Captain America (2018) Issue 2

 

-By Ta-Nehisi Coates & Leinil Francis Yu

-Inkers: Gerry Alanguilan & Leinil Francil Yu

-Color Artist: Sunny Gho

-Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna

-Cover: Alex Ross

This issue takes a slower pace than the first, although it opens with Steve Rogers intervening on another attack from the same group of supersoldier terrorists with their faces painted with the American flag.

Although he succeeds, he's told off by General Ross, and it's clear that the American government doesn't trust the Captain like they used to. After this, Steve spends a lot of time dwelling on the past, on his failures, on how he's different (or not) from the super soldiers who attack innocent people. At the end, it looks like the good Captain is going to get some help from friends in Wakanda.

I really appreciated this issue. I really liked its slower, more emotional pace. It gave us some room to explore Steve's relationship with Sharon, and with his relationship with himself. Coates is clearly exploring the double-edged nature of patriotism and even masculinity, in a way that doesn't come across as superior or preachy, while still feeling pointed and topical.

The icing on the cake is the art and panel layout in this issue. There's some really creative and dynamic panels that reach out and seize your attention. I know I'm only two issues in, but I'm already considering buying the trades for this story. We'll pick up Captain America again next Friday!