Alex Ross on Captain America "The Return"

[EnDwiGast]

Now this is something I have been hoping to see:


later this year or early next Alex Ross is coming back to Marvel, once again paired with Jim Krueger for an as of now, unnamed, in-continuity project with…

http://www.newsarama.com/Chicago_07/Marvel/Ross_Return.html

and right here on comic book resources (thanks JimmyDee):
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11573

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/drew4lakers/THE_RETURN.jpg

[ViciousX]

Well, either this is out of continuity, or that was fast.

[Sean Whitmore]

Could also be a story detailing his first few years out of the block of ice.


SEAN

[The Shadow]

Oh HELL yeah!

Ross is amazing! I'd love to see hom do a WW2 era Invaders story. The one spash page in Marvels (at the end of #1 I believe) had me salivating a decade ago.

[EnDwiGast]

Even just as a single story all on its own, this is what I've been missing:


I don’t know how you can’t have an iconic, larger than life feel in a story when Captain America is involved. The very nature of doing any story related to Captain America is about iconography. His very power as a character has less to do with his being part of a super-solder program, and more with him having an effect upon a world of super-humans he is far weaker and more human than. Cap is a living symbol – more than Superman, more than Batman, he is all symbol. When Cap walks in a room, he has an effect upon everyone in it. That’s what’s at the core of his power.

That Alex Ross would be doing this, goes beyond what I could have hoped for. Even if its as "In-continuity" as Justice.

[JimmyDee]

More here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11573

I dunno. I'll withold opinion until Ross or someone talks more freely on this.

[EnDwiGast]

Even just as a single story all on its own, this is what I've been missing:


Alex Ross:I don’t know how you can’t have an iconic, larger than life feel in a story when Captain America is involved. The very nature of doing any story related to Captain America is about iconography. His very power as a character has less to do with his being part of a super-solder program, and more with him having an effect upon a world of super-humans he is far weaker and more human than. Cap is a living symbol – more than Superman, more than Batman, he is all symbol. When Cap walks in a room, he has an effect upon everyone in it. That’s what’s at the core of his power.

That Alex Ross would be doing this, goes beyond what I could have hoped for. Even if its as "In-continuity" as Justice.

[The Shadow]

Could also be a story detailing his first few years out of the block of ice.

I dunno... the guy on our right looks like Bucky and the muscular armed guy on our left looks like it could be a certain undersea prince.

What saddens me is Ross says :
AR: Designer, cover artist, co-storyteller with Jim Krueger.

NRAMA: So this isn’t going to be a situation like Justice where you do finishes over someone’s pencils?

AR: Right – I’m on design, covers, and story only. This is more like Earth X or Astro City
Meaning no interior art. :(

[Expletive Deleted]

Based on this . . .
This particular project has been in the planning stages for two years. It’s just very ironic that something like Cap’s death would’ve happened in this same time frame, but as we go forward, we can work with that, and in many ways, that makes our story more poignant. . . . it sure doesn't sound like Cap's return post-CAP #25

I'm betting it's either "AVENGERS #4"-era stuff or something WWII related.

[EnDwiGast]

More here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11573

I dunno. I'll withold opinion until Ross or someone talks more freely on this.

I fully expect any true return to happen in Cap's own regular series with Ed Brubaker at the helm, but while I'm waiting...I've got something fantastic to look forward to.

[EnDwiGast]

Based on this . . . . . . it sure doesn't sound like Cap's return post-CAP #25

I'm betting it's either "AVENGERS #4"-era stuff or something WWII related.

It does look like Invaders-era.

Personally, i don't expect a full modern day Stever Rogers as Captain America return until Captain America #50

[TotalWorldDomination]

Could also be a story detailing his first few years out of the block of ice.


SEAN

I'm hoping it's this. I love cap, but it's just too darn quick to bring him back to life. And the arms on his right and his left look like Namor and Bucky so it has to have some tie-in to the invaders...

[Big Red Spider]

Well it's about damn time.


Could also be a story detailing his first few years out of the block of ice.


SEAN

Oh. :(

[CaptainCanada]

Matt Brady on Newsarama said in the thread discussion that "in-continuity" means "present day" Marvel.

My guess is that Cap and the Invaders (those hands on either side are clearly Namor and Bucky, with the flames behind suggesting the Torch) take a time-jaunt to the present day.

[Citizen V]

Captain America has to come back,his death was meaningless in the first place.

[Dusty.]

I have no idea what this will be, but Alex Ross doing Captain America means a critically acclaimed classic for the ages. There are many interesting Cap projects in the works. As a big Cap fan, I like that, but I still want Steve Rogers back quickly. I would assume Brubaker will be the guy who does that.

