Review by Ian Keogh

Tochi Onyebuchi cares enough about the state of the world, and of the USA, to use Symbol of Truth as a means of raising issues, while never losing sight of a thrilling superhero story being the priority. The White Wolf, manipulates events on a global scale and here it’s revealed early that he plans to overthrow the government of his own country, Mohannda, and that of the USA.

This involves some clever plotting on Onyebuchi’s part, with the White Wolf playing a very long game indeed. The purpose of the dispute he generated during Homeland is revealed here as a feint preventing American involvement in Mohannda, and that’s before the bombshell dropped returning a forgotten character from Rick Remender’s run on Captain America (see recommendations).

Ig Guara draws the opening three chapters (sample art), and his art is functional rather than captivating. Action plays out as figures only against colour backgrounds, and while the story is told, there’s little in the way of panache. It’s a relief that R.B. Silva is back for the final two chapters with his far more expansive style.

Onyebuchi applies a cracking pace, and much changes over five chapters. The Falcon’s reservations about working under Sam Wilson are brought into focus when Sam’s teamed with a less compliant partner, while other aspects of Remender’s Captain America seep into the bigger picture. In the end, though, everything is too easily solved with a beating, while the accompanying political rhetoric is never convincing. The White Wolf was a better villain pulling the strings from the shadows, and his motivations as eventually revealed are built on shaky foundations.

Symbol of Truth began with two Captain Americas, and they’re united again in Cold War.