You just can’t keep a good superhero down. At least not for more than a few years. After being assassinated two years ago at the culmination of Marvel’s “Civil War” event, the true Captain America, Steve Rogers, is poised to return.
Captain America #600, which was released on Monday, kicks off the storyline which begins in earnest in the miniseries “Captain America: Reborn” hitting shelves July 1. Writer Ed Brubaker (Daredevil, Criminal), who has been on the book since 2004, will continue writing duties, while superstar artist Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates, The Authority) will take over on art, assisted by long-time professional Butch Guice.
Cap’s sidekick, James ‘Bucky’ Barnes, has filled the star-spangled costume for the past few years. As an allegory for the times, Barnes was a much harder-edged Cap, complete with pistol and attitude. It has become quite a trend to replace the original version of superheroes with a younger version temporarily. Other notable heroes who have been replaced include The Flash, Green Lantern, Iron Man, Superman (by four fill-ins!). Even the mantle of Batman is currently being filled by one-time sidekick Dick Grayson, the original Robin.
This replacement is particularly interesting because unlike most of the fill-ins, Bucky is actually popular with many fans. Due to Brubaker’s excellent storytelling abilities, readers have been surprisingly accepting of the replacement Cap. This brings up an interesting question regarding his fate once Steve Rogers returns. Who will carry the shield going forward? Rogers or Barnes? Of course, they’ll have to get it back from Stephen Colbert first…