[Red State Cap]

Gotta hand it to that interview -- thousands of words spoken and not one piece of information given beyond the edited cover art.

RSC

[Doom Hammer]

Captain America has to come back,his death was meaningless in the first place.

What exactly constitutes "meaning" in reference to a comic book? The absence of one of the most major characters in comics? Shockwaves and effects of an event being felt in a huge number of comics, regularly in a handful, including its own mini? Huge media attention being given to a comic book? A controversy emanating from the percieved tainting of an iconic symbol?

What could be more meaningful? Seriously, what could happen that would have more meaning? Unless, of course, by "meaningless" you mean "something I didn't like."

[Will.S]

It's about time Alex Ross got his ass at Marvel.

I think he usually works best with period pieces since the guy is so anal about current stuff anyway but I was hoping that he would do interiors as well.

[Pyro]

I hate how tricky they're trying to be. I understand the reason for it, but with all the cons lately and since I've been following the news so closely, I'm kind of sick of it. I can't know what this story will be about, but I'm 98% sure this story won't resurrect Cap. The constant misleading may stir up hype, but it's really starting to get to me.

[Jmacq1]

I have no idea what this will be, but Alex Ross doing Captain America means a critically acclaimed classic for the ages.

Re-read the interview. Ross isn't doing much of the artwork beyond the covers.

And quite frankly, Ross-as-writer is never remotely as compelling as Ross-as-artist.

[Citizen V]

What exactly constitutes "meaning" in reference to a comic book? The absence of one of the most major characters in comics? Shockwaves and effects of an event being felt in a huge number of comics, regularly in a handful, including its own mini? Huge media attention being given to a comic book? A controversy emanating from the percieved tainting of an iconic symbol?

What could be more meaningful? Seriously, what could happen that would have more meaning? Unless, of course, by "meaningless" you mean "something I didn't like."

Civil War was not exactly the best,ive heard more than a few comments about it.I once heard that Cap`s death was just so Civil War could have it as a footnote..and i think it makes sence.

Something like that has meaning,something like that..you dont mess with.It gives hope,it`s a bit serious..but some do take it like that.

[EnDwiGast]

What exactly constitutes "meaning" in reference to a comic book? The absence of one of the most major characters in comics? Shockwaves and effects of an event being felt in a huge number of comics, regularly in a handful, including its own mini? Huge media attention being given to a comic book? A controversy emanating from the percieved tainting of an iconic symbol?

What could be more meaningful? Seriously, what could happen that would have more meaning? Unless, of course, by "meaningless" you mean "something I didn't like."

I'm sure a lot of people can come up with different definitions for a "meaningful death."

For me, even though it didn't stick, the most meaningful death was when the Marvel non-X-Men heroes sacrificed themselves at the end of Marvel Universe: Onslaught. Unless they are going out after a long full life as Jeff mace the Patriot did (another great example) then this is how I'd like to see a hero I've been following go out.

An accidental death or an assassination has shock value, but those kind of deaths are meaningless to me, at least. Not that they don't matter. Perhaps a better word for it would be senseless.

[StoneGold]

Cap's put on some weight since he died.


(Sorry, Ross' Cap always looks chubby in the face.)

[XPac]

Hmmm... I honestly can't get too excited over the fact that he's just being a cover artist.

Honestly I'm not a big fan of having a big name artist do just covers... it's almost bait and switch.

Still, if it's a Cap project, I'm looking forward to it.

[David Walton]

An accidental death or an assassination has shock value, but those kind of deaths are meaningless to me, at least. Not that they don't matter. Perhaps a better word for it would be senseless.

It was the culmination of a Red Skull plot that really began with issue #1, so it's hardly senseless.

[Nomad]

As far as I'm concerned, these death events should be few and far between. When it comes to the slaying of my favorite character, I'm not the least bit upset. I'm worried that the stories Cap's death opened up will be rushed, as opposed to being fully explored. We're not going to buy into another Cap death for over a decade.

That said, the in-continuity aspect intrigues me. I'm willing to see where it goes.

[David Walton]

Civil War was not exactly the best,ive heard more than a few comments about it.I once heard that Cap`s death was just so Civil War could have it as a footnote..and i think it makes sence.

Something like that has meaning,something like that..you dont mess with.It gives hope,it`s a bit serious..but some do take it like that.


It made sense to end "Civil War" in that fashion, but luckily Brubaker already had his "Red Skull Strikes Back/Death of Captain America" story in the works. It just got pushed forward a little, which is the breaks in monthlies. That's been important to the integrity of the story because it really didn't just come out of left field.

*Interesting footnote: Steve Englehart's "Secret Empire" storyline also got pushed forward when Watergate broke. Steve had originally wanted the storyline villains to be politicians, but Marvel said no so he made the villains advertisers. But when the story hit closer to home than even Steve had suspected, they seized the mood and jumped into the Nomad story.

