Captain America #9 Review (SPOILERS)

[Red State Cap]

The main story is bookended by a subplot featuring Crossbones and a teenage girl. Crossbones breaks into a U.S. military re-education camp, killing several soldiers in the process. The object of his break-in, a teenage girl, is revealed at the end of the book to be the Red Skull's daughter, Synthia Schmidt. Apparently she had been living there for some time while the US government tried to brainwash/rehabilitate her into a new life.
Of course, the obvious question is: what are his plans for her? If I may offer a theory, perhaps he intends to rape her (putting it bluntly) and father a child of his own into the Red Skull's bloodline. This is something entirely in keeping with Crossbones' character, and his own curious admiration for the Skull himself.
At any rate, this is a subplot which is obviously laying the groundwork for a major arc later.
To get back to the review...the main storyline is the raid on Lukin's base. But first, we see a flashback of Cap's attempt to get Sharon off the assault team. He's concerned that Sharon, who has just lost Neal Tapper to the bomb, will be out for revenge and will kill the Winter Soldier (Bucky?) rather than capture him. They argue, and she ends up going along. OK, back to the present. Cap, Nick, Sharon, and a team of SHIELD commandos choppers in to assault Lukin's corporate HQ in China on the border with Mongolia. Nick was unable to get permission from the government, but is going ahead anyway on his own authority. Naturally they hope to snag Lukin, the Cube, and any evidence they can to connect him to the Philly bombing, and present this as a fait accompli to the government.
The assault force lands at Lukin's HQ and cuts a swath through the guard force. Some pretty nice commando-type action with Cap and SHIELD here. They quickly fight through to Lukin's office, and Cap smashes the door down to reveal...Lukin in the midst of a meeting involving officials of both the UN and US governments. Cap is nearly out of control and goes straight after Lukin, but the US govt. representative orders him to stop, saying that Lukin is a legitimate businessman and that the US is in negotiations with him for a pipeline right-of-way. Cap is seething, but Nick realizes that they have been out-maneuvered -- again -- and they leave dejected. After they depart, Lukin fondles the Cube and makes a half-way joking threat against a lackey, then says that he "only plans to use the Cube for a few more small things."
As Cap, Nick, and Sharon fly off, Nick swears to see Lukin dead whatever it takes. So this isn't the end of Cap's and SHIELD's attempts to get at Lukin.

What I liked: Damn fine comic book in my opinion. I liked the return to the feel of "Cap and SHIELD" from the 70s, including some good commando action, and Cap (gasp) doing some damage. I like the developing plot with Crossbones, and I'm very interested in seeing what this is about. The art, while not exactly to my taste, was very effective, with the best stuff being in the Crossbones sections. The Crossbones plot really has my attention even though Mr. Brubaker is just setting the table right now.

What I didn't like: Sharon. I had to say it.

RSC

P.S. I have edited this post to correct one large and a couple of small errors I made.

[The Shadow]

I really enjoyed the story. From start to finish actually.

I think when Cap finally gets his hands on the Russian (and I know he will) he's gonna kick some ass. The eventual confrontation with the Bucky-bot should be a doozey too! I thought Cap getting to Lukin so quickly was too easy and was somewhat surprised he was met by members of the US government and not an army of Hydra or something.

Brubaker's one of my favorite writers ad one again he didn't disappoint. I'm not TOO familiar with Lark's art... anyone know what else he's done? Ed... help me out here.

I'm excited to see Brubaker's Daredevil. Lark who's style (this issue anyway) looks a lot like Maleev's should ensure a fairly smooth transition. And I was thinking I would drop DD after Bendis/Maleev left. DAMN YOU MARVEL.... I keep trying to trim my pull list and then they do this.

Overall this series is my favorite book from Marvel (Birds of Prey is my favorite DC book) and I HATE the month long wait!

Ed, I know you'll probably drop by... so THANKS!

[riotgear]

I really enjoyed the story. From start to finish actually.

I think when Cap finally gets his hands on the Russian (and I know he will) he's gonna kick some ass. The eventual confrontation with the Bucky-bot should be a doozey too! I thought Cap getting to Lukin so quickly was too easy and was somewhat surprised he was met by members of the US government and not an army of Hydra or something.

Brubaker's one of my favorite writers ad one again he didn't disappoint. I'm not TOO familiar with Lark's art... anyone know what else he's done? Ed... help me out here.

