CROSSBONES versus CAPTAIN AMERICA
Out of Time: Part 4 (Marvel)
Where: Captain America #4 When: April 2005
Why: Ed Brubaker How: Steve Epting

The story so far...
He was the legendary super soldier of the Second World War, and after being frozen in a block of ice, Captain America was thawed out by the Avengers to have a second chance to change the world as a beacon of all the American dream hoped to be.

Of the past, all the man behind the mask has is memories, but when Steve Rogers begins having flashbacks, things no longer seem the way they once did. As the flashbacks increase, so too do the deviations in what Captain America recalls as fact, including fateful events like the scene that saw the death of his partner, Bucky Barnes.

The subversive attack continues as the unmarked graves of two wartime mystery men; Spirit of '76 and Patriot; are desecrated, sending a direct message to the man whose mantle both men would at one time occupy.
Having investigated the graves Cap spins into yet another flashback, before finding himself under fire on the freeway from an old foe -- Crossbones!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Crossbones 4 (Steroids)
Intelligence: Draw 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Captain America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Captain America 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Captain America 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Captain America 6 (Warrior)
Energy Powers: Crossbones 2 (Projectile Weapons)


- With a death on his hands, the juvenile Brock Rumlow would flee New York City and seek refuge with one of the Taskmaster's infamous schools for criminals and mercenaries. There he would excel in the fighting techniques Taskmaster taught, which would allow him to graduate into a prominent mercenary in his own right.
His career would bring him to the attentions of the Red Skull, with whom he would pledge permanent employment and allegiance, and gain his codename.

Crossbones is a highly skilled hand-to-hand fighter trained extensively in various martial arts styles, military combat techniques, and street fighting.
He is also extremely proficient with a wide variety of weaponry including a catalogue of guns, knives, and other projectile weapons.

- A scrawny and frail individual, despite his best efforts, Steve Rogers was unable to enlist to serve his country on the cusp of the Second World War.
Given his gusto, Rogers was invited to partake in the top secret Operation: Rebirth, which intended to chemically alter a man's biology to grant him fantastic speed, strength, and endurance, making him a super-soldier! The serum proved successful in turning the diminutive Rogers into a battle ready super-soldier, but the serum's creator, Dr. Abraham Erskine, lived only long enough to see the fruits of his labours, before being assassinated.

Thus, Rogers lives on to honor Dr. Erskine as America's only super-soldier, and sentinel of liberty: Captain America!

The serum grants Captain America peak human physical conditioning, a sharp mind, and an altered physiology that drastically slows his aging. These physical and mental attributes are complimented by extensive training in hand-to-hand combat, (including the use of a vibranium-steel alloy shield), and briefing in tactical maneuvers, urban military combat, and survival tactics.

The Captain has amassed decades of experience in the heat of combat, and carries with him a confidence that reflects this, and exudes the authority that he has established throughout the superhero community as leader of the Avengers.

The Math: Captain America Ranking: Captain America (#5)

What Went Down...
Distracted by flashback, the motorcycle mounted Captain America is snapped back to reality by gunshots that puncture his front tyre. He is able to gracefully tumble from the jacknifing bike, and takes immediate shelter behind his shield, as the mercenary Crossbones walks across the road firing.

As Cap ponders the likelihood of Crossbones' involvement in the destruction of his allies' graves, he finds himself yanked into a flashback of his partner being tortured right before his eyes by the first Baron Zemo.

Crossbones mercileslly beats the Captain, ignorant of his struggles between distorted images of the past, and the present. Reliving the moment, Captain lets out an uncharacteristic howling objection.

Fighting to stay in the present and to protect himself; Captain America throws himself into a charging maneuver that puts his shield between he and his burly assailant. Crossbones relishes the opposition, but puts on a show of his strength, punching the shield before yanking it aside with the barrel of his gun.

Cap continues to struggle with his uncontrollable memories, recognising the threat they pose to his survival, let alone victory. He is barely able to jump aside as Crossbones threatens with a clubbing blow that leaves a dent in a car trunk.

Evasive maneuvers prove futile as Crossbone's fists catch up with the Captain, dropping him with one fell blow. Crossbones puts the boot in, mocking his arch-nemesis, only to find unexpected retorts calling him a coward.

Down, but not out, Cap suffers another boot to the gut, before getting a total denial from the masked mercenary. Seeking vengeance for the murder of Red Skull, Crossbones reveals that he was told of the Captain's whereabouts by an anonymous Russian tip.

With the truth verbalized, Crossbones throws another boot to the already floored Cap, before declaring disinterest in facing him in his weakened and distracted state. Showing a rare taste for ceremony, Crossbones disappears into the surrounding wilderness, leaving the beaten Captain to the scattered traffic on the highway, and the plaguing flashes of memories that did not occur.