[StoneGold]

Ross' Cap is a little old looking for 1942.

[EnDwiGast]

It was the culmination of a Red Skull plot that really began with issue #1, so it's hardly senseless.


We may just define it differently.

For Cap, anything but a hero's death in the field of battle would have been senseless.

[humorbot5]

I think someone in Wizard was saying they were boycotting if Cap comes back to life.

I hope he stays dead too.

[EnDwiGast]

I think someone in Wizard was saying they were boycotting if Cap comes back to life.


I hope the boycotter doesn't let the door hit him/her on their way out.

What did they do? Overpay for Captain America #26 on ebay or not want to see their dreams of funding their retirement with it fade away?

[humorbot5]

I think it was "deaths should mean something"

[CaptainCanada]

I'm surprised to learn that Ross actually likes Brubaker's Cap run; based on his stated preferences for comics, you'd think he would hate it.

[StoneGold]

I'm surprised to learn that Ross actually likes Brubaker's Cap run; based on his stated preferences for comics, you'd think he would hate it.

Not necessarily. As has been pointed out before, Bucky was pretty bloodthirsty back in the day.




Besides, good comics is good comics. Say what you will about Kyle Rayner, no one was saying that Ron Marz was writing the best Green Lantern in decades, and one of, if not the, best superhero book being written today. And I'm not saying it was bad, either (although Ross was). What I'm saying is that Bru's Cap tends to convert even many who were dead set against it, just because it is that damn good.

[tavella]

I think it was "deaths should mean something"

It's a serial format; eventually the amount of good stories you can make from a character being alive is more than you can make from them being dead (dead being rather static.) Don't whine about people being brought back, whine about them being brought back in a bad story.

[bulbasteve]

Personally I loved what Krueger and Ross did on Earth X with Cap (and they wrote a better death for him that Bru could ever even dream of), so I gotta say I'm pumped for it.

[StoneGold]

Personally I loved what Krueger and Ross did on Earth X with Cap (and they wrote a better death for him that Bru could ever even dream of), so I gotta say I'm pumped for it.

Getting killed by the Night People?



Gotta say, no, not really. Granted, Cap's death in Earth X was meant to be a transitional thing. Much like...

[humorbot5]

It's a serial format; eventually the amount of good stories you can make from a character being alive is more than you can make from them being dead (dead being rather static.) Don't whine about people being brought back, whine about them being brought back in a bad story.

It wasn't me who was whining.
And it wasn't whining anyway.

[bulbasteve]

Getting killed by the Night People?



Gotta say, no, not really. Granted, Cap's death in Earth X was meant to be a transitional thing. Much like...


I was thinking more of the black last page with Bucky and Fury telling him to join the fight, you can read it without knowing you actually see him dead for a whole series and a half be be pretty fine with it being the "last" Cap story.

And how in the world was Brus better? Cap wasn't even really in it! Heck it's been a while since we have had a story really about Cap, I'm just happy we will finally be getting one! :p

[tavella]

It wasn't me who was whining.


Sorry, should have written that more clearly; I was referring to the people complaining.

[dopexvii]

your all taking it at face value and not looking deep enough.
look behined cap.
this will be the return of the original torch.

[CaptainCanada]

your all taking it at face value and not looking deep enough.
look behined cap.
this will be the return of the original torch.
Someone hasn't been keeping up with the news.

[Matt190]

WWII Invaders time travelling to current Marvel Universe 2007......here's to Invaders kicking the crap outta everyone and giving them back their b@lls.

[Big Red Spider]

WWII Invaders time travelling to current Marvel Universe 2007......here's to Invaders kicking the crap outta everyone and giving them back their b@lls.

Wow, I wonder if they'll hook up with a time traveling Captain Marvel.

[TheAmazingSpider-Geek]

Some how i don't see this as being the real return of Cap. Besides, how long can the Marvel U deal with TWO Namor's running around!

Although this story begs the question if it is part of continuity why didn't Cap ever mention traveling to the future before, and wouldn't he have known about Civil War and his death ahead of time and would be able to prevent it? This whole idea reeks of paradox, nerfing, shenanigans, mullignas, and retcon.

[CaptainCanada]

Some how i don't see this as being the real return of Cap.
Well, they already said it isn't.


Although this story begs the question if it is part of continuity why didn't Cap ever mention traveling to the future before, and wouldn't he have known about Civil War and his death ahead of time and would be able to prevent it?
Well, I assume they'll have an explanation for that (mindwipe, for example); Ross and Krueger are competent enough writers to recognize such obvious points.

[jamiejame911]

Alex Ross = Gold Star! Bring it on...