I'm excited to see Brubaker's Daredevil. Lark who's style (this issue anyway) looks a lot like Maleev's should ensure a fairly smooth transition. And I was thinking I would drop DD after Bendis/Maleev left. DAMN YOU MARVEL.... I keep trying to trim my pull list and then they do this.

Overall this series is my favorite book from Marvel (Birds of Prey is my favorite DC book) and I HATE the month long wait!

Ed, I know you'll probably drop by... so THANKS!

Michael Lark is relatively best known for Gotham Central, a great cop series in DC's line. If I remember correctly, it's also written by the venerable Mr. Brubaker.

[pureclint]

I really enjoyed the story. From start to finish actually.


Nothing else needs to be said.

Best book of the week hands down.

Can we some how graft Mr. Brubaker's Pen to Steve Rogers's tales?

While we are at it how can we make this a weekly book?

The cube sitting on a Winter Soldier file....fore shadowing?

[Schmakt]

yessir, another really great Cap tale. I'm so friggin' happy... b/c I was SO friggin' disappointed by the end of the last Cap run... I dropped Cap/Falcon and regular Cap was about to get dropped too... this series, at issue 9 is still trucking and still has me excited for each issue every month.

Was the "Kirkman" SHIELD agent's name a reference to something?
he sure got called "Kirkman" a lot... as opposed to, like, "Agent 137" or "Major" or whatever. Just seemed strange.

Thought the UN guys being in the room was VERY disappointing at first, (mostly b/c I wanted to see someone get their ass kicked) but I was willing to play along... then to find out THAT was just a setup with the cube?? Sweet. :) Lukin is a great villian with his calm calculations... I likes.

But I can't not sing Pearl Jam every single time I see his name... not that that's a bad thing.

Also... uhm... dammit. there was something else... but I forgot. It was good to see Crossbones. The letters page re: the Nomad issue was really great. I enjoy the dialogue greatly. "Bendis is a hack." Hah! :):)

And I, too, like Fury playing a role in this series.

Keep it up! I'll trade a gallon of gas for a new issue of this book any day. :)

[pureclint]

Was the "Kirkman" SHIELD agent's name a reference to something?
he sure got called "Kirkman" a lot... as opposed to, like, "Agent 137" or "Major" or whatever. Just seemed strange.

Only thing I can think of is MTU, Invincible writer Robert Kirkman. Both great books in their own right, that every one should at least give a try.

I do not recall if he named a character Brubaker or any such thing recently. Also, I am not sure if they are pals or what not but there is that whole "Sports Teamish/Buddy ripping thing" going on with the Marvel crew now.

[The Shadow]

Michael Lark is relatively best known for Gotham Central, a great cop series in DC's line. If I remember correctly, it's also written by the venerable Mr. Brubaker.
Thanks!

Gotham Central isn't written by Brubaker now because he's Marvel exclusive... the BEST move they've made since Joe Q became EIC in my opinion.

[ultramandingo]

cap , nick , and shield go up against evil politicians , businessmen and terrorist in some 3rd world dung heap. i hope cheney's/halliburton's lawyers dont see this. brubakers gonna get deported
"tell your boss im dissapointed " oooooooohh!! what a burn

[Nick Kal]

I love this pic. My only gripe was I thought the art was a bit fuzzy. Maybe it's the printer?

[Atom_basher]

I love this pic. My only gripe was I thought the art was a bit fuzzy. Maybe it's the printer?


I agree, epting is much better than lark

[VisionNick]

Great issue, 8/10. Brubaker continues to do a wonderful job combining old school superheroics with crime and thriller elements. Cap is one of the best books on the stands today.

The things I liked about it:

- Crossbones!
Whenever I see him in a Marvel comic I'm already pleased. He's such a great Cap villian from the late 80's. Its good to see him back, and its also good that he's not just cannon fodder for Cap, but instead a villian who's allowed to be competent and smart. And I'm very curious to see where Brubaker is going with the "Red Skull's daughter" thing. Will Crossbones install her as a figurehead while he runs Skull's organization? Speaking of the Skull's daughter, I dont remember her. I wonder if she's from the Dematteis era, where Skull dies for the first time? (Around issue 300 if I remember right.)

