Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special #1
By Andy Frisk
June 21, 2009 - 18:07
Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Roger Stern, Stan Lee, Ray Gill
Penciller(s): Paolo Rivera, Bob Oksner
Inker(s): Paolo Rivera
Colourist(s): Paolo Rivera
Letterer(s): Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artist(s): Paolo Rivera
$3.99 US
The Young Allies were a group of adventuresome kids, lead by Bucky, who battled Nazis during World War II. Comprised of Bucky, Toro (the Original Human Torch’s sidekick), Private “Knuckles” O’Toole, Lieutenant Washington “Wash” Jones, Henry Tinkelbaum, and Geoff Worthington Vandergill (the last two were O.S.S. Officers), The Young Allies, as they were dubbed, even had their own comic book where their names were changed. After Bucky’s apparent death, along with Steve Rogers at the end of the war, the rest of the allies went on to lead civilian lives, three of which had passed on by the time Bucky took the mantle of Captain
This anniversary special rivals the strongest one produced thus far, The Human Torch Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1, for the best entry in this series of anniversary specials which Marvel is producing this year. It’s an action packed and heartfelt tale about some very special World War II veterans who have had plenty of adventures, and have shared much together. Stern’s storytelling is fantastic, as he mixes in fair doses of meta-fiction (the original Young Allies comic book is shown in flashbacks as being the fictional comic books in the fictional story of the special), action, character development, and bitter-sweet sorrow over the course of the tale. At the center of this great tale is the linchpin, and soon to be Captain
Bucky, as Captain
Steve was a classic of a character, that as time passed, became somewhat outdated, and Bucky with his complexities is now the stronger, and more interesting character to bear the title of Captain
The reprinted back issue tales in the special aren’t nearly as interesting as the reprinted “Captain
Overall, Rivera’s pencils and style fit this special very well as he bounces back and forth effortlessly from World War II era style and dress to modern style and dress. He also captures a slightly cartoonish look, especially in the facial expressions of the Young Allies, which harkens back to the style of 1930’s and 1940’s comic books, without appearing to be parody. His wide angle layouts of
Rating: 8/10
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