The Hammer...
Despite being the bigger man, (for walking away), we've got no choice but to declare this a victory for Crossbones and an awful start to the year for Captain America, who is already the most defeated character on the books!

If you're just joining us, it might be nice to know that we're beginning he year by serving up first dibs to the top ten characters of 2007, which saw the good Captain come in at number three. Really not too shabby for a dead guy who got beat up more than anyone remembers!

So, speaking of being beaten up, we've got another one of those 'benefit of hindsight' scenarios which raises a great frustration found in a good many superhero stories: the villain and a sense of ceremony.

It's worth acknowledging that the presence of the Red Skull makes for two very different contextual settings, but never the less, the problem I find here is that Crossbones leaves Captain America, not content with beating him in a situation that has him anywhere but his best. A contorted warrior's logic, but something not too difficult to give to a comic book villain.

Unless, of course, a couple of years later they're at the centre of story built on shooting a shackled Captain America from a sniper's post miles away.

Again, I acknowledge there are a lot of variables involved. In the latter example, Crossbones is acting with instruction from the Red Skull. Likewise, there's a larger plot surrounding mind games with Sharon Carter and a whole lot of convoluted mess that really only raises different script issues, but at the heart of it, the scenes depicted here really feel awkward.

I suppose part of that is due to the nature of Crossbones as a villain.
I think these street level mercenaries more than others ask for an honesty in their depiction, which isn't easy to carry in the serialized medium. The balancing act of serving a story, maintaining a character's competence, and allowing your hero to escape, are not necessarily easily managed -- particularly when your villain is supposedly a highly skilled, amoral mercenary who hates the hero.

When you look at the motivations of the character and the stark scope of the reality, it becomes a very difficult pill to swallow. Here it might even require a greater suspension of disbelief than Batman's constant decisions to allow the Joker to live. It's the difference between a costumed vigilante and a multi-coloured murderer who kills with fish -- and a soldier versus a man with a gun.

We've been critical of Brubaker's work a lot, and I have to say at the very least, these early issues really helped summon an atmosphere that I don't ever recall being around Captain America. Though he's operated independently and on an urban scale, the art direction, and motley colours of Frank D'Armata really help sell the more urban movements of Captain America in a pseudo-real world.

That said, the visual direction comes with criticism. Though it seems to have been very well received, I personally find the inks and droning colours on Epting's pencils to be a little more than unattractive. Though the general concept is definitely complimentary to the tone of the fiction, in it's isolation it clashes with some of the comic book conventions, and it proves stoicly unexpressive, much like a lot of the writing.

The dark colour palette, at it's worst, feels more like a broad allusion to something, in essence similar to Brubaker's insinuations of a story more involving than it is. On the flipside, the Brubaker/Lark combination is much more palatable, even if it features Lark's trademark unfinished lines.

We've talked a lot about the myth of 'Lazy Brubaker Syndrome', and though the story gradually built to it's first milestone - the return of Bucky - I found myself becoming distracted and disinterested by around issue five. Which, at the time, was of great frustration because otherwise it was a very positive push forward for the character, I feel.

You might measure the story's penchant for rewriting history against the recent One More Day debacle, but I think you'll find far purer motivations here, even if it isn't particularly well represented by the transition of canon.

Contrary to more widespread opinion, I find Bucky's 'resurrection' almost as silly as the Prime-Punch return of Jason Todd. While Winter Soldier presents a more grounded explanation, the relation it holds with decades of stories doesn't gel particularly well. Even so, Winter Soldier has proved a welcome addition to the Captain America family, and will officially don the Cap costume in 2008.

Overall, I think it's the broad conceptual strokes that leave Brubaker deserving of praise. Even if execution has been frustratingly lacking, the map of ideas has been there enough to bring me back to Cap for the odd taste. I just wish it was the kind of must-read book it clearly wants to be.

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 4.5

Agree or disagree with our opinions? Under the on-going team of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting; Captain America has been one of the most popular titles published by Marvel, revered by many. If you're looking for an easy way to scoop yourself an acid test, why not head to Amazon where the first trade serves up the first storyarc in a convenient little package! Mmm, kick-backs!

WINTER SOLDIER versus CROSSBONES
The Death of the Dream (Marvel comics)
Where: Captain America #25 When: April 2007
Why: Ed Brubaker How: Steve Epting

The story so far...
The world was turned upside down for Captain America when the Red Skull and his associates began toying with everything that has defined him, but nothing cut as deep as the return of his former sidekick -- Bucky Barnes.

Having survived the accident that supposedly left him dead in the icey waters that froze the Captain, Barnes has lived a life of servitude to the communist Russian regime. Standing as an affront to everything he and Captain America once stood for.

