It’s Bucky. There was no surprise to this announcement. Captain America, as well as other titles, have been grooming Bucky to fill the void left in the wake of Cap’s death.

According to Wikipedia, Captain America #34 shows:

“After being captured by the Red Skull, Bucky escapes into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.Tony Stark shows him the letter from Steve Rogers, in which Rogers’ wishes regarding the future of the Captain America identity are made clear. Bucky agrees to take up the mantle, on the condition that he be answerable to no higher authority.”

I don’t know why Marvel tried to fool readers. I almost wish Stephen Colbert had been right on his show Tuesday - that Colbert would be the new Captain America.

That would have been unexpected.

Image courtesy Marvel

Marvel just released the below text to the press. Editor of Marvel, Joe Quesada returns to the Colbert Report tomorrow. The last time he did this, Quesada gave Colbert Captain America’s shield. I wonder what they’ll do this time?

This Tuesday, January 29, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada checks back in on the man currently holding the mantle of Captain America…Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert.

Colbert can’t seem to get enough of our very own Joe Q. During his previous appearance on the show (July 27, 2006), Quesada shocked Colbert with the news that Captain America would not support the U.S. government in the super hero Civil War. Read the rest of this entry »

Jack of Fables #19 (Vertigo/DC) - Jack is still in Americana and it looks like the crew is going to the Fable version of Chicago, or at least, I assume Chicago. The issue’s description said, “Do you like mobsters? Do you like shootouts? Do you like frogs in top hats? What about Canadians? Do you like them? If so, then this is the story you’ve been waiting for your entire life.” I don’t know how I feel about a Canadian Fableland, but the tour of America’s subconscious has been fun so far, and after the zombies of last issue, I’m convinced this series can do no wrong.

New Avengers Annual #2 (Marvel) - The Hood is pissed after the last issue of New Avengers the where the Avengers and an army of illusions dismantled his super crime headquarters, but now this new Kingpin is ready to rumble and he’s bringing his super villain army with him. The result: a big fight and Spider-man and Hawkeye making a bunch of jokes! According to Marvel, “This double-sized issue ties into or wraps up threads from Civil War, World War Hulk, both Avengers titles and the upcoming Secret Invasion!!”

Mighty Avengers #8 (Marvel) - Dr. Doom has released a Venom virus onto Manhattan, turning everyday citizens into alien killing machines. We’ve already seen this fight in New Avengers, but now we get to see this battle in the book it was meant for. I like that while these are two separate teams, Brian Michael Bendis keeps the stories together so it’s almost like one massive series.

Captain America #34 (Marvel) - I’ve talked about this issue twice, once in October about the new Captain America costume, and then again about Cap’s new identity. This is the issue where we find out who is taking Captain America’s place after the original Cap was gunned down. I want to say that this will be Bucky, but then again, that’s what Marvel wants you to think, so maybe they’ll throw you a curve ball and not choose Bucky. Then again, maybe Marvel expects that you’ll think that they think you’ll think it’s Bucky and not pick a curveball, but Bucky. Hmmmmm. Of course, Bucky is probably a Skrull, so that may cause issues down the road.

Avengers: The Initiative #9 (Marvel) - The Initiative will be rocked to the core as the sins of the past resurface. I don’t care about that. I’m more excited to see how Eric O’Grady will react to it!

Images courtesy DC and Marvel

I’ve already expressed how I felt about a new Captain America in The Buzz.

Replacing Captain America (Steve Rogers) with a pretender to the throne diminishes Captain America’s legacy. Captain America is not about Captain America - it is about Steve Rogers being a puny boy during WWII, becoming a super soldier, and punching Hitler in the face.

Regardless, Marvel is going ahead with this marketing ploy.

Captain America will either be Iron Man, U.S. Agent, Bucky the Winter Soldier, Union Jack, Hawkeye, or Red Skull!? Read the rest of this entry »

Captain America is back… in a fashion.

In March 2007, in Captain America #25, Captain America (Steve Rogers) was killed. Gunned down on the way to court after turning terrorist in the Marvel Comics Civil War, where heroes fought heroes over the law requiring all super-powered beings to register their identities with the U.S. Government.

Iron Man was for the act. Captain America was against it. Iron Man won.

Now Marvel is bringing Cap back. Read the rest of this entry »