Comic Review: Falcon & Winter Soldier (2020-) #1

Falcon & Winter Soldier (2020-) #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Derek Landy

Artist: Federico Vicentini

I’m about to drop a hot take on you: Captain America is one of my favorite characters. After you pick your jaw off the floor, you might ask me “which Captain America?” and I’d say “Sam Wilson”. I’ll give you a minute to collect your jaw once more from the floor. Honestly, if it’s happening this easily it’s something you should really have someone look at. But anyways, Falcon Cap is my favorite, and they did him dirty at the end of Secret Empire giving the shield back to Steve Rogers. And then they did him right in Avengers: Endgame, giving the cinematic version of him the shield. I bring that up because I feel like this comic exists only because there’s a TV show with this title coming out later this year. But, whatever, let’s get into it.

Bucky Barnes is the long time partner and friend of Steve Rogers and even took the mantle of Captain America. Sam Wilson is also the long time partner/friend of Steve Rogers, and also had the mantle of Captain America. With Baron Zemo recently dying, there’s a power struggle in Hydra. Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place, and now the two Captain Americas have to stop the organization from reforming

That’s the gist of this issue. Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes unintentionally meet up, and realize they have to stop Hydra. It’s more interesting than that sentence sounds, and I actually really did enjoy reading this issue. I do think this mini-series is capitalizing on the Falcon & Winter Soldier name since the TV show is coming out later this year, but I’m not complaining about that. Especially since the Falcon spent the last year or so of comics just not doing anything. From what I could find, Derek Landy has written a few comics for Marvel, all of which I did like. And he does do something interesting in this issue that I am looking forward to seeing play out.

Bucky’s been doing some dirty work for the government, and the office of his handler gets massacred. We find out who did it, and it’s seemingly just some kid. A Hydra agent, but a kid. Who then beats Falcon and the Winter Soldier pretty easily. He lets them live, being a fan of both heroes, but promises to kill them next time. And it’s really where this comic goes from good to great. The art and action from Federico Vicentini is great. The tight panels reflect the smaller space they’re in in the story and give the acton the feeling it deserves. It reminds me of the quick-cut action scenes you see in movies, but where it hides stunt doubles and fake punches there, it shines in this format.

The characters also look good. I’m a fan of “civilian clothes” Bucky Barnes in any media. And the new character, “The Natural”, looks as harmless as the teenage kid he is. Again, I really like this issue. There’s a bias coming from me, being a fan of the characters like I am, but it’s a really good issue. Setting up what’s to come, the story is solid and gets the characters right. The art is great and shines in the action. Even the colors from Matt Milla add to the espionage vibe of it all. If any of this sounds appealing to you, or you’re a fan of the characters, I would definitely say you should read this.