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STEPHEN'S REVIEWS > ULTIMATE COMICS: CAPTAIN AMERICA

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Ultimate Comics: Captain America
by
Jason Aaron (Writer),
Ron Garney (Illustrator)

Stephen's review
Jul 06, 2011


really liked it
bookshelves: 2011, comics-graphic-novels



A brief introduction to MY THREE CAPS (all 3 sitting in a diner in Heartland,
USA):

Captain America #1 (Steve Rogers): iconic, idealized version of the best aspects
of America, created to be the perfect American soldier and a symbol of American
freedom and decency to the world. After politely turning down your offer of a
beer, this Cap takes another bite of “Mom’s” apple pie and comments, “Golly
Ma’am, this here is some really swell pie.”


Captain America #2 (Ultimate universe Steve Rogers): iconic, grizzled hero of
World War II who passionately loves America, just as passionately hates France,
and rains a torrent of ass-kickings on the enemies of America because ‘the U.S.
may not be perfect, but we’re more perfect than you.’ After turning down your
offer of some apple pie, this Cap takes a big swig of beer and bitch-slaps some
war protestor in the next booth for bad-mouthing America.


Captain America #3 (Ultimate universe Frank Simpson and Cap during Vietnam): a
pill-popping, steroid-addled, cyber-soldier who had his love for America spent
in the corpses of the 1000’s he was ordered to kill in Vietnam, passionately
hates America (not sure how he feels about France) and wants Cap #2 to see the
TRUTH about the country he serves so faithfully. After throwing your offered
apple pie across the room, this Cap kills an American soldier sitting in the
next booth, grabs his bottle of Jack Daniels off the table and pisses on a photo
of Richard Nixon holding the American Flag.


Well forget about Cappy #1 as he is pretty much gone and living in the Old
Anachronisms Home. We all can have different opinions of this and I am not
making any judgments, but I do think it is time we accept that old Cap is gone.
This story is all about Cap #2 (now, simply Captain America) and Cap #3 (aka
Nuke aka angry bad guy aka Frank Simpson).

So DukeNuke’m (long thought dead) turns up peddling super-soldier serum to the
North Koreans until Cap shows up to stop him…..and proceeds to get the
flag-loving snot beat out of him by Mr. AngryAtAmerica. I mean Cap gets
P..U..M..M..E..L..E..D like a narc at a biker rally.

So after waking up bruised and battered and a wee bit pissed, Cap goes after Mr.
Flagface, which, of course, is exactly what Nuke wanted. You see, he wants to
teach Cap the error of his ways before he bleeds him. He wants Cap to “break”
and see America as the evil, imperialist empire that Nuke believes it is. So he
takes fun little torture-filled history lesson through some of America’s darker
deeds.


I will leave it there and let you discover how it ends, but it is certainly
worth picking up. The writing was excellent, the plot was well thought out and
the art was terrific. I do want to give the writers some special kudos for
avoiding one pitfall had the potential to be a real disaster (at least for me).

This story, when you boil it down to its essence, is really a classic
confrontation between the soldier that “still believes” and the soldier who has
been “irrevocably disillusioned” as a result of the things he has done for God
and Country. In framing the contrast between Cap and Nuke, the writers initially
have Cap looking A LOT like a Government stooge who blindly follows the “party
line” in his unshakeable allegiance to America. Despite how much I really liked
the rest of the story, this would have been a complete miss for me if they had
stuck with that image of Cap.

Fortunately, and without spoiling the story, the writers were able to flesh out
“who Cap is” in the climactic scene and I thought they did a terrific job with
it. All my fears were put to rest and I became a fan of their version of
Ultimate Cap. He is a compelling, nuanced character that I will be interested in
reading more about in the future. Of course, I still love Cappy #1 too, but
after over 30 years with him I am happy to see him get an update. 4.0 stars.
Recommended!!

31 likes · Like ∙ flag



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READING PROGRESS

July 6, 2011 – Started Reading
July 6, 2011 – Shelved
July 7, 2011 – Finished Reading



POST A COMMENT »
COMMENTS SHOWING 1-17 OF 17 (17 NEW)

date    newest »

message 1: by Kemper (last edited Jul 07, 2011 12:58PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 12:55PM

I hate to do this to you but I'm gonna have to go all fanboy and point out that
the picture listed for Cap # 1 is actuallly Cap# 2. No wings on the mask is the
giveaway.

