Captain America’s Deleted Scene: Stage Show and Fun At War!

It just seems like yesterday Captain America was out in the movie theaters. To help promote its upcoming home video release, Marvel.com has put up this deleted scene from the movie. It’s neat for two reasons.

I love the juxtaposition between Cap and Bucky, showing the difference in their war efforts. Cap is up on stage at won of the war bonds, while Bucky is off with the Howling Commandos fighting Hydra in Europe. Ultimately, we all know Cap would rather be on the battlefield than embarrassing himself on stage.

The other thing I love is that its a rough cut, with all the cues for the special effects that need to be added or changed. I won’t lie; I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff.

Captain America comes out next Tuesday.

Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D.

Spider-Woman, how I love thee. There is just so much I love about the character like her mysterious background, distinct powers and even her interesting outlook on her self which was usually self doubting..

So in 2009, when the long-awaited new series for her hit the comics stores, I was more than read. It was written by Brian Michael Bendis (who I consider a ‘friend in my head–radio/television personality Wendy Williams’ term for a famous person that you don’t know personally but would assume you would get along with due to their public persona–due to him being quite the Jessica Drew fan) and had art from Alex Maleev (who never fails to amaze me). Needless to say, this new series was quickly added to my “to read” list.

The first story arc–and sadly the last (which we’ll get to in a second)–had Jessica going off to the crime ridden country of Madripoor to track down a Skrull posing as Spider-Man on the behalf of S.W.O.R.D., a covert task force dealt with tracking down aliens on the planet.

Needless to say, this wasn’t an easy assignment, as not only does she battle with the rogue Skrull, but faces off with the Madripoor police, Norman Osbourne’s Thunderbolts team of former super villains, and HYDRA commander Viper.

Obviously, this story was enjoyable because of its action-packed plot and Maleev’s art. But what makes it stick out is Jessica’s internal dialogue. She’s a very compelling character, filled with self-doubt.

So why was this series cut short? Bendis and Maleev had intended this to be the first ever monthly motion comic, with the print copy and animated version being released on the same day. And you thought day-and-date print and digital comics was cool!

In the collected version, they explain how difficult it was to adapt the art into the motion comic format, and reasonably so. I wish this series would have gone on past its initial seven issue story arc, but the good thing is that it tells a complete story. If your interested in seeing a preview of the Spider-Woman motion comic, Marvel has the first episode posted on its YouTube page (you need to be a registered YouTube member because it has a PG13-ish rating). If you like it, you can buy it on iTunes or on a DVD/Blu Ray.

Splash Page Saturday #3

Captain America 113 by Jim Steranko

Keeping with the theme of Independence Day, this wee’s splash page comes Captain America #113 by Jim Steranko. It’s a really kinetic double page spread, with Cap fighting off a bunch of Hydra agents who are seemingly digging up Nick Fury and the Vision.

There’s a whole lot going on in this page in the malaise. There are Hydra goons flying everywhere. Look at the headstones in the back that are getting smashed. On the right side of the panel, Sterano uses the shadowy back of a tombstone as a text box. Very Eisner-esque.

And get a load of those guns! They look straight out of a Fourth World story!