all be Captain America (someone who stands up for what's right) but all it does it show how not to right a comic book. I appreciated the introduction of some diverse new characters but they were very forced and didn't make sense to be necessary to win the day here. Dale Eaglsham's art was fantastic though. He's the only reason to pick the book up. Overall, don't read the words. Look at the amazing art.
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