- Michael Lark!
I've only seen Lark's work in Gotham Central (great book BTW) and I've been curious to see how it would look on Marvel's glossier pages, and when he was drawing superheros instead of regular people. Well after reading a full issue of Lark's pencils on Cap I have to say that I like his style even better than Epting's. Now I cant wait for Daredevil. He just has to work on his Sharon though, she looked a lot like Montoya from Gotham Central to me.

No complaints at all this issue, cept that I'm suprised that Fury and Cap would act so recklessly. What did they expect to accomplish attacking Lukin if they cant arrest him?

Now if only Brubaker would write Diamondback into the book.... :)

[Red State Cap]

Now if only Brubaker would write Diamondback into the book.... :)
Ain't gonna happen. Mr. Brubaker dislikes Diamondback almost as much as I dislike Sharon, which is to say, a lot.

RSC

[Ed Brubaker]

I don't dislike her nearly that much, I'm just not that big a fan.

She throws fake diamonds filled with gas. C'mon...

[Sean Whitmore]

She throws fake diamonds filled with gas. C'mon...


Hey, change the diamonds to bats and give her a cape and you've got a potential movie franchise character on your hands. :D


SEAN

[ultramandingo]

how about that bartok the leaper guy? hes cool....right?

[Red State Cap]

Hey, change the diamonds to bats and give her a cape and you've got a potential movie franchise character on your hands. :D
SEAN
Good one!

The only nitpick I can really think of for this issue is, when Cap and Nick are confronted with the US/UN reps, why they didn't just tell them to sit the F down and shut the F up while they searched the place? The Cube was in Lukin's office, and the Winter Soldier was probably hanging out in the break room. They were already going to be in deep trouble, so why not get the evidence they came for? This would have seized the initiative back from Lukin, who obviously did not consider the possibility that Cap and Nick would flaunt the government reps and do the search anyway.
They gave up too easily. Of course, this would have ended the story a couple of issues early, too.

RSC

[pureclint]

Were they even Real? I kind of got the impression they were Cube Made.

Also Fury does know he has to play politics, it would have been even worse if they had searched and found nothing, so he did not take the risk. As it was Fury backed down a lot more then Cap did.

Hell for all we know, Lukin who did have the Cube there as you pointed out was using the Cube to hde any incriminating evidence.

[The Shadow]

I don't dislike her nearly that much, I'm just not that big a fan.

She throws fake diamonds filled with gas. C'mon...
Think of her as a challenge Ed!!!!

Make her cool... make her relevant... make her INTERESTING!

[Red State Cap]

Think of her as a challenge Ed!!!! Make her cool... make her relevant... make her INTERESTING!
I know the character still has plenty of fans (I suppose I am one of them) but I am just not that interested in seeing her back in the CA book on a continuing basis. That storyline was done to death a long time ago, and I can't really see a point in picking it up again.
I'd be happy with the occasional guest appearance.

RSC

[Ed Brubaker]

Were they even Real? I kind of got the impression they were Cube Made.

Also Fury does know he has to play politics, it would have been even worse if they had searched and found nothing, so he did not take the risk. As it was Fury backed down a lot more then Cap did.

Hell for all we know, Lukin who did have the Cube there as you pointed out was using the Cube to hde any incriminating evidence.

Well, actually, they didn't think they'd just find the Cube sitting on a desk. They were there for Lukin, to kidnap and interrogate him, in a completely illegal way. Which is one thing when you're doing a quick grab and no one knows, and another when the people who report directly to your bosses are standing there.

They wouldn't imagine they could find the cube so easily. For all they knew, Lukin ordered it to be invisible to all eyes but his or something.

[pureclint]

Well, actually, they didn't think they'd just find the Cube sitting on a desk. They were there for Lukin, to kidnap and interrogate him, in a completely illegal way. Which is one thing when you're doing a quick grab and no one knows, and another when the people who report directly to your bosses are standing there.

They wouldn't imagine they could find the cube so easily. For all they knew, Lukin ordered it to be invisible to all eyes but his or something.


Makes sense, as they were going in for a certain OP, then the shock of who they met and the fact that most people wouldn't think that one of the most powerful tools ever would be used as a paper weight.

Like I said politics are important to Fury and he knows he has to navigate that web getting caught red handed in a illegal Shield OP would be a big problem for him.

A question: This all takes place pre New Avengers right, and since Fury is out of the Shield Picture there how soon till Cap catches up with that story? I really dig the whole Shield, Cap, Fury thing but knowing some of the Marvel U future it does seem inevitable this book will have to sit Fury out foor a bit.

