Monday, July 31, 2023
Just fact-check anything Cap says this issue. Maybe double-check anything anyone says.
The actors' strike is in full-swing right now, and honestly, they're more than right to do so. The studios wanted them to take a deal where said studios could then use an actor's likeness, in perpetuity, across any thing they like, for ever. Which seemed cartoonishly evil, even back when it was a plot-point in Howard Chaykin's American Flagg! Hard Times, back in--my god, 1985? I've probably had that trade on my bookshelves for well over 30, 35 years at this point; one of my favorites ever, even if while I would go on to read a ton of Chaykin's other work, I would barely read another issue of AF!
But, we can take a look at another Chaykin book: from 2009, Captain America Theater of War: America First! #1, story and art by Howard Chaykin, colors by Edgar Delgado.
Where to start, here...this was one of maybe seven "Theater of War" Cap one-shots, set at various times in Cap's history. Or "Cap's" history, since this was the phony 1950's commie-smasher version. He's a jingoistic ideologue and a cold fish, about as likeable as a chopping block and almost as flexible. Sure, the commies were up to shenanigans, but still. A pre-eyepatch Nick Fury guests: he hadn't quite lost sight in the war-injured eye yet, but he also knows this wasn't the original Steve Rogers, no matter what he called himself. Fury's the most personable out of anyone this issue; when was the last time that happened? Anyway, "Cap" brings down a long-term Soviet plant, a thinly-veiled version of O.G. fearmonger Joseph McCarthy himself.
The art, and the fashions, are exquisite; but it's like an impeccably tailored suit, out of the coursest material. I glanced at the descriptions of a couple other "Theater of War" issues, and they looked to run a bit maudlin or weepy: this one isn't, I guess I have to give it that.
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3 comments:
Hmmm, doesn't look bad. Despite how restrained he might be, especially nowadays by Disney, I'd definitely feel Chaykin is a solid choice to write both a monthly Cap series & ones set in the past. I mean his Avengers 1959 series was a joy to read, so I wonder why they Marvel couldn't have expanded upon that with other stories about Marvel or Timely characters that were around back then. An Agents of Atlas tale written & drawn by Chaykin does seem pretty tempting.
He's done something like that with DC a bunch of times.
Unrelated, but Paul Reubens died. That one hit hard- loved Pee-Wee's Playhouse and so many other things he did. One of the masters- gonna miss him a lot.
Yeah him, Tony Bennett & Sinead O Connor as well.
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