The New Captain America?

[WVUFAN]

Marvel released the new costume of Frank Castle, aka Punisher, hinting he was to become the new Captain America (which was also hinted during the Civil War series):

[JeeberD]

Underpants







It had to be said

[Drake]

He has enormous calves.

[Fonzie]

No shield?

[Raiders Army]

Ummmmm...no way. This is a huge mistake and I wonder what will happen to his Max series?

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Fonzie

No shield?

Iron Man has his shield. There was a picture Marvel released a while ago that had Iron Man's suit in captain America's colors, shield in hand, hinting Steve Rogers was gonna be the next Iron Man.

In the storyline, though, Iron Man, the "bad guy" of Civil War, has his shield.

[Thomkal]

What a horrible decision by Marvel. Unless its a tribute to him rather than taking on the name.

[lordscarlet]

I don't read Punisher or Captain America, but it seems rather good and brave to me. You've gotta shake things up now and then.

[DanGarion]

Dude, thanks for ruining it. Next time please use a spoiler tag!

GRRRRRR! j/k

[Franklinnoble]

I've hated the obnoxious, oversized gun trend that started with Cable years ago. WTH is the Punisher doing with an absurd piece of hardware like that? I haven't read his book in a while, but back in the day, he was one of the more realistic characters. No goofy imaginary devices, just guns, knives, and a grudge.

Cap never carried a sidearm, either. This whole Cival War storyline sounds like crap to me.

[lordscarlet]

Cable sucks. I wish they would split Deadpool back to his own book.

[Fidatelo]

They already had a new Captain America years ago, his name was US Agent.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

I've hated the obnoxious, oversized gun trend that started with Cable years ago. WTH is the Punisher doing with an absurd piece of hardware like that? I haven't read his book in a while, but back in the day, he was one of the more realistic characters. No goofy imaginary devices, just guns, knives, and a grudge.

He's still that way in one of the books. There's two titles for Punisher right now, Punisher, which is a MAX title (mature only) written by Garth Ennis and pretty much removed from standard "Marvel continuity". That's the classic Punisher you're thinking of. Then there's "Punisher War Journal" which has the Punisher within Marvel continuity, where he carries the larger "big guns" and such. The picture I posted is from the cover of an upcoming Punisher War Journal issue.

Cap never carried a sidearm, either. This whole Cival War storyline sounds like crap to me.

When Steve Rogers gave up being Captain America back in the 1980's, he was replaced by a guy who carried a weapon (John Walker, now known as US Agent). I think they're pulling a "Batman" thing ... showing the difference the man behind the costume makes (ie the difference between Bruce Wayne as Batman and Azrael as Batman). It wouldn't be surprising to see a couple different people take up the Captain America role.

The Civil War storyline was pretty good, though.

[hoosierdude]

I would say this is the first round or two of smokescreens by Marvel to keep people guessing on the next one to wear the Living Legend's red white and blue.

Another one is that Winter Soldier is going to be the one that picks up the shield and costume since he is Bucky Barnes , they rumor he will be the one to start the new Captain America storyline. WVUFan also believes a lot like I do that it isn't the costume that makes the man, it is the man inside the costume.

I believe they are going to bait and switch everyone for a while, and when they are ready, the comic fans will be surprised on who takes the mantle.

They just announced a new Omega Flight team, with US Agent (the John Walker) as a member. Also a Cap LMD was used as a trap for Cap's Avengers by the Iron Man Avengers to build to next month's Avenger vs Avenger issue.

So... they are going to milk this "event' of his death for as long as they can. If they can kill Superman and Batman, (ok not death but disabled Batman) then why not Cap? Should be an interesting six months to say the least.

[14ers]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

HI think they're pulling a "Batman" thing ... showing the difference the man behind the costume makes (ie the difference between Bruce Wayne as Batman and Azrael as Batman).

What the hell is going on in Comic Bookland?

Bruce Wayne is not Batman?

