Captain America #8 Review

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art by: Carlos Magno
Colors by: Espen Gundetjern
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Taurin Clarke
Cover price: $4.99
Release date:

Captain America #8 concludes the battle between the Angels of Life and Death, sending Cap on a mission to retrieve the remaining four Change Agents before the next great Nexus.

Is Captain America #8 Good?

If that description above sounds like a lot of hippie-dippy, New Age, gobbledygook, you’re not entirely wrong, but J. Michael Straczynski’s execution in Captain America #8 is a lot better than the description implies. This issue doesn’t read like a Captain America comic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

When last we left Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, he was approached by a woman named Lyra, who is the Angel of Life… or something like that… to help fight her brother, Death, before he destroys the current generation of change agents from bringing about a better world during the forthcoming Nexus. After a stop at a theater attended by mutants and all manner of eclectic individuals, Steve stepped through a backstage doorway to enter the Pale City and fight undead monsters to protect every living soul on the other side.

Now, we join the battle with Cap and his magically upgraded shield fighting by Lura’s side against Death and wave after wave of undead hordes. Through sheer grit, Lyra and Cap dispatch the army, leaving only a face-to-face with Death. Lyra confronts her brother in a last bout that sends Death retreating, for now, but Cap loses the use of his arm for looking upon what should never be seen by mortal eyes.

Afterward, Lyra heals the mutants hurt or killed when some of the undead pushed through the theater doorway, and she heals Cap’s arm. The issue ends with a new quest to retrieve the four remaining change agents scattered across the globe before Death’s minions get to them first.

What’s great about Captain America #8? When Lyra confirms Death’s army isn’t alive, Cap uses the opportunity to cut loose in a way he rarely can. Straczynski gets the heart of Cap in a way few recent writers understood, and this issue goes a long way toward reminding readers how formidable Cap can be on the battlefield.

What’s not so great about Captain America #8? Again, the whole idea of personifications of Life, Death, change agents, the unexplained Nexus, and everything related to the plot and magic sounds like something out of Sandman or Doctor Strange comics. There’s no rule that says Cap can’t deal in the spiritual or supernatural, but the plot feels nebulous in an esoteric way, so it’s tough to wrap your brain around for a historically grounded character.

How’s the art? Cap smashing his way through an army of the dead looks great, thanks to Carlos Magno. The fights are hard-hitting, and the drama comes across loud and clear.

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

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Bits and Pieces

Captain America #8 drops Cap in the middle of a literal fight between Life and Death for the fate of the world. Straczynski’s supernatural plot may not fit a typical Cap story, but it’s a rousing comic nonetheless, and the art looks great.