No one is an asshole for this. It is a story. It will, likely, be a temporary thing. People won't give it a chance to see how it works out.

I thought it was well done. The only thing Marvel screwed the pooch on was the making sure retailers had a solid idea on how big this was going to be. They could have told retailers to expect the media coverage that Civil War #2 got. Then there wouldn't have been hundreds of fans showing up to individual stores to find no copy waiting for them...  

 

Well said.
 

Agreed. While I am not thrilled about Cap's death, I had a feeling he was headed down this road anyways. I just think it could have been handled better. I mean, Civil War 7 just ended and instead of seeing the effects of the war pf Steve's psyche and what he would do behind bars, he is killed off instead.

Thing is, as much as I want Cap back, I have hope and faith that if anyone can pull off having an American icon killed, it's you Bru. I mean, you brought back Bucky/Winter Soldier for christ's sake!

 

As sycophantic as it sounds, I am with Mr. Nuts on this one.
People die in comics all the time; then they come back.
Heck, if I had a dollar for every time CAP has died, I'd own Marvel.
Then a certain former NINJAK penciller would be my receptionist.
He's got the sunny disposition for it, really.
 

I was saddened by what happened in the book...but man, that was one hell of a story. Great work, I can't wait to see where this goes.

Hopefully, I'll see you in LA.

 

Look on the bright side, at least you didn't kill Hawkeye.
 

    I, for one, loved Cap 25. I loved it, keep up the great work. I wait with baited breath untill may when I can read cap 26. Although there are those spiffy "fallen son" issues I can read....
 

Grrr they better bring him back...but good job.You had a story to tell and you told it well.The movie is in the works, they gotta bring him back........
 

Great issue man!  I give you props and it took balls to do what you did.  I just look at it as another chapter in Marvel's history.  Afterall we know you can't please everyone.  Again great work maybe I'll get to meet you someday in the near future!
 

I'm surprised you've been able to control your radio poop mouth. Does someone have to put a quarter in the "Don't" jar for every swear at home?
 

Bru, you're making history and writing the best damn Cap I've ever read Everything about this issue was pitch perfect. A bunch of people thought you couldn't pull off the return of Bucky and you made them look foolish. Now you get to do it all over again with this story. I bet you'll have all the naysayers eating out of your hand again when it's all said and done. Keep up the great work man. I can't wait to see where you take this story next.
 

I thought it was a great issue, but like a lot of people, someone at work spoiled it for by telling me he'd read on MSN that Captain America died.

I think a lot of retailers are miffed that they weren't able to order enough copies because they didn't know he was going to die and most of them completely sold out within an hour or two because of the media coverage.

I noticed the book is already going for forty dollars on E-bay the day it came out. Un-fucking-believable. Glad I got my copy at half price. 

 

 

 

I thought Cap 25 was great. What wasn't great was the shops out here being packed with casual fans looking to make a cheap buck off this issue.
 

Ok, heavy is the head that wears the crown, right? Certifiably, you are now the most dangerous man in print, next to Mick Foley of course! Welcome to the life of notariety. Now Mr. Brubaker, would you be taking that crown in either thorn or excrement variety? Hey, critics are critics and just like you wrote, they need a scapegoat. Guess it's gonna be hard to be a fan of yours for awhile...
 

as pissed off as people might be, this was without a doubt, a very well-written issue. i loved it.
 

i work at a comic store, and today was crazy. people who didn't know anything about comics were asking trying to get their hands on a copy. it was a madhouse. great issue, by the way.
 

i work at a comic book store, and today was crazy as hell. people who don't read comics were trying to get their hands on a copy. it was a madhouse. great issue by the way.
 

my bad, thought that first comment didn't go through.
 

I'm probably going to be considered an ass for suggesting a betting pool on the-engine for how Cap will be resurrected. I love a lot of your stuff, just not much of a cape fan.
 

I really dug the issue!  Good job, man!
 

Any money most people that called u an asshole or said you suck have never even seen most of your work. I was kind of sad at the end of Cap but I trust that you know what your doing and no matter what happends to Cap you'll still be one of my fav. writers.
 

I will be carrying, so everyone better keep their distance

I think I may be your new cool friend if we ever meet in person. I got out of a ticket the other night because I have my Conceal and Carry Deadly Weapons License. What do you carry?!

 

I think that the only saving grace of Cap's death for me is that you are handling the story, so I trust at the end of the day, it will be good, which is all that matters really.

