Credits

• Writer: Ed Brubaker
• Artist: Steve Epting and Michael Lark
• Colorist: Frank D'Armata
• Letterer: VC's Randy Gentile
• Assistant Editors: Wiley and Lazar Schmidt
• Editor: Tom Brevoort

Quick Summary

This issue opens with Winter Soldier planting one of those AIM firebombs (the ones that the Red Skull had been planning to use to kill thousands of people, their death enemies recharging the Cosmic Cube) in the sewers underneath Philadelphia. He has planted Jack Monroe's body next to the device, and refers to him as "the scapegoat". He has a bound-and-gagged Sharon Carter in the trunk of his vehicle.

Meanwhile, SHIELD continues to search for Sharon, with the Agent she's dating heading down to join in the search. Its Fury's hope that they'll find Sharon before CA finds out she's missing.

Captain America has landed on the secret island in the English Channel from which Zemo launched the experimental drone plane. CA is looking for some answers to his memory ghosts. He investigates the castle which Zemo used for a base, having ghost memories, and discovers what he believes are Nazis - and whether he belves it or not, they seem to be firing real bullets. Cap speculates that the weakened Cosmic Cube is behind the memory ghosts, although whether or not they are real memories, he doesn't know. He board his SHIELD transport, and is immediately hit with a vision of Sharon captured - and he knows where. He instructs the SHIELD pilot to make all speed - and in this particular plane, that's quite fast.

CA heads to Philly, knocks out the thugs guarding Sharon, and unties her. She informs CA that this is a set-up, and that she thinks that the Winter Soldier is indeed Bucky.

While she tells him this, the Winter Soldier - who bears a striking resemblence to Bucky and Jack - has them in his sniper scope. Lukin countermands his desire to take the shot - he wants CA to suffer MUCH more than he has - starting now.

Lukin orders the detonation of the firebomb, so that CA can watch a large portion of Philly burn. The Cosmic Cube gets a charge, while Lukin and his assistant fly out of the area, making their plans for their next step.

Commentary

Reviewing Brubaker on Captain America is getting kind of dull - unlike the actual comic. I mean, the writing is top-notch, the art is stunningly beautiful, the pacing is perfect - what the hell is the point? *grin* Not that I'm complaining too loudly, mind you...

• When Winter Soldier plants Jack's body next to the firebomb device, and refers to him as the scapegoat, you have to wonder - does he think that SHIELD and Captain America are clueless, and that they don't suspect that Jack is being set up?
• Many people - including Brubaker - anticipated a firestorm of their own, when they revealed the Winter Soldier to ostensibly be Bucky Barnes. However, Brubaker has done his job too well; nobody is convinced that the Winter Soldier is acually Bucky Barnes, and speculation on the WWW is rife - but most people are content to enjoy the mystery, and let Brubaker tell his story before they (over)react. That he's telling the story in a respectful, interesting enigma instead of cramming a retcon down Cap fan throats should stand as a model to other writers (*cough cough* Like the Truth, or the horrible Protocide saga).
• Sharon's romantic interest goes up at ground zero when the bomb goes off. I don't quite understand his importance to the story - we find out that Sharon has been seeing him when she's kidnapped, and he doesn't actually do anything. Usually, there's a reason why people are introduced, so unless its the two obvious bits (to show the lack of a romantic relationship between Sharon and Steve at the present time, and to give her more traumatic angst), I can't help but feel there is something more it it...