Editor's Note: Captain America #38 arrives in stores tomorrow, May 21.

"The Man Who Bought America: Part Two"

It's become difficult to review Captain America every month because I really try not to sound completely redundant. However, I've said it before and I will indeed say it again, Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America features the best long-running storyline in the past ten years. Marvel indeed has a few books that are really on another level compared to everything else put out of the shelves, and Captain America certainly holds a spot at the top of that list. Books like Captain America, Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Moon Knight and the Immortal Iron Fist feature storylines that are primarily self-contained but tap into the general happenings in the Marvel Universe such as "The Initiative." However, events such as "the Initiative" have to mold around what is already happening in these books. These stories are wildly compelling and not only have the capacity to entertain, but to generate thought and discussion as well. I have also made it pretty well known that I am a huge Steve Rogers fan, but the quality and direction of this title has really made me able to deal without having Steve Rogers a little longer. This issue is just another example of the slow-paced, compelling and masterfully crafted story that Brubaker has been building for years now.

This issue is particularly well done by the way that Brubaker is able to condense the origin of the Steve Rogers doppelganger into a few pages. Of course, speaking of the Steve Rogers doppelganger, I just need to take a moment to say "I was right." This may or may not come as a spoiler to readers, but in order to discuss the character, I have to reveal that the "Steve Rogers" who appears in this issue is indeed the Grand Director, a theory I pointed out in my last review. Now you can go to any Marvel character database, access my "Many Faces of Captain America" column, or just wait until tomorrow and read this issue to basically get everything you need to know about the Grand Director. That is actually one of the great successes of this issue: the way in which Brubaker is able to condense all the basics about the Grand Director into about 4 pages without ever losing the pace of the story. He manages to cover everything from the idea that the Grand Director hacked himself up to look just like Steve Rogers, to an administering of a variation of the super-soldier serum to himself and Jack Munroe (Nomad, Grand Director's Bucky) that made them go insane, to the influence of Dr. Faustus, and finally the incident that has left the man's body half charred. Of course, some of the smaller details are left out, but unless you are an absolute "Captain America aficionado" I really don't think a lot of the details are necessary. After all, that's what back issue bins and Marvel's Digital Comics are for. There is even a large panel devoted to Jack Munroe a.k.a. Nomad. On a side note, I really liked that when Sharon calls "Steve" an "abomination," that word is in bold. Considering the ties the Abomination may or may not have to Captain America in the upcoming Incredible Hulk, I thought if there is something to that, it's rather clever, but then again, I'm probably thinking way too much into it.

The writing featured in this issue is superb. Brubaker does an excellent job with both inner narration and dialogue to flow the story from scene to scene. The description of the Grand Director is featured as part of Sharon's narration, but as she describes the character, you can feel the disgust in her voice. She's so in love with the real Steve Rogers and so overcome by guilt that she nearly kills the Grand Director without thinking twice. She says "I'm sorry," but the way that Steve Epting draws her as she hold the gun to the Grand Director's head, it's like there is a sense of hate-filled despair, fueled by anger.

This issue does an excellent job downplaying many of the political themes and ideas that are part of the Red Skull's plans. However, those ideas aren't completely disregarded; they are merely built upon through the newscasts that Brubaker has featured so heavily throughout this story-arc. The "Third Wing Party" is just part of the Red Skull's plan and Brubaker does not waste time trying to explain this. Instead, he utilizes the page time to show a rally with Third Party candidate Senator Gordon Wright and the support he's garnering for his campaign. What works so well about this, for me at least, is that in real life I have become so disillusioned by Democrats and Republicans over the past year that I could only hope someone broke away to run under a "third party flag." Now of course, I would hope it wouldn't be a Nazi sympathizer, but Brubaker is able to strike all the right chords in this issue and series, especially given the horrible political, social and economic landscape of America. Although Wright's poll numbers aren't strong, the Red Skull has faith, and it is very interesting to note that Faustus has to remind Skull that he's not the only one involved in the operation.

Of course, with the political themes downplayed, Brubaker, Epting and Perkins focus their energies on a fantastic team-up with "Bucky Cap" and the Falcon as they go after A.I.M. and Armin Zola. The action is fast-paced and really highlights the strengths of each character. However, once again the true highlight of this battle sequence is the writing. While Epting and Perkins draw up fantastic visuals, Brubaker adds an extra dimension to this team up by including Bucky's inner narration as the fight unfolds. Bucky's really trying to prove himself, trying to be on the same level, or a level similar to Steve Rogers in the eyes of those closest to Steve. The battle also highlights the chemistry between Falcon and Bucky, a chemistry that exists because of the heavy influence Steve Rogers has had over both men. Also, in regards to the confrontation with Armin Zola, I actually found myself laughing pretty hard at the scene. Not because it was funny or ridiculous, it was more a fit of "joyous laughter." The final moments with Zola really played out like a movie where an otherwise ridiculous villain has his "madman" moment before escaping and nearly killing the heroes. It was just very well written and was a great ending that felt cinematic and very "action-movie"-like.

By the end of this issue, Brubaker brings the story ideas with the Grand Director full circle playing off of ideas from the very first issues featuring Bucky as the Winter Soldier. While Sharon mentions earlier in this issue that Jack Munroe is dead, long time readers of this series will remember it was Bucky who killed him. Both the Red Skull and Faustus know this, and Faustus, very much brainwashing the Grand Director, uses it to channel the anger and madness that initially changed "Captain America of the Fifties" into the Grand Director. What works so well about this moment is that early in the issue the Grand Director is weak, confused and is only a fraction of the man he once was. When Faustus tells him that Bucky killed Jack Munroe, the Grand Director becomes angry, uttering the word "Bucky" and no doubt finding his own personal motivations. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out and to see exactly what Faustus does to the Grand Director to get inside Bucky's head. Would it be enough if I just said that Steve Epting's pencils, the inkwork by Epting and Mike Perkins, and the colors by Frank D'Armata are superb and bring an even higher level of quality to this title? Personally, I don't think I've ever seen a cadre of creators, in this case Brubaker, Epting, Perkins, D’Armata and Butch Guice (who is not featured on this particular issue), complement each other so well throughout the entirety of a series. The artwork is phenomenal; there is really no other way to put it. The tone and style not only captures the story brilliantly, but also plays to the strengths and style of Brubaker's writing. This is without a doubt one of the best creative teams in the past ten years.

Captain America is a fantastic series. As a Cap fan, a Marvel fan and a fan of comics in general, I have to say that compelling stories such as this have kept me reading comics into my adult life. Long-running stories like this inspire me to pursue a career in comics and storytelling. Regardless of how much I'd love Steve Rogers to come back, I'll play my broken record and say that as long as Brubaker and co. continue to deliver issues like this and uphold this superb story, I can hold out a little longer for Steve Rogers. This is my Advance Pick of the Week.

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