The Death of the Dream

the death of captain america, the hero from the 40's. the quintessential american. 'Nuff said.

In comics, heroes are killed and resurrected so often it has become something of a joke. It's very hard for writers to give a death proper weight, but with "Death of the Dream" Ed Brubaker has become a comics god. He has given us hope for the future of graphic storytelling. As publicized as issue #25 was, it is astonishing the impact with which it lands. The issues that follow it are also superb, and they exist as proof that a series can actually thrive without it's title character. If there is a problem with this item specifically, it's that it is only half a story arc. Why MARVEL packages it this way is beyond me, but what is here is too good to miss. With this and "Daredevil" as evidence, I declare Brubaker the best-suited writer for every human hero at the "House of Ideas." Now, that I've finished gushing praise through your monitor, buy this book.

Captain America is dead. His book is still running. His book is still selling well. His book is still AMAZING, if not even better than what it was before. The first volume of the Death of Captain America collects issues 25-30 and its an amazing collection. This is a deep story, not simply just the gimmick many ppl thought it would be, when they first read about Cap dying. After Captain America dies, the book follows up on the supporting cast that Brubaker has set up from previous issues. Bucky, Sharon and the Falcon get a lot of screen time, as does Tony Stark, Shield, the Skull and his minions. All parts of this are equally as intriguing, Sharon's drama, Bucky's search for revenge and the Red Skull's plan unfolding slowly, which adds to the intrigue of what it. This storyline is BIG and Brubaker knows it, all the subplots that have been unfolding over the first 25 issues of the book are picked up on and the death of cap feels organic, and intensely tragic, as do the events that come unfold after it. Whenever you think, things aren't working out for the heroes, don't worry, they'll eventually get worst The art by Epting and Perkins are also perfect fits for Brubaker's writing, sometimes its hard to tell apart who is who, because they are both outstanding. This book is an absolute Gem, do yourself a favour and pick it up if you want a great tale about Superheroes, Espionage and Tragedy.

I'll make this short and sweet. Captain America was never a character that I got into when I read comics, but then I read the Captain America Omnibus by Ed Brubaker and my life changed. Here was a hero with a great history and great relevance in our time. I looked at Cap in a whole new light. This trade continues the story from the Omnibus (1 issues overlaps)and the quality never waivers. If you like comics give this a shot.

This book collects issues 25 to 30 of "Captain America volume 5", written by Ed Brubaker, with art by Steve Epting and Mike Perkins. These issues make up the story arc "The Death of the Dream", the first act of a new epic storyline "The Death of Captain America" (the next act being "The Burden of Dreams"), which opens with, obviously, the death of Captain America. This captured headlines around the world last March, the biggest event to rock comics since the death of Superman some half-score and a few years earlier. Addressing that comparison head on, "The Death of the Dream" is superior to "The Death of Superman" in every way (except for sales, but it's a different market today, and #25 still became the top-selling comic of the 21st century so far, thankfully unseating the first issue of Frank Miller's appalling "All-Star Batman and Robin"). For a comparison, look no further than the villains. To kill Superman, DC's cabal of writers (a talented bunch, don't get me wrong) came up with Doomsday, a mindless killing machine with no discernable motivation (that came later) who appeared out of nowhere to score the fatal blow against the Man of Steel, and since then has been doomed to a spiral of increasingly ineffective appearances ever since. Cap meets his end at the hands of a coalition of his mortal enemies: Doctor Faustus, Arnim Zola, Sin, Crossbones, and, of course, his archenemy the Red Skull. And the Skull's plan, coopting Cap's longtime girlfriend Sharon as the triggerwoman, is simply devastatingly evil. This story gives the Skull the victory he's sought ever since the first issue of "Captain America Comics" back in the 1940s. And that's only the first issue, after which the focus shifts to a trio of characters from the supporting cast: Bucky, aka the Winter Soldier, suddenly finding himself feeling utterly alone and angry at the world; Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, Cap's longtime partner in the modern era; and Sharon Carter, aka Agent 13, Cap's girlfriend who finds herself also his assassin, unable to relate this to anyone. Her story is perhaps the most arresting of the three, although Bucky takes centre-stage, deciding to target SHIELD Director Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, who he blames for Cap's death. Brubaker should also be commended for his even-handed take on Iron Man, whom hacks like J. Michael Straczynski and Reggie Hudlin turn into a fascist punching-bag. Making a late entry onto the scene is Natasha Romanova, aka the Black Widow, the wily Russian SHIELD agent and Avenger whose past holds an interesting secret. As related, this is only the first act of a new epic story, so there is no finality to be found at the book's end, only the springboard to more thrilling adventures; and I wouldn't have it any other way.