- Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
- Art by: Jesus Sáiz
- Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth
- Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
- Cover art by: Jesus Sáiz
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: May 8, 2024
Captain America #9 embarks on the first leg of his mission to retrieve agents of change for the embodiment of Life before Death strikes them down.
Is Captain America #9 Good?
It saddens me to say this, but Captain America #9 is just plain dull. I get that J. Michael Straczynski is setting Steve Rogers out on a noble quest worthy of Camelot, but the regal pace and whimsically layered dialog fall very short of engaging.
When last we left Captain America, he fought with Lyra (the embodiment of Life) against her brother, the embodiment of Death, and his undead forces to stop them from wiping out the Front Door Cabaret, a mystical safehouse hosting agents of change from around the globe. The issue ended with Lyra tasking Steve to find and retrieve the four remaining change agents to prepare for whatever comes next.
Now, Steve heads to Peru to find the first of four change agents. The target is a mutant codenamed Skinz (not to be confused with Skin from Generation-X), who can shoot lethal toxins from his hands, regenerate limbs, and control an intact version of himself from shed skin. Steve encounters a penguin in the desert and decides to bring it along.
When Steve Finds Skinz, the mutant gives a brief explanation of his backstory (which goofs a bit on mutant lore) before warning Steve that military forces are on their way to kill anyone attempting to bring Skinz to Lyra.
The military forces arrive, but Steve and Skins handle them without much trouble. Later, Steve gets Skinz on a waiting boat. After Skinz departs, Steve gives the penguin a stern talk because he knows Death possesses the penguin for the express purpose of spying on Steve.
What’s great about Captain America #9? The story is esoterically wonky, but at least the path and destination are clear. Straczynski is going way, way, way out of his way not to give readers a typical Cap story, so mission accomplished.
What’s not so great about Captain America #9? There’s not a bit of rise-and-fall or dramatic tension in this issue. It’s the kind of fantasy story where everyone knows what’s happening, and everyone is only required to play their part. The real surprise is how weird the story can get, so it’s as if you’re watching a surrealist play where the ending is already known.
By the way, that minor faux pas on mutant lore comes by way of Skinz’s recount of his first use of powers. Mutant powers historically don’t activate until puberty, so a mutant baby is a continuity no-no.
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 is weird, surreal, and dull. You’d think a Cap adventure that puts him in the middle of a war between Life and Death would be more energetic, but Straczynski is overly focused on dialog with hidden meanings, strange plot occurrences, and subdued pacing.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 