Scott's Take: Captain America Vol 1: Our Secret Wars by Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti (Illustrator), and Ben Harvey (Cover Art)

Captain America Vol 1: Our Secret Wars by Chip Zdarsky,  Valerio Schiti (Illustrator), and Ben Harvey (Cover Art) is a prequel story set shortly after Captain America has just woken up from the ice. Captain America, who feels lost and alone in this new country, has been reactivated by the U.S. Army to join a rescue mission to save hostages in Latveria. The country has recently been taken over by the dictator, Dr. Doom. Alongside a new version of the Howling Commandoes and another new Captain America that had not been referenced before, they and the reactivated Captain America are to link up with the resistance. Then get the hostages. Then get out.

 

At least, that was the mission that Steve was told. Of course, the real mission is not that. Not even close to that.  The government knew that Steve is too honorable for the real mission.

 

This is an action-packed thriller with plenty of violence and character development. The physical volume won’t be out until late er this month, as of right now, you can read the whole volume plus more on the Marvel Unlimited app.

 

There will be a second volume set in the present time of the Marvel Universe and that has not been titled yet. It will tie into the One World Under Doom and Armageddon events. According to various interview on Marvel.Com, as since Doctor Doom has left this reality, Latveria has fallen to pieces as various factions seek to control what Doom has left behind. Red Hulk and the U.S. Army will clash with the Avengers and Steve over what remains. Doom has left nukes and even worse things behind. Not much is known about this Armageddon event other than it is going to have massive ramifications and see a new Avengers team assembled to save the world again as the Jed Mackay team has been disbanded.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/42HD9Pm

 

 

As noted, I read this enjoyable book as the individual issues appeared on Marvel Unlimited.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

ButtonDown.Com: Shoulder Wound Sunday: Newburn

 ButtonDown.Com: Shoulder Wound Sunday: Newburn

Scott's Take: Avengers: Twilight by Chip Zdarsky (Author), Daniel Acuña (Artist), and Cory Petit (Letterer)

Avengers: Twilight by Chip Zdarsky (Author), Daniel Acuña (Artist), and Cory Petit (Letterer), is an elseworlds tale set sometime in the future of the Marvel Universe. The Avengers were disbanded by the various governments of the world after a tragedy that impacted humanity. Steve Rogers was stripped of his powers and now lives as a shell of a man as America descends into tyranny with most of the population unaware since the media is fully controlled by the government. It is not long before Steve realizes the world needs the Avengers now more than ever and he gets his butt back into the fight to free the world.

 

Not the most original story, but it is a fun action-packed political thrill ride with realistic stylized art. The big battle that led to these events could have been delved into more detail as well as some other details that made this elseworld different.

 

It’s hard not to read this tale as the writer taking shots at the current American political system. Not that doing so is a bad thing, but it’s there. In a world that many did not understand The Boys was a direct shot at the American right, and are now very angry about it, this read is not subtle in what it is doing here.

 

Steve is the main character with several other Avengers playing roles. Thor is really cool in this book. He gets some of the best action scenes as the big gun of the Avengers.

 

I liked the read overall and enjoyed it. I think it could have easily used more than six issues to breathe since some things are rushed. Various things could have been detailed more in a longer run such as how Jan and Tony ended up married to each other as they are not usually each other’s love interests. Steve is also married to a new character named Rosa and how that happened is not very detailed. It would have also been nice to have a prequel showing casing more of the big tragedy prior to this series.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3PhY1pL

 

 

As noted before, I read this on the Marvel Unlimited app.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2025

Scott's Take: Daredevil and Elektra Vol 1: The Red Fist Saga by Chip Zdarsky

Daredevil and Elektra Vol 1: The Red Fist Saga by Chip Zdarsky is the second in this Daredevil series. In this book, Daredevil has agreed to co-lead with Electra the group known as “The Fist” in the battle against “The Hand.” This means its ninjas vs ninjas in a war for the world. The new leader of The Hand is the Punisher. That tale is being told in the Punisher series by Jason Aaron and is also quite good. In this book, Daredevil and Elektra Vol 1: The Red Fist Saga, Daredevil is preparing to leave New York so he can take the fight to The Hand but a new villain has some revelations for him first.