[riotgear]

Hey, change the diamonds to bats and give her a cape and you've got a potential movie franchise character on your hands. :D


SEAN

Yeah, but then she'd be "Batback", and that just doesn't make any sense. :D

[Kirk G]

I gotta say that I was a bit dissappointed with issue #9, cause nothing of significance happened.
We got nothing on the Winter Soldier...
We get no headway with Lunkin...
Cap gets to fight no supervillian..
and Sheild gets its chain jerked.
The only development was the revelation that the Red Skull told/ordered Crossbones to grab a girl in security under the pretext that she was the Red Skull's daughter. No confirmation of that... it's just what Crossbones tells her as he grabs her.

Did I miss anything else of significance?

I'm waiting until some action occurs... maybe next issue?

PS: Does this series interact or tie into House of M at any future point???

[Atom_basher]

hey kirk, the next issue of cap is a house of M tie In

[Schmakt]

I kind of liked the lack of super-villian, really...

and yeah, maybe there was no significant advances in info for the readers, but I thought the piece of the story fit very well. You don't always accomplish what you set out to accomplish. Cap/Fury are now in an even worse position. It's great. They failed. Awesome. :)

and, I thought this was post-diassembled? Wasn't Cap all pissed at the beginning of the series due to the disassembled stuff?

[pureclint]

and, I thought this was post-diassembled? Wasn't Cap all pissed at the beginning of the series due to the disassembled stuff?


Yeah but I think it is pre New Avengers though...

[Sean Whitmore]

Yeah but I think it is pre New Avengers though...


But if next issue is an HOM tie-in, that means the New Avengers have already been formed. Unless there's a long time period between #9 and 10.


SEAN

[pureclint]

Who says Cap 10 takes place cronologically right after Cap 9? For all we know it could take place after the Winter Soldier arc right?

I am really using Nick Fury and and the mention of AD without a mention of any New Avengers team as my timeline right now.

[Ed Brubaker]

Cap 10 just sort of stands among the House of M story, basically, then in 11 we're right back to the Winter Soldier arc, already in progress. 11 comes out two weeks after 10, I believe, so it's not that big a deal.

And yeah, not a ton of action in 9, it's true, but it was an important issue for a lot of reasons that we'll see in future issues. This issue was more about character study than plot movement, but there WERE a few significant plot points advanced. They just weren't obvious.

And does Cap have to fight a super-villain every issue? That seems kind of boring after a while.

On the timeline, yeah, this all takes place before New Avengers so far. After the Winter Soldier storyline concludes, we'll be jumping ahead in time for the next arc.

[Red State Cap]

Cap 10 just sort of stands among the House of M story, basically, then in 11 we're right back to the Winter Soldier arc, already in progress. 11 comes out two weeks after 10, I believe, so it's not that big a deal.
And yeah, not a ton of action in 9, it's true, but it was an important issue for a lot of reasons that we'll see in future issues. This issue was more about character study than plot movement, but there WERE a few significant plot points advanced. They just weren't obvious.
And does Cap have to fight a super-villain every issue? That seems kind of boring after a while.
On the timeline, yeah, this all takes place before New Avengers so far. After the Winter Soldier storyline concludes, we'll be jumping ahead in time for the next arc.
So #10 is basically an unrelated tie-in and does not fall, chronologically speaking, between #9 and #11, if I understand you? Does it fall between #12 and #13, chronologically?
After the last issue I had to pull out and re-read the "Bloodstone Hunt" TPB. Man, I love that era (roughly #350-400), and I think all CA fans will be very excited to see Crossbones used to his potential again. By the way, if Mr. Epting leaves the book, check if Mr. (Kieron) Dwyer is available. :)
I for one don't need to see a dust-up every issue, but maybe that's because I'm older and my tastes have evolved. I think that major villains deserve major buildup.

RSC

[The Shadow]

So #10 is basically an unrelated tie-in and does not fall, chronologically speaking, between #9 and #11, if I understand you? Does it fall between #12 and #13, chronologically?I would doubt it because with an alternate reality story there IS no chronology with the current series because what's happening in the House of M reallity doesn't have anything to do with the current Cap story. You could likely skip the issue and not miss what's really important... though all of the House of M tie ins have been great so far (the ones I've read anyway)

[Nick Kal]

Ed Brubaker posted in here. So cool.

