CBR NEWS: Brubaker talks "Captain America" & "Winter Soldier: Winter Kills"

[Jonah Weiland]

The events of "Civil War" are having a huge impact on Captain America and his supporting cast as seen in the current "Drums of War" storyline and the upcoming "Winter Soldier: Winter Kills" one-shot. We caught up with Ed Brubaker to learn more.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ne...em.cgi?id=8651

[Kyriv]

I am so looking forward to issue #25 now! Not that I don't look forward to Captain America every month, but Bru sounds so enthused about it, I can't wait to see this all play out. Good article!

[CMBMOOL]

Man, Brubaker can make Cap. feel so real!!! :D

[CaptainCanada]

I'm really looking forward to that "Winter Kills" special: Young Avengers! (three of them, so I'd guess Patriot, Hawkeye II, and one other).

[Magneto Rocks]

I must confess I'm now really excited, more for issue #24 and AFTER CW than anything!

Starting an HOUR after Cap in CW7? Wow, the poor guy never seems to get a break, and honestly this will undoubtedly my number ONE issue when it comes out at last! Also can't wait to see Cap's reaction to the battle in civil war #4, as I was a little disappointed by what we got in CW4 itself.

My two favourite writers writing my favourite character. For me, comics just don't get better than this!

[drwho]

Ed is really a genius hope he sticks with cap for another 100 issues.

[david r]

Yeah, this series rocks! Ed is the man.

Has anyone heard any rumors about Doctor Doom appearing in this series?

[Jmacq1]

I must confess I'm now really excited, more for issue #24 and AFTER CW than anything!

Starting an HOUR after Cap in CW7? Wow, the poor guy never seems to get a break, and honestly this will undoubtedly my number ONE issue when it comes out at last! Also can't wait to see Cap's reaction to the battle in civil war #4, as I was a little disappointed by what we got in CW4 itself.

My two favourite writers writing my favourite character. For me, comics just don't get better than this!

I dunno, given the title of the next story arc ("Death of the Dream") and the subtle hints that seem to have been dropped, I'm getting the impression that Steve Rogers may be a star-spangled corpse by the end of "Civil War #7".

Partially because that's exactly the kind of ham-fisted political commentary Millar likes to make, and partially because I think Brubaker wants to make "Winter Soldier" into "Captain America" for a while.

I hope I'm wrong, though.

[Magneto Rocks]

I dunno, given the title of the next story arc ("Death of the Dream") and the subtle hints that seem to have been dropped, I'm getting the impression that Steve Rogers may be a star-spangled corpse by the end of "Civil War #7".

Partially because that's exactly the kind of ham-fisted political commentary Millar likes to make, and partially because I think Brubaker wants to make "Winter Soldier" into "Captain America" for a while.

I hope I'm wrong, though.

No, I really do disagree with you here I'm afraid. Firstly I take issue with your implication Millar is anti-reg when the comics have been... well, let me put it this way, the main series has presented NEGATIVE things to the pro-regs certainly, but it's presented them in a NEUTRAL manner. And he himself is admittedly pro-reg.

Secondly, Millar has repeatedly said not to buy this book looking for shock deaths.

Thirdly, if this was really Cap's final arc in his own book, do you really think only ONE of the three issues would be focusing on him?

And fourthly, if Cap died in CW7, why would Cap #25 open an hour AFTER his final scene (which would almost undoubtedly be a funeral scene)? Would it not make more sense (á la Spidey unmasked) to start the book with Cap's final moments?

No, I really don't think it's leading to that at all.

[Frank]

Man, Winter Soldier is slowly becoming the break-out character of this year!

Also: give Brubaker an Invaders title, already. Cap/Winter Soldier/Nick Fury/Zemo/Union Jack/Spitfire

[The Shadow]

give Brubaker an Invaders title, already. Cap/Winter Soldier/Nick Fury/Zemo/Union Jack/Spitfire

And seconded!

Brubaker is not just a fantastic writer, but one that has a lot of respect for the past as well as where characters are in the present. His stories are fun, interesting and I would love to see him do a book based on the flashback sequences in the early Captain America issues.

