Captain Carter #2: Cowboys and Angels

There is a lot going on in this issue, and honestly, maybe it’s a little too much. Here’s the problem when you’re telling a great big story in a limited series, you have to leave things out and you have to squeeze a bunch of important things in when you can. Author Jamie McKelvie does the best job possible, he does a fine job of using one scene to get multiple points across, When you’re reading you can’t help but get the feeling that “this would’ve been better if it could’ve played out over 12 issues”, but McKelvie gets the point across to the reader, and ultimately that’s what counts. He does a really good job with Peggy’s supporting cast, they all have a purpose and he even gives the utility players some purpose along with raising the level of importance to all of them. McKelvie does a fine job with the story, I just wish he had more time to tell it. 

Artist Marika Cresta returns to do a very good job with this issue. There are more than a few “talking head” panels and Cresta handles them like a seasoned pro. No awkward close-ups, no weird “artsy” shots that don’t work, just good, solid visual storytelling at its best. On pages where there is action, Cresta shines. You can tell that these are her favorite pages to draw, and that’s what makes them so good. Cresta has a special talent for drawing strong women in action without going into cheesecake territory. The art is solid, but like McKelvie, I’d love to see what she could do if this story was stretched out over a few more issues.