Comic Book Review: Captain America #697

• Mark Waid (storyteller)
• Chris Samnee (storyteller, artist)
• Matthew Wilson (colorist)
• VC's Joe Caramagna (letterer)

I know I've said it countless times before and some of you are probably sick of hearing me say it by now, but I'll say it one more time since it's definitely relevant right now: Kraven the Hunter is my favorite villain. I've spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking about what it would be like if he set his sights on countless heroes and foes. Obviously, Captain America was one of those characters. Now, Steve Rogers and Sergei Kravinoff are finally squaring off - about time, right? When the solicitation for this issue was released awhile ago, my mind went into overdrive thinking about all of the possibilities. Now that the issue is finally here, I'm beyond happy to say that it's absolutely worth your time and money. While this issue does not give me the kind of Captain America and Kraven the Hunter encounter that I wanted to see, it does tell an excellent story that highlights the super-soldier's strengths and treats Kraven's personality with respect.

Waid and Samnee's story is a fast-paced and standalone adventure. Kraven and Captain America are face-to-face after only two pages and things never slow down. Without blatantly spoiling anything, I will say that the entire conflict shows that Captain America doesn't need his iconic shield to be an inspiring hero. Obstacles are put in his way that show off his courage, intellect, and further prove that he's one of the most gifted tactical minds in the Marvel Universe. I would've loved to see Cap and the Spider-Man villain have a proper brawl, but using Kraven as the man behind the challenges was an interesting approach to their clash. Again, it's not what I expected or even wanted, but it's handled very well.

What makes the swift, standalone story even better are the seriously energetic and emotional visuals. Everything - the pencils, inks, coloring, and lettering - come together to tell a story that never feels static and always conveys the intensity of the challenges that are facing Steve. Even the quieter moments - like a twist near the end - are handled brilliantly thanks to the panels' layout and perspective. The decision to focus on little things like Captain America's eye as he analyzes a threat or his smile in the first scene makes the experience so much more immersive. The expressions are top-notch and that plays a huge role in making these characters feel alive. This comic is packed with personality and vivid moments that'll pull you right into the scenes. 

Minor criticisms: Captain America states that Kraven's methods require fear from his targets. While I don't think this is true - if anything, Kraven relishes challenges, like unarmed combat with Vermin - it does make sense for the story since it's highlighting the predator/prey dynamic and further illustrates Steve's bravery. Also, I feel like Ana Kravinoff was out of character in the intro. Given how young she is and what I remember about her personality, I believe she would've accomplished her objective a little differently - less flirty and more brash. I understand she's acting, but based on what I know about her, social skills were never her strength. Regardless, it's not a big deal since she's barely in the issue and it's possible I've missed out on some of her new appearances which may have developed her personality a little more. 

I give Captain America #697 five out of five happy Kravens. Oh, and if you're reading this, Waid and Samnee, you need to create a comic about how Kraven added Ikari's head to his wall...

Thank you so much for taking the time to read - or skim - this review! If you think it wasn't completely terrible, please feel free to give me a follow over on Twitter.