COMICS: Steve Rogers Returns to Duty with Nick Spencer
In preparation for Free Comic Books Day, which will mark the momentous return of Steve Rogers to the iconic mantle of Captian America, Ant-man and Captain America scribe Nick Spencer discusses his big plans for the future as part of Marvel's semi-regular Next Big Thing conference call.
Nick Spencer on Steve Rogers' New Status Quo:
"Steve is faced with some pretty major challenges, obviously he's undergone a physical transformation and emotional transformation, so he has to readjust. He's got to deal with being a man again and the world around him, we're on the precipice of 'Civil War II' and the Red Skull has taken the reigns of HYDRA and made them more direct and brutal. Baron Zemo is still out there, trekking through the Himalayas with Dr. Selvig as his prisoner. Steven is facing it from all sides. Maria Hill is about to undergo a secret tribunal because of her actions in 'Standoff.'"
On What Rogers' Return Means For Sam Wilson
"It's how he's treated differently and how the world resists him and how he encounters controversy that Steve might now, and how his beliefs might encourage that. Getting Steve back in the costume helps Sam's story because the contrast is clearer. News of Steve's return is greeted with open arms, and Sam is trying to figure out his place now that Steve's back, and he'll struggle with that for a while to come. There's a lot of great drama to mine having both of them around."
On Series Artist Jesus Saiz
"I'm blessed to be working with phenomenal artists, both Daniel and Jesus are doing a phenomenal job. We've been working together for a while now and we're in a rhythm, and you can imagine what he's going to do with a page. You get to know each other better. We've been going through the first 'Steve Rogers' issue this week, and like Tom said, it's gorgeous work. My favorite thing is he can do a seven-panel page that feels like a four-panel page. The page never feels cramped, and I put a lot of words on them. That's not always the easiest thing."
On the Upcoming Tie In to Civil War II
"Steve is very much aware of the impact him picking a side would have on the conflict, his desire is to end the fighting. He doesn't want a second civil war because he knows the cost of it. He's trying to be Switzerland. It may not be that easy as it goes on. It's going to be challenging for him to remain on the sidelines. His position is that heroes should work together and if we're divided, things will fall apart. That's what he's trying to get through to Tony and Carol."
Contrasting The Political Tone to That of Sam Wilson's Title
"When we announced the 'Steve' book, I thought there would be none of that, but that's turned out to not be true. There's a lot of interesting stuff with Red Skull and his new approach with HYDRA. How they operate will pose tough questions for Steve and S.H.I.E.L.D. Each series has different kinds of issues, and there is still a nice topical strain to the story. That's a fundamental part of Captain America and a huge part of the appeal and character's history. It's a tough thing to avoid. But they're tackling different issues. 'Sam' we tackle domestic issues and civil issues and cultural issues. Steve's book has more questions about security and freedom versus safety, and questions about the kinds of lines you'd be willing to cross when lives are at stake."
Explaining that Steve's Return Was For the 75th Anniversary
"No one will ever believe that, we've said it a million times, but every time I do a show, people are still convinced that it was handed down. It was my idea completely. I felt like the 75th was something we couldn't pass up and it was the moment to do it. There's a lot of great story to have with two Captain Americas, and Sam is a central part of the story. We have big plans for him."
These are just the highlights of a much longer interview, but it's clear that Spencer has many exciting plans for both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson as they continue forth in their respective Captain America roles. As for the supporting cast, Spencer could only confirm appearances by Sharon Carter and the new Quasar, who recently debuted in Avengers: Standoff. For the rest of the crew, the reader shall have to wait until May 7 when Captain America: Steve Rogers debuts as part of Free Comic Book Day