You know how much it sucks to be the self-made replica of a second-rate hero? No? Well, how about being the self-made replica of a second-rate hero, and then folding up that costume only to don the leathers of a fourth-string hero – leathers worn by a first-rate hero during his lowliest of years, and how about dropping both of those caped identities for one of your own devising, which goes over like a turd in a punch-bowl? Still can’t identify? Then you, my friend, need to read the sad, but true tale of Jack Monroe.

I am not sure if you all know this, but Brubaker, is an incredible writer. His storylines are some of the best and most entrancing in the comic biz. But, what I like the most about his style, in this the 597 th volume of Captain America, is the feeling of depth and presence that he creates by flooding each issue with history. I cannot begin to tell you all that I have learned from this series of Cap. Of course, if you too have been reading this series then you know that not all of the events recorded in these flashbacks are accurate – some are being inserted into Cap’s mind, and apparently into Jack Monroe’s as well.

This issue is sort of a side-track from the previous, telling the sad and burdensome tale of Jack Monroe who has been Bucky, Nomad, (and shamefully) The Scourge. Personally, I prefer the art of Epting and Lark, who did the first six issues, to the art of Leon which appears in this issue. But, Leon’s artwork is not bad, it is just simplistic, and besides, I loved Epting penciling the present, while Lark penciled the past. However, if Brubaker is planning something epic where the story of each character is told through a different artist, then that would be cool, but I tend to doubt these kinds of things.

As to the recommendation part, what can I say? I love Captain America most of the time, and this series is really quite good in my estimation. Read it or don’t, you’re still not going to be good with the ladies.

-Peblee