All New Captain America – Volume One – Hydra Ascendant 

Writer – Rick Remender 

Artist – Stuart Immonen 

Just when I’m out, they pull me back in. The Amazon Kindle App is having another reading challenge and I’m back to checking out comics via Prime Reading. Thus far, I have read five weeks in a row and twenty-four days in a row (as of this writing – May 07, 2024). After browsing the offerings, I settled on All -New Captain America featuring Sam Wilson. 

Steve Rogers’ youth was taken from him and Sam Wilson was chosen as Steve’s successor to wield the shield. Sam’s first mission is to rescue a boy from HYDRA. They plan to use his blood as a poison to sterilize the planet. Alongside Sam is Ian Rogers, Steve’s adopted son from Dimension Z, who has taken on the mantle of Nomad. The duo are in over their heads when it’s revealed that Baron Zemo has assembled other villains to help his cause and the shocking truth about Lucas, the boy seemingly in peril. Sam and Ian must race against time to stop this diabolical plan from reaching fruition. 

I read Remender’s run of Captain America but I never ended up finishing it. Trying to find the issues to complete the run was next to impossible once Sam Wilson was unveiled as the new Captain America. This announcement drove speculators out in full force to find the issue featuring his first appearance.

I picked this volume to get acquainted with Sam as Cap with the feature film release of Captain America: Brave New World on the horizon. Remender does a great job revisiting Sam’s past – from his youth on the mean streets of New York City to his days as The Falcon. Sam’s trajectory as a hero is almost identical to Steve Rogers and that revelation helps the reader understand how they became fast friends and long-time partners. 

I have grown to appreciate Stuart Immonen’s art especially after his run on All New X-Men. I really have to give kudos to him and Marte Garcia, Eduardo Navarro, and Dono Sanchez Almara for their art and coloring on this volume. They do a phenomenal job immersing the reader in the different corners of the Marvel Universe throughout the six issues, which include Bagalia, Madripoor, Italy, and Paris. 

There were two plot points during the course of the story that left me feeling uneasy. Luckily, both moments end on a positive note and I could breathe a sigh of relief. I’m sure you will have the same feelings I had once you come across them.  

I remember Remender’s time at Marvel Comics and look at that time fondly now. He pushed narratives that were outside the norm. He took heroes and villains in directions we weren’t accustomed. I miss him being part of the Big Two and I wonder if he will ever go back to them in some capacity. Once the new Captain America movie comes out, I’ll be staying through the credits to see if he gets a special credit/shoutout. I’m hoping he does because it is well – deserved. 

I should make time and go back and finish his initial run on Captain America before diving into the next volume of All New Cap. 

All New Captain America- Volume One – Hydra Ascendant is currently available to read on Prime Reading and Hoopla.