(Great review. I am just channeling my inner Comic Book Guy. Sometimes I can't
keep it bottled up inside. Just throw me a copy of Watchmen and send me on my
way.)


reply | flag

message 2: by Esteban (new)
Jul 07, 2011 01:09PM

Does anyone know if Nuke made his first appearance waaaaay back in some
Daredevil comic? When Frank Miller did it for a short time? (Kingpin lets Nuke
loose in Hell's Kitchen; it was awesome. 80s awesome.)


reply | flag

message 3: by Stephen (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 01:09PM

Kemper wrote: "I hate to do this to you but I'm gonna have to go all fanboy and
point out that the picture listed for Cap # 1 is actuallly Cap# 2. No wings on
the mask is the giveaway."

Being a fanboy myself, that is going to leave a mark. I have corrected the
error, now let us speak no more of this.


reply | flag

message 4: by Stephen (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 01:10PM

Esteban wrote: "Does anyone know if Nuke made his first appearance waaaaay back
in some Daredevil comic? When Frank Miller did it for a short time? (Kingpin
lets Nuke loose in Hell's Kitchen; it was awesome. 80s a..."

Uh, I am going to expose my geekness here, but it was Daredevil 232. And yes, it
was awesome.


reply | flag

message 5: by Kemper (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 01:14PM

That was the Daredevil Born Again story, right?


reply | flag

message 6: by Kemper (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 01:16PM

Also, did you check out Brubaker's run on the original title with the death of
Steve Rogers and his old partner becoming Cap? I'm not a fan of stunt killing
charcters but that was actually pretty good.


reply | flag

message 7: by Esteban (new)
Jul 07, 2011 01:24PM

I'm a fan of the old 'What If's' from Marvel. They had one where Cap was frozen
and then suddenly revived in uber-Reagan America. More 80s awesome.


reply | flag

message 8: by Stephen (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 01:35PM

Kemper wrote: "Also, did you check out Brubaker's run on the original title with
the death of Steve Rogers and his old partner becoming Cap? I'm not a fan of
stunt killing charcters but that was actually pretty ..."

Yes on the Born Again story.

Not yet on the Death of Cap storyline. I am almost done with the Captain America
By Ed Brubaker Omnibus Vol. 1 which has issues 1-25 (I think the Death story arc
is 25-42). I will definitely get a copy.


reply | flag

message 9: by Stephen (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 01:39PM

Esteban wrote: "I'm a fan of the old 'What If's' from Marvel. They had one where
Cap was frozen and then suddenly revived in uber-Reagan America. More 80s
awesome."

Esteban, I think this was the issue:



reply | flag

message 10: by Kemper (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 02:45PM

I'm sure the Secret Service agents liked the shield. Made their job easier.


reply | flag

message 11: by Esteban (new)
Jul 07, 2011 03:17PM

I don't think that's it. Think it was titled 'What If Cap Were Revived Today.' I
think. I drank a lot of Dr. Pepper back then, so my memory is unreliable.


reply | flag

message 12: by Stephen (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 07, 2011 03:23PM

Esteban wrote: "I don't think that's it. Think it was titled 'What If Cap Were
Revived Today.' I think. I drank a lot of Dr. Pepper back then, so my memory is
unreliable."

Let's try that again.



reply | flag

message 13: by Esteban (new)
Jul 07, 2011 03:47PM

Win.


reply | flag

message 14: by Milo (new)
Jul 13, 2011 11:12AM

Are you excited for the new movie?


reply | flag

message 15: by Stephen (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jul 13, 2011 11:47AM

Milo wrote: "Are you excited for the new movie?"

Yes, I am just hoping I am not bitterly disappointed. Everything I have seen of
it so far looks very good. Fingers crossed.


reply | flag

message 16: by Milo (new)
Jul 13, 2011 02:53PM

I agree. It should be good.


reply | flag

message 17: by Michael (new) - rated it 4 stars
Feb 18, 2022 08:19AM

Your summary of the three Caps was great. I also thought Cap #2 was a bit
condescending, especially towards the Brits with him in Korea.


reply | flag

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