Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #1 (2022)

[CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #1

Writers: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly

Artist: Carmen Carnero

Cover Artists: Carmen Carnero and Alejandro Sanchez]

Marvel's Synopsis:

"The shield isn't what you think. It's not your symbol. It's theirs."

The shield is one of the most iconic images in the world. It stands for hope, justice and the protection of the innocent. It also holds a secret, undiscovered until now, that will change the way Steve Rogers views the 20th century…and how he chooses to fight in the 21st.

Nothing is what it appears in this game-changing Captain America run

For Steve Rogers, we will have The Century Game being played by unseen and powerful contestants, based around the imagery in the Captain America shield.

Things start off innocently enough for Steve Rogers, still the Man Out Of Time, who is busy trying to live a normal life again in New York. He's taking art classes at community college, struggling to use Photoshop and a new tablet and stylus for drawing, making new younger friends and reconnecting with senior friends closer to his own age. This latter group of codebreakers and cypher masters intercept a coded message involving the imagery of the three rings and five pointed star of Captain America's shield. The first cryptic message says "Revolution / New York City / The fourth of July / Opening Move."

So Cap and Bucky suit up and stake out the July 4th parade and celebrations.

[Carmen Carneros: Captain America:

Sentinel of Liberty (2022)

found here]

That evening, a big battle ensues on a fireworks barge between them and an apparently resurrected dead World War II era super soldier called The Destroyer. The old Destroyer was a friend and ally but this New Destroyer is an enemy with tremendously more destructive superpowers. While fighting Bucky, the New Destroyer calls him "The Century Weapon" and says he will brag about killing him. Just as Bucky is about to make the kill shot, Captain America uses his shield to protect the New Destroyer, saying there's been enough destruction. He finds the "Dimension Z eldritch weapon" crystal powering The New Destroyer who dies because he has failed in his mission, but not before warning Captain America that the shield is "not your symbol. It's theirs."

Steve and Bucky go their separate ways after the fight, and Bucky takes the crystal home with him. The best part of the comic is that Alpine is there waiting for him! So glad to see Alpine again as a continuing character in Bucky's life!

Bucky has one wall covered by a stereotypical conspiracy board, all pins, interconnected string and photos. He colours in one point on the shield's star and says "One down, four to go."

"The Century Game" which Steve has now learned of appears to be the same evil plot outlined in the Winter Soldier's secret file which Bucky is pursuing on his own initiative.

I must say that the story is compelling and the artwork is terrific! This is a quality series so far.