[SackAttack]

My issues of Dark Tower: A Gunslinger Born showed up with a 'Marvel Previews' catalog today. The back cover has Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit with an American flag in one hand, and a bullet-riddled Cap shield in the other.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

My issues of Dark Tower: A Gunslinger Born showed up with a 'Marvel Previews' catalog today. The back cover has Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit with an American flag in one hand, and a bullet-riddled Cap shield in the other.

Yep. Iron Man took Cap's shield at the end of Civil War, and ... well, I have no idea why he's keeping it. The series was pretty good, but that ending left me scratching my head.

They actually recolored that same picture you saw, and painted Iron Man in red, white and blue, and posted it next to the trade paperback offering on Amazon. It was a ruse by Marvel, but it lit up the message boards for a time.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by 14ers

What the hell is going on in Comic Bookland?

Bruce Wayne is not Batman?

Bane ... broken back ... it's too much.

hxxp://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knightfall-Part-One-Broken/dp/1563891425

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by 14ers

What the hell is going on in Comic Bookland?

Bruce Wayne is not Batman?

You've missed quite a lot.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Yep. Iron Man took Cap's shield at the end of Civil War, and ... well, I have no idea why he's keeping it. The series was pretty good, but that ending left me scratching my head.

They actually recolored that same picture you saw, and painted Iron Man in red, white and blue, and posted it next to the trade paperback offering on Amazon. It was a ruse by Marvel, but it lit up the message boards for a time.

I'd like to read Civil War, but there is no way in hell unless they reprint it as a large trade paperback or something. I can't keep all those different series straight.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

I'd like to read Civil War, but there is no way in hell unless they reprint it as a large trade paperback or something. I can't keep all those different series straight.

One of the things I liked about Civil War was how well it stood up on it's own. You can read ONLY Civil War and still be fine. The Front Line series and other titles add to the feel with side stories, but the main Civil War title doesn't make reference to any of the side series. The trade of the main Civil War series should be out anytime. Aside from the ending, it's a great read.

[SackAttack]

I just finished reading The Gunslinger Born #1, and it did mention the Civil War trade coming out in April. I'll probably pick that up.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

I just finished reading The Gunslinger Born #1,

What did you think of them? I've never read any of the Dark Tower books, so the comics left me a little confused.

[SackAttack]

What confused you?

It's hard for me to see your perspective unaided, since I've read and re-read each of the books several times.

PM me if you're worried about spoiling it for anybody else.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

What did you think of them? I've never read any of the Dark Tower books, so the comics left me a little confused.

Dark Tower fan here. I've read both #1 and #2 of Gunslinger Born and I have no complaints thus far. I also am not sure how you're confused, but I do have the prior knowledge.

[WVUFAN]

Questions about Dark Tower:

What world are they on? Is it the old west, alternative earth ... what's the background of where they are?

What's with the birds? Are they attached to the kids at birth, do they train with them? What's their significance?

When they say "father", do they literally mean their own father, or is it a term for a diety?'

What are they training for?

EDIT: I haven't read the second issue, so it may have answered some of those questions, but the first one, while extremely well drawn and colored, confused me.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Questions about Dark Tower:

What world are they on? Is it the old west, alternative earth ... what's the background of where they are?

Think of it as a little bit of both. Gilead is what we would consider the "county seat" of a larger area, the barony of New Gilead. The mythology of the Tower is such that the world Roland and his friends inhabit is one "level" of the tower. Thus, there are similarities to our own world, such as a form of Christianity, the 'Old West' motif, etc. They're sort of in the world "next door."

What's with the birds? Are they attached to the kids at birth, do they train with them? What's their significance?

I don't know if they're attached at birth - these kids are in their early teens, which would put the birds at a ripe old age if that were true. My guess is they're a metaphorical substitute for the guns they hope to earn and to be. "The hawk is God's gunslinger," recall.

When they say "father", do they literally mean their own father, or is it a term for a diety?'

It's very literal. There's a strong patriarchal tradition that runs through Roland's world.