It's the only thing comforting me today.  I haven't even gotten to read 25 yet!
 

thats nuckin futs

 

I just did something i NEVER do-- pay waaaaay too much for a comic. And, what really gets me is, yesterday these were $10 with s/h on both variants. So, Im hoping this is well worth it. But, at least I didnt pay $40 per comic.
 

I love the character but I respect your writing of him. Its been like a love letter to Cap since you got on board. Keep on entertaining! Thanks.
 

I'm sad that I haven't been able to read captain yet. By the time I got to my bookstore it was sold out. Copies at high prices on ebay I can't afford. Where does that leave t he average fan like me? another two weeks for the reprint. A bittersweet day indeed :(
 

hi Ed, just saw the Nightline thing.  Fucking brilliant exposure.  Interview with Joe Simon, but not you.  Oh well, hold out for Charlie Rose. 

 

First of all I have to say I absolutely adored Cap #25, very well played sir.  I always find it hard to believe when I see comic fans calling creators names or swearing off ever buying any book by a certain creator or company because of something in a story they've been involved with.  It just seems amazing that instead of enjoying a well written and beautifully drawn tale they just get upset because their favorite character did something they didn't like or, in this case, died.  They seem to blame it all on how terrible the writer is as a human being, or how untalented they are, or that they're just egotistical, simply because they wanted something else to happen or because they hoped for a happily ever after.  What they fail to realize is that good fiction involves tragedy(and comedy and what not too), good fiction tugs at the reader's emotions, creates new and exciting possibilities, moves the story forward( in any direction at all), and hopefully surprises, but most important is attempting to provoke attachment to these characters and a strong response from readers. Sometimes that involves giving the fans what they want or making them fall in love with a character, and then taking it all away.  It's called good writing ladies and gentleman and thats what the Bru has been bringing us for years now and will continue to do so, Cap #25 being a prime example.

Also was everyone else reading a different Captain America than I was for the past 2 years, cause pretty much since you brought back Bucky its seemed, to me at least, that you've been setting up something along these lines from the beginning.

 

Seriously, excellent job.  I don't think you know how much was tapped into with this, Civil War, and everything else.  Was it a moneymaking scheme?  Sure, but it was a good story, and that's a fair exchange.  You've been building to it for awhile, and I can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.

Enough smoke up your ass yet?

 

I don't think you should be fired or anything extreme like that, but I will say that I'm one of the CW fans that is not happy with this turn of events. I don't believe it was necessary. Heck, I was pissed at the surrender but that's just me and I'm apparently I'm in the vast minority there too.

Cap, like Superman, is such an icon. People are only thinking about politics right now in our real post 9/11 society. They do not remember the moments when entire blocks and apartment buildings bloomed with American Flags. They don't remember those moments. Now all they care about are the 2008 elections.

We always had graphical icons from Rosie the Riveter to Uncle Sam. And we need Captain America, not some guy wearing the suit (as people are speculating). It's more soap opera and less comic book, imho. In a few years, what will happen? He'll recover from amnesia and take up the cowl again? Why diminish him that way? Why can't we preserve anything?

And for as much as I disliked Superman Returns, I cried because of the realization that the World does need Superman and likewise, America needs Captain America. I cried because it's not real and it's never going to happen. I'm just not the kind of fan that's going to blanket my disappointment with a flaming statement like I'll never buy another Marvel comic again. I plan on picking up 25 today (if there are any left to be had).

I appreciate your hard work, Mr. B but I'm really sad.

 

I actually caught the Don & Mike interview on the drive home, and you did great Ed!  Way to go with all this crazy press! 
 

While I ain't too happy with what happened, ya did it just fine.  Was some good writin'.  Unfortunately this combined with some other elements that have begun to rear their ugly heads again it's startin' to feel a bit too much like a certain period in the 90s.  Frankly, the similarities worry me there. 

My shop also sold out, by the way.  If I didn't have a pull list I woulda been SOL to get a copy. 

 

I'm not so sure about Steve Roger's death, but I trust you, Bru. I honestly didn't think he'd die after your post at the bendis boards. When you I remember being pissed when Foggy died, because I felt he was extremely important to Matt's character, and it worked out there. I never liked Civil War, it felt like too much of a roadblock for some of the books, especially yours. Really looking forward to see where Cap is going.

BTW, Daredevil and Criminal are some of the best books on the stands.
 

