The Good
The art in this issue is absurdly good, as Chris Samnee brings out this rich pallette of blues and reds that almost make the the story seem like it's an old-timey 3D flick. It's not necessarily campy; it actually brings out a nostalgic feel in the material. I really like Chris' work in CAPTAIN AMERICA; he's a surprisingly good pick for what's a very grim book.
The writing in this book is nothing to scoff at either: Brubaker is one of my first choices to write CAPTAIN AMERICA in any of his forms. I'm a fan of the Black Widow/Bucky romance, and this book gives us a lot of exposition. The whole "assassination" subplot, coupled with Barnes' narration, make for good reading all around.
The Bad
Fundamentally, this book is great; however, there's some nitpicky problems that I had that kept it from becoming a five-star review.
This issue is extremely dialog-heavy, and seems like a rest stop on the way to bigger and better things. Those looking for anything relevant to the current story may be disappointed.
This isn't a huge complaint, but it just feels like Bucky telling "Winter Soldier" stories is getting a bit old; pretty much ever story since his return has dealt with it in some way or another, and I feel like the well is getting a bit dry.
The cover also irks me a bit, as Bucky and Black Widow look like they were drawn by completely different people: Barnes' frame looks a little closer to Colossus than a peak athlete.
The Verdict
I'll admit that up until this issue (and some back-issues, to prepare) I haven't read Cap & Bucky before. I was pleasantly surprised, however, as the book is quality. Chris Samnee does wonderful things with in order to covey a sense of mood: this is important, as an artist able to imprint himself on a property is a rarity in this day and age.
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