Captain America: Living Legend #2 - Marvel Comics

CAPTAIN AMERICA: LIVING LEGEND No. 2, December 2013

Flitting between modern-day events in Siberia and a doomed Soviet space mission to the moon during March 1968, Andy Diggle’s narrative for Issue Two of “Captain America: Living Legend” surely kept the vast majority of its 25,546 readers utterly engrossed. True, the titular character never actually encounters any of the numerous Russian troops sent into the snow-covered secure zone to recover any remaining traces of the downed D.E.U.S. station. But the deeply dark atmosphere which almost relentlessly presses down upon every event within this twenty-two page periodical should have kept even the most causal of bibliophiles absolutely hooked on its Cold War-based contents.

Furthermore, Steve Rogers encounters far more than his fair share of sinister shenanigans in this comic, and whilst his meeting with the sole-surviving Doctor Fox in the middle of a desolate wintry wasteland undeniably proves to be incredibly convenient, there can be no doubt that the super-soldier still demonstrates all the fighting prowess and wisdom which has caused the character to become “the most popular and enduring of the many patriotic American superheroes created during World War Two"; “The fact is we’re hunted and alone in hostile territory and we need to move. Now.”

Indeed, one of this comic’s most interesting aspects is the strong contrast between the courageous Sentinel of Liberty and the far less likeable scientist he’s busy rescuing. Having already saved the disagreeable technologist from freezing to death just outside her escape pod, many in the audience will doubtless look very harshly upon Fox when she then chides the First Avenger for receiving the serum which gave him his powers, rather than it being used for various medical purposes, and dismissing the fact that Captain America’s creation during a global conflict saved numerous lives as just a pitiful excuse.

Also adding plenty of shadows to the dark recesses of this bitingly cold adventure is Agustin Alessio, whose pencilling really helps add plenty of atmosphere to the proceedings. Of particular note is the artist’s ability to suggest just how expansive and bleak the local landscape actually is, as well as imbue comrade Commander Volkov with all the extra-terrestrial menace expected of an astronaut who has become possessed by some diabolical alien killer virus.

Script: Andy Diggle, Illustration: Agustin Alessio, and Lettering: VC's Joe Caramagna