Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: May 2011
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Renato Arlem
Batroc accepts a job in Paris to run interference for a heist. From the hefty price offered him, he assumes that Captain America will be involved. And, it turns out that Batroc knows his business well! Captain America does show up to stop the heist and Batroc fills his role as distractor perfectly. But, when he’s got Cap on the ropes, the Leaper lets his pride get the best of him. He can’t resist the urge to defeat the star-spangled hero …. even if it is just the replacement Cap (aka Bucky). And, we all know that Captain America is near-impossible to beat … especially if you’re just Batroc the Leaper.
This was a real fun “character piece”. It’s told completely from Batroc’s side and Gillen really gets into his mind. It’s a nice treat to see a story from this angle and I really enjoyed how much Batroc “knows his role”. He knows he’s just there to run interference. He knows he’s never going to defeat Cap. Yet, something inside him makes him try … try again. And, it’s not the money!
As bonus material, this issue reprints a classic silver age Batroc story from Tales of Suspense #85 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
On Ebay: Captain America | Kieron Gillen | Batroc
On AtomicAvenue: Strong Guy | Captain America