Thank you to Titan Books for sending a copy of Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie in exchange for an honest review.
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, man out of time Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) discovers that everything he’s fought for has been infiltrated and corrupted by fascists! Imagine that. For superfans of the comparatively grounded action movie, Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie will reveal new intel. However, of all the Infinity Saga art books re-released by Titan Books, it might be the one that could have most benefited from an update.
A Hero Out of Time
When The Winter Soldier was first released in 2014, it swiftly became a classic of the superhero genre. It was a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that leaned into the influence of 1970s action films, bringing a new flavor to the franchise and exploring some unexpected themes. Looking back, it’s hard not to view the first Captain America movie directed by the Russo Brothers as a watershed moment for the MCU.
The Russos combined their love of directors like William Friedkin and Brian De Palma with their experience directing projects like Community. And the result? Superhero box office gold, lauded by audiences and critics alike. In fact, it’s hard to argue that The Winter Soldier wasn’t a resounding success on essentially every front. More than a decade after its release, it continues to be one of the most beloved movies to come out of the MCU.
RELATED: Art Book Review: Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – The Art of Iron Man 3
And inarguably, part of what made the movie such a success was its third-act twist. Along with Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Cap discovers the shocking truth about S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s been infiltrated and corrupted by America’s World War II-era enemy: HYDRA.
In a high point for the franchise’s narrative synergy, this revelation was made even more shocking by the fact that Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was part way through its first season. The week after The Winter Soldier debuted in theaters, the reverberations of Cap’s revelation were felt in the series. It was a good time to be a devoted MCU viewer.
Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie
It took just a few days for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to catch up with The Winter Soldier‘s shocking reveal. However, there was obviously an effort to keep the twist under wraps elsewhere. Such is the case with Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie.
When the original version of the book was released in April 2014, it was just a few weeks after the movie had debuted. And in order to keep some of the movie’s revelations under wraps, the “HYDRA reveal” is not directly addressed by the book. It is true that elements like this have been kept out of all of the Infinity Saga art of the movie books I have reviewed. However, few MCU movies hinge as significant a twist as the one in The Winter Soldier.
For this reason, the book feels a bit incomplete. There is no direct mention of HYDRA. For just one example, in the section on the Camp Lehigh scene, the 1980s computer banks are discussed. But nothing about the artificial intelligence version of Arnim Zola is mentioned.
These omissions were understandable for the purpose of preserving the plot in 2014. However, they are just sort of disappointing in 2024. The HYDRA reveal is now common knowledge among MCU fans. The lack of its inclusion in the art book is a bit of a bummer.
The Lemurian Star and Beyond
But that quibble aside, Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie offers all the expected goodies for fans of the movie. This includes some surprising insights about the film’s production. Did you know the Lemurian Star scenes were filmed on an actual ship? I thought this was pretty neat! The book reveals that a serious effort was made to bolster The Winter Soldier‘s verisimilitude with real-life sets and settings.
And as usual, the insight shared by those behind the scenes of the movie’s production is engaging. I especially enjoyed Victoria Alonso’s perspective on Black Widow. Plus, there is an emphasis on the storyboards that made the movie’s action sequences so unforgettable. Although sadly, the elevator fight is only alluded to in passing.
RELATED: Art Book Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: The Art of the Movie
Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie was written by Marie Javins. It features a foreword by Anthony & Joe Russo. There’s an afterword by Ryan Meinerding and the book was designed by Jeff Powell.
For fans of The Winter Soldier, this art book is a must and would make a great holiday gift. However, more so than most of the re-released Infinity Saga art books, it could have benefitted from an update. I understand why that didn’t happen. But it’s still a little disappointing. Maybe when it’s released again in another decade, huh? Fingers crossed.
Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie is available at a bookstore and/or public library near.
Art Book Review: MARVEL STUDIOS’ THE INFINITY SAGA – THOR: THE DARK WORLD: THE ART OF THE MOVIE
- Writer and Director David Lynch Dies at 78 - January 16, 2025
- 5 Reasons to Watch STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS - January 13, 2025
- STAR TREK: All the Episodes Directed by LeVar Burton - January 7, 2025
