Captain America #1 Review

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art by: Jesús Saiz
Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Jesús Saiz
Cover price: $5.99
Release date: September 20, 2023

Captain America #1 begins a new era in Steve Rogers’s life when memories of his past as a young boy connect to an ancient evil rising in the present.

Is Captain America #1 Good?

Damn you, J. Michael Straczynski. Damn you for hitting me right in the emotion basket with a poignant, soulful look at Steve Rogers’s early days (before he enlisted) and reminding me why Captain America truly is the best of us.

Straczynski’s script focuses on Steve Rogers as he buys and begins to refurbish his apartment building after the previous landlord decided selling and demolishing was better than renovating. Steve’s efforts to fix up the old place take him down several blocks on Memory Lane as he remembers what life was like as a boy after his father died and then his mother.

Scrappy fourteen-year-old Steve shows the indomitable spirit that made him a superhero before the phrase “Super Soldier Serum” was invented when a world-threatening evil show up in his neighborhood. In the present, a different kind of evil with the same philosophy is preparing to take over the world, and Steve Rogers may be its first target.

But for the opening prologue and a splash page or two, there’s almost no action in this issue. Instead, Straczynski goes about the business of reminding readers who Steve Rogers is, where he came from, and why he represents the best ideals of America, whether he has a shield or not. This is the Captain America you’ve been missing for so long, and I’m glad to see him back.

What’s great about Captain America #1? Practically everything. Straczynski’s take on Cap is heartfelt, authentic, soulful, respectful, and powerful. The little stories from Steve’s memory add nuance and texture that make you appreciate his character even more.

What’s not so great about Captain America #1? As the tiniest of nitpicks, the present threat (a demon) gets very little time to develop. You get enough to understand what’s happening, but the demon’s part of the forthcoming arc feels a little shortchanged.

How’s the art? It’s very good. Since this is a montage/conversation-heavy issue, Saiz has to make mundane moments look interesting. There’s a particular panel where Steve recalls a moment involving his mother, and it’ll have you chopping onions with its powerful simplicity.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Bits and Pieces

Captain America #1 hits you right in the heartstrings with a simple yet powerful accounting of why Steve Rogers deserves to be the first Avenger. Straczynski’s character work is phenomenal, and Saiz’s art nails all the emotional beats.