There was some controversy over the new Captain America’s choice to carry a gun, back in Captain America #34.   Some retailers at the time expressed concern about it.  Now, Marvel’s released a provocative new promo, one in their series of promos with the title “What Price Victory?” promoting the upcoming Siege storyline.

Norman Osborn is being held at gunpoint by the new Captain America in the image.  Osborn has been responsible for a lot of the bad things that have happened to Marvel’s heroes in the past year, as Osborn himself was lionized following his part in stopping the Skrull invasion.   Siege looks to be a return to the classic Avengers lineup of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man.  But I wonder if New Cap’s use of a gun might play into his stepping aside from the Captain America role, allowing a return of Steve Rogers?

(Of course, in Reborn right now, Steve Rogers isn’t quite ready to take over anything – but we’ll see how that story progresses, as well!)

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

- Matt Price

Two of the year’s biggest series hit their third issue, and Archie ties the knot. Listen to Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss the eternal question, “Betty or Veronica”?

It’s Boom! and Doom this week on the NewsOK Comics Podcast. Irredeemable from Boom! Studios just is 99 cents, and Doom Patrol launches a new series – with a Metal Men backup! Also find out the latest about Captain America, Ultimate X-Men and Superman.

The time-lost Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, is at the center of Captain America Reborn 2. Rogers has come unstuck in time, and jumps through his own personal history in the World War II era, reliving key moments, but unable to affect them.  Meanwhile, in the present, the new Captain America faces off against Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers.  Also, the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards finds a curious clue.

Writer Ed Brubaker, whose Captain America run has largely stayed out of the bigger Marvel crossover events, gets pulled definitively into Dark Reign in this issue.  The way Brubaker writes it, it’s as if it had been planned all along.  More is revealed about the Red Skull’s overall plan, and Osborn approaches Crossbones and Sin to get in on the deal.

The flashbacks to Cap’s past bring readers up to speed about what’s so great about the character Steve Rogers.  It works as a primer while seeming fresh. Meanwhile, the modern Cap, the former Bucky, shows how he’s grown as a hero through Brubaker’s run.

Artist Bryan Hitch’s art is solid, but really shines in the World War II era battle scenes.  Hitch is working with Butch Guice on the series, and the artwork is pretty seamless.

Reborn fits in well with the Captain America saga Brubaker has been chronicling in the regular title for more than 50 issues, and is a successful outing especially for those who have been patiently awaiting Steve Rogers’ return.

- Matt Price

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss this week’s comics, including Captain America 601, Phantom Generations 3 and Blackest Night 1.  Kyle must deal with his fear of zombies and vampires.

Be safe, and best wishes to everyone celebrating the American Dream today.

Here’s a pretty good Independence Day quote from Captain America himself in Captain America 250, written by Roger Stern:
“We must all live in the real world…and sometimes that world can be pretty grim. But it is the Dream…the hope…that makes the reality worth living.”

(Image from Captain America 250 via Fantastic Fangirls.)

In news that bodes very well for the upcoming Captain America movie, comic-book writer Ed Brubaker tells MTV that he expects to be brought in as part of the “brain trust” on the film.

“I know Kevin Feige was talking about bringing me in when they put together the ‘Captain America’ brain trust for the movie – like they did for ‘Iron Man’ with Matt Fraction and [Brian] Bendis,” Brubaker told MTV News.

Brubaker’s first issue of “Captain America Reborn” hits comic-book stores today.  There’s a free prequel to the series available to view online at www.marvel.com/reborn.   Brubaker has written the past 51 issues of the “Captain America” comic-book series.

- Matt Price

With the return of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, kicking off today in “Captain America: Reborn,” I was curious about a military perspective on the original Cap.  Penny Cockerell pointed me in the direction of Daniel J. Calderón, Senior Public Affairs Specialist with the  Army Corps of Engineers – Los Angeles District Phoenix Area Office.   His thoughts about Captain America’s return, influence and symbolism are as follows.

