CAPTAIN AMERICA Vol. 1: CASTAWAY IN DIMENSION Z, Book One

CAPTAIN AMERICA Vol. 1: CASTAWAY IN DIMENSION Z, Book One

Writer:  Rick Remender

Artists:  John Romita Jr. (with inks by Klaus Janson, Tom Palmer, and Scott Hanna)

$24.99, Marvel Comics, 136 pgs.

ISBN 978-0785168263

In a radical departure from writer Ed Brubaker's celebrated run on the title (the direct inspiration for the blockbuster film Captain America: The Winter Soldier), this tale transplants Captain America from the superhero spy thriller genre of the Brubaker era  to a realm of pure pulp science fiction, Rick Remender's preferred wheelhouse. The result is a strangely unique Captain America story arc that alienates some readers while fascinating others.

Nazi mad scientist Arnim Zola maroons Cap in an alternate dimension populated by legions of Zola's monstrous scientific creations. With no way home, Cap must fight not only for his own survival, but also for that of Ian, a young boy Cap rescues from Zola's clutches and comes to think of as his adoptive son. The pair's years-long journey across the surreal and hostile landscape of Dimension Z is paralleled with Cap's recollections of his Depression-era upbringing, and a peculiar theme emerges out of all the monster battles and otherworldly goings-on: family.

Comics fans constantly bemoan the lack of new directions in comics, yet when a creative team actually dares to do something different with a character, the fan backlash can be noisome and intense (see: The Superior Spider-Man; fan reaction to). What Remender and Romita have done here is not particularly earth-shattering; we know the status quo will somehow be restored when the story ends, because it hasto be: Marvel has tied the character into too much of its ongoing continuity for this to be a permanent reinvention. That said, Castaway in Dimension Z is an exciting yarn and a different kind of Captain America story, which—when you're talking about a 73-year old character—is a laudable achievement.  

TIPS FOR LIBRARIANS: Captain America first appeared in Captain America Comicsway back in 1941. How, then, could this possibly be "Volume One?" That's an excellent question, and the answer is that every so often, Marvel re-launches its titles with new "first issues," and that marketing stunt numbering is reflected in the numbering of the collected editions as well. (I go into greater detail about this practice—which, to be fair, isn't limited strictly to Marvel, though they are the industry's most frequent offender—in my Graphic Novel Collection Development guide, downloadable for FREE from HERE.) It's confusing, I know, but generally speaking, it's safe to start carrying any title with a "Volume One," even if it's not really a "Volume One." Publishers intend these to be jumping-on points, so they're usually a decent place to start when developing a collection. Oh, by the way, the second volume of this series is available now and the third volume hits stores this week!

READERS' ADVISORY NOTES: This story's science fiction-inspired setting takes Captain America's adventures in an unusual direction, which might alienate fans who prefer more straightforward super-heroics. Of course, the upside here is that this temporary status quo (the third volume in the series returns Cap to more familiar stomping grounds) might attract fans of science fiction to examine a character they might otherwise have ignored. Note that this is the first volume in a two-volume story; make your suggestions accordingly.

CONTENT ADVISORY:  Superhero action/violence

Review©2014, C. Michael Hall.