Secret Empire #7: This issue is possibly the single best issue of an event -- possibly any comic -- ever. I was holding my breath as we moved step by step to the end. (I know I said that last issue, but who knew Spencer would top himself so quickly!)
Let's start at the beginning. First, I would really love Spencer to write "Captain Marvel," because he gets her better than anyone since Kelly Sue. Her monologue begging Quasar to awaken so she can redeem herself was a brilliant piece of characterization, as Carol realizes "Civil War II" put them on the path to this moment. She realizes she's exactly like Tony, desperately seeking for someone to tell her she's the hero she hopes she is. (It's clearly a bitter pill to swallow, and it really matches nicely what A.I. Tony said to Steve in issue #6). Spencer's gift here is making everything seem like it's the logical conclusion of past events: Carol's guilt from "Civil War II," Miles' destiny to kill Captain America from "IvX," Hank merging with Ultron in "Avengers: Rage of Ultron." They're important components of the tension Spencer builds throughout the issue. In fact, Spencer has made it clear from the start the events of this series are not only grounded in the past but are unlikely to be simply ret-conned at the end. It's really what has made it so enjoyable, to my mind.
Spencer also addresses the generational issues at hand as well. Natasha locks up Miles so he can't realize his destiny to kill Captain America: it's like she's saying she wants one more chance for her generation to clean up the mess it's made before the innocent get blood on their hands. But, she can't. Punisher stops her before she can pull the trigger, giving Miles time to escape. She defeats Frank (of course she does), and Sorrentino does an amazing job showing her panicked dash to the scene of the battle between Miles and Steve. He's equally adept at showing her death, as she leaps between them and Steve's shield shatters her skull. Natasha Romanova has always, always deserved to be the hero, and she gets to be here, at the cost of her life. (Sure, she's probably going to return. But, in the moment, I believed the story Spencer was telling here, unlike most times a character dies.) An enraged Miles attacks Steve with new vigor, but, picking up the theme of generation change, Wasp gets to him before he strikes the final blow. She tells him he's not a killer, and she begs him to respect Natasha's sacrifice: she died because she knew he wasn't a killer. Miles agrees, and the kids are arrested by HYDRA's security forces.
Later, Steve has his troops bring him to Sharon, where he laments the losses surrounding him. He whines it wasn't supposed to go this way; he was going to save everyone, not send Bucky, Rick, Elisa, and now Natasha to their deaths. Sharon then tries to kill him, and I cheered. Sharon fucking Carter, man. She never doesn't come to play. But, he stops her, and it's the last straw: totally alone, he promises war. The remaining members of the Underground are broken as they watch Natasha die, and Giant Man asks if it's over. A voice says it's not, and I teared up a bit as I saw Sam Wilson stand in that last panel wearing his Captain America costume and holding the shield. White nationalists paraded through Charlottesville the day before I wrote this review, and damn if I didn't feel better seeing Sam Wilson tell me to believe in America still.
Captain America: Steve Rogers #19 and Captain America: Sam Wilson #24: I'm reviewing these issues jointly because they're flipsides of the same coin, with Steve finally putting on his HYDRA Supreme Leader gear and Sam putting on the Captain America uniform (as seen at the end of "Secret Empire" #7). Steve's issue doesn't have that much emotional impact; Spencer is really just drawing a line under the sense at the end of "Secret Empire" #7 that Steve is putting away childish things. He's lost everyone -- Tony, Bucky, Rick, Elisa, Natasha, and Sharon -- and he seems to finally accept he doesn't get to be the hero anymore. I'd recommend reading that issue first, because Sam's issue is much more inspiring. Misty tries to convince him to put on his uniform, revealing she defied his request to return it to Steve. (She's right about how she made the right call.) In a fit of anger, Sam tells Misty he doesn't believe America deserves Captain America anymore, and it's Patriot who convinces him otherwise. He asks if you really just give up a war because you're outgunned and outnumbered, reminding Sam that giving up the uniform just gave his enemies what they wanted and left the vulnerable without a champion. It's hard work, Sam, but someone has to do it.
Also Read: Occupy Avengers #9
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