So, who will wield the shield?

[colonel_green]

Four scans from Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield?

So Steve is back (and back with Sharon).  Natasha thinks that Bucky should still keep the name (wonders why there can't be two), but Bucky is adamant that Steve will want his job back and prepares to give it up.  He and Natasha go out for one last patrol, and run across Steve; together they beat Mr. Hyde.  However, Steve has other plans:




We cut to the White House, where the receptionist shows him into the Oval:




That honestly wasn't what I was expecting to see.  Notwithstanding the annoying scheduling, can't wait to see where things go from here.
 

Comments

[From: robogeek]

Well, that's obvious:

Steve Rogers, Director of SHIELD.

[From: phoeixmessiah]

I'm okay with that...NicK Fury Secret Avenger of the Unknown?

[From: grimmbear]

I've been saying that for about a year now.

[From: thandrak]

Pick up my shield, indeed. Pick up Nick's SHIELD?

[From: lonewolf23k]

Just as I foresaw. And it would work with him, too.

[From: proteus_lives]

Damn good idea.

[From: mullon]

Sommeone better call Stephen Colbert, he's going to be disappointed when he finds out he has to give the shield back.

[From: mercia]

I dunno. I've seen Quesada, and I don't think he could physically take that shield back from someone who's worked out with Olympic teams.

[From: thokstar]

Wow. "Barack Obama" is almost in character (the quotation marks are because we never see his unshadowed face in these scans and never hear his name; Marvel seems to be going for plausible deniability for some reason.)

[From: skywaterblue]

My thoughts exactly. Brubaker did a good job on the dialogue - sounds like his Illinois twang.

[From: taggerung301]

I'm hoping this sticks
I like to see legacies passed down

[From: colonel_green]

One suspects that there's a fixed ending in mind for this (whatever scenario Steve foresaw), but I'm sure it will all play out well.

[From: toasty_fresh]

Every once in a while I'm struck by how much I like Bucky's cap costume (and, conversely, how silly Steve's can look).

Also, I'm surprised no one's mentioned DAT ASS in the first scan . . .

[From: colonel_green]

There's a good bit on that in this issue where we find out that the New Cap costume is actually one of Jan's proposed redesigns of Steve's costume that Tony dusted off ("Stark said she was always on Steve to change his look.").

[From: iskander]

Nomad ! Plunging neckline and all .

[From: skalja]

No, Rikki Barnes just took that identity.

[From: ghosty732]

Obama is left-handed! This must be a Skrull!

[From: freddylloyd]

Obama is left-handed. So are John McCain, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush.

[From: naebler]

I've been saying for a while I would love to see Steve become the General or Senator. A Soldier who has seen the score and takes the fight to the political arena for the Heroes out there. It would be an awesome role for the longest serving Superhero (I'm sorry I don't count Namor because he's a tool).

[From: okkult3000]

Steve's already a general, or a brigadier general, at least. That was his rank when he retired from the Army.

[From: halloweenjack]

There's something low-key awesome about Steve telling Obama what FDR was like in person.

[From: silverzeo]

And so it's like the Civil War never happened right? Spider-Man still lives in secret, and Cap is NO longer guilty of anything, and even though it is implied that the president is aware of the superheroes' distrust for Osborn, he is doing nothing about it?

Sorry to nitpick...

[From: darkknightjrk]

"and even though it is implied that the president is aware of the superheroes' distrust for Osborn, he is doing nothing about it?"

And...?

(Sorry, it was just RIGHT THERE and had to be said.)

[From: aaron_bourque]

Something seems kind of off with Steve's unmasked face (and honestly? His out-of-costume build). It looks like someone's idea of Steve Rogers, not Steve Rogers himself.

[From: jlbarnett]

yeah, his face looks to rounded to me.

[From: darkknightjrk]

I know he's appeared in these Marvel comics being saved by Spider-Man and all, but there's something just sardonically hilarious that someone who's obviously Obama talking about Norman Osborne, Director of HAMMER with a straight face.

[From: rordulum]

As long as Bucky continues to be a major character, I don't really care whether he keeps the shield or not.

I really liked his Winter Soldier identity, and the outfit he wore matches his character far more than the stars and stripes get up ever could. On the other hand, to have Steve's support to wear the Cap costume must be a pretty big vote of confidence for him.

And actually moving Steve Rogers to another role, permanently, would give Marvel comics a true progression, one of those status quo changing events that they're always blathering about.

Which, by the way, is something I think should be done with Bruce Wayne when he makes his inevitable return. A backstage, overseeing role, with his young charges taking up the physical battle.

[From: majingojira]

I'm honestly surprised at this development.

Surprised, in a very good way!

[From: valtyr]

Hm, interesting. I'm not sure about the art though. :/ Steve looks kind of caricatured and Sharon looks... well, dead.

[From: colonel_green]

Yeah, her face in that last scan looks really flat.

It's mostly good, though, I thought; Guice is great.

[From: theanswer]

Steve talking to a sleeping lady is kind of creepy. I hope nobody ever has a serious conversation with me while I'm unconscious.

[From: starwolf_oakley]

Given how many super-villains talk to dead people (that they've usually just killed) talking to someone who is asleep (or pretending to be asleep) isn't that creepy by comparison.

[From: nothingbutcake]

I'm sorry, but those are some perky nipples.

[From: lieut_kettch]

It's December.

[From: pallas_athena]

Shirtless Steve! How did you know it was my birthday?

Welcome back, Steve

[From: roguefankc]

*hugs Steve and kisses him on the cheek*

Now give him a scene where he verbally rips Maria Hill and Tony Stark a new one, and I'm good. =)

[From: fredneil.livejournal.com]

"I'll risk my reputation giving a Presidental Pardon to Captain America?"

Supporting a health care is going to alientate half the country, no matter what you do. Trying to negotiate peace in the middle east is going to alienate everyone in the world, no matter what you do. Pardoning the most popular superhero in the Marvel universe-the one who everyone has loved for six decades-is about as risky as a presidental proclamation that says "I like kittens and puppies."

I wouldn't count on it

[From: roguefankc]

Remember how Bucky got into a fight with some bar patrons who called Steve a traitor to America during the footage of his funeral?

Something tells me that with Miriam Sharpe, Maria Hill, and Sally Floyd/Ben Urich still out there, they'll be able to scrouge up enough people to protest and cry foul at Steve getting a presidental pardon.

Sadly enough. =/