Marvel.com: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 reestablishes when Steve Rogers emerged from the ice. How did you settle on this time period for the book?
Zdarsky: One of my favorite parts of the Captain America legend is him being a “man out of time,” which becomes more so as the years go on, so that made it feel like a ripe period to tell a story. Like, back in AVENGERS (1963) #4 when he first woke up in the “modern world,” it had been eighteen years since he went into the ice. Now, because of how time works in the Marvel Universe, it’s more like seventy years! That makes it almost a sci-fi story for Steve Rogers, which is fascinating.
But ultimately, I wanted to tell a story of him getting the lay of the land of America and its place in the world, which is much different than when he went to sleep.
Marvel.com: At the end of the first issue, readers are introduced to a mysterious figure carrying Captain America’s shield. What can you tease about David Colton?
Zdarsky: David is a Captain America lost to time, coming to life in a post-9/11 world. And now Steve Rogers, his hero, is back and under David’s command. He’s finally meeting his hero. They say to never meet your heroes.
It’s been really challenging and satisfying working out David’s story and how a modern world and war would affect someone taking on this mantle. It’s been especially satisfying writing Steve, seeing this new world through David’s eyes, and what it means for his journey.