Just wanted to point out that one of the important thingies he might be talking about is Red Skull's daughter... or um Lukin's apparent descent into madness...

[Will.S]

I didn't even know Red Skull had a daughter, I think Crossbones or someone else under his employ will use the kid to bring back the Skull somehow.

Fantastic issue btw, good action and as always great looking artwork by Lark.

[DMike]

So is this daughter that Sister Superior lady from that group Cap fought way back or a new daughter altogether?

And since Brubaker's here, were the government people Cube-made or real? Because that confused me too, but if this story really continues in future issues, then I'm guessing they'd have to be real.

[Schmakt]

So is this daughter that Sister Superior lady from that group Cap fought way back or a new daughter altogether?

And since Brubaker's here, were the government people Cube-made or real? Because that confused me too, but if this story really continues in future issues, then I'm guessing they'd have to be real.

I just reread that last bit... my vote's still for cube-made. In the last few panels, you only see two guys instead of the five guys from the previous pages. and the comment, "And what exactly was the point of that, Alex?" makes me think that he made those government guys with the cube. If not, I can't figure out what it was that Leon was pissed about. The conversation, after Cap et al leave is also very much dialoge and doesn't really lend itself to having 3 other people in the room with them.

[Deathlok]

This Bucky is not "the" is it? I thought it was Jack Monroe.

I thought somewhere in the past Joe said that "dead is dead!"

How long before the first Captain Mar-vel returns?

[Deathlok]

Oh & just for the record, I am NOT reading house of M. To me it seems that everything that is hapening will be undone. It will return to the same old, same old. So why bother? The tie in issues are just annoying. Esp. in Cap. I want to read the winter soldier story, not some lame house of M tie in.

[pureclint]

Cap 10 just sort of stands among the House of M story, basically, then in 11 we're right back to the Winter Soldier arc, already in progress. 11 comes out two weeks after 10, I believe, so it's not that big a deal.

And yeah, not a ton of action in 9, it's true, but it was an important issue for a lot of reasons that we'll see in future issues. This issue was more about character study than plot movement, but there WERE a few significant plot points advanced. They just weren't obvious.

And does Cap have to fight a super-villain every issue? That seems kind of boring after a while.

On the timeline, yeah, this all takes place before New Avengers so far. After the Winter Soldier storyline concludes, we'll be jumping ahead in time for the next arc.


Just as I guessed but thanks for the confirmation. I am with RSC I do not need a super villain or all out action every issue, I have really enjoyed the build up of Lukin. If the main villain is just tossed out there who cares if they loose? But if they are slowly built up to have a personality, motivations and a easily defined reason to want them to fail then it is a bad guy worth having. I have always felt there are two main types of Bad Guys, the cool ones who draw you in by their bad-assery (Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Deathstroke, Doom, etc) and the complete scum bags who you really root for failure (Red Skull, Dr. Psycho, Sabertooth, etc). Not sure were Lukin fits as of yet, but he is leaning more to the scum pile for sure.

[Deathlok]

So the Red Skull is not really dead?

:eek:


LOL

:p

[RonnieThunderbolts]

Deathlok, yes, the Red Skull IS dead, no, it most likely isn't Jack Monroe, and IS Bucky. Bucky never has been shown to be dead, even in old issues they always say "presumed" dead, and that his body was never recovered. His survival isn't the same as say, Uncle Ben or Mar-Vell, no matter how much anyone dislikes it. Sure, I can see the validity that Bucky being alive somehow waters down resurrections, and undoes one of the permenant "deaths" in comics, but, he was never portrayed as most assuredly dead, and it was a ret-con to begin with.

Jack pretty much can't be the Winter Soldier for a couple of reasons, including timelines, and spoilers from the current Cap series I won't go into.

Lastly, the Red Skull's daughter is the one and only Synthia Schmitt, formerly Mother Superior of the Sisters of Sin. She and her young cohorts were once again "de-aged" and restored to their proper ages, and later recruited by Mother Night to help her run her camp to brainwash teenage runaways. Since then, off panel, she has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. military and ended up in this re-conditioning facility in Nevada.

[Doom Hammer]

This book is so awesome. I could praise it for pages at a time, but instead, I'll talk about a couple different things.

I caught the use of the name "Kirkman" a lot, too, and I though it was pretty funny. Kirkman preceeded Brubaker on Captain America, and I smiled every time they used his name.

