Captain America & Bucky #623 *Spoilers*

[Hrist]

Continued flashback hour with Brubaker, Andreyko, Samnee and Breitweiser. This is a heavy issue that is pretty much what the cover implies. Except better drawn.

SPOILERS


The senior Invaders have been called away, leaving Bucky and Toro bored at camp. Bucky eavesdrops on a meeting and finds out about a captured American spy being held at a nearby German camp, and ropes Tom along into the rescue attempt.
Along the way Bucky commandeers a German car and German uniforms, and there's some humorous interaction between him and Toro. Bucky goes into the base alone!!
He is successful at infiltrating the base and locating the man he came to rescue, passing himself off as an SS officer. They make a thrilling escape, until Bucky realizes this isn't just a POW camp.
Momentarily stunned by the horrors of the concentration camp, Bucky stands around speechless before attacking bunches of Nazis in a crazed rage. He blows up a good portion of the camp.
But he doesn't have an evacuation plan for the prisoners. Bucky tells them to leave, but they don't, they know that the Nazis will regroup. (Indeed, Bucky's little stunt already got some of them shot.) Toro convinces Bucky that they need to go to have any hope of saving them.
When they get back to the Allied camp, Bucky gets lectured for running off, even though he successfully rescued the spy. He's wracked with guilt about not being able to help the other prisoners, but the slow crawl of military orders prevents him from returning to save them.
Months go by and Bucky explodes over the English channel, a Soviet submarine creeping into the final panel. "We never got to see those death camps liberated. And soon enough, I would commit some atrocities of my own." Next time: Winter Soldier.


This is an interesting counterpoint to stuff like the Human Torch killing Hitler. Here, Bucky is obviously brave and hyperskilled, but still ultimately powerless before the historical atrocity, and prevented from doing anything about it by the same forces that kept the camps from being liberated until the end of the war. It's a very uncomfortable issue, in some ways.

Samnee's art continues to be stand out for me. There are some really haunting panels, as you would expect.

[Prince Of Orphans]

This book is now tied with UXF as my favourite. Very good story, a bit of light-hearted humour and innocence followed by a true and honest depiction of the horrors of war. Just amazing. Some of the greatest development for a character I've ever read in comics and I'm not just saying that as a Bucky fanboy :P.

Very heavy, like Hrist said, but a very real, eye-opening portrayal of what many soldiers probably had to experience. I felt this story really established Bucky's coming-of-age during the war.

[samson3191]

Cap and Bucky is easily one of the best books out there right now. Seriously, Brubaker and co are knocking it out of the park with this series. Amazing art, great characterization, and great stories. Bucky's reaction after he sees the prisoners was really powerful...I love that he went beserk for a bit and had to really grasp with the fact that they had to leave them there. Very emotional stuff.

Can't wait for the Winter Soldier arc to start!

[Still Don't Care]

Cap and Bucky is easily one of the best books out there right now. Seriously, Brubaker and co are knocking it out of the park with this series. Amazing art, great characterization, and great stories. Bucky's reaction after he sees the prisoners was really powerful...I love that he went beserk for a bit and had to really grasp with the fact that they had to leave them there. Very emotional stuff.

Can't wait for the Winter Soldier arc to start!

This book and AVengers Solo were my only Marvel books this week, and they were both pretty great - but this one was my favorite.

I'm definitely enjoying this more than I am the main Cap book, which is weird to say, since Steve is my fav Cap. But this just has something extra for me that the main Cap book doesn't.

[Tiamatican]

Wow.

This issue was great. As soon as they mentioned that it was ash floating down, it sent chills up my spine. And then when Bucky flipped out over what was going on at the camp - powerful stuff.

Wow.

[Abdulabulbul_Amir]

Much as I've enjoyed this, what I'm really looking forward to is next issue.

[jackolover]

Wow.

This issue was great. As soon as they mentioned that it was ash floating down, it sent chills up my spine. And then when Bucky flipped out over what was going on at the camp - powerful stuff.

Wow.

Man, I didn't realize what the ash was, and forgot about it as the story unfolded.

