Tochi Onyebuchi, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Mattia from Iulis’ Captain America #0 is a fun but uneven problem.
Captain America #0
- Writer
- Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Tochi Onyebuchi
- Artist
- Mattia De Iulis
- Letterer
- Joe Caramagna
- cover artist
- Alex Ross
- Editor
- Marvel Comics
- Price
- 4.99
- Release date
- 2022-04-20
Since the release of 1941 Captain America Comics #1 by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby – Captain America is synonymous with superheroes, Marvel Comics and patriotism. Now Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson wield the iconic shield. Both Captain Americas will soon appear in their own solo Marvel series, so to help fans prepare for Captains’ cavalcade, writers Tochi Onyebuchi, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly have teamed up with artist Mattia de Iulis to present Captain America #0, a fun but forgettable problem.
Captain America #0 begins when Cap’s old enemy Arnim Zola unleashes Havoc in New York. It launches a rocket that could have caused cataclysmic damage to Earth after it entered the atmosphere. Fortunately, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson arrive to save the day and put a stop to Zola’s nefarious plans. But Zola has plenty of tricks up his sleeves and the two Captain Americas must work together if they hope to survive the ordeal, let alone save the day.
Onyebuchi, Lanzing and Kelly immerse the audience in the middle of things in Captain America #0. Zola reveals his dastardly plan on the very first page, and the action continues to heat up from there. This fast, relentless pace capitalizes on readers’ familiarity with the main characters and skips any exposition to dive headfirst into excitement. As amusing as their approach is, this problem feels like a missed opportunity. Rather than telling a full, stand-alone story or setting the stage for their two upcoming series, the three writers have crafted a lengthy, fairly low-stakes action sequence that’s hard to invest in beyond the surface-level excitation.
Iulis does a wonderful job of bringing life and energy to this action-packed number. Its realistic style helps to emphasize the cinematic nature of Captain America #0. Every moment with the two Captain Americas feels iconic, but not overworked. His excellent page designs use large panels and double-page spreads to communicate the daunting size of Zola’s infamous machines and to celebrate bold and fearless heroes as they fly into battle. There are a few scenes that would seem unbelievable or two overdone even by comic book standards, but Iulis draws them with such attention to detail that audiences are forced to suspend their disbelief to enjoy wild moments, like Rogers and Wilson. riding Cap’s shield through the air as they plummet from a staggering height.
Captain America #0 feels both aimless and overambitious. In an attempt to become an epic moment in the history of two Captain Americas, it unwittingly boils down to a fairly mundane action sequence. That being said, the writing team provides enough humor and energy to make this a fun and engaging read. And the work of Iulis is absolutely magnificent. Fans looking for a solid adventure to accompany them until the release of the two new Captain America the series will certainly be entertained.
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