Captain America #50 *Spoilers*

[CaptainCanada]

This issue is another in a long line of one of Captain America's staple features: characters flashing back to escapades in the war years. In this case, the theme is Bucky's various birthdays. I especially liked his 18th birthday in wartime Poland, where Toro's attempts to procure a cake get them all ambushed by Master Man and Warrior Woman.

Stories like this tend to be melancholy, but this is, weirdly, perhaps the lightest issue of this series in quite a while. It even ends on an extremely cheerful birthday party thrown by Black Widow and the New Avengers, with one of those borderline corny final dialogue exchanges as he blows out the candles on his cake (Mockingbird: "Wait. Aren't you going to make a wish?" "Nah..I'm good.").

I liked the brief return of the Watchdogs, too. A good callback to old stories.

Customarily great art from Luke Ross.

The backup "Captain America Saga" thing isn't much new if you've been reading the series, but it's got some really amazing images by Marcos Martin.

[Iron-boy]

So it wasn't a must issue? Simply the past of Bucky and some reprints? Luckily I passed it.

[arp2008]

So another filler issue, huh? I guess 600 will be another self contained story and 601 will take place completely in past? When is this series looking to pick up steam again? 602?

[James Conniff]

I wouldn't call it a filler issue, so much as a character building issue. We get a reflection on Buck's life throughout the years via the birthday narrative, ending with his new teammates throwing him a party. A solid Captain America story, even if it doesn't drive the plot forward.

And Marcos Martin's Captain America recap was beautiful. He is one of my favorite up and coming artists in the industry, and each page is just beautiful. The guy is a great storyteller, and can also pull off some images that look like Superhero pop art, and a level I've only seen David Aja produce as of late.

[Sean Walsh]

People are complaining about a filler issue in CAPTAIN AMERICA?

Given its track record for the last 50 issues, a filler CAP ish is probably better than most series' standard/regular/bg event/cliffhanger/OMFG reveal issues.

[arp2008]

People are complaining about a filler issue in CAPTAIN AMERICA?

Given its track record for the last 50 issues, a filler CAP ish is probably better than most series' standard/regular/bg event/cliffhanger/OMFG reveal issues.

Yes, even Cap filler, like Sharon Carters last issue, out me to sleep.

[CaptainCanada]

Neither of those was filler; they're character pieces. Good ones, too.

[Beast]

So another filler issue, huh? I guess 600 will be another self contained story and 601 will take place completely in past? When is this series looking to pick up steam again? 602?

They kinda have to do character pieces and flashback tales. Or they'll blow Steve's return in Reborn.

[arp2008]

Neither of those was filler; they're character pieces. Good ones, too.

You say character pieces, I say filler. Either way Sharons "character piece" left me bored to tears.

[jackolover]

People are complaining about a filler issue in CAPTAIN AMERICA?

Given its track record for the last 50 issues, a filler CAP ish is probably better than most series' standard/regular/bg event/cliffhanger/OMFG reveal issues.

Well, what happened last issue? Sharon Cater was having an interlude in her old family home, and you could see it was building up to something, but Cap wasn't anywhere to be seen. So, an issue where Cap actually shows up, Clint Barton doesn't spoil it by appearing, just heard as support, and more flashbacks of James Barnes, which lets you know this is an old man. (80th Birthday). It also mentions James' appreciation of Steve Rogers as a friend, who tried to help him. I think that could have been addressed a lot further, considering here is James, a redeemed hero, having a birthday party with a family, for the first time in his life, and who was to thank for it? Steve Rogers.

[CaptainCanada]

They kinda have to do character pieces and flashback tales. Or they'll blow Steve's return in Reborn.

The next arc starting in #602 is "Two Americas", pitting New Cap against 50s Cap.

[arp2008]

The next arc starting in #602 is "Two Americas", pitting New Cap against 50s Cap.

Didn't we see that already?

[CaptainCanada]

Briefly, when he was a pawn of the Skull. This one's about 50s Cap trying to figure out what he's about in America (just like, ironically, Steve and Bucky did).

[T Hedge Coke]

You say character pieces, I say filler. Either way Sharons "character piece" left me bored to tears.

Because narrative/plot equals the only thing worth telling a story about, yeah? The invention of interiority must have been a dark day for some people. Stupid Carver, Woolf, and Salinger, wasting our time with all that filler. Enough with the banana fish and oil lamps, I want to know what happened next!

(I have a sudden urge for... wait for it... Nabokov's Captain America, where a quarter of the story is given over to Steve's comics he used to do, showing us how he thinks of himself and his world.)

[arp2008]

Because narrative/plot equals the only thing worth telling a story about, yeah? The invention of interiority must have been a dark day for some people. Stupid Carver, Woolf, and Salinger, wasting our time with all that filler. Enough with the banana fish and oil lamps, I want to know what happened next!

(I have a sudden urge for... wait for it... Nabokov's Captain America, where a quarter of the story is given over to Steve's comics he used to do, showing us how he thinks of himself and his world.)

Hey, if it doesn't move the plot forward, I don't care. They could have easily incorperated these introspective looks into the characters lives and whatnot while progressing an overarching story. When things pick up agian, better believe I'll be there. But for now, while they're stalling, just barely trying to sate us until 602 kicks off a new storyline, I'll save my cash for other books with something actually consequencial to the plot.

They kinda have to do character pieces and flashback tales. Or they'll blow Steve's return in Reborn.

I really, really, really, hope that doesn't happen.