Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Captain America #10Captain America #10
Marvel Comics
Remender Romita, Janson & White

Just as the cover states: this is the issue where Captain America finally escapes Dimension Z. The long running story comes to a close with another emotional issue that provides yet another twist at the end. The comic book breaks out more of the strange science fiction elements that Remender is known for and that helps to tell an entertaining read. This issue is worth picking up for the dramatic ending but the series probably should be read from start to finish to get the full emotional impact.

Captain America has been rescued by Sharon Carter. However, Cap doesn't want to leave Dimension Z just yet. Even though Zola appears to be dead there is still the invasion of Earth threat to deal with. During the long arc Cap also managed to turn Zola's daughter, Jet Black, towards Cap's side. The death of Zola has brought regret though.

The comic really takes off once Jet Black decides that destroying the invasion force isn't the way she wants this story to end. The race begins to get out of Dimension Z, destroy the invasion force and rescue the trio of characters. The ending is fairly shocking for a variety of reasons.

The comic excels at putting the strangest concepts possible into a Captain America comic. If Jack Kirby's latter run is your definitive version of the character then you have yourself something that is told in that vein. However, if you more of the Ed Brubaker variety then this version couldn't be further from the Brubaker one. The monsters, the devices, the scenery all make up a very strange science fiction book.

The drawback to this book is that it doesn't feel epic. Remender introduces and builds up several new characters while mixing in some well established ones. During these ten issues we get plenty of defining moments and a lot of character foundation building, but when some of these characters are in danger or even die the effects simply don't have the impact that they should. Perhaps because death is overdone in comics or perhaps because this story is told from another Dimension that it just feels like an alternate reality and not in continuity. Does it "matter" in other words? I'm not sure but this issue just didn't deliver the punch I would have thought it should have based on what occurs in it.

The part of the comic that was the most surprising was the very last page and that's probably because it came with no warning and had little to do with the story leading up to it.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsDespite a lot of help on art the book certainly looks like a Romita book. The comic has a lot of panels that are distance shots which helps because many of the finer details are glossed over. While the book is a good visual story it is not the best in the series. The moments in the book were the drama reaches a climax may not have connected because of the visual presentation. It's hard to say. A good but not great effort artistically.

Captain America leaves Dimension Z with an awful lot of baggage. This is going to give Remender plenty to play with in the coming arcs. While the issue is a science fiction delight the overall story felt too much like an 'alternate worlds' kind of book. The danger seemed too fictional (even for the characters) making the read feel in a way ordinary. I recommend picking up this issue and the entire run if you really like some Captain America/science fiction stories. I enjoyed this and I can't wait to see where Remender takes Cap from here.

3 out of 5 Geek Goggles