Synopsis & Review by RachelGrey Thanks!
Synopsis: Steve Rogers sits and tries to focus and draw something in his hideout. Unfortunately, all he can think about is the SHRA, how he can’t go home or to the Avengers, and how he’s a war criminal now and not a hero. Steve tries harder to get himself to focus, but just gets angrier when he realizes he let them sneak up on him. An angry Steve stands up to face a whole unit of SHIELD “capekillers.” Steve grabs his shield and takes on the troops. Cap easily knocks the men down, but is hurt since he’s not wearing his uniform. Steve fights and fights until he realizes one of the troops is Dum Dum Dugan. Cap is astonished they sent a friend after him. Dum Dum begs Cap to knock him out so he won’t have to take him in. Steve sadly radios in the unit has killed Captain America before quickly retreating.

Steve wakes up later to find himself facing The Falcon! Not remembering coming to this hideout, Steve panics and makes The Falcon prove it's him, as he doesn’t know how Sam would know of the hideout either. Sam easily proves it's him and Cap apologizes. Steve asks Sam if he registered and Sam tells him of course he didn’t, adding that Iron Man is a sellout. Sam informs Cap they came to his house looking for him. Cap tells his friend this is one of Nick Fury’s hideouts and pulls out some equipment. They’re for fake IDs, money, and passports. Steve asks Sam if he’ll help him. Sam tells Cap he doesn’t even have to ask. Sam then admits he’s not worried about the here and now, but rather tomorrow, when the heroes are done fighting each other and the villains are left unchecked. The two then suit up and get ready to start recruiting.

The two watch Spider-Man swing to Avenger’s tower clad in his new Iron Spidey suit. The two realize Spidey will not join their side. The disappointed partners are then interrupted by a disturbance and leap into action…

Hank Pym works while the TV recounts the now-criminal Captain America and The Falcon stopping The Shocker. Hank is then surprised as Steve and Sam appear through his lab’s window. The two tell Hank to grab his stuff and go. Unfortunately, Hank tells them he can’t. Cap realizes Hank registered while Sam warns Henry to stay out of their way. Hank tries to convince the two to stop what they’re doing and sign the act, but Cap and Falcon won’t hear of it. The two then prepare to leave, when Hank grows and blocks their way. Hank begs Cap to stop and tells the two he promised them he wouldn’t hurt them, only hold them up. The two realize what’s happening as more capekillers appear and open fire. Cap throws his shield into Hank’s face, incapacitating them, and the Falcon flies the two off to safety. The capekillers pursue as Maria Hill appears and tells a bleeding Hank he did a good job. As the capekillers fly by, Captain America and the Falcon watch as they hide. Completely undeterred, The Falcon asks, “Who’s next?”

Review: Ehhh…not so good. This issue really doesn’t do much of anything. It shows another team-up of Cap and The Falcon, but that’s not rare or special. It does make sense The Falcon would be the first person to join with Cap though. But not much is accomplished here. There are no valid points given for either side. The best part of the issue is really the opening with Cap trying to draw and showing his frustrations. The fights with the capekillers are totally one-sided and kind of boring. Using Dum Dum (Ha! Dum Dum…) does add something to spice the fights up. It’s meant to show the Pro side as being ruthless along with Hank Pym’s “betrayal” but it doesn’t really work. Dum Dum is a soldier and using friends is an age-old trick employed by the government in comics.

I am not a fan of Howard Chaykin. As such, I did not enjoy the art on this issue whatsoever. But some people are fans. I’m just not into his style. I think he draws legs weird and too thin. He gives everyone big chins and the faces in general look weird and undefined. But the big issue I have is the inking, which is too thick and sometimes appears too squiggly, like a computer image with a bad pixel count. I wish Chaykin had let an inker do it and not him. The inking around the faces can often make the eyes look off or just generally detract from overall appearance. Really, I just did not like this issue. The story was boring and the art did nothing for me. It really doesn’t say much about Civil War and just serves a brief look into the start of the Anti-side. I have to give the Pass suggestion on this one.