Despite his past, Winter Soldier finds himself in the employ of the underground Nick Fury, former Director of SHIELD.
Having surrendered to pro-registration forces in the superhero Civil War, Rogers finds himself paraded before a jaded public and media, unbeknownst to all as part of a sinister ploy set in motion by the Red Skull.

Captain America is dead.

Previous Form:
Winter Soldier (#56): Bucky has a victory over Wolverine.
Crossbones: Crossbones has not yet been featured on the site.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Crossbones 4 (Steroid Popper)
Intelligence: Winter Soldier 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Trained Athlete)
Stamina: Winter Soldier 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Winter Soldier 2 (Average)
Fighting Ability: Draw 4 (Trained Fighter)
Energy Powers: Winter Soldier 3 (Explosives)


Captain America doesn't really have a lot to do with the measuring of this particular fight, and because I got the second-print, the cover image kind of makes this null and void -- but I just wanted to picture exactly what we're fighting for.

This is a big deal! This is two characters essentially fighting over the man who defined their existence. For Crossbones, Captain America has been his chief rival and target for roughly two decades now.

For Winter Soldier, it's been sixty years since he became relevant by the Captain's side, and even though we now have an entire secret history tacked onto the side, as we've seen in recent stories, and as you would expect: He's still Bucky Barnes, and Cap, for better or worse, is still a huge part of who he is.

So when it comes to Winter Soldier Jon Woo-ing his way into a fight against a chopper riding Crossbones, this is the the blood that's between them. They might never have met before, but this one is personal before it even gets started. Crossbones didn't get the killing blow, but without him Cap would probably have a good shot at being alive right now.

When it comes down to it these guys are pretty well matched.
Crossbones would generally be considered the stronger of the two, although, with the cybernetic arm, the Winter Soldier isn't out in the cold.
Physically he'll have no trouble holding his own against Crossbones, who almost represents Bane in an equation flipped from Batman, with Cap being the one with chemical enhancements.

Winter Soldier arguably has the greater fighting skills, although again, Crossbones shouldn't be considered any slouch. Likewise, their arms skills would be noteworthy, comparable, and without the constraints of a conscience.
It seems characterization has pushed Winter Soldier into the anti-hero role more than the villain, but that conscience has at least been lacking for the larger part of his lost history, as far as we know. And he was pretty brutal against Wolverine [Wolverine #39].

Mind you, if you want to talk brutal, try being part of killing Captain America.

The Math: Winter Soldier (Champion Class)
The Pick: Winter Soldier

What went down...
With Nick Fury in his ear, Bucky Barnes abandons plans to abduct Captain America from SHIELD custody, and leaps into pirsuit of the sniper shooter.
Meanwhile, The Falcon circling in the air does much the same with less specific inklings.

Winter Soldier smashes his way into the shooting building, but by the time he gets there Crossbones is already gone. At that point Falcon torpedoes through a skylight, swooping in to slam Cap's former partner into the wall.
The two quickly clear up their situation, allowing Fury to direct them to Crossbones, who is making an airborne getaway in a phony press chopper.

Falcon carries the Winter Soldier, while he draws his pistols and opens fire on the helecopter. His hard nosed tactics surprise Falcon at first, but given the circumstances, he doesn't seem to mind staying his course.

With the chopper incapacitated, Crossbones opts for an offensive defensive, leaping out of the failing bird to collide with the Winter Soldier in a mid-air tackle that wrenches him from Falcon's grip.

The two smash through an Iron Man pro-registration poster, before coming to a crash landing atop one of the many New York buildings below.
Crossbones' nifty mask is tore by the impact, and he suffers the hardest landing, hitting head-first into a bricked obscruction.

The Soldier is much more fortunate, rolling through it to reach his feet rather swiftly. Crossbones scoffs the Soldier's credibility as a "good guy" as he staggers to his feet, walking into a cybernetic left from the former Bucky.

The two tustle across the rooftops, the bulkier Crossbones resorting to a feeble defensive against the highly motivated Winter Soldier.

The Soldier hoists the would-be assassin against a rooftop wall, and pounds at his body, interrogating him for the whereabouts of the Red Skull.
Crossbones, bloodied and bruised, remains defiant, "Go die... Oh wait... You already did... Heh..."

Crossbones suffers for his insolence, highlighting Winter Soldier's response about his status as a "kinda" hero. Falcon swoops in as the blood flies.

He warns of incoming SHIELD Cape Killers, and as emotionally charged as Barnes may or may not be, Crossbones is already beaten. Completely uninterested in being dragged down into the SHIELD pro/anti affair, Winter Soldier willingly takes leave of the rooftop, leaving Falcon to claim the collar.

The hammer...
Full props to Winter Soldier on this one, with the chemical assist from Cap's more recent ol' pal, The Falcon.

