Captain America #1 Spotlight

 

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Artist: Jesús Saiz

Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $5.99

Release Date: September 20, 2023

 

Captain America may have saved the world from a Robot Apocalypse, but that doesn’t mean he can keep his apartment. So when the owners decide to evict tenants, raze the aging building, and sell the land, Steve Rogers assumes a new title: landlord! Now, between missions with his fellow supes, he's doing building maintenance and looking out for the less fortunate. 

 

 

 

 

Along with this heartwarming tale about caring for your neighbors, Captain America #1 looks back to Steve’s past. The story reflects on the young man in the 1930s after his mother died and the landlord evicted him from his home. We see the determined, hardworking young man before he gains his superpowers.

 

 

 

Captain America #1 boasts cinematic action scenes and art that often evokes beautiful paintings. Word size doesn't strain the eyes, and Straczynski never loses you switching between present and past. Still, this felt more like the introduction to a miniseries than an ongoing one. Nor did I feel like his origins needed further exploration. While beautifully told, Captain America #1 leaves me wishing the creator of Babylon 5 had focused more on the present than dwelling on the past.

 

 

Still, I enjoyed the issue, and plan to check out Straczynski's Captain America #2. Keep your eyes peeled for Shadows, Steve!

 

For a sneak peek at interior art and a more seasoned reviewer's thoughts, see Dispatch DCU's review at Comic Book Dispatch.