Captain America: Living Legend #4 - Marvel Comics

CAPTAIN AMERICA: LIVING LEGEND No. 4, February 2014

Managing to shift 20,938 copies in December 2013, Andy Diggle and Eddie Robson’s narrative for Issue Four of “Captain America: Living Legend” probably wrong-footed a fair few of its readers, courtesy of the central alien antagonist surprisingly wanting to actually keep the titular character safe from his deadly mechanical minions so that the Sentinel of Liberty can shockingly kill him. In fact, the entire notion that Joe Simon and Jack Kirby’s creation would willingly gun down an adversary straight through the head, when his motionless target is simply sat alone in a derelict scientific facility, is pretty much unthinkable until it startlingly occurs; “Nghh -- They -- They say old soldiers never die, Volkov --!”

So disconcerting an action however, genuinely appears to be the only logical step the super-hero can take if he is going to save the entire planet from becoming completely possessed by a dark energy entity, with the build up to the First Avenger regretfully blasting a hole in his adversary’s head being extremely well-penned by this twenty-two page periodical’s partnership. Furthermore, even though the bewitched Soviet astronaut has horribly mutilated and murdered numerous hapless scientists and duty-bound socialist troopers, Steve Rogers repeatedly shows the colossal weight his deadly deed has brought to bear upon his conflicted scruples.

Equally as enthralling to this conundrum of the conscience though are the much more dynamic and action-packed exploits of Colonel Gridenko, who almost single-handedly battles a never-ending army of twisted metal monstrosities. Despite the Russian officer’s evident loyalty to the Kremlin, “the only soldier to escape Volkov’s quarantine alive” definitely provides this comic with some much-needed energy whenever the plot appears to be about to get bogged down in Captain American’s inner ethical dilemma. Indeed, quite possibly one of this book’s best moments comes towards its end, when the military man abruptly clocks his corrupt communist superior on the head with the butt of a welding laser, and seeks political asylum with the star spangled war veteran beside him.

Helping to keep ‘the fate of humanity hanging in the balance’ right up until this publication’s truly satisfying conclusion are the layouts of Agustin Alessio, which do a terrific job of mixing up the heightened drama of Roger’s aforementioned confrontation with the extra-terrestrial intelligence at the centre of the long abandoned Siberian facility, and Doctor Lauren Fox’s high octane exploits to destroy the wreckage of her D.E.U.S. Project.

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

Captain America: Living Legend #3 - Marvel Comics

CAPTAIN AMERICA: LIVING LEGEND No. 3, January 2014

It probably came as no surprise to editor in chief Axel Alonso that this mini-series' audience only slightly fell to 23,537 readers in November 2013, at least according to “Diamond Comic Distributors”, as Andy Diggle and Eddie Robson’s script for Issue Three of “Captain America: Living Legend” surely provided its audience with an incredibly engrossing experience. Indeed, whilst the comic’s opening simply consists of a hapless bespectacled scientist talking to a seated Soviet cosmonaut, the gripping nature of the scene’s increasingly dramatic dialogue and spine-chilling atmosphere is extremely well-penned, and resolves itself in one of the most traumatic ways imaginable; “I don’t know how to make it stop. But perhaps… Please, I just need more time…”

Equally as enthralling though is the introduction of Colonel Gridenko, who somehow survived the extra-terrestrial based slaughter in Siberia during the early Seventies, and returns to the freezing cold wilderness for an ill-advised rematch. It’s quite clear that the veteran soldier fully understands his orders are little more than a death sentence for him and his troops. Yet somewhat honourably, if not stupidly, the military officer plans to follow them through as best he can - even if it means attempting to arrest the Sentinel of Liberty for “trespassing in a restricted military facility on Russian soil.”

The co-authors also appear perfectly able to provide Captain America with a somewhat disagreeable partner, in the guise of Doctor Fox, who despite repeatedly owing her life to the titular character, continues to question her protector’s patronisation. It’s highly probable that the clearly ‘out-of-her-depth’ astronaut means well. But when compared to even the politely spoken though deadly serious Gridenko, she appears particularly sharp-tongued, and even seems to chide Steve Rogers for throwing his shield at Layland’s mechanically-infused corpse when it results in the Avenger losing his weapon. 

Packing this twenty-two periodical with plenty of prodigiously-pencilled panels is Agustin Alessio, whose ability to turn even a semi-abandoned scientific research facility into a truly disturbing centre-piece of nail-biting terror without resorting to buckets of gore, speaks volumes. In addition, the physical merging of the alien intelligence with both the poor Soviet troopers and their vehicles is incredibly well envisaged, with Cap’s own disconcerting transformation at the book’s conclusion debatably being worth the publication’s cover price alone.

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

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

Captain America: Living Legend #1 - Marvel Comics

CAPTAIN AMERICA: LIVING LEGEND No. 1, December 2013

Initially pairing up the colourfully-costumed veteran of the Second World War with a group of fanatically-lead Soviet soldiers in the Bavarian Alps during the last days of the Third Reich, many readers of Andy Diggle’s script for Issue One of “Captain America: Living Legend” were probably a bit disappointed that the entire comic didn’t focus on the anxious troops' exploration of a secret German scientific bunker in the snow. Indeed, it’s difficult not to hear a palpable sigh of regret from this book’s 32,495 strong audience when Sergeant Volkov is treacherously shot in the chest by a supposedly surrendering Nazi, and the narrative suddenly leaps forward in time some decades later; “That incident was edited out of your official wartime record…”

Enjoyably though, all the barely contained distrust and politics which made the opening such a spell-binding and atmospheric experience does partially return at this twenty-two page periodical’s conclusion, courtesy of Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter witnessing “a top-secret orbital research station” crash-land in deepest, darkest modern-day Russian. This dialogue-driven sequence is admittedly rather simplistic in setting up the mini-series’ subsequent race against time between the United States’ super-hero and the U.S.S.R. But such a no-nonsense approach does mean that it’s pretty clear just what sort of dangers the Sentinel of Liberty is likely to be facing, and how incredibly high the stakes for success are going to be.

Unfortunately, what debatably does let this comic down is therefore it’s middle segment, which focuses upon the aforementioned space facility’s unwise attempt to tap “right into the Dark Energy Field” for limitless energy. Just how the D.E.U.S. reactor works, or what causes the catastrophic power spike isn’t explained, whilst artist Adi Granov’s disconcertingly sterile environment, all bright white and aqua blue, isn’t arguably all that convincing either – most notably his establishing shot of the station in low Earth orbit with a blurry (possibly photographic) background.

Of course, the same cannot be said of the Bosnian-American illustrator’s work at the start of this story, which immediately grabs any perusing bibliophile and conveys them straight back to 1945. There’s a genuine look of sadness in the dying Russian Captain’s eyes as he realises the futility of their mission, and then a final spark of anger when he realises the over-zealous Volkov sees his fatalism as weakness.

Script: Andy Diggle, Illustration: Adi Granov, and Lettering: VC's Joe Caramagna