Captain America Theater of War: To Soldier On

[WorstThingUS]

I have to say, I've loved all these one-shots of Cap at war and I really like this clearly out-of-continuity story because I like the idea that Cap would actually go war.

The Marvel Knights series drove me crazy first with the idea that Cap, a native New Yorker, wouldn't go to Afghanistan to help find the terrorists who'd caused 9-11 and then later he'd be at Guantanamo without anyone ever asking "Uh, Cap, why aren't you fighting?" (much less "How do you get away with physically attacking superior officers" though Priest did a story that indicated Cap's rank is technically that of a one-star general). That's always the danger of bringing too much of the real world into comics, because then you have to explain why Stark Tech or any of the super-tech regularly on display isn't being used to find Osama Bin Laden in the hills of Pakistan, something it could easily do. Or why the government isn't using imprisoned supervillains to do it in return for freedom (which we've seen them do in other cases). Because basically there is no reason.

But Cap is just a man, and can't effect too much change on his own so putting him in these settings doesn't change too much. And I like see him just working as a soldier. No judgement about whether or not the war was just or unjust, just giving and following orders. Doing his job. I especially liked how the bloom came off the rose for his men who then became annoyed at "the boy scout." It's easy to admire Cap's higher standard from a distance. It's something quite different when he's making you live up to it. And the end result where the narrator loses limbs over was heartbreaking, but I liked the way they didn't shy away from blame and guilt (though Cap was let off a bit too easily).

If this is the last one (and I hope they sold enough to do more), they ended on a high note.

[timomcshade]

I believe To Soldier On was solicited as the last one Paul Jenkins will write. I thought I saw one solicited for October; it was called America the Beautiful or something like that. I like the series as well and wouldn't mind seeing more. I think the chances are good as Cap is going to be everywhere for the next little bit with Reborn then the run up for his movie and then the Avengers movie.

[Saotome]

It was cool too see Cap giving orders as they were later all in aww as Cap defeats all the terrorists by himself.

Not one of Cap's better books but good for a one shot I guess.

[Steven Caldwell]

This was a great story! Very real world. Enjoyed seeing Cap fighting in a war and getting a story out of the current story.

Wow...I contributed nothing to this thread. Sorry!

[mikekerr3]

Maybe somebody at marvel does have a clue, Jenkins does