Captain America: White #0 Review
Captain America: White #0 review by Hugo Bravo
Written by Jeph Loeb
Art by Tim Sale
No matter what you think of Jeph Loeb's writing (and ask any Marvel fan, they'll give you an honest opinion on the Ultimates 3), you have to admit one thing: when he teams up with artist Tim Sale, the result is always something memorable. Following up on his color-themed Marvel stories, Captain America: White is a retelling of Bucky's first adventure with Steve Rogers, who has already been given the Serum , serving in the military by day and as America's Hero by night. Being on the Marvel Knights imprint, this story is free to run without worry of continuity from the current Captain America book. Though only a small taste of the series that will debut later this year, Captain America:White is likely to develop into another timeless tale by the author/artist superteam of Loeb and Sale.
With his legacy status and role of leader, Cap is the closest thing Marvel has to Superman, and it can definitely be seen in this book. Much like Superman in Loeb's classic For All Seasons, Captain America is portrayed as not only a hero, but as a big brother to Bucky and the reader. He's larger than life, yet somehow never menacing (unless you're a Nazi. In that case, he's legitimately terrifying.) Maybe it's the fact that unlike Batman, we have almost always been allowed to see Cap's eyes in his blue mask. Pay attention to his face in this book, when you see his eyes in his mask, and when you see only white in the eyeholes. There is nothing dark or cryptic about Steve Rogers, but Bucky shares more than a few similarities to Dick Grayson in Batman: Dark Victory, another Loeb/Sale collaboration that made its way into DC continuity. Both are taken in by older figures with whom they bond over similar issues in each other's lives. For Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, it was the loss of their parents. For Steve Rogers and James Buchanan Barnes, it was a need to serve the United States.
In comics, there are writers and artists that simply seem to complement each other, and bring out the best in what they do. Loeb has done great work with incredibly talented artists such as Jim Lee (Batman: Hush) and the late, great Michael Turner (Superman/Batman: The Girl From Krypton). But when Tim Sale is the co-pilot, Loeb is free to keep his dialogue straightforward and to a minimum, and simply lets Sale's art do the narration for him, regardless of the subject matter. A mystery crime book like Batman: The Long Halloween and a love story like Spider-Man: Blue are given the same love and detail in every panel.
If you see the extra pages in this issue and are expecting a longer developed story, you will probably be disappointed when the book jumps to an interview with Loeb and Sale, complete with black and white drawings by Sale for fans from conventions and photos of Loeb and Sale's childhood. They talk about differences between the Marvel and DC, why Cap never needs a gun as long as he has that awesome shield, and why Steve Rogers doesn't seem to have time for the ladies. The interview is interesting and adds to the nostalgic feel of the issue, but maybe it should've been saved for the internet.
Though undeniably short and a shame that this is being sold for regular price, instead of for 50 cents to a dollar like these teaser previews usually are, any Captain America fan will enjoy the start of a new Loeb/Sale collaboration with a hero who's been long overdue for a miniseries like this. If for nothing else, for the hope that Captain America: White revisits the classic cover of Steve Rogers punching Hitler in the face.
Rating: 8
