Captain America Sam Wilson continues to be the most fun I’ve had reading a comic book series since I was a small child. Only three issues in, it’s already managed to piss off most of conservative America with a plotline that centers on militant anti-immigrant white supremacists called the Sons of the Serpent. Issue #3 takes a back-step from the main plot to bring a pack a perennial fav favorite. That’s right! As Misty Knight exclaims, Cap-Wolf (or should I say Cap-Sam-Wolf) makes a howling return after Wilson’s encounter with the fiendish Dr. Malus.
If you haven’t been following Captain America comics these days, here’s a quick summary to get you up to speed. The original Captain America (Steve Rogers) has stepped down after being trapped in an alternate dimension for decades – aging quite a bit – before returning to his world. He passes on the mantle to Sam Wilson, who served for years as his trusty partner the Falcon. Wilson, along with fellow heroes Misty Knight and D-Man, have teamed up to prevent the world from falling into the clutches of HYDRA and other evil organizations.
In this issue, Misty finds a very wolfish Cap tied to a chair. He has fallen prey to a resurrected Dr. Malus, who had previously been swallowed by Carnage. Malus seems to also possess symbiote-like powers and is using super science to turn victims into animal hybrids, including pigs, turtles, iguanas, and other beasties. Turning Cap into a werewolf ends up being bad move for Dr. Malus, since it makes him stronger, faster, better, and way shaggier. Unfortunately, it appears to be a temporary effect for Cap, so in the next issue he’s restored to his previous form. Darn.
But don’t let that stop you from further reading! This issue in particular is a barrel of laughs and fun, with Misty Knight making jokes at Cap’s expense by referencing werewolf movies. The story reminds me of plots from the Saturday morning cartoons of yesteryear, where an evil scientist turns our hero into a monster… almost always a poor move. There’s even a nice reference to the original Cap-Wolf’s origin, with a mention of the Bloodstone. The political humor of past issues is still at work here with one slack-jawed gawker saying he can’t get behind Captain America being “a flying werewolf AND a communist” as he swoops over the city in search of Malus. Oh yeah. Did I mention this Cap can also fly?
Check out this issue of Captain America Sam Wilson and further issues if you want to read a culturally relevant series packed with humor and amazing art. After all, this werewolf has wings!