I wasn’t sold on the idea of splitting the Captain America book into two different ongoings. I was even more apprehensive when hearing that the high numbered series title would be changed to “Captain America and Bucky”. My concerns were soon put to rest by a really solid first issue. “Captain America and Bucky” #621 is the second part of Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko’s look into Bucky’s early years and delivers an issue as good if not better than the previous book.

This issue is made great by the full combination of fantastic writing and a near perfect period art style. All comics are a collaborative effort but this issue shows how a strong story and great visuals can create an immersive and engaging experience. Brubaker and Andreyko incorporate so many cool elements of that time period into the story from the time specific dialogue to the slick details found in the shaving scene and the county fair scene. As great as the writing is, it’s Chris Samnee’s art and the wonderful Bettie Breitweiser’s colors that give it such life. Samnee’s simple style and heavy inks are perfectly complimented by Breitweiser’s nostalgic and almost antique color pallet. There are a few panels that lose their sense of detail but overall this is a visually stunning issue.

While this issue’s ability to capture the period is an incredible accomplishment, at it’s core it’s a somber story. It deals with Bucky’s first time taking a life. The story brilliantly contrasts the cheerful but overconfident Bucky in the first part of the issue with a much more subdued Bucky by the issue’s end. It’s so beautifully structured and the final panel alone packs a sobering punch. There is so much to like about this issue and if this is indicative of what we are going to get from this creative team, it’s going to be a great run.