[Jmacq1]

No, I really do disagree with you here I'm afraid. Firstly I take issue with your implication Millar is anti-reg when the comics have been... well, let me put it this way, the main series has presented NEGATIVE things to the pro-regs certainly, but it's presented them in a NEUTRAL manner. And he himself is admittedly pro-reg.

Have you ever read a Millar comic before Civil War? The man enjoys making America (and particularly its' president) look incompetent, corrupt, or otherwise "wrong". Having the "Military-industrial complex" (Iron Man/SHIELD) kill the "embodiment of American ideals" (Captain America) would be right up his alley. He doesn't have to be "anti-reg" and that was never my implication. Of course he's pro-reg, because a pro-reg victory allows him more opportunities to easily include his political commentary in future books set in the 616 universe.

Secondly, Millar has repeatedly said not to buy this book looking for shock deaths.

Would it really be a shock? Not to mention that Marvel has never lied to us in interviews or misled us to try to keep "surprises" under their hat before. Oh that's right...they do it all the time. Quite frankly, with a Pro-Reg "win" there's no outcome for Cap that isn't a rehash of what's gone before (Cap as fugitive) or completely dilutes Cap as a character (Cap sells out to the Pro-Reg side). While death may be the least desireable of the options on the table, it's almost preferable to those other options.

Thirdly, if this was really Cap's final arc in his own book, do you really think only ONE of the three issues would be focusing on him?

Yes, because the real story isn't in "Captain America". It's in "Civil War". Heck, his last "death" was a half issue story with no build-up whatsoever.

And fourthly, if Cap died in CW7, why would Cap #25 open an hour AFTER his final scene (which would almost undoubtedly be a funeral scene)? Would it not make more sense (á la Spidey unmasked) to start the book with Cap's final moments?

No, I really don't think it's leading to that at all.

Time can overlap in comics. If Cap #25 opens an hour after Captain America's death, it could very well be opening with Winter Soldier, or Sharon, or Nick Fury, or whoever hearing the news about it on TV. Then they could flash back to his death, and then flash forward to a funeral. Even if a funeral is included in Civil War (which isn't really necessary, since they could deal with the aftermath in a dozen other titles), you could easily argue that that isn't really "Cap's final scene" since he isn't alive to be in it.

I'm not dead-certain that Steve will die, mind you. But I think it's becoming a more and more likely possibility. Because quite frankly none of the other options available to Cap if the Pro Reg side wins are original in any way, or require the character to act so completely out of character that it'd completely ruin his credibility. Which is probably exactly what Millar will do, given his track record with Cap in "Civil War" so far.

[Nomad]

Steve could get busted...

[Jmacq1]

Except then we're just getting a rehash of the story Brubaker just told in "Daredevil".

Like I said, there's very few outcomes for a Pro-Reg victory that offer any sort of "new ground" for Cap.

He's been a fugitive at least once before.

He's been expatriated before.

He's been stripped of the Captain America identity before.

And "Cap in Prison" would just be pretty much the same as "Daredevil in prison" just with different characters.

So what's left? Selling out to the Pro-Reg, and therefore becoming complicit in all the (depending on your perspective) immoral and unethical things they've done. Or being dead.

Unless of course there's some "magic ending" to Civil War that makes the SHRA palatable to those that opposed it initially, and allows the Pro-Reg side to do away with the shadier aspects of their implementation. But given Millar's insistence that the "50 States Initiative" will be a big part of the post "Civil-War" Marvel U, that doesn't seem likely.

[Magneto Rocks]

Have you ever read a Millar comic before Civil War? The man enjoys making America (and particularly its' president) look incompetent, corrupt, or otherwise "wrong". Having the "Military-industrial complex" (Iron Man/SHIELD) kill the "embodiment of American ideals" (Captain America) would be right up his alley. He doesn't have to be "anti-reg" and that was never my implication. Of course he's pro-reg, because a pro-reg victory allows him more opportunities to easily include his political commentary in future books set in the 616 universe.

