Today sees the unprecedented release of Captain America #600, two days before it's usual release day on Wednesday, why all the fuss? Because Captain America, Steve Rogers is returning from the grave. Joe Quesada; Marvel Editor-in-Cheif announced today through the Daily News "The original Captain America is finally coming back,". This isn't going to happen in Captain America #600 but just as I and so many others predicted in Ed Brubaker's new mini series Reborn.

As I said in my previous Reborn post I think Bucky Cap still needs a bit more time with the Captain America mantle but obviously Marvel feel differently. I can see where they're coming from with a movie on it's way and the media attention this sort of event will draw to the property but I can't help thinking it's too soon. Of course if the story is good and it feels right then I'll soon change my tune, heralding this as the greatest comic moment ever but if it all goes wrong I can still say I told you so. What can I say I like to hedge my bets. For the good of the character I hope Marvel know what they're doing and they're doing this for the right reasons in that it's what Ed Brubaker wants and planned rather than imposing it upon him earlier than he would've liked.

Follow up:

It's been over two years since we last saw Steve Rogers and in comic book terms that's actually quite a long time to stay dead for a major character, usually you blink and they've made some miraculous recovery. It's a testamnet to Brubaker's writing that he's not only made the new 'Bucky' Cap compelling but almost just as interesting if not more so than the original character making a vital part of the Captain America mythos without seeming forced. Of course Bucky has always been a part of Captain America as his sidekick during the war but this new direction as Captain America himself seems like the right development for him and gives us a Cap that is maybe a little more suited for today's market and world view of America; a little bit ruthless in getting the job done.

The main thing I'd like to see come out of Steve Rogers' return is that Bucky Barnes is not forgotten. He's a character I've grown to love and I'd like to see more stories focusing on him either as Cap's now grown up partner (rather than teenage sidekick not gay lover) or carving out his own legacy as a Marvel hero in his own right. Nomad would be cool, no?!