It was kinda like in Powers this week, when one of the Detectives called for backup at McNiven and Lark...I think it was Lark...it's just a funny little inside-joke-ish reference.

Also, I love that Ed responds to letters personally in the letters page. I think it's so cool when writers take time to do that, and it's infinitely better than when an editor does it for them. It shows that Ed really cares about what his fans think, and then to drive the point home, he comes here to CBR and discusses the book with us.

Mwah. I love the guy. A genuine individual who cares for his fans and writes undeniably awesome stories. Ed Brubaker has quickly become one of my favorite writers, and I can't WAIT for his Daredevil.

Enough gratuitous ass-kissing.

Anyway, as I've said, I was never a big fan of Cap prior to Brubaker's run. I only started buying it since Bucky was mentioned, and since then, I have become a huge fan. I've even come to love the villains in this book, like Crossbones, who I'd hardly read of prior to this. His efficiency and brutality was really displayed in the opening seqence. Two men are walking along, soldiers though they may be, discussing fantasy super-hero situations, when the "reality" of the comic book world hits them like a kick in the nuts in the form of Crossbones.

He descends on the one soldier like some nightmarishly-monstrous creature, and the imagery of the blade of the knife near the handle sticking out of the soldier's chest was powerful and...brutal. Stab-wounds in comics are usually glossed over, it seems, and this instance just screamed of realism. Dying from stab wounds is a nightmare of mine, so the opening was kinda shocking to me. The whole crafting of that scene, from the initial attack to the positioning of the knife to the look on the soldier's face was just...yeah, brutal works.

Anyway, I loved this issue, and that was just a few things about it that were great.

[Deathlok]

If Bucky is not dead, then how can the Red Skull actually be dead :eek:

Thats like saying The Joker is dead!

:p

[Jake V]

If Bucky is not dead, then how can the Red Skull actually be dead :eek:

Thats like saying The Joker is dead!

:p
It was pretty easy. He got a basketball-sized hole shot through him. SHIELD has the body and tested it to be the real Red Skull.

[Deathlok]

it was a clone or a bad dream ... or the cosmic cube will fix the hole in his head..... or it was am Aim robot

[Jake V]

it was a clone or a bad dream ... or the cosmic cube will fix the hole in his head..... or it was am Aim robot
His death was ordered by the guy who has the cube. The hole was in his chest, by the way.

You should really try reading the comics before you whine about them. That sorta **** might be fine at Newsarama, but not here. You could always go back there though.

[Deathlok]

OMG!.... My 1st hostile response!

:eek:

[Will.S]

http://www.cyberroach.com/jaguarcd/pics/barkley.jpg

WELCOME TO THE NBA

[Doom Hammer]

Is anybody else getting a gay vibe from Lukin and his "advisor"? Or is it just me?

I mean, neither of them appear to have any women of interest or wives, and they spend all their time together. Plus, the way they get offended at each other and quickly make up just screams "GAY!".


;)

[thik_3rd]

By the way, if Mr. Epting leaves the book, check if Mr. (Kieron) Dwyer is available. :)
yeah, dwyer is sick. especially his covers. the covers he did on avengers vol 3 are some of my favorites in recent memory.

[Red State Cap]

yeah, dwyer is sick. especially his covers. the covers he did on avengers vol 3 are some of my favorites in recent memory.
My favorite Dwyer stuff, and favorite comic art period, is his Captain America work roughly #350-370. I wonder what he's doing these days?

RSC

[thik_3rd]

My favorite Dwyer stuff, and favorite comic art period, is his Captain America work roughly #350-370. I wonder what he's doing these days?

RSC
sea of red, an image series.

[C.O. Jones]

Check out the cover; it appears Cap's worst fears about Sharon accompanying the mission were true: it looks like Sharon's got a bead on Bucky and just as she's pulling the trigger...pow! She gets smacked upside the head by Cap!

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

I echo many of the comments on here. This was a great read and I am even more intrigued by how this will finish than before, if that's possible.

Now, I may be off on a tangent here, but I found it very interesting that Lukin had the Cube sitting on top of a "Winter Soldier" file. First of all, it's in English. Why would a Russian have a file labeled "Winter Soldier in English? Second, it appears to be identical (I'd have to check my back issues to be sure) to the file Nick Fury had.

Why is this important?