Everyone is talking about it in Italy too. Too bad this issue is going to be reprinted in Italian only at the end of 2007. Anyway, I loved it. But only because you're one of the best Cap writers ever.
 

This death will live on long after your death!  Not that we're hoping for that...  Great work bub, you remain a diamond in a coal mine!  Keep it up!
 

Cap is dead? Yeah, so is Foggy Nelson.
 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ed Brubaker, on NPR's "Morning Edition" today:

Ed Brubaker, ladies and gentlemen!  Let's give him a hand!

(Three words. Hee hee.)

 

I thought that 25 was well-written, tastefully done, and it shocked the living shit out of me.  While I am not suprised by the outcry, I can only counsel patience for these people.  This is a completely new direction for Cap, and quite possibly could be the best thing for him in the long run.

My only question for you, Ed, is what is the deal with the line in The Initiative when Carol Danvers is fighting with Jessica Drew and she says that Cap is alive (barely) and being kept at The Raft for safety?  I hope you guys don't reverse this that quickly. 

 

Agreed, but it sounds more like there's some misinformation going around between IRON-MAN, MS MARVEL and SPIDERWOMAN etc, or just plains lies.

Once again ED, great issue.

Rest in peace soldier.

 

The dead-as-hell, 10 customers is a busy day comic store I sometimes work in sold out in half an hour...

 

I'm a little surprised you weren't prepared for the storm you unleashed, Ed.  If you were to go around the country and ask the average person who the symbol of America is, I think most would say Captain America.  Even non-comic readers would say Captain America, either because they read the books as a kid or saw one of the various cartoon versions or just because they like the name.  So...

You killed the symbol of America dude.  During a time of war.  That obviously has echoes beyond what you intended when you came up with the story. 

And for old time Marvel fans it really is the knockout punch - First Civil War kicks us in the balls and then Cap 25 rips our hearts out of our chests.  So, yeah, you'll get a ton of nasty emails and hate directed at you - part of the whole Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance process our inner eight year olds are going through.

Denial - "Cap's not dead, it's a LMD." 
Anger - "Cap's dead - YOU BASTARDS KILLED HIM!"
Bargaining - "He'll be back.  No one ever really dies in comics, you know."
Depression - "I'm dropping all Marvel comics.  I can't enjoy them any longer."
Acceptance - "I wonder how they're going to play this next."

I think many readers are moving onto Acceptance only because of their faith in your talents.  Of course, you've got the advantange on us, you know where the final destination is and what is going to meet us there.  All we can do is trust that the next 24 issues are going to be as good as the last 24. 

They are going to be as good as the last 24, right?

 

You're not an asshole, you're the best writer at Marvel right now. I'm just curious as to why you're not writing the "Fallen Son" mini-series.

 

`The good news is: cap sold out.

The bad news is: many criminals were still on the stands....

people are such bastards.
 

What did you expect?  People to cheer you on for twisting and then killing Captain America for you to make a political statement?   You expect people to applaud you for that?  We know Joe Simon wouldn't have done it. 

Your political propaganda message is this: the USA is a different country from WWII in terms of its respect for freedom, only those who share YOUR propaganda ideology for the 2007 Captain America - respect American liberties, the USA govt is a virtual dictatorship, and you want to attack the PATRIOT Act (etc., etc., etc.).

In every single case, you are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. 

First of all, the USA is not a dictatorship.  Everyone knows that, only those people who live in denial of our totalitarian enemy don't understand that.

Second, the USA is at war, and like in every other war, the American government is doing what it can to protect this country and the American people.

Third, if anything the USA is a much freer nation than during WWII when Captain America was created.  During the WWII when Captain America was created, the United States of America had sedition laws, internment camps, FBI taping and domestic investigations of USA citizens.  During WWII, there was the Office of Censorship.   In 1939 with WWII looming, Congress passed the Smith Act, which made it a crime to advocate overthrowing the government by violence, and the Smith Act is still law today.  Furthermore, the Alien Enemies Act has been law since 1798 and is still law today.  During WWII, there was also the Espionage Act (enacted during WWI, and major portions of which are still US law remain part of United States law (18 USC 793, 794)).  The Foreign Agents Registration Act was passed in 1938 to help identify sponsors of foreign propaganda, and which is also law today.

So during WWII, why wasn't Joe Simon and Stan Lee wringing their hands in Captain America stories about all the terrible infringements on our freedoms?  Because the nation was at WAR, and Americans did whatever they needed to do to WIN THE WAR, including make whatever sacrifices they needed to make.

