Captain America: Steve Rogers #1
Nick Spencer (w), Jesus Saiz (a)
Marvel Comics

Liz says: Don’t read this if you don’t want to be spoiled (and probably don’t look at the internet either, because this is all over the place right now) but, Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 is out and the reaction is crazy. If you don’t know already, it’s because the final page of the issue reveals Cap to be a full-on member of Hydra. Writer Nick Spencer, well-known for incredible hooks and mind-bending plot twists, is being slammed on social media, as is just about everyone who works at Marvel editorial. Even Ed Brubaker, who stopped writing the book years ago, is getting backlash from angry fans. #SayNoToHydraCap is trending on Twitter and so is #boycottmarvel. People are really, really mad about this. I say: good.

If people care this much about what’s going on in comics, then clearly Marvel is doing something right. One tweet argued that ‘shock value does not a good story make’ – a valid point, but I’d be surprised if whoever made it has actually read the issue in question because so far, the story’s pretty great. Jumping between two storylines, one set in the 1920s and the other set in the present, this was a really strong issue from start to finish. Throughout both storylines, a theme presents itself of how both radical groups and politicians prey upon the vulnerable and disenfranchised, and the horrific consequences that result.

There are wonderful character moments, a great balance between humour and intrigue and a jaw-dropping ending that was hauntingly affecting. And what a twist! I love to see comics creating so much buzz, and this is only the beginning of the story! My advice would be: don’t go burning your copy just yet (yes, people are apparently burning their copies and no, I’m not kidding), hang in there and see what happens. Because if there’s one thing I can always bet on, it’s Nick Spencer coming out with another great whopper of a twist that’s going to spin things back around again.