Y'know, just to start off on a tangent, I'm listening to Vokuro (a song by Björk), which has a very sincere dirge quality to it. The mournful kind, not wacky New Orleans style, and I have to admit, I kinda regard this almost as a soundtrack to the concept, if not any particular scene depicting the death of Captain America.

I guess this is maybe a little bit like the Thom Yorke-Black Adam connection mentioned during another review [52 #44]. Given that Cap #25 is such an action packed issue, maybe you'd like to give Vokuro a listen over the ending credits.

I kinda weighed in on the subject during the last Winter Soldier entry [Wolverine #39], when it probably would've been much more relevant. Unfortunately I'm not one to spend fifty bucks on a single issue, and it took a while for the second-print to come in, but I'm glad I finally got it.

In typical Ed Brubaker style, the finished product failed to live-up to the hype, without actually being a bad or disappointing read. As with a lot of Brubaker gems I find the concept outweighs the execution, which is appropriately subtle, but also really quite thin when one actually delves into it, elbows and knees.

How do I feel about Captain America being dead?
That's such an interesting question to ask me. I don't know if I could ever give a really solid, concrete answer. I'm a bit in both camps. I've been reading the adventures of these characters stretching back to before I was born, and losing one of the golden boys, and one of the few enduring Golden Age Marvel characters just seems like such a waste, and a disappointment. Especially to see him go out under such mundane conditions...

On the other hand, I'm a little bit progressive, and I kinda like the idea.
The consistent negative feeling I get, which I mentioned around the time of reaction in the other review, is that it just doesn't seem like it's going to stick.

The only thing I begrudge more than the decision to kill Colossus off (and the means under which it happened), is the fact that he came back. I'm one of those guys who really resents the cheapening of death in this medium. So, as pleased as I would be to have Cap back, I think there would always be a resentment.
A resentment that is perhaps hypocritical when mirrored next to my feelings on Superman, who is today alive and well, despite taking the dirtnap in another media grabbing milestone event.

A preview of Cap #26 reveals a scene with Cap's body, which has apparently undergone considerable degeneration since his death, perhaps as the reaction to his deadcells no longer responding to the properties of the Super Soldier Serum.
Although, in a canon where Spider-Clones were personified by a dusty demise whenever impaled by gliding vehicles, one can't help but feel the speculation grow stronger of a planned return.

Red Skull's death in issue one of Brubaker's run also makes for compelling argument, given that our favourite well-dressed Nazi villain orchestrated the assassination. Yes, alive and well, having lived inside another body thanks to the logic-defying properties of the cosmic cube.

I digress, and maybe, at 1:40am on a Friday morning I'm not sure where to go from here. Which in some ways seems to be the case for Marvel, it almost seems. Given the media attention it seems almost baffling that more hasn't been done with the event.

Granted facsimilies and the corpse proper have been seen in the pages of various core titles, but that aside, reactions have been limited to things like the Fallen Son mini-series, which appear to be a steady contrast in 'doing it right' where extending concepts goes. A contrast to what DC has achieved with their World War III mini-series, which spins out of the pages of 52.

Could it be the tacked on one-shots are to compensate for a void left in the wake of media relations forcing the company to stick to the decision longer than originally planned? I don't know. This is blatant and poorly informed speculation, but that doesn't mean it isn't food for thought.

So think away my friends, while I try to get a good enough sleep to come back in slugging form to catch-up! Afterall, with Spider-man 3 now in cinemas, it seems almost offensive that we've already missed the first instalment of Web-Slinging Wednesdays!

Before I go, I do remember that I did want to mention the Winter Soldier briefly.
As I mentioned, I do feel Brubaker's concepts generally outweight the material itself, and Winter Soldier seems to continue the theory. In a world of limited budget and tonnes of enticing paper-backs, I dropped off the Cap wagon, and subsequently missed much of the Winter Soldier's return and rise to prominence.

Even so, it strikes me as horribly abrupt for the character to go from Soviety killing machine, to potential candidate for a successor to the Captain America mantle. Like Daredevil in jail, this seems like a great idea, without the stones to fully apply the necessary time to make the transition work.
Perhaps if the story telling didn't feel so condensed and tight in span, then maybe it could pass easier. When I think back to the glory days of reading unfolding stories in Spider-man, I don't exactly think of taking ten years to bring a character back from the dead, establish his history, and redeem him.

I guess it's just one of those things. A potential chink in Brubaker's armor, which seems to have been so sheened by hype, it's gone relatively unnoticed.
Boy, DC really dropped the ball on this guy, didn't they?

I'll be back for the final Monday post for the Latepril posts very soon!
In the meantime, if you're checking out the site, particularly if you're interested in this big issue in particular, drop a comment and lemme hear what you have to say! I feed off of your energy, y'know. That's why I'm behind! Step it up!

The Fight: 5 The Issue: 6