Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special #1

By Andy Frisk
June 21, 2009 - 18:07

The Young Allies were a group of adventuresome kids, lead by Bucky, who battled Nazis during World War II. Comprised of Bucky, Toro (the Original Human Torch’s sidekick), Private “Knuckles” O’Toole, Lieutenant Washington “Wash” Jones, Henry Tinkelbaum, and Geoff Worthington Vandergill (the last two were O.S.S. Officers), The Young Allies, as they were dubbed, even had their own comic book where their names were changed. After Bucky’s apparent death, along with Steve Rogers at the end of the war, the rest of the allies went on to lead civilian lives, three of which had passed on by the time Bucky took the mantle of Captain America. Bucky tracks down the two remaining Young Allies and they share a night of reminiscing and storytelling, about their first adventure together, and a mission they undertook in Paris during the war.

This anniversary special rivals the strongest one produced thus far, The Human Torch Comics 70^th Anniversary Special #1, for the best entry in this series of anniversary specials which Marvel is producing this year. It’s an action packed and heartfelt tale about some very special World War II veterans who have had plenty of adventures, and have shared much together. Stern’s storytelling is fantastic, as he mixes in fair doses of meta-fiction (the original Young Allies comic book is shown in flashbacks as being the fictional comic books in the fictional story of the special), action, character development, and bitter-sweet sorrow over the course of the tale. At the center of this great tale is the linchpin, and soon to be Captain America no longer, Bucky Barnes.

Bucky, as Captain America, in the wake of Steve’s death, has been the inspiration for some great stories over the past few years. This special proves, yet again, that there is no shortage of unique and compelling stories that can be told about Bucky as Captain America. He is a complicated and conflicted character with many complexities such as, the nature of his past, his reluctant carrying of the mantle of Captain America, and his need for redemption. All of these complexities are interesting and compelling metaphorical and allegorical representatives of America in the early 21^st Century.

Steve was a classic of a character, that as time passed, became somewhat outdated, and Bucky with his complexities is now the stronger, and more interesting character to bear the title of Captain America. As Bucky muses while walking through the grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery, “If this were a just world, Steve Rogers would be interred on these grounds with full honors, and a stature. Of course, Steve never liked people making a big fuss over him. What is it Natalia [the Black Widow] said…? Captain America is a living legend. You are the only memorial that Steve needs.” With Steve coming back, it will be interesting to see what happens to Bucky, after his all too short run as Captain America.

The reprinted back issue tales in the special aren’t nearly as interesting as the reprinted “Captain America’s Sentinels of Liberty” advertisements. They encourage “the many red-blooded, patriotic boys and girls in America” to continue “waging war to the finish against spies and traitors to our country…for American democracy!” by joining the Sentinels of Liberty Club. The highly nationalistic encouragement of the nation’s youth to “do all in its power to aid America,” even if it means searching for traitors, and possibly telling on anyone they suspect as spies (much like The Hitler Youth were encouraged to do) is interesting as a snapshot of World War II propaganda, and the mindset of the times. With so much on the line at the time though, and with a concerted enemy to face, perhaps such encouragement to do something to defeat such evil is the only course a nation, and its comic book writers, could have taken. That assertion depends upon the unequivocal moral justness of the nation, and many have claimed this justness in error, including Nazi Germany, but history has revealed who was just and who unjust.

Overall, Rivera’s pencils and style fit this special very well as he bounces back and forth effortlessly from World War II era style and dress to modern style and dress. He also captures a slightly cartoonish look, especially in the facial expressions of the Young Allies, which harkens back to the style of 1930’s and 1940’s comic books, without appearing to be parody. His wide angle layouts of Arlington National Cemetery are quite striking. They capture the moving number of departed men and women who served their country in its greatest time of need, much like Bucky and his Young Allies did. Young Allies Comics 70^th Anniversary Special #1 is definitely a great artistic and narrative read worth adding to your collection of Marvel’s 70^th Anniversary Specials.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12

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