Someone was enjoying this book more than the Cap solo book, and that's because, I think, that it's about Bucky. He died in Fear Itself, because the powers that be, wanted Rogers in the the tri-colour, and, because Bucky was shown flying in the face of the Nazi daughter of the Red Skull, doing another one of her attrocities. Brubaker just shows where Bucky comes from (when compared to James' demise in FI #3), when Bru marches Bucky into a camp he thought was one thing, and it was another. The Serpent wanted to create a world like that camp, where suffering and fear are what Cul feeds on. But it was people like Bucky who was the resistance to that end, and though James died trying, it was at least Bucky's answer to those guys he couldn't save in this issue. It's interesting to juxtapose FI #3 with this issue, because it's easy just to forget Bucky as the "Fake Cap" when he was a whole lot more than that.

It's the added dimension of the character of James Barnes as an Invader, who acts on impulse against impossible odds, and makes his friend Toro do what Toro's whole being tells him is wrong. And tells through Cap that Steve would have done the same thing and backs him to the hilt. Things like this compliment the dynamic duo of Cap and Bucky, and makes you miss the pair in the same book.

Most of the Cap book up to FI had been frustrating, because Bucky and Cap never got together like the old partners they were. James had his missions and Steve was busy with the Initiative. Even at the end, Steve wasn't around to be there when Bucky died in Fear Itself, so their partnership was dotted with lost moments they could have had. Bucky and Cap had already gone their separate ways in modern times, and as it worked out, were never to team up again.

[Zcorck]

Man, I didn't realize what the ash was, and forgot about it as the story unfolded.

Someone was enjoying this book more than the Cap solo book, and that's because, I think, that it's about Bucky. He died in Fear Itself, because the powers that be, wanted Rogers in the the tri-colour, and, because Bucky was shown flying in the face of the Nazi daughter of the Red Skull, doing another one of her attrocities. Brubaker just shows where Bucky comes from (when compared to James' demise in FI #3), when Bru marches Bucky into a camp he thought was one thing, and it was another. The Serpent wanted to create a world like that camp, where suffering and fear are what Cul feeds on. But it was people like Bucky who was the resistance to that end, and though James died trying, it was at least Bucky's answer to those guys he couldn't save in this issue. It's interesting to juxtapose FI #3 with this issue, because it's easy just to forget Bucky as the "Fake Cap" when he was a whole lot more than that.

It's the added dimension of the character of James Barnes as an Invader, who acts on impulse against impossible odds, and makes his friend Toro do what Toro's whole being tells him is wrong. And tells through Cap that Steve would have done the same thing and backs him to the hilt. Things like this compliment the dynamic duo of Cap and Bucky, and makes you miss the pair in the same book.

Most of the Cap book up to FI had been frustrating, because Bucky and Cap never got together like the old partners they were. James had his missions and Steve was busy with the Initiative. Even at the end, Steve wasn't around to be there when Bucky died in Fear Itself, so their partnership was dotted with lost moments they could have had. Bucky and Cap had already gone their separate ways in modern times, and as it worked out, were never to team up again.

Agreed 100%! Quite sad that things turned out this way for those two, but I'm glad that Brubaker can still provide us with fantastic Bucky stories. And I can't wait for next issue!

[Jarocho]

Mastery of the craft is really evident in this issue. The book was so lighthearted and adventurous I expected zombies or some Nazi experiment to be behind Bucky's shoulder. The truth came off as a real shock. For a moment I thought, maybe they are just POWs, maybe they are ill. I imagine my realization that they were Jewish civilians mirrored Bucky's response. "This is what the ash was..."

Perfect interplay between story and art. This is why I love comic books.

[edhopper]

What does the announcement at the end of Fear Itself 7.1 mean for the future of this book?

I thought this issues was another home run.

[Hrist]

What does the announcement at the end of Fear Itself 7.1 mean for the future of this book?

I thought this issues was another home run.

Well, this arc was only ever going to last five issues, and then a new team takes over, still with Brubaker. I'm not sure how much longer it will be able to go on, but I love Francavilla so I'm staying until it gets bad. Captain America, Captain America & Bucky, and BRUBAKER SECRET PROJECT #1 are all solicited for January.

So, yeah. I'm not sure how long three series can last, but it seems like CA&B is sort of an ongoing anthology book anyway. They've been doing WW2 Captain America minis for a while, so maybe this ongoing is just keeping them all to one book?

[Robodojo]

From what I've read, it appears that James Barnes will not be in the next arc.

For that reason, I very likely won't be purchasing the series beyond the current arc. Some of the people still working on the title are well-regarded, so it may still do well enough to continue.

I have to say, though, I could have gone on quite awhile reading Cap and Bucky's WWII exploits by artists of Samnee's caliber.

[Hrist]

From what I've read, it appears that James Barnes will not be in the next arc.