Matt Price: What do you think about the return of the original Captain America?

Daniel J. Calderón: Oddly enough, I have mixed feelings. I expected to be deliriously happy

Daniel J Calderón shooting photographs over the border in Calexico. Photo credit: Brooks O. Hubbard IV, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

to hear Steve Rogers would be returning to pick up the shield he’s been carrying for more than six decades. However, when I found out about it, I found myself wondering whether or not the decision to “kill” him was less about story and more about sales – much like the “Death of Superman” story arc that ran a few years ago.
I understand Captain America (the original – not the substitutes given over the years) is a character, a creation, a work of fiction. But, it’s not like James Bond. Cap, within the confines of his universe, is nearly ageless.
Bond, on the other hand, ages with the men who bring him to life on the big screen. Captain America, though, represents an ideal, a notion that people can reach their greatest dreams and that there will be someone to help them in their times of greatest need. It’s cheesy, but people do need heroes.
Right now, I’m hard-pressed to think of a hero that can be lifted above the masses. Naturally, there are the uniformed heroes, but I don’t think the people readily accept them for one reason or another. I think it’s because Americans like to build people up just to tear them down. It’s a strange mindset and one I don’t understand at all.
So, am I happy Steve Rogers is coming back? Yes. Yes, I am. I’m hoping no one tries to kill him off again anytime soon.

MP: Is a symbol like Captain America helpful?

DJC: A symbol like Cap is absolutely useful. He represents the best in people. I don’t think anyone has been able to write him negatively. Some of the other characters to inhabit the costume and carry the shield have been less than ideal, though. I think, as a character, there is no one better than Steve Rogers for the job. I know, as a writer, another character can be written to try and follow the same code, have the same ideals and be made to live up to the legend. However, as a fan, it would seem hollow and contrived.

In his world, Captain America is the hero of heroes. Villains look up to Cap. They know what he stands for and what he means. Even the ones who try and kill him do so with a knowledge that his death will have meaning beyond their plans succeeding. It’s a bit of a stretch to say Cap’s death meant the death of hope. But, I do think his death represented the death of a dream.
Cap was originally created (in the comic book world) to counter the Nazi plague infecting the world in WWII. He was meant to inspire the American people with his garish star-spangled uniform and all-American ideas. However, he grew beyond that initial phase.
He grew into a character embracing the world. He grew beyond just an American character into a figure the world could welcome as its own. I think it is because of the ideas he embraced – that America is not just a country, but a dream.
I think the dream is needed just as much today as it ever was in the past. I think the plagues of intolerance, hatred and stupidity (evinced by the continued killings based on the flimsy – and scientifically-flawed – notions of race) are still with us. We need a hero who can speak to those issues. We need someone who can stand up without the benefit of super powers, someone who can defy the inhuman with innate humanity.
MP: As the most obviously patriotic superhero, does Captain America have a particular affinity for those in the military?

DJC: I think saying Cap is a patriotic superhero is a bit much. I don’t see him as a jingoist, just out to “prove” the U.S. is the best country in the world. I think there are too many other people who do that – who are into the whole “we’re better than you” mindset of world affairs. In one speech, Captain America said there is nothing wrong with having pride in one’s country, but not at the expense of any other’s. Instead of being a tool of the government or official policies, Cap is a representative of what brought this country together in the first place.
I think it would be easy for military members to accept Cap as a patriotic hero, but that would be oversimplifying the character.
I think he transcends America – the nation. I think he represents the United States of America – the idea. America is not a nation of any one people. We are a country forged from inherited ideas and imported dreams. Captain America believes in the notion that everyone is equal. He actually works to give as many people as possible the chance to pursue their individual happiness.
I see Cap as more than just an American hero. He is decisive in his leadership, but also willing to follow. He is strong in his ideals, but willing to listen. He accepts others for their differences and sees how those differences can compliment each other in almost any situation. He is a hero of the world. He is a hero born of that international cauldron that is America – a hero who can see past red, white and blue and can appreciate and celebrate people around the world.

