Writer: Jeph LoebArtists: Leinil Yu, Ed McGuinness, John Romita Jr., David Finch and John Cassaday
Publisher: Marvel ComicsCollects: Fallen Son: Wolverine; New Avengers; Captain America; Spider-Man; Iron Man
"Where were you when Captain America died?" is the motivating question behind Fallen Son, as it shows the reactions of various Marvel characters in the aftermath of Cap's assassination, even if it does stray from that original concept.
It is quite appropriate for Jeph Loeb to pen this story. Not only is he personally familiar with loss, but his writing always carries a certain weight to it. And the absolute plethora of talented artists here is truly top-form; whether its David Finch's grittiness or Ed McGuinness' solid action or John Cassaday's elegant simplicity, and all of them benefit from Loeb's instant synergy with his artists.
I can think of no tribute more fitting for Cap -- a man who was perceived completely different by everyone who knew him -- than to see his friends and allies all share their image of the Sentinel of Liberty and what he meant to them, and see that maybe he was all these things and more.
And on that front Fallen Son most definitely delivers. Everybody in here is talking about Cap almost non-stop, and that weighty writing of Loeb's I mentioned really drives home his legendary status both on and off the page. Usually though, that style often hurts Loeb when he comes to write ordinary dialogue. It seems difficult for him to have two characters talk without sounding instantly quotable, but here there is no such hindrance. There is a very humbled feeling to this story, especially in the dialogue.
Unfortunately, that is taken away by some rather heavy-handed techniques. The decision to frame each issue's tone and themes in accordance with the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) is almost touching, but somewhat ruined by the fact that they are each titled after their respective stages. So much for subtlety.
Likewise, the funeral scene is a little too much. Although Tony Stark's "I can't go on" speech is rectified by the end in a genuinely touching moment, Falcon's "everybody stand up" follow-up again ruins an otherwise beautiful point that Loeb is trying to make -- that Cap unites everyone, in both life and death.
But perhaps Captain America, who was never a subtle man, deserves something of a blunt send-off. Either way, with some minor annoyances aside, this is about as perfect a memorial to him as I can imagine.
What's that? He's not dead? Huh... Never mind.
Rating: 4/5
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