The following review is excerpted from Comic Book Revolution (click here to read CBR’s full review)

Writers: Daniel & Charles Knauf
Artist: Mitch Breitwieser

Art: 6/10
Story: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

The Knaufs serve up an entertaining issue that hooks the reader early with an explosive beginning and keeps the reader’s attention until the very end thanks to plenty of adrenaline-pumping action scenes and one bad-ass Captain America.

What impressed me is that the Knaufs actually pulled off some nice research before writing this issue. And that is surprising considering it seems that many writers simply go through the motions and put in little effort when writing a one-shot “special” issue.

The version of Steve Rogers that we get in this issue is different from the modern day version that Brubaker was giving us prior to Steve’s death. The Knaufs present the reader with a Captain America who is still young and raw, similar to the Daniel Craig version of James Bond. This younger version of Steve Rogers is a bit more cocky and sarcastic.

I also liked the fact that the Knaufs write Captain America as real soldier rather than a super hero. This version of Captain America is more militaristic in attitude. It is clear that this young version of Captain America is a soldier and a national symbol and not a crime-fighting super hero. And the Knaufs let Captain America fight like a soldier as Steve has no problems putting away his shield and relying on machine guns to blast his way through the Nazis.

Of course, what has always been present with Captain America has been the way he keeps calm, cool and collected no matter how intense the fighting may get. I like how the Knaufs appear to have read Brubaker’s run on Captain America. Way back in Captain America #17, Brubaker made a point of having Steve mention that he is able to dodge bullets because he can see things faster than a normal person.

The Knaufs play with this concept by having Steve mention that he sees everything happen in battle slower than it really seems. And how the scientists think it is a side effect of the Super Soldier serum. I always appreciate it when one writer pays attention to what another writer has previously done with a certain character and then builds on it.

Of course, it is the kick-ass action scenes that make Captain America: Theater of War: Operation Zero Point #1 such an enjoyable read. The Knaufs make Captain America look like a total bad-ass as he lays waste to the Nazis in his path. All of the fight scenes are impressively well choreographed.

Personally, I am not a fan of Mitch Breitwieser’s style of artwork. It is a bit too drab and dull looking. Having said that, Breitwieser’s old school style of artwork does match the story in that this is a Golden Age Captain America tale. So, while I might not be overly impressed with Breitwieser’s artwork in general, it worked fine with the mood and tone of the story in this issue.

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