[...] I reviewed Meltdown #1, I said “I think it would have been more satisfying as a single graphic novel instead of a [...]

Confounding the situation is when they release a hardcover of one book before the softcover of the previous collection, plus the weird volume renumbering and scattered issues collected. All of this just means they should give it the double-sized hardcover treatment. With Epting, Lark, Leon, Perkins, and the rest, it definitely deserves it.

Winter Soldier, Vol. 1 (issues 1-7)
Winter Soldier, Vol. 2 (issues 8-9, 11-14)
Red Menace, Vol. 1 (issues 15-17, 65th Anniversary Special)
Red Menace, Vol. 2 (issues 18-21)

Bucky shows up in all four trades (although his appearances in Red Menace, Vol. 1, are pretty much limited to the 65th Anniversary Special story).

Iron Fist is amazing. I love the fluidity of Aja’s art.

And yeah, Iron Fist is surprisingly good too!

The previous Cap Special, the 65th anniversary one, was collected into the first Red Menace trade, so yeah, they’re collecting all the specials. Each of them have led into a story in the main book in some way.

Agreed on Brubaker’s Cap. Looking forward to picking up the new All-Star and the first Confidential trade.

I’ve been enjoying Brubaker’s run on Cap, but have only been collecting it in trades. I hope this issue gets collected as well–all the reviews make it sound wonderful.

Anyway, as an Atari Force fan, I think you’ll especially enjoy it.

Winter Solider was an unexpectedly good read, establishing Bucky as one of Marvel’s most intriguing characters in years and justifying Brubaker’s decision to bring him back. I loved his interaction with the Young Avengers and think it would be an interesting move if, post-Civil War, he became their mentor/leader. But only if Brubaker or someone with similar sensibilities was writing it. I shudder to think what Bendis, Millar or Loeb would do with him/them.

A. Bucky’s death was not part of Cap’s origin. It was part of the retcon that Stan Lee did to bring Cap back into the Marvel Universe, but that’s of a different order from the deaths of Jor-El and Lara, Thomas and Martha Wayne, and Uncle Ben–all deaths that are central to the hero’s primary motivation.

B. B/c Bucky’s death was a retcon, it took place in flashback form. I don’t feel that flashback deaths–deaths we’re supposed to take as givens–are as inviolable as deaths that emerge in “real time” as part of a story. The deaths of Barry Allen, Jason Todd, Kara Zor-El, Skurge the Executioner, et al. are deaths I want to see stick because they’re deaths that emerged out of stories I read in monthly segments–not because they suddenly appeared in a retconned flashback.

C. Brubaker’s done a great job of bringing back Bucky in a way that improves Cap’s book (instead of simply trying to drum up sales through sensation). It’s sort of like the way John Byrne’s decision to let the Kents live improved Superman’s books: I prefer a Clark with living parents who continue to shape his morals to a Clark who managed to be twice-orphaned.