Captain America #695 not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them, and wow that was a tall order.
I have spent a fair amount of time since July, when the new Waid and Samnee run was announced, worrying if I should dial back my excitement. Because a lot of times when you build something up in your head that makes it all the easier for that thing to disappoint you. Before we found out Nick Spencer was the way he was™, I was excited for his run, and, well, we know how that turned out.
But I’ve loved how Waid has wrote Steve in the past and I loved Samnee’s art, and the hydra!Cap storyline was so bad that I honestly felt there was no where to go but up, so I allowed myself to hope that we were in for a real treat.
The hope paid off. I’m so thrilled right now I’m giddy with it.
Mark Waid knows how to write Steve Rogers and Chris Samnee’s art is gorgeous.
We start out ten years ago, when Steve Rogers, newly woken from the ice, saved the town of Burlington, Nebraska from the terrorist organization Rampart.
And now, ten years later, Steve returns, wary and depressed because of the events of Secret Empire. And what he finds there surprises him. He’s not expecting kindness, I mean despite the fact that the entire country saw real!Steve take out hydra!Cap via live feed and despite the fact that Sam Wilson had announced what had happened with the cosmic cube via satellite, this is the country where a fair amount of people believe that the moon landing was filmed in a Hollywood studio, so long story short Steve enters the town as Steve Rogers, not as Captain America.
And what he stumbles into is a festival celebrating Captain America. But before I get into that, Chris Samnee’s art is so fantastic. I love his Steve. Look at him, can’t you just squish him…
Anyway, as I said, Captain America festival, where people are going on a podium talking about how they still believe in Steve (which had to be good for his soul, my word).
That’s not to say this town doesn’t have it’s own conspiracy theories. Waid and Samnee invented a new term, “icer”. This is someone who actually believes that Steve was frozen on the ice and not a new Captain America appointed by the government just when the Avengers needed him most. 😉
Anyway, this festival is going down and I love the people of this town. They’re awesome…
Then Rampart attacks, again, because every party has a pooper, and Steve is forced to reveal himself. He saves the town, again, because that’s what he does.
But when the town calls him a hero he deflects and points out all the heroes in the crowd who moved to protect and assist those hurt when Rampart attacked.
(…he admits he gets flustered and self-conscious at attention. Oh my Steve. It’s you, you’re really back. I’ve missed you so much buddy!)
He also meets a grown up Donna, whom he had inspired, and solutes her.
This is Captain America. Defender of little guy. Someone who inspires others to do the same. Waid and Samnee get it.
This issue is 100/10, would recommend. Cap fans, you’re going to love it.
I May or May Not be Steve Rogers 