MP: When did you become a fan of the character?

DJC: I became a fan back in the late 70s, as far as I know. I don’t remember ever not having a Captain America comic book in my house. I don’t remember if I bought comics for $0.35 or not, but I definitely remember when they were $0.65.
I remember when Captain America helped train and partnered with the high-flying Falcon. I remember when they had to team up with the Kingpin (and, by extension, most of the organized crime bosses in Nevada) to stop the Red Skull from unleashing the Fifth Sleeper on an unsuspecting Las Vegas.
I remember when Cap fought Batroc and his crew who were under instructions to separate him from his shield so Dr. Myron McClain could try and replicate it.
That scheme failed and the bad guys who kidnapped Dr. McClain were brought to justice.
I remember when The Commission stripped Cap of his uniform and gave it to John Walker. That proved disastrous. In the end, Walker gave up being Cap and “died” in a hail of bullets, but was mysteriously bought back to life as the U.S. Agent. Of course, the assassination was later revealed as a fake perpetrated by the government to sever any possible connection between Walker and U.S. Agent.
So, yeah, I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t a fan. He’s been around a long time and I’ve tried to keep up.
MP: Has Captain America influenced you, and if so, how?

DJC: Yes, Captain America has influenced me. My mom taught me to read by the time I was three. I don’t remember this, of course, but I have her stories and those of my aunts to confirm my mom’s accounts. When I was younger, we really didn’t have much in the way of entertainment options. We had a small library near my grandmother’s house and we had a little convenience store down near our house. I would save money and go there to get comics as often as I could.
At the library, I would grab books about Sherlock Holmes and devour them, devoting hours to honing my own powers of deduction. It worked to a degree, but I was never going to be a Holmes.
When I couldn’t get to the library, I would read and re-read my comics. My little brother and I would buy different comics so we could swap out and reach each other’s books. He would buy X-Men or some other books while I would stick with Cap and Thor. I started on The Avengers a little later, but Cap was always the one I would buy first.
When I read Cap, I entered a place where the good guy really did the right thing, no matter how hard it was for him. He stood up to people who were 10, 20 or 100 times stronger than he was and he didn’t back down. All he had were his skills, his determination and his indestructible shield, but he never shied away from defending someone in trouble.
Cap was more about equality than any other character I’ve read. He believed in the innate value of life in all its forms. For Captain America, there were no separate races. There was only the human race. For him, sentient beings all had inherent value and had rights to pursue their dreams.

I’ve tried to incorporate that mindset into my own life. I’ve tried to stand up for those who can’t do it for themselves. I’ve been knocked down more than a few times, but I keep getting up. On forms that have a box to indicate race, I write HUMAN and wait for the inevitable questions. Captain America is an inspirational character. I don’t think any other hero is as respected by other characters in the universe he or she inhabits. I’m glad he’s coming back to inspire people.

The world needs heroes. It’s sad sometimes that they are sometimes only in books; but, with a little luck, the ideals espoused in those pages can make their way into our flesh-and-blood world. If so, then that can only make it better for all of us.

Marvel has announced that the much-hyped Captain America #600 has sold out at the distributor level. (Copies may still be available at retail.)  Marvel will go back to press on the book, with a release date of July 15.

Judging from a Thursday sellout report, moving the release date to Monday was a gamble that paid off at least for Marvel.  There have been mixed reports at retail, but the book looks to have performed to Marvel’s expectations, anyway.   Marvel quotes large New York operations Midtown Comics and Jim Hanley’s Comics in the press release trumpeting the sellout, while the Robot 6 report quotes less excitement from San Francisco stores Isotope and Comic Relief.  Could it be an East Coast vs. West Coast thing?   My own conversation with Oklahoma stores indicated a reasonable amount of excitement about the news.  Overall, I think “Captain America” #600 will be big with the existing Marvel Comics fanbase.