For that reason, I very likely won't be purchasing the series beyond the current arc. Some of the people still working on the title are well-regarded, so it may still do well enough to continue.

I have to say, though, I could have gone on quite awhile reading Cap and Bucky's WWII exploits by artists of Samnee's caliber.

Eh, yes, the next arc features some kind of Bucky clone, plus the Human Torch, but I think there might still be flashbacks to the real WW2 Bucky.

[Robodojo]

It's the next arc, so I want to be careful with this, but if you read the James Asmus Q&A at Marvel's website, he states
"we decided to bring in and reintroduce one of the other people who have taken up the “Bucky” mantle in the past."

That zapped my interest immediately, though I'm sure the book will be good regardless.

[Hrist]

It's the next arc, so I want to be careful with this, but if you read the James Asmus Q&A at Marvel's website, he states
"we decided to bring in and reintroduce one of the other people who have taken up the “Bucky” mantle in the past."

That zapped my interest immediately, though I'm sure the book will be good regardless.

Yes, I know, I've read the interview myself. I'm just saying, that doesn't mean Bucky won't play a (minor?) part of it. Especially given this massive cover up.

[Superbeast]

Continued flashback hour with Brubaker, Andreyko, Samnee and Breitweiser. This is a heavy issue that is pretty much what the cover implies. Except better drawn.

SPOILERS


The senior Invaders have been called away, leaving Bucky and Toro bored at camp. Bucky eavesdrops on a meeting and finds out about a captured American spy being held at a nearby German camp, and ropes Tom along into the rescue attempt.
Along the way Bucky commandeers a German car and German uniforms, and there's some humorous interaction between him and Toro. Bucky goes into the base alone!!
He is successful at infiltrating the base and locating the man he came to rescue, passing himself off as an SS officer. They make a thrilling escape, until Bucky realizes this isn't just a POW camp.
Momentarily stunned by the horrors of the concentration camp, Bucky stands around speechless before attacking bunches of Nazis in a crazed rage. He blows up a good portion of the camp.
But he doesn't have an evacuation plan for the prisoners. Bucky tells them to leave, but they don't, they know that the Nazis will regroup. (Indeed, Bucky's little stunt already got some of them shot.) Toro convinces Bucky that they need to go to have any hope of saving them.
When they get back to the Allied camp, Bucky gets lectured for running off, even though he successfully rescued the spy. He's wracked with guilt about not being able to help the other prisoners, but the slow crawl of military orders prevents him from returning to save them.
Months go by and Bucky explodes over the English channel, a Soviet submarine creeping into the final panel. "We never got to see those death camps liberated. And soon enough, I would commit some atrocities of my own." Next time: Winter Soldier.


This is an interesting counterpoint to stuff like the Human Torch killing Hitler. Here, Bucky is obviously brave and hyperskilled, but still ultimately powerless before the historical atrocity, and prevented from doing anything about it by the same forces that kept the camps from being liberated until the end of the war. It's a very uncomfortable issue, in some ways.

Samnee's art continues to be stand out for me. There are some really haunting panels, as you would expect.

Human Torch didn't kill Hitler. Bucky did. Said so in Avengers.

[Hrist]

Human Torch didn't kill Hitler. Bucky did. Said so in Avengers.

No, Jim Hammond did. Bucky was joking. Brevoort confirmed on his formspring.

[WinterSoldier76]

Human Torch didn't kill Hitler. Bucky did. Said so in Avengers.

That was BMB re-writing the history of the MU. Before NA Annual it was cannon that Jim Hammond killed Hitler. I suppose it's up for debate although that was a classic moment.

[rogerio]

Cap & Bucky sneak peek by Fancavilla...:smile:
http://www.francescofrancavilla.com/sequentials/images/flying_car.jpg

[Prince Of Orphans]

No, Jim Hammond did. Bucky was joking. Brevoort confirmed on his formspring.

Why would Bucky joke about this? Looks like Brevoort tried to cover BMB's mistake by half assing an answer to this concern. I guess my theory that Bucky blew up a facility full of Hitler clones will never come to light :(

[Hrist]

Why would Bucky joke about this? Looks like Brevoort tried to cover BMB's mistake by half assing an answer to this concern. I guess my theory that Bucky blew up a facility full of Hitler clones will never come to light :(

To lighten the mood? Idk, but yeah, official word is that it was a joke. Maybe Bendis didn't know that.

Anyway, they've referenced Jim killing Hitler since then.