The Final Battle of Captain America

It starts with a familiar scene: Captain America, leaping into a dangerous situation without hesitation in order to save lives, using the time-tested skill and daring that have made him a living legend.

But despite appearances, something is not right here. And the hero of the day displays an edge, an attitude, that is atypical of the Captain America we know--yet normal behavior for this man. So much so that he must be confronted by the only one suited to rein him in.

Yes, two living legends, but only one who would truly be deserving of such a description. And it is well past time that both men took a meeting, and talked--though only one of them has words which the other needs to hear.

It's been a long road for William Burnside, the Captain America of the 1950s, by the time of this story's publication in late 2012--an issue scripted by well-known Captain America writer Ed Brubaker in what would be his last work for the character. For Burnside, too, the story represents closure, seemingly slated as his final appearance and bringing to an end a storyline which endured for forty years.

Through it all, his heroic legacy from the beginning of his career in 1953 has been tainted by the onset of derangement caused by his administration of the super-soldier serum on himself and his own young "Bucky," lacking the full regimen of the procedure used on Steve Rogers. Eventually, their increasingly manic behavior forced the U.S. government to capture and contain the pair, placing them in cryogenic freeze until a cure could be found for their condition. But, prematurely freed in 1972, they went after the "replacement" Captain America (our Cap), whom they considered a traitor, with the intent of murdering both Cap and the Falcon--and things went downhill for Burnside from there, becoming a pawn of Dr. Faustus (and, later, Faustus again during his association with the Red Skull) before falling in with a domestic terrorist group and being brought down by the real Bucky (the former Winter Soldier).

And now, it seems, the man who considered himself to be Steve Rogers comes full circle, as the real Steve Rogers takes advantage of the opportunity to sit down with this man who changed his physical appearance and even his voice in an effort to become his namesake, and hopefully strike up an understanding between them by explaining his own beginnings as Captain America, remembrances which cannot help but compel the attention of someone who has strived to live up to and carry on the name.

It's difficult, of course, not to detect Brubaker's own farewell to the real McCoy, whom he began writing nearly eight years prior and whose work on the book comprised over one-hundred issues. It's also evident that similar sentiments are shared by artist Steve Epting, given the care he takes with the layout of the entire story. With this issue, Brubaker closes out the current iteration of the book, its sixth volume and counting.

Eventually, Cap's words to Burnside lead to those men who have replaced him, such as William Naslund (the Spirit of '76), and Jeff Mace (the Patriot)--and then of course to Burnside himself, who strikes a different chord for Cap given the tragic turn Burnside's life took and the tarnished ideals he associated with his predecessor.

Yet Cap takes extraordinary steps to see that Burnside's story has an ending that hopefully the man can live with, coming as the news does from the only man whom he'll likely consider qualified to "discharge" him. It's a moving ending that draws to a close the unfortunate life and circumstances of this fourth Captain America--and, thanks to Epting, a wistful sendoff for Brubaker, to be sure.

As for Burnside's expression in that last panel, it's difficult to read considering his silence throughout this entire episode--but to me, and with all due respect to Brubaker's intentions, it could indicate one of two things: resignation at long last, or words to the effect of "You arrogant S.O.B. ... I'm not done with you yet." In my own opinion (and preference), it's solidly the former option, given that there's no longer any doubt in Burnside's mind that this is the original Cap who's leveling with him, and thus more reason to take his words to heart; but with Marvel's penchant for digging up old plots you and I would have long since considered laid to rest, you never know.

Captain America #19 Script: Ed Brubaker Pencils and Inks: Steve Epting Letterer: Joe Caramagna