Craig Lopacinski, of Neptune Comics, praised Marvel’s attempt at creating a Monday buzz.

“People all day were excited and upbeat wondering what was in store for them when they read the issue,” Lopacinski said in the release.  “A big thank you goes out to you and Marvel for making this possible. I know that thinking out of the box can be challenging in the selling of comic books, and not everyone is on board. However, it is nice to see a publisher try to make a historically slow sales day into a fun, and profitable one for us.”

David Gabriel, Marvel Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation, praised retailers for getting on board with the Monday release plan.

“Despite what might have been the largest overprint we’ve ever done for a book, copies sold out well before even the early on sale date,” Gabriel said in a release.

I assume that “largest overprint” means in recent history, in the direct market, as obviously books prior to the direct market system were overprinted much more heavily.

I think you have to call the Monday experiment a success for Marvel; was it a success for stores? It appears that at least some of the stores who participated received a significant boost.  While the news of Steve Rogers’ planned return wasn’t earthshaking – and probably hyped the “Reborn” book more than “Captain America” #600 – it did catch quite a bit of attention.  I don’t think anybody expected “Captain America” #25 numbers, but a quick sellout and healthy nationwide buzz are positive indicators for Marvel.

- Matt Price

Marvel provides this snazzy trailer for the upcoming “Captain America Reborn” featuring Sharon Carter recapping what’s happened in Captain America, and hinting at what’s to come.

The Los Angeles Times has a first look at “Captain America Reborn,” shipping next month. Check it out here. My first thought is that it looks pretty similar to “Ultimates” #1 but given that it’s at least partially about the same character and time period, and by the same artist, Bryan Hitch, that’s not surprising.  Overall, it looks good.  Looking forward to checking out more of it. What do you think?

- Matt Price

“Heroes don’t stay dead,” said Eric Neal, an owner of Second Chance Books and Comics in Warr Acres. “I’m sure people will like having him back.”

Bart Bush, of Atomik Pop in Norman, agreed.

“I think it’s just wonderful,” he said. “I’m glad to see him back.”

Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, was killed in the March 2007 issue of “Captain America.”   The character first appeared in 1941 and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Bush said he felt comic-book fans were ready for the return of Rogers.

“More people were upset about him not being Captain America than anything I’ve seen of late,” Bush said.  “We knew this was going to happen with the movie coming up.”

Marvel released “Captain America” #600 on Monday, two days ahead of the regular comic-book release date.  In the issue, Captain America’s former girlfriend Sharon Carter says there’s a chance to save the original Captain America.

Neal said he thought how fans ultimately felt about Rogers’ return would depend on the quality of the “Captain America Reborn,” the five-issue miniseries beginning next month that would contain the return of Captain America.

“It depends on how well it’s done,” Neal said.  “(Fans) always like their favorites to come back, but they want it done in a way that’s interesting and believable.”

Bush said he thought longtime fans, in particular, would rejoice over Rogers’ return.

“I think it’s good sales-wise and story-wise,” he said.

- Matt Price

The Captain America news keeps coming from Marvel, who have now revealed the Joe Quesada variant for “Captain America Reborn” #1.  “Captain America Reborn” is by the creative team of Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch.

- Matt Price

According to the New York Daily News, the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, will return in a comic-book series later this year.

Captain America was killed in “Captain America” No. 25 in 2007.  His former partner, Bucky, has taken on the role of Cap.  The original will return in a five-part miniseries next month, “Captain America Reborn.” “Reborn” will be written by “Captain America” writer Ed Brubaker and drawn by “Ultimates” artist Bryan Hitch.

Death is rarely permanent in comic books, and with a big-budget Captain America motion picture on the way, the return of the original was perhaps inevitable.

Brubaker, editor Tom Brevoort, and editor-in-chief Joe Quesada discuss the motivations for the return at Marvel.com.

