Captain America (2004) #46, "Old Friends and Enemies Part 1 of 3"

I reviewed an Alpha Flight issue for Canada Day and had intended to do the same for Captain America but didn't get the time to. We're going to do that now with issue #46 of the 2004 series.

Unfortunately, the rather exciting and dramatic cover does not reflect the contents of the book. Namor contributes fairly little to the story.

But first, a recap.

The story then opens with Chin in his lab speaking to a mysterious, unnamed ("old friend" is as much as we get) man in a hat and long coat. They appear to have the unconscious body of the Human Torch (the Invaders version) in a large tube. Interesting!

We then cut to this version of Captain America (Bucky Barnes) and Namor aboard the old Atlantean ship the Invaders used to ride around in. Barnes states point blank that he felt he had to do the job with Namor. During their conversation, the Avenging Son can't help but throw in a shot at the surface world's tendency to waste and pollute (he's not wrong), as well as a sort-of approval of Barnes in the Captain suit, until remembering his old frenemy.

Writer Ed Brubaker has his personality pretty well, in my humble estimation.

We spend the next few pages in flashback/backfill. The first is an Invaders scene in which Chin's wonder at the Torch's power first took place, the second is the Winter Soldier's botched attempt at killing Chin in 1968. During said attempt, Barnes instead killed Chin's fiance. Yikes.

In the meantime, The Black Widow has supplied Barnes with a general location for Chin, in Taipei City. Captain America gets the jump on the lab's armed guards but when more appear and open fire on him, Namor makes the timely save.

And that's where they part ways, as Barnes prepares to break into the facility. So for all that Barnes said he did not want to complete this mission without Namor, he basically used him to bum a ride and clear his conscience.

The Invaders flashbacks and continuity were cool and based on the solicitation for the next issue, Namor will continue to appear at least in the second part of the story. Here's to old friends and enemies.

Captain America (2004) #635.1

The specifics for this issue are a little hard to track down. Comixology lists it as part of the 2004 to 2011 Captain America series, yet it was released in August 2012. That series ran to issue 50 until modifying its numbering to 600.

As of #620, "& Bucky" was added to the title. Guest-stars became a regular occurrence from #629 on, with the likes of Hawkeye, Iron Man and The Black Widow joining the Captain on his adventures.

And Namor, for one issue.

There's always a concern that the guest-appearance will be limited to just a few pages but not in this case. The book opens with Namor reluctantly facing some sort of gathering in an unknown location in 1942.

So...Why are you there at all?

The spokeswoman for the group explains that the weapons of Atlantis have been pillaged and Namor's people are being used for a "cross-purpose". 

That cryptic message delivered, we move to an air battle over France. Cap-Am jumps from a troop-carrying plane onto an enemy fighter and is joined by The Avenging Son, who more or less happens to be passing through.

Once back on solid ground, the Captain follows Namor to the latter's target, a group called The Thule, described as... 

Namor accurately points out that Captain America wasn't dragged into a damn thing. While Cap-Am self-monologues over Namor's apparent lack of willingness to make friends, the villain reveals his secret weapon.

Release the Kraken!

That thing is made of dead Atlantean(s) wearing a Medusa-like skull mask which gives it magical abilities. The Prince Of The Blood will not stand by and see his people treated this way, even the dead ones, so it's on.

Yeah, that, and the wings on his ankles also remind me that he's more than human.

I enjoyed this. It was very much Captain America AND Namor as opposed to the Sub-Mariner showing up long enough to toss a few punches.

The story (by Cullen Bunn) was a "one-and-done" though I suspect regular readers picked up on a few hints of back-filling. Namor's arrogance was on display, there were a couple of interesting inclusions among the covenant that Namor was talking to prior to meeting Cap and the art was gorgeous. I'm not sure the images above spotlight its quality adequately.

This was not a key appearance in Namor's history by any stretch but its a welcome addition to the collection.