Johann Schmidt's, the boy who eventually becomes the Red Skull, tale ends (and begins) here as he rises in rank in the Nazi Regime.
The Good
Between this series and MAGNETO: TESTAMENT, Greg Pak is the master of backstory. With MAGNETO: TESTAMENT, he got his audience to feel sympathy for one of Marvel's most fearsome foes. With RED SKULL, he invokes hatred more than anything else. Johann is a despicable character in this issue, and at one point, you think he may not be all that bad, until you reach the next page and you see just how horrible this character truly can be. It's a truly gripping story. You'll find yourself turning every page hoping there is a redeeming quality within Johann, only to find yourself hating him even more.
Mirko Colak (art) and Matthew Wilson (colors) do a phenomenal job on this series and this issue. The style fits the tone of the book perfectly. One of my favorite elements of the art was the play on perspective in the panels. I like the variation angles and panel set-up so the eye isn't just drawn right to the middle of each panel. It feels very cinematic, and flows incredibly well.
I don't think David Aja has gotten enough credit for his work on the covers of this series. They are amazing. They have a great WWII propaganda style to them, and it's the type of art I'd love to have framed on my wall.
The Bad
Two, two-page spreads for upcoming Marvel books. I wish I was reading this in trade to avoid said ads.
The Verdict
The only tough decision I'm having is deciding if this or MAGNETO: TESTAMENT is my favorite mini-series from Marvel. RED SKULL is an amazing backstory to an amazing, classic Marvel villain. It's a fantastic story and you'll find yourself glued to the pages of the book. The art is fantastic and so is the perspective within the panels. The book feels very cinematic, and it has a great flow to it. Many cover artists don't get the credit they deserve and David Aja is a man who deserves some sort of award for his cover creations on this series. The only thing I didn't like about this issue was the fact the ads really broke the story up. I highly recommend this issue and more so, this series. It's one of the best books to come out of Marvel in years.