“‘Reborn’  is the next chapter in the larger story that I’ve been building in [CAPTAIN AMERICA] since issue #1,” said Brubaker, who began writing ‘Captain America’ with the 2004 launch of the most recent volume. “This is a chance to really explore how things have changed in the years since Steve’s death and really delve deep into who Steve Rogers is and why he became Captain America. It’s a really a [story] with two or three different plotlines that all intertwine, which is a lot of fun and allows us to have [both] in-your-face action and quiet character moments.”

- Matt Price

Artist Jason Latour (”The Expatriate”) shares a look at his pitch for “The Invaders” for the 2003 Epic revival at Marvel at his livejournal.

Events conspired against this pitch being published, but Latour says he’s “a sucker for WWII Captain America.”   Count me as interested in seeing more!   Latour also shares a recent WWII Cap drawing in the same post.

- Matt Price

While whatever the big news that’s expected to be announced along with the release of Captain America #600 remains secret, Marvel Comics has released these preview pages from the issue to whet appetites even further.

This Kyle Baker art, which appears to be of Isaiah Bradley, from Baker’s Web site (and found via The Beat) is increasing speculation about the upcoming “Captain America” 600 and “Reborn.”  Marvel has moved the release date for “Captain America” 600 up to Monday, June 15, from the typical Wednesday release.

Marvel has changed the final order cutoff for the “Reborn” series to after June 15, allowing retailers to see “Captain America” #600 before placing their final orders for “Reborn.”  “Reborn” is by “Captain America” writer Ed Brubaker and “Ultimates” artist Bryan Hitch, and Marvel has indicated a major story will be released on the 15th about “Reborn.”   Could it involve a black Captain America?  Isaiah Bradley was an earlier test subject of “Project: Rebirth,” the World War II-era project that created Captain America.  His story is recounted in “Truth: Red, White and Black,” by Robert Morales and Kyle Baker.

Other speculations about “Reborn” have included the possible return of Steve Rogers, the original Captain America; a crossover with the “Heroes Reborn” universe; or something tied in with a “Captain America” movie announcement.  We’ll probably have to wait until June 15 to find out for sure.

– Matt Price

Click past the cut for images, including a preview of “Captain America” #600

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including Supergirl 41, Wolverine: Weapon X 2, Batman Battle for the Cowl 3 and Captain America 50.
Below, see an image gallery from “Wolverine: Weapon X” 2, written by Jason Aaron with art by Ron Garney.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price talk to Robert Weiner in this week’s Comics Q&A, about the book “Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero,” and the appeal of the Captain America character through the ages.

Marvel.com has announced it is “Captain America Week” at the web site, and art debuts and creator interviews are scheduled.

Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and writer Ed Brubaker go in depth about what’s next for the Sentinel of Liberty at http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.7688

Noted in the story is that classic Marvel artist Gene Colan joins Brubaker for issue #601 of “Captain America.”   That’s certainly good news for longtime Cap fans!

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss the final issue of “Final Crisis” and a new comic based on the animated “Brave and Bold” cartoon. The New Avengers get involved with Dark Reign in “New Avengers” 49, as Cage seeks his child. And Captain America teams up with Namor in “Captain America” 46.

Writer Ed Brubaker talks about how Bucky has been accepted as the new Captain America, and the Lady Bullseye arc in Daredevil. There’s also a tease for the next “Daredevil” story arc at the end of the video.

According to Variety, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have been hired by Marvel Entertainment to write the screenplay for the upcoming “Captain America” film.  The pair wrote the screenplays to both “Chronicles of Narnia” movies. 

– Matt Price

According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Joe Johnston has signed a deal to direct “The First Avenger: Captain America” set for a 2011 release.

Johnston previously directed “The Rocketeer” and “Jurassic Park III,” and was the art director – visual effects on “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

“Captain America” is planned to be a World War II-era film, with the character also appearing in “The Avengers,” planned to be a modern-era piece.  In the comics, Captain America was frozen in a block of ice near the end of World War II before being revived by the Avengers many years later.

