Comics Review Of CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE by Jeph Loeb (writer) and Tim Sale (illustrator) (Marvel Comics, March 2016) Hardcover, 160 pages. ISBN # 0785194193 / 9780785194194. 

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

Journey back to the Big One as Captain America recalls one of his most incredible missions. 

It's 1941, and the Howling Commandos are enjoying a respite from the ordeal of World War II — until Cap and his faithful partner, Bucky, lead them into the hands of the enemy! As the Nazis unleash their latest deadly soldiers, an old ally lends a hand — but an even older enemy will threaten America's greatest hero like never before. 

Will the Sentinel of Liberty gain his freedom in time to rescue Paris from the clutches of a monster? The Eisner Award-winning creative team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (DAREDEVIL: YELLOW, HULK: GRAY, SPIDER-MAN: BLUE) reunites to deliver another colorful exploration of the early days of a Marvel icon! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #0-5. 

My four-star review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

     Spotting the names of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale on a new collaboration is a reliable indication of a good read, and this doesn't disappoint. It doesn't pack the same dramatic punch as their Batman works do, but that's a very high standard to keep meeting. I enjoyed this, and it helped revive warm nostalgic good feelings towards these characters (that I read during my formative comic book days in the 1960's). 

     I love the stylish art of Tim Sale, reminding me on this book of the best of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko without copying them too much. Sale's ability to show varying facial expressions on characters and his dramatic use of shading and inks is exceptional. 

     Loeb tells a complete story of a WWII mission that Cap and sidekick Bucky shared with Sgt. Fury and The Howling Commandos in Nazi-occupied France - - and it's a good one, full of adventure, action and drama. The overlapping story and the main point of Captain America: White is to focus on the relationship between Cap/Steve Rogers and Bucky/James Buchanan Barnes and how much they meant to each other. It's a compelling tale of brotherly love, sacrifice and support of each other. 

     There's a bit too much of Steve/Cap mourning the loss/death of Bucky since readers know more than Cap does -- that Bucky didn't perish and would return much later than the events here (as Winter Soldier). The story takes place shortly after Cap's 1960's thawing out by The Avengers and he is thinking back on earlier times, recalling this particular mission. Baron Strucker and The Red Skull are here and as diabolical as ever.