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Captain America #5: Review

Jan 2024
J. Michael Straczynski, Lan Medina

Story Name:

Sigils, Moxie and Chopped Demon Liver

Review & Comments

Rating:
4 stars

Captain America #5 Review by (January 3, 2024)

Review: Past and present collide as both bad guy plots come to fruition, ending with that nice parallel hero final page. Comic banter again marks all of the Cap/Strange meetings with “figurine versus doll” jokes getting a bit tedious. And the reference to chopped demon liver in the story’s title comes from a Dr. Strange comment. This comic continues to deliver a tale of heroism in two eras nicely, without ever becoming too grim or maudlin.

Comments: The Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 1939, was a real event, though no disaster ensued. Moxie is a soft drink from the 19th century and the word has become a synonym for courage, determination, and spunk. Issue includes a tribute to production leader Alison Gill on her retirement after 40 years in the comics industry, including 24 years at DC; a drawing by Alan Davis portrays her with several characters she was associated with.   






 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Captain America #5 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Captain America and Sharon Carter go to Misty Knight’s office so that Cap can consult with Doctor Strange via the small figurine Misty has. Strange shows Cap 4,527 demonic sigils in seconds and Cap identifies the one borne by the Emissary; Strange identifies it as the mark of Asmoday, a demon of wrath bent on destroying mankind by playing to our worst instincts. And he is too powerful for Cap to face and win. Cap asks if Strange can join him against the demon but Strange and Clea are in the middle of an extra-dimensional battle with monsters. But Cap can take the figurine’s head with him so Strange can get in touch with him quickly should he come up with something later….

February 20, 1939: A wounded Mr. Mueller locates teenaged Steve Rogers to warn him. Mueller had infiltrated the Nazi rally and was able to snap a photo of Barons Strucker and Zemo together but he was caught; a Bundist pursued him into the night. Mueller was beaten but managed to overcome his enemy by kicking him into an oncoming car. And now he is warning Steve that something bad is going to happen that night. Steve knows he must get in touch with Meyer Lansky….

Now: Misty Knight meets with the organizer of the peace conference, suggesting that they cancel the event as two people connected to it have been murdered. But the organizer cites the importance of the event and is determined not to quit. But the Emissary is watching, disguised as a maintenance worker….

Prompted by the Dr. Strange figurine, Cap asks Sharon to help him protect the conference….

1939: Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker walk around Madison Square Garden to ensure that their plan to detonate a bomb at the Nazi rally, killing ten thousand Bundists, is ready to go. Steve Rogers, spying from the bushes, is caught by a Bundist, one who had beaten him up in the past. But this guy didn’t sign on for mass murder and he tells Steve what the Barons are planning. Then the man is shot by Strucker and Steve runs, pursued by Nazis. He makes it to a phone booth which is riddled with bullets. Steve dives into the sewer and makes it to Lansky’s headquarters where he tells the mob boss what’s about to happen. Lansky organizes his men to head to the Garden and the tired and injured Steve insists on being taken along. When the Bundists meets the gangsters, a riot ensues….

Now: Cap is at the conference center; Sharon has her SHIELD people surrounding the building, watching out for bad guys. Then Cap is called inside and the building seals itself off from the outside. The Emissary takes the podium and announces to the crowd that everyone there is dead. Cap steps forward to challenge him…

…and in two eras, Steve Rogers leaps into action….




Lan Medina
Lan Medina
Espen Grundetjern
Taurin Clarke (Cover Penciler)
Taurin Clarke (Cover Inker)
Taurin Clarke (Cover Colorist)
Letterer: Joe Caramagna.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Captain America
Captain America

(Steve Rogers)
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange

(Stephen Strange)

Plus: Baron Strucker.

> Captain America: Book info and issue index

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