Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga – The Art of Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the eighth release in the 24-book Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga series, which is republishing previously released art books as a resized matching set. In my movie review, I called it “an exciting, action-packed film that goes beyond being just a sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger as its story alters the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a major way.”
Buy The Art of Captain America: The Winter Soldier bookIn their Foreward, directors Anthony & Joe Russo reveal they “drew a lot of [their] inspiration from [William] Friedkin and [Brian] De Palma,” primarily their films The French Connection and Blow Out, in creating Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In the Introduction, producer Kevin Fiege makes mention in the same vein by stating, “in this one, we tip our hat to the political thrillers of the ’70s like Three Days of the Condor, The Parallax View, and All the President’s Men. Marvel readers may already know, but co-producer Nate Moore says “the Ed Brubaker/Steve Epting run [which ran for seven years beginning in 2005] is definitely a huge inspiration for this film.”
Both the movie and the book open with a S.H.I.E.L.D. mission set aboard the Lemurian Star. Readers get to see concept art and photos of Captain America’s stealth outfit, a new look and tech for Black Widow, Agent Brock Rumlow, and mercenary Batroc. Later in the book, there are many pages devoted to the creation of the Winter Soldier and Sam Wilson/Falcon. In addition to graphic artists, Shane Mahan, Physical Suit Effects Supervisor at Legacy Effects, also offers his perspective.
Chapter Two covers Steve’s visit to “his own memorial at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum” where he sees a tribute to himself as well as Bucky and the Howling Commandos. Not only does Marvel’s Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding talk about the work that went to the scene but also set designer David Moreau who brought the concept to life.
Remaining chapters look at sequences that deal with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s headquarters (the Triskelion), which includes a look at areas like the Helicarrier Bay and Nick Fury’s office; the attack on Fury in his tricked-out SUV by the Winter Soldier; Cap trying to stop an escaping Quinjet, which is well detailed; Steve and Natasha at Camp Lehigh, “a location fundamental to Captain America’s origins.”
Throughout the book, there are storyboards for action sequences which helped the crew and will help the reader visualize what they intended. They are described as “Lemurian Star Rescue,” “Fury Car Chase,” “Triskelion Escape,” “ Camp Lehigh Escape,” “Winter Soldier Attacks,” “Triskelion Finale,” “Winter Soldier vs. Falcon” and “Captain America vs. Winter Soldier.” As with other books in the series, marketing materials are the final chapter.
The Art of Captain America: The Winter Soldier reveals the movie was a major linchpin in the franchise. It introduced two new major characters that continue to lead Marvel movies over 10 years later and up-ended S.H.I.E.L.D.’s role in the MCU. To do all that mythology building/altering, they needed a great story and great action sequences, and they succeed on both accounts. The numerous storyboard featured in this book illustrate the origins of the latter and bring readers into the process.