My theory is that Lukin created the "Winter Soldier" file and used the Cube to insert the file into SHIELD records and into Nick Fury (and others')'s memories. In other words, he's creating a history for the Winter Soldier out of whole cloth and using the Cube to make that history "real." I suspect the Cube's influence likewise caused Jack's memory lapses.

I think that, in the end, we'll find out that Jack is the Winter Soldier and Lukin used the Cube to make it seem as if it's Bucky.

[Ed Brubaker]

It's in English so the readers will know what it is. It's a cheat, but not that big of one.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

It's in English so the readers will know what it is. It's a cheat, but not that big of one.

Damn. And here I thought I was on to something...

Ah well. Guess I could always wait and find out.



Nah.

[The Shadow]

Damn. And here I thought I was on to something...

He didn't come out and say you were wrong, off base or laugh at you for your wild speculation... so have heart.... there is still hope for your ideas!

[Capt Hunter]

I echo many of the comments on here. This was a great read and I am even more intrigued by how this will finish than before, if that's possible.

Now, I may be off on a tangent here, but I found it very interesting that Lukin had the Cube sitting on top of a "Winter Soldier" file. First of all, it's in English. Why would a Russian have a file labeled "Winter Soldier in English? Second, it appears to be identical (I'd have to check my back issues to be sure) to the file Nick Fury had.

Why is this important?

My theory is that Lukin created the "Winter Soldier" file and used the Cube to insert the file into SHIELD records and into Nick Fury (and others')'s memories. In other words, he's creating a history for the Winter Soldier out of whole cloth and using the Cube to make that history "real." I suspect the Cube's influence likewise caused Jack's memory lapses.

I think that, in the end, we'll find out that Jack is the Winter Soldier and Lukin used the Cube to make it seem as if it's Bucky.

Nice.... I like that idea..... but what about the flashbacks..... they were told out of perspective..... they seem like they are cannon events....

[manicman]

I think that, in the end, we'll find out that Jack is the Winter Soldier and Lukin used the Cube to make it seem as if it's Bucky.

One problem with that theroy: issue #1. At this point Lukin dosn't have the cube, but he does already have a guy with a cybernetic arm in a stasis chamber. While it's not implicitly stated that the man is the tube is Bucky, Red Skull's reaction to him at least suggests it. Plus, the Winter Soldier killed Jack Monroe. So not be a jerk, but I can't see Monroe being the Winter Soldier.

[Kirk G]

It was pretty easy. He got a basketball-sized hole shot through him. SHIELD has the body and tested it to be the real Red Skull.
uH, I thought that the Red Skull actually died back in issue, er, 300 or 400... the one with the house of Pain that the skull built. So, the latest guy to have been shot and killed... must have been.... a clone??? Am I right, guys?

[Sean Whitmore]

uH, I thought that the Red Skull actually died back in issue, er, 300 or 400... the one with the house of Pain that the skull built. So, the latest guy to have been shot and killed... must have been.... a clone??? Am I right, guys?


You're kinda right, actually. :)

The Skull survived his apparent death in #300 by having his mind placed in a body cloned from Captain America. Then he was exposed to his own "Death Dust", turning his new face red and skull-like once again.


SEAN

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

One problem with that theroy: issue #1. At this point Lukin dosn't have the cube, but he does already have a guy with a cybernetic arm in a stasis chamber. While it's not implicitly stated that the man is the tube is Bucky, Red Skull's reaction to him at least suggests it. Plus, the Winter Soldier killed Jack Monroe. So not be a jerk, but I can't see Monroe being the Winter Soldier.

Not nearly the problem it would seem to be on its face. If Lukin is using the Cube to alter past events and "insert" the Winter Soldier into precise moments in the past, it would be a simple enough task for the Cube to insert the Winter Soldier into the tube to be seen by the Red Skull.

Yeah, time travel stories make my head hurt, too.

For me, having seen several "Bucky Returns!" stories over the years, I remain extremely skeptical that this "Bucky" is the real deal.

[StoneGold]

For me, having seen several "Bucky Returns!" stories over the years, I remain extremely skeptical that this "Bucky" is the real deal.
That, and Brubaker has basically said at a couple points that there's a good chance he's not Bucky. Not that he isn't, but there's a good chance he might not be.


Watch, the real Bucky has been stuck in a weird quarantine hatch with 70s computers on a tropical island.