Have I ever read any of my favourite writers' comics before Civil War? No, of course not. It's very doubtful I have his entire MK; Spidey collection, all the Ultimates so far, his Wolverine run, 'The Authority', his entire UXM run.... should I go on? :P

Millar does indeed dislike George Bush. I certainly don't disagree with that. I DO disagree with you that that would be right up his alley, I think it's far more his style to have the 'embodiment of American ideals' defeat the 'Military-industrial complex' but be corrupted by it in the process.

Would it really be a shock? Not to mention that Marvel has never lied to us in interviews or misled us to try to keep "surprises" under their hat before. Oh that's right...they do it all the time. Quite frankly, with a Pro-Reg "win" there's no outcome for Cap that isn't a rehash of what's gone before (Cap as fugitive) or completely dilutes Cap as a character (Cap sells out to the Pro-Reg side). While death may be the least desireable of the options on the table, it's almost preferable to those other options.

Well let's see, Mark Millar SPECIFICALLY listed Cap when he said comic book deaths sucked because you knew characters like Cap would be back in a few months anyway. Why on earth would he want to undermine it so badly if this was the case? Sure, you could say it's to add shock, but the fact is that it still makes no sense. Millar says there will be no big deaths, he specifically cites Cap as what's WRONG with big deaths, Cap won't die. I would bet my entire savings on it. Plus you and many others are still convinced that the pro-regges will win but I'm very sceptical....

Yes, because the real story isn't in "Captain America". It's in "Civil War". Heck, his last "death" was a half issue story with no build-up whatsoever.

Massive difference.

If Captain America dies in CW, Marvel will want it to stick for a MINIMUM of two years. They'll want to make mainstream press, they'll ant to spread the news far and wide. There is absoloutely no chance whatsoever that they will do the following:

-Kill off a character created over 65 years ago outside his own book and NOT have the sequence retold in his own comic at the same time

-Have only a THIRD of his last storyline for several years be dedicated to him.

Seriously, they won't. Most likely they would have an entire issue of Cap from his PoV ending with his death, or else one starting with his death. At WORST it would open in the immediate aftermath, literally the SECOND after. As I said, if Cap dies in CW, then we wil see his funeral in CW, and that would be the last Cap scene in CW. And Brubaker will NOT miss out on an attempt to do a funeral scene.

Time can overlap in comics. If Cap #25 opens an hour after Captain America's death, it could very well be opening with Winter Soldier, or Sharon, or Nick Fury, or whoever hearing the news about it on TV. Then they could flash back to his death, and then flash forward to a funeral. Even if a funeral is included in Civil War (which isn't really necessary, since they could deal with the aftermath in a dozen other titles), you could easily argue that that isn't really "Cap's final scene" since he isn't alive to be in it.

Firstly, I'm very sceptical either Sharon or Nick Fury would 'hear the news on TV' but that's not the point. If they show Goliath's funeral in CW then they'll show Cap's! The only other thing I could think of would be a banner running through some major marvel heroes for a month (For example, 'Death of a Dream' banner) which featured their experiences at Cap's funerals, or a one-shot like a CW epilogue. Or Frontline #11. And yeah, I would count the funeral as his final scene. While you do make a case for someone 'hearing it on TV', it's still not going to happen. If we see Cap's death, we'll see his thoughts, his feelings running UP to said death, and since that won't happen in CW, Cap is the only logical choice of comic.

I'm not dead-certain that Steve will die, mind you. But I think it's becoming a more and more likely possibility. Because quite frankly none of the other options available to Cap if the Pro Reg side wins are original in any way, or require the character to act so completely out of character that it'd completely ruin his credibility. Which is probably exactly what Millar will do, given his track record with Cap in "Civil War" so far.

Well let's see. I'm a massive fan of Captain America, I'm a massive fan of Millar, and while I feel Millar writes a 'hardcore' Cap, I certainly don't think he's radically OOC. In fact, if Brubaker were off Cap, I'd want Millar on it, so really that's all a matter of opinion. You say the approahces aren't original- you don't know that, I'm betting you haven't worked out every possible outcome. And yet again, we DON'T know the pro-regges will win.

PS: We really need to have a conversation when this is all over and look back on these old arguments with the benefit of hindsight :P