1776 #2 – A Battle For The Future

After ending 1776 #1 on a cliffhanger, Stracyznski picks up right where he left off in 1776 #2. Ben Franklin’s attempt to save the country finds our heroes at the pivotal Battle of Saratoga during the American Revolution. As the team splits up to try and protect the future of the United States, readers are led through a thrilling story that is part Marvel Comic, part history lesson.

Creative Team:

Writer: J. Michael Stracyznski
Pencillers: Ron Lim and Sean Damien Hill
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
A Cover: Pete Woods
Homage Variant Cover: Phil Jimenez
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writing:

Shawn: I’ve enjoyed Straczynski’s writing for a while, but he’s really at the top of his game in 1776. Whether it is the setting of Ben Franklin passionately defending George Washington to his fellow members of the Continental Congress or Ben Franklin casually identifying Tony Stark as someone from the future from his cadence alone, Stracyznski weaves a spellbinding tale through ages and characters both comic and historical. In the midst of a well-written story, Straczynski treats us to a break from our superheroes by having Captain America recount the exploits of real hero Peter Salem, a freed slave and a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill, who took out one of Britain’s most feared leaders.

Matt: This run is really appealing to both sides of my brain as the historical aspects that Stracyznski dives into are perhaps my favorite moments. Two stories are playing out, one with Tony and Benjamin Franklin, in which the dynamic between these two inventors and how quickly and smart Ben was when hearing Tony out is a display of two geniuses having their moment. Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Cap are having less luck, which leads to funny moments of Peter having to be cut off before he says anything stupid. An underrated aspect as well is Captain America’s history lesson on the slaves who fought in the Revolution and how they fought for freedom and yet were not granted it at war’s end. This is a far too often overlooked important aspect, and I love how he was able to weave it into this.

Art:

Shawn: Captain America’s lesson to Peter Parker, recounting the story of Peter Salem really allowed the artists of 1776 to shine. The lines and colors on the historical sections really create a great image that feels both crisp and clean as we have come to expect from modern comic artists but simultaneously historical. The shading on the historical flashbacks really let Hill, Lim, Leisten, and Sinclair show their abilities as they communicate depth and detail using shading and lines while limiting themselves to a generic white, black, and tan color palette.

Matt: There are so many poster-worthy moments in this issue that stand out artistically from the team. Seeing Captain America in Colonial garb with his costume underneath is breathtaking work from Jay, Sean, Ron, and Alex. Matched with Spidey, who has a hat on with his Spider-Man outfit, it makes for some really fun and outstanding panels. There is a love for the correct details when getting the art just right historically, which cannot be understated here as they nail it excellently. Joe captures the important distinctions in dialect and lettering the minor details that stand out during a time period piece.

Missed out on 1776 #1? Check out the review of 1776 #1 from Matt and Derek

Overall Grade: 10/10

Shawn: 10/10. For me, I loved the combination of modern and historical. The artists really got a chance to show their range through the vibrant “modern” colors and the limited and subdued palette of the historical flashback.

Matt: 10/10. 1776 #2 is a love letter to the rich and tumultuous history of America’s Founding Fathers and to our beloved Avengers. It is full of historical details that stand out and hilarious moments between characters, turning this issue into an instant must-read for me.

For more from Matt at the Hops “Geek” News podcast!

Until next time, may your pulls be magical and your multiverse remain stable. Check out more from Shawn

Enjoying 1776? Be sure to check out J. Michael Straczynski’s previous limited series Marvel Tales