I had Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 lying around for almost two weeks now. Anticipating its release for months, I couldn't wait to read it when it finally hit the shelves... And then the excruciating "Hail Hydra" shitstorm took over Twitter and other social media platforms for days, and I just couldn't be bothered anymore, annoyed by the spoiler and what I perceived to be a massive, collective overreaction.
Yes, some of the memes were funny, Chris Evans felt the need to throw in his two cents worth, and Nick Spencer had to defend himself and his story more than he really should. Some of it was a reasonable and heartfelt concern about a beloved classic character that turned evil right in front of people. But most of it was just unconsidered, misinformed gibberish by people who take far more joy in bashing stuff than in actually reading comics.
What many people forgot, including the ones actually defending Spencer, was that we are actually having a masterpiece of modern-day comic book story telling at our hands. One that deserves far more attention for that than for its last page bombshell.
It's especially the parts of the story that look back at how exactly Steve and the tragic Hydra suicide bomber Robbie came to be associated with the terrorist organization, and how they differ and overlap, that shine here. Both of them are victims to economically tough times and a broken family, Steve in the late 1920's and Robbie in the late 2000's. Both hold external forces responsible for their situation, and both share a feeling of supremacy to large parts of the society they live in. The only crucial difference is that Robbie made a conscious decision to join Hydra, while Rogers was influenced by his mother at an early age. Cap's story cleverly runs along the comic's main plot, slowly building up tension so that when he actually utters the inevitable (and now infamous) "Hail Hydra", it should hardly come as a surprise to any reader.
Other highlight of Spencer's story are Red Skull's monologue at the secret Hydra meeting and Cap's relationship to his wife Sharon. In the first one he cleverly incorporates quite unsettling modern-day themes of immigration, refugee crisis and terrorism, which repeatedly show his fine sense and understanding of these matters, while the second one gives Roger's more tender and human side, as Spencer paints a picture of a warm and intimate relationship that is signified by a resilient trust and understanding of each other, making both characters shine as a consequence.
The comic also finds the balance between more serious and funny themes, as Jack Flag and Free Spirit act as a recurring comical relief without ever damaging the overall tone of the story. And boy, does Jesus Saiz know how to draw a stunning Captain America costume. The comic would be worth your money for that bit alone.
So yes, is Captain America really Hydra now? Spencer has repeatedly stated that is is indeed a sane and rational Steve Rogers and no clone, multiverse Cap or whatever. But it seems hard to believe for me that Marvel execs would really go for a permanent transformation to a villain (that guy is a multi-million franchise, remember), and in a world of comics that usually rapid-fires its twists and turns, it only seems more than likely that we'll be all in for quite some ride over the next months, and a happy ending once all is set and done.
Until then, "Hail Captain America".
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