Daredevil spends a good portion of this first volume recruiting for his new version of The Fist. There are also some pretty cool action sequences which I can’t get into without spoilers. The art is really good. I also highly enjoyed how Daredevil and Spider-man, who is a guest star, are written and depicted.

I am highly looking forward to Daredevil and Elektra Vol 2: The Red Fist Saga Part 2. I also recommend reading the aforementioned Punisher series so you have the other half of the story. Each series is connected, but could be read on their own, but I think you should read both.

 

 

My reading copy came from the Preston Royal Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2023

Scott's Take: Devil’s Reign by Chip Zdarsky

Devil’s Reign by Chip Zdarsky is an event title built off of his Daredevil comic run. Kingpin is the mayor of New York City and now remembers that Daredevil wiped his memory so that he would forget his secret identity. He bans all vigilante activity by any superheroes in New York City and orders that they all be arrested on sight.  Somehow the public and the rest of the world go along with it (I know that does not make a lot of sense). Kingpin then conscripts various well-known villains as cops to hunt down superheroes such as the current Spider-Man (Ben as Peter is still in the hospital), Luke Cage, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and others.

 

There is plenty of action and nice artwork. There are numerous plot holes throughout the read though the most egregious ones are in regards to the Fantastic Four. There is excellent characterization of heroes and villains. The Epilogue is a little annoying since it is designed to just set up new series.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this event read even if the plot does not make a lot of sense if one thinks about it.

  

My reading copy came from the Central aka Downtown Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2022

Scott's Take: Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow by Chip Zdarsky

 

Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow by Chip Zdarsky is one of the first books that is launching Marvel’s new What If line. This is the only title in the new line, at this point, due to delays caused by the Covid pandemic.

 

The what if question here is simple: what if Peter Parker became Venom? In this read, it ties into a series that had Peter Parker fight off world and then return to Earth with what he thought was clothing from alien technology that was actually a symbiote. In that other series, he eventually figured out he had a symbiote and he was able to get rid of it. This book takes us back to that storyline and postulates the idea that the symbiote is Venom.

 

Peter Parker has been having nightmares and is increasingly under stress. After a personal attack by the Hobgoblin, Peter Parker succumbs to the influence of the symbiote, aka Venom, and decides to take a more violent approach to fighting crime. Who will be able to stop an unhinged Peter Parker from dispensing justice, as he sees it, under the influence of Venom?

 

Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow by Chip Zdarsky is a very violent and dark read with pretty good art work that is heavily influenced by the original story. Since it is based on the original story, only characters who were active during that time period are featured so there are a smaller number of heroes in this book.  I enjoyed this mature read even though I wish it was longer so the impact of the events could be better explored. There are multiple deaths, maimings, and lots of violence. This tale sets up a rather interesting universe if there is a sequel.

 

 

My reading copy came from the Timberglen Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2022

Scott's Take: Spider-Man Life Story by Chip Zdarsky

Spider-Man Life Story by Chip Zdarsky is an else worlds tale featuring Spider-Man. The idea here addresses what would happen if Spider-Man aged in real time starting in 1962 when he is fifteen and ends 57 years later with the last mission. Each issue in the book covers a decade of Peter Parker’s life.

Featuring a variety of characters, it helps if you are highly familiar with the spider-man mythos. Since the characters are depicted the way they were in the 1960s, certain characters behave radically different then the versions many readers are familiar with in this current climate. An example of this is how Iron Man of today is far, far more heroic than originally depicted.

The story is really good and so is the art. However, this story is not new reader friendly as it uses Marvel history and a ton of characters. In so doing, it uses the classic depictions of these characters and they are far different than what folks are used from the movies and recent comics under a variety of authors.  Spider-Man Life Story by Chip Zdarsky is a bittersweet story that I enjoyed a lot.

Spider-Man Life Story

Chip Zdarsky

https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/12494/chip_zdarsky

Marvel

https://www.marvel.com/comics?&options%5Boffset%5D=0&totalcount=12

November 2019

ISBN# 978-1-302-91733-3

Paperback  (also available in digital format)

208 Pages

Material supplied by the Highland Hills Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

Scott A. Tipple ©2020