Issue(s): Captain America #454
Cover Date: Aug 96
Title: "Sanctuary"
Credits:
Mark Waid - Writer
Ron Garney - Penciler
Scott Koblish - Inker
Polly Watson - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
This is an epilogue to the previous arc, giving us a kind-of resolution to the coin that Machinesmith created, which contained all of Cap's stolen memories. It also is the final issue of the original series as we move into Onslaught and Heroes Reborn. Surprisingly considering it's the end of an era, Mark Waid doesn't use the "Cap's memories on a hard drive" idea to do a retrospective. And i'm glad of that (Mark Waid will do something along those lines with Jarvis' memories in Avengers #400 and it kind of sucks). Instead we get a kind of generic but perfectly fun story. First, Sharon tries to lure out a terrorist/warlord named X12 using the coin.

X12 has his troops attack her, and (from Sharon's perspective) Cap kind of blunders in, ruining her sting. Fleeing X12's troops, they make their way to a slave camp where Sharon herself had been held prisoner in the past, and they free the prisoners.

In the end, Sharon gives Cap the coin, and they separate again, but on good terms this time.

In place of the lettercol there are some mini-essays from Waid and Garney. One interesting the from the Waid column is responding to comments from readers about how he rarely shows Cap's thoughts. Waid says it's because Cap is often three steps ahead of him; i think it's more about showing Cap as a man for whom thought and action are one (so basically, show don't tell). The fact that Waid could rely on Garney's clear action was surely also a factor (Waid compliments Garney, "who never, ever cheated the story with gratuitous pin-up shots of Sharon's rear end"). We're not too far from the point where Marvel eschews thought bubbles altogether. I think that as a general trend was a huge mistake, but i think for this specific book it fits the tone really well.

Garney's column reciprocates by complimenting Waid's clear exposition and character development ("working from his plots were an artist's dream") and also notes that Waid's stories "have a beginning, middle and ending". It's sad that that was a compliment, but in 1996 it definitely was.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP have this as Captain America's next appearance after the previous arc. It doesn't continue directly and doesn't necessary have to follow it without Cap making some detours first (Cap and Sharon were not working together at the the start of this), but i'll follow the MCP.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A