Captain America is still stuck in Dimension Z with no way out. While finding some form of shelter with a group of natives, the 3rd chapter into the series is a bit lackluster compared to the 1st 2 issues; but it still holds pretty well.

Here is the summary from Marvel:

• 1930: Witness the birth of a legend! How did Steve Rogers, a 98 lb weakling, earn his courage?
• NOW: With the fate of a world hinging on his victory Captain America must defeat the barbarian lord of the Phrox!
• MEANWHILE: Arnim Zola’s plans move forward, cursing Steve Rogers for years to come.

Picking up right where the last issue left off, Steve saves himself and Ian from getting executed by the leader of the Phrox; an alien race that lives in Dimension Z. Zofjor (the leader) begins to get the better of him until Ksul (another member of the Phrox) steps in and offers Steve shelter with them since he is an enemy of Zola. Cap later gets into ANOTHER fight with Zofjor, and manages to defeat him; but not before he is basically gutted by the power mad dictator. Steve runs away, and realizes that he isn’t bleeding as much as he should for a man who just had his stomach sliced open. It is then he learns that Zola has left him with a little “surprise”.

The story continues to push Cap’s limits; which I believe is a good thing. Remender is showing that even the “sentinel of liberty” has a breaking point; and each issue brings him ever closer to that edge. The flashbacks to Steve’s childhood continue to be spliced in throughout the story; but instead of bringing the story down they show interesting parallels between what is happening in the present and what happened in the past; while also continuing to show how he became the person he is. We get some light shed on Zola and what he is doing since Cap got away from his clutches; experimenting with human genetics as he conducts experiments with Ian’s “sister” Jet. A glimpse of the madman’s past is shown, giving insight as to WHY he is so obsessed with human experimentation, and shows some of his earlier, more deranged experiments.

The art is once again good, nothing really to complain or highlight. John Romita Jr. has always done a good job at staying consistent when it comes to comics he is assigned to. The action’s scenes are energetic; the past scenes are dramatic & heartfelt; the Zola scenes are creepy and menacing; and the last page freaks you out, as it should.

While not as good as the 1st 2 issues, Captain America is still a solid series with good action and dramatic moments. The “Dimension Z” saga is ripe with danger and desperation; and with each issue Steve loses more and more hope of finding a way out.

4/5