New York (mn) - Marvel Comics announced this week that Captain America would be reborn with issue #34, just nine issues after the Sentinel of Libery was shot dead on court house steps in issue #25.
"Sure, we could have drawn it out a bit longer," says writer Ed Brubaker, "but, honestly, sales were starting to slip and the readers were getting bored with the whole 'Death of Captain America' storyline. It was time to jazz it up."
Jazzing it up means giving one of America's comic book icons a new, shiny look. Out with the classic old costume, and in with a sleek outfit that sports more black than the traditional red, white and blue. That's not the biggest difference, though.
Captain America now sports a gun in addition to his trusty shield.
Brubaker explains, "The new Captain has a serious mad-on about his predecessor being whacked old style. By his girlfriend, no less. So when John Jameson, J. Jonah Jameson's son, dons the new costume, he vows to never be unarmed."
"What? I gave it away? What? We were keeping that a secret? Ah #&#&%*. Please don't print this, okay?" begs Brubaker.
During the Death of Captain America storyline, and the introduction of this new fangled Cap, other Captain America's will also be introduced. Captain America #2 will be covered in armor and carry a large hammer. A third Cap will be half robotic, while the final Captain will be a plucky teenager that was the result of another clone job by Tony Stark, similar to the cloning of Thor.
"We here at Marvel believe that this is a bold move on our part. It's something completely new and original that should sell a lot of books. Readers will be enthralled by these new Captain America stories while they try to figure out which one is the real Cap," editor-in-chief Joe Quesada tells. "But when it's all over, I think you'll be surprised to find out what the real story is."
When pressed for additional tidbits, Quesada denied further comment, stating only that he had to get back to destroying Peter Parker's life.
Captain America #34, the gun, the new costume, and everything else hits the shelves in January.