– Matt Price

Admittedly, I’m not sure how many election-themed comics there are, but I’m going with “Captain America” #250, by Roger Stern and John Byrne, as my favorite, in which a third party attempts to draft Captain America as a presidential candidate.

Marvel has the issue online here.  (You might have to be a member.) It’s also available in the “War and Remembrance” trade paperback, which collects the Stern-Byrne run.

– Matt Price

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

As the United States celebrates its independence, Marvel Comics has released a collection of a popular “Captain America” story.

When Captain America was killed in Marvel’s line of comic books in 2007, the character received more publicity than ever. “Captain America: The Chosen” is a miniseries written by The New York Times best-selling author and Rambo creator David Morrell, with art by Mitch Breitweiser. It sold out its first issue nationwide. “Chosen” now is available in a hardcover collection from Marvel.

“Captain America: The Chosen” is part of Marvel’s “Marvel Knights” line. The line explores alternate and more sophisticated versions of the characters, as in recent miniseries “Spider-Man: Reign” and “Silver Surfer: Requiem.” In “Chosen,” an aged Captain America is dying, but Cpl. James Newman, deployed to Afghanistan, thinks he sees the captain alive and well, and helping Newman escape from scrapes.

Breitweiser, from Arkansas, told The Oklahoman in a phone interview that the death of Captain America probably helped the sales of “Chosen,” but that he had no advance knowledge of the plan.

“Marvel’s more secret than the CIA,” Breitweiser said. “I didn’t know about the death of Cap that day, when it happened. I called (Marvel’s) office, and they didn’t expect the amount of media coverage they were going to get from that.”

Breitweiser said the commotion about Captain America’s death inspired him to improve his art even further.

“Cap meant a lot to a lot of people, even those that weren’t reading comics, as an American icon, and I think that hit a chord with the public consciousness,” Breitweiser said. “I was still finishing the book up at the time, and that inspired me even more to just knock it out of the park.”

Morrell talked about the series on his Web site, www.davidmorrell.net, at the time of the first issue’s release:

“Throughout the story, these words function as a constant refrain: ‘Courage, honor, loyalty, sacrifice.’ Those are the military virtues, and in my opinion, the world would be a better place if all civilians practiced them.”

Captain America (and the Falcon) #194 is the second part of the “Madbomb!” story, which marked Jack Kirby’s return to the character he co-created.

The 18-page story is called “The Trojan Horde,” and Kirby packs in quite a bit of action into the 18 pages.

This February 1976 issue marks the first appearance of “Captain Steven Rogers,” the modern Captain America’s ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War against the Brits. Falcon reacts somewhat negatively to Captain America’s praise of his ancestor, saying, he probably owned slaves. Steve says there’s no record of that, but Falcon seems like he doesn’t totally buy that.

In this issue, it’s revealed that Rogers killed Sir William Taurey in the Revolutionary War — his descendant has now sworn to kill the descendant of Rogers, who Taurey has found out was a weakling who was 4-F in World War II. (The story being in 1976, even without Cap’s ice-capades, he’d only have been roughly 56 years old, as opposed to the 86 he would be now.)

Coinicidentally, Taurey also seems to be behind the A-plot — his group of elitists want to overthrow American society using the Madbomb. One Madbomb has already been set off, driving a city crazy. Cap and Falcon must track down the rest, including the “Big Daddy” which threatens society as we know it.

Cap and Falc open the issue being innundated by Madbomb waves from SHIELD, to increase their tolerance for the rays.

The plan is for Cap and Falcon to get captured, in civilian clothes by the bad Madbombers and figure out what’s going on.

Cap finds out that captured SHIELD agents are getting turned into mad, raging powerhouses, and decides they can’t wait any longer — he and the Falcon must spring into action!

There’s so much happening in this issue, that even though it’s wacky and a little hard to believe, the amount of ideas and energy crackling from the page make it great fun for Cap and Kirby fans.

The whole “Madbomb” storyline is available in trade paperback format.

– Matt Price