When Cort says "you have forgotten the face of your father," it's sort of an archaic way of saying "you have brought shame upon your family."

What are they training for?

To become gunslingers. The entire Dark Tower mythology is based on the Browning poem, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came." In old English, 'childe' was something more akin to 'knight.' The gunslingers are knights, after a fashion.

One of the ties between Roland's world and ours is Arthurian in nature. Arthur Eld (or Arthur of Eld, maybe) was the one who founded Gilead. Their equivalent of our own King Arthur, and I would imagine that the gunslingers are derived through the generations from his equivalent of the Round Table.

[WVUFAN]

Thanks for answering those questions.

So, in keeping with an Arthurian ideas, are they defending New Gilead, do they roam on quest-ish voyages, do they battle against some great evil ... what are the Gunsliger's purpose?

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Thanks for answering those questions.

So, in keeping with an Arthurian ideas, are they defending New Gilead, do they roam on quest-ish voyages, do they battle against some great evil ... what are the Gunsliger's purpose?

All and none, I think.

The children are not, no. Their fathers are, although from what is only vaguely hinted at in TGB #1 - John Farson, the Good Man.

Roland's larger tale is one of a Quest. I don't know how common that is for a Gunslinger. Certainly, some of his compatriots join him on his quest later on; we'll meet them in this series, but I don't think we'll really see them set out on that quest yet.

As to battling a great evil, the Gunslingers are many things; warrior, diplomat, judge, and keepers of the White. That's probably as mystical as it ever gets in terms of the Gunslingers themselves. Some of those questions are best answered in the context of the larger Dark Tower universe, but I think my first answer might be the simplest, although not necessarily the clearest - all and none.

[lordscarlet]

I think it's hard to get into details if you don't want spoilers to the novels/book. And as for understanding everything, not only did it take 7 books and probably about 8,000 pages to explain, but Stephen King carried the universe/story into many of his other novels in varying degrees.

But the gunslingers are, as Sack said, knights of a sort. They protect the realm. Roland has a more specific quest, that I believe is foretold by some sort of seer at some point (it's been a while).

[SackAttack]

lordscarlet, issue #2 has a little more of the backstory on Roland's quest after the main comic. Definitely worth reading.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

lordscarlet, issue #2 has a little more of the backstory on Roland's quest after the main comic. Definitely worth reading.

I have it. We read about the Big Coffin Hunters in the novels, correct? I wonder if there will be much/any new content. How may issues is the series supposed to have? The title seems to imply that it's certainly not going through the whole story, but instead following his early years. Will we meet any of his ka-tet from later in life?

[WVUFAN]

Well, I appreciate the response. It gives me a little better idea of what's going on. The books sound interesting.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I have it. We read about the Big Coffin Hunters in the novels, correct? I wonder if there will be much/any new content. How may issues is the series supposed to have? The title seems to imply that it's certainly not going through the whole story, but instead following his early years. Will we meet any of his ka-tet from later in life?

The Big Coffin Hunters are covered in the reverie section of Wizard & Glass. The side stories at the end of each issue seem to be what's revealing the 'new' content, by and large, although issue #2 did talk a little bit about what the Crimson King is, which was cool. Also some further insinuation as to who Marten actually is.

As I understand it, there will be 7 issues in this story (no word on whether additional stories will get a series of their own later). I would expect this to mostly be a graphic re-telling of Roland's visit to Mejis, but there may be some details fleshed out, and after seeing how much of the story was covered in the first two issues, we may get to go a little further past the end of the tale.

I'm excited to see how it goes. I don't think we'll meet the second ka-tet at all, but we'll probably get more insight into this first one.

[JeeberD]

My memory may be faulty, but it seems there are a couple of minor things in issue #2 that don't jibe with W&G. It isn't a deal breaker or anything, but was irritating me as I read it...

[lordscarlet]

Honestly I haven't read the end secitons of either book -- I had forgotten I skipped them, actually. I'll have to go read them this morning.