Captain America Sentinel of Liberty #5: What so proudly we jail’s at the twilight’s last gleaming…

We’re one more chapter with this deep-ceded mystery into Captain America and the Winter Soldier’s yet another plot determined that everything you’ve known about Cap was a lie. They each represent an almost intrinsic part of society. They’re the money, the power, the love, the revolution, and the machine. They all seem like they’re not exactly in agreement on how each performs their hands in order to shape society for the current century. So let’s get on to the issue, shall we…

Bucky learns that this team has been responsible for every major event that has happened in his life. From killing his parents, and him being adopted by the army to becoming Captain America’s sidekick to his “death” and transformation to the Winter Soldier. This revelation it’s going to do nothing but leave Bucky in a constant state of anxiety. Bucky’s entire existence is being called into question; how will he react? Who are his handlers, and what is their end goal here? Not exactly sure. 

A couple of the biggest highlights in this issue were the return of Cap’s jet, the Freedom’s Flight, and the return of Capt. Merrick, from the United States of Captains America. Freedom’s Flight’s return is like a love letter to me. I’m a tried and true Cap. fan, especially the Mark Gruenwald & the Kieron Dwyer run. Making its first appearance in the now classic Bloodstone Hunt from 1989 and was a staple of Cap’s gear isn’t an extension of his time where he’s Avenging. As I’ve said more than anything else, I really enjoy what this team is giving us, especially with their using already-established characters to add to the mix. 

Not only that, but this team’s continued effort to humanize Steve, Bucky, and the rest of the cast is top-level craftsmanship. It’s easy to paint Captain America as a jingoistic caricature, like Mark Millar’s Ultimate Cap, or as an overly naive Boy Scout, but this Steve has nuance. He has a sophistication about himself. He’s going on two decades (in the sliding timeline) out of the ice, and while he’s still idealistic, he’s not having a crisis of conscience. He’s the Avenger, to which all other Avengers are measured by, and it’s refreshing to see. 

Unfortunately, there are things I’m not overly thrilled with. The main issue revolves around the Outer Circle and the little we know of them. As of right now, they’re still fairly nondescript, like tabula rasa, devoid of any real personality. It’s their first appearance, but I feel we could have been given more from the run thus far. Even if it were a couple panels per issue. It’s not enough to turn me off. 

Among the things, I can’t say enough good things about is Carmen Carnero’s art. Carmen just keeps on kicking the front door down and dragging me along for the ride. Her figure work is impeccable, while the action has a flawless poetry to it. She has a classic touch to her art, which makes it feel timeless.