Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Jesús Saiz, Matt Hollingsworth, and VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 7th, 2024
CAPTAIN AMERICA VS. THE EMISSARY! It’s a fight to the death as Captain America races to take down the Emissary before he destroys a peace rally – and Cap himself. But when physical might proves futile against the supernatural, will an assist from Doctor Strange be enough to turn the tide? Let’s dive into Captain America #6 by J. Michael Straczynski and find out!
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Captain America #6 Review .
THE DISPATCH
So… Cap beats Asmoday along with the Emissary… and that’s all that basically happens as Captain America #6 wraps. The fight itself is nothing too special. With a little help from the Eye of Agamotto, somehow Cap gets the upper hand and wins. And I think the problem I have with this “ending” is that Asmoday seemed almost impossible to beat… until magically an artifact flies into the picture and beats him out of nowhere. The story itself just kind of… ends and we are on to a new arc. Granted, it appears as though Asmoday will be reappearing, however, the present-day story just didn’t appear to live up to anything special.
As for the 1939 tale of a young Steve Rogers, that story had the most promise. We see the inner strength of a boy completely unmatched with a sense of duty and honor unparalleled. It’s that same characteristic we still see from Captain America today that not only defines the essence of who he is but very well might be his true superpower. Nevertheless, the focus of 1939 was to showcase just how brittle and frail Steve truly was. So much so in fact, that he was practically on death’s door until Dr. Erskine intervened. Now, did Erskine get the idea from the mob boss Steve had basically befriended? Maybe. But the point is that this aspect of Captain America #6 held most of my attention and added some rich texture to an already legendary history.
Lastly, I just wanted to point out how weird the ending of this issue was. Seung leaving and Mrs. Rosen making reference to feeling unsafe due to swastikas just seemed a bit out of touch. Seung and his family were leaving due to safety concerns but literally loved and worked for Captain America. I would think if it was that big of a deal he would have just told Steve about it. Moreover, the timing was out of pocket and didn’t really seem to tie anything together within the story.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Captain America #6 wraps up what appears to be the first arc on this run that started off rather stellar and just took an abrupt stop. Who Asmoday necessarily is and why he’s necessarily choosing specific people and time periods seemed arbitrary and I thought we’d get more of an answer before things wrapped. Moreover, I thought the Emissary, along with Asmoday, seemed a bit more difficult to defeat than this issue appeared to show. Ultimately, the easiest way to say it is that the ending appeared rushed and lacking purpose.
Nevertheless, the insight provided to Steve’s youth was pretty cool. The character and determination of a young Cap showcase just where his true superpower is. Cap’s willpower and ability to do what is good and justice are completely unparalleled. And that aspect of Captain America #6 was very impressive. Would I buy this issue? Yes, however only if I’ve been all in to this point of the run. Realistically, it’s not the best issue to begin this series. However, this also isn’t even close to the best issue of the run so far. Personally, I haven’t any problem offering up some grace to this creative team to see where this next arc is going before making any drastic calls. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!