In the Ed Brubaker world, however, it is AMERICA that is the problem, not our enemies.  And that is and has been your political propaganda that you are promoting through the comics media.  And you are WRONG... wrong about what America has to do during war, wrong about America, wrong about history, and wrong about Captain America. 

You use comics to spread a political propaganda of division, mistrust, discouragement, denial, complacency, and hopeless.   In your propaganda, the enemy during war isn't the problem, America is the problem.  Your propaganda message is essentially: "America is the problem.  American laws and restrictions are the problem.  American government is the problem".

And then you write to the public - "I will be carrying, so everyone better keep their distance"... give us a break - so now after using comics for your political propaganda, now you want to THREATEN comics fans?   After all, no one better disagree with you, huh?   You are a real defender of free speech (sarcasm). 

(Can anyone imagine Stan Lee telling comics fans to watch out that he would be carrying a gun at a public appearance, and to "keep their distance"? )

No, Ed Brubaker, the truth is that the problems are not with America. 
They are with you.
Your boundless arrogance and disrepect speaks volumes.


 

Oh my god, Bill O'Reilly has a MySpace account. 


DELETE

 

Great job, Bru!  I thought Cap #25 was a great issue.  Cap went out with his boots on and as a hero.  I hear people saying Cap went out as a disgraced criminal, but I don't see it that way.  Those fans would have prefered Cap dying in combat if he had to die.  I don't see it that way since I don't think anyone could kill Cap in straight up combat.  He is just too damn good.  Also, if Cap died in the final battle in Civil War #7 it would have come at the hands of Tony Stark or one of the other Pro-Reg heroes, and people would have cried to high heaven about that, too.  They would have complained about turning Stark into a murderer.  Throughout Civil War the nay-sayers wanted a return to Good Guys vs Bad Guys, and the second you do that in #25, people still complain.  I guess you can't please everyone. 

I love how well thought out Red Skull's plot was.  I am sure Cap would have been able to dodge the sniper's bullet if it was aimed for him, and Skull knew this.  So, he has the sniper aim for the marshall in front of Cap.  This is brilliant.  Skull makes Cap choose to be shot!  Skull knows Cap, like a true hero, will take the bullet for that guy.  And Cap isn't going to just let anyone walk up to him and put three slugs into him.  Even with handcuffs on he could disarm that person.  But, Cap wouldn't expect someone that he trusts and loves to shoot him.  A person that he trusts and loves would be able to get close to him without setting off alarms in his head.  Turning Sharon Carter into the "Manchurian Candidate" was brilliant. 

The way Cap died was such a fitting end to the Civil War story.  Cap #25 fit the mood of Civil War so well.  It also sets up the mood perfectly for the Initiative/post-Civil War stories, too.  I think some of the people that are upset over Civil War and Cap's death are mad because the story hits to close to home for them.  Civil War feels so real and deals with real world issues.  Whatever.  I enjoyed it atleast. 

So what are you going to do for work after this big Exodus of fans leave Marvel like they are all threatening to do.



 

Also, in regard to all the propaganda and political comentary complaints I've been hearing.....this isn't the first time Cap's comics have reflected the political atmosphere of the country, and this isn't the first time he has told the government where they can stick it.  Come on people, the comic is called "Captain America", so of course it is going to reflect America's people, themes, issues and culture.

And just because he is called Captain America doesn't mean he is the government's puppet.  He isn't just going to fall in line and obey because it is "patrotic" to fall in line and obey or some crap like that.  That is why he was replaced by John Walker during the late 80s, because Cap wouldn't follow orders blindly.  Cap may have been a patriot, but he wasn't a "Super Patriot" like John Walker.   And those stories were reflecting the jingoistic atmosphere of Regan's America. 

And when Steve Rogers gave up being Cap and became Nomad during the 70s due to political corruption, that was reflecting the Watergate scandal. 

The Captain America and Bucky of the 1950s went crazy due skipping the important "Vita-Ray" process of implementing the super soldier serum.  So they started thinking everyone was a Communist and attacked them all.  This reflected the Red Scare.

So, as you can see, Captain America has always reflected the political atmosphere of the times.  And Steve Rogers isn't the government's bitch. 


 

what are you carrying Cap's shield?
 

Just wanted to say good job with Cap 25. Loved the way you handled his death.