Thank You Ed
I have been a fan of Captain America since I read the Captain America Reborn series by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch and I have had to go and collect all of Brubaker's previous stories in trade paperback (with Winter Soldier being my favourite) whilst collecting the series from then. He is the main reason I am a Captain America fan and it is sad that the time has came for him to leave the series. I just hope that Rick Remender can do the character justice in the new series and have every faith that he will. It will take something amazing to beat Brubaker's run but as long as it's good stories I'll be happy. It was also nice to see Steve Eping return to do the art for this final issue.
This story sees Captain America visiting William Burnside who was Captain America during the 50's and didn't quite understand what the role entailed becoming mentally unstable. He is in hospital due to getting hit by a lorry whilst running away from Captain America. Whilst visiting William at hospital Cap tells him about how he became Captain America. He then says how he found a copy of the Captain America Comics #1 at in the basement of his family home and what he though of the comic when it was out. He then says about when he was re awakened from the ice how he read about all the people who had been Captain America in his absence and how he found out about the things William had done in his name thinking they were what he stood for.
This was a good issue and a good way to end Brubaker's run on the series. I'll admit I wasn't expecting to have a story with William Burnside in it but it gave the perfect set-up to have a kind of Endings and Origins story. I liked how he went about what his mother thought of him wanting to join the war and become a super-soldier. I also liked how the Captain America Comics issue 1 was mentioned in it as it's a nice homage to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. I would have liked it if he could have by any chance put Bucky in the issue besides as a flash back as it all started with him and his best material came using that character but it was probably the right thing leaving him out as he's still meant to be dead to the eyes of the public. I also loved the cover for this issue and like the variant cover for The Invincible Iron Man #527 and the cover for The Mighty Thor #22 I love the collage in the background. I like how Captain America is carrying the American flag and all the characters that have been in Brubaker's run being in the background with Bucky each side of Captain America, as the Winter Soldier on one side and Captain America himself on the other.
Final verdict. Brilliant issue and a fitting way to end Brubaker's run. I would have rated the story a 4 stars but due to Eping's art I've made it 4.5 stars. I would highly recommend this issue and hope Remender can do the character justice like this series did.
Rating: 4.5/5
