Captain America is dead! SPOILERS GALORE!

Moonbiter · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 11:29 AM

I thought about putting this in the "Other Entertainment" forum, but this goes far beyond mere entertainment. Marvel Comics has decided to kill off one of their most beloved and oldest superheroes, Captain America, in an ongoing comic series called "Civil War." The ongoing story is a crossover thing portraying the superheroes of the Marvel universe after an event similar to 9.11. and their struggle to deal with a new "homeland security" law.

Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, was created in 1941 as an American icon, just as the US was entering the second world war. He became a favourite propaganda hero for Americans fighting abroad, and remained so until the changing times of the 60s and Vietnam forced Marvel to retire him. The reason why Cap became such an instant hit compared to DC's Superman, is because he was a flesh-and-blood-all-American-boy, representing an extremely old-fashioned and conservative set of values bordering on chivalry.

When Marvel decided to resurrect him, during a time when the company was dominated by radical/liberal artists and writers, they still managed to keep his integrity. Steve Rogers was a man out of time, having been frozen in stasis and woken up in the future. He still listened to The Andrews Sisters and Glen Miller, had absolutely no sense of fashion, and behaved like a gentleman should behave in the 20s and 30s. Marvel's creative team had a field day keeping Cap's personality and integrity in order in a new day and age, and it went down a storm.

That integrity is what killed him. Fast forward to 2007 and Captain America is gunned down by a sniper on the steps of Capitol Hill, on his way to defend his stance against a new "homeland security" law that goes against everything he believes represents freedom. The irony is sickening and to the point. Captain America is killed by the very same people who created him, because he wouldn't jump when they told him to.

Rest in peace, Cap. While the people you fought to defend and the values you sought to protect are getting scarce, it may comfort you that they seem to be waking up from their torpor once again. Hell, they might even impeach a president!

Tricky · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 11:57 AM

Ah.. oh well. I have the first SHIELD series, that was my 'introduction' to Cap'n America, two decades ago. He's really one of the stranger looking heroes. Between Anole and Captain America, there really is a Marvel hero for just about anything, isn't there? I wonder which super hero defends the lone RPG enthusiast against the corporate evils of .. insert your least favorite producer.

Maharlika · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 09:33 PM

Well... Superman got killed too, but somehow got resurrected again...

I wasn't aware of the latest on the Civil War series. I have just read a couple of the issues through the copies I have seen my students reading.

Moonbiter · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maharlika

Well... Superman got killed too, but somehow got resurrected again...

I wasn't aware of the latest on the Civil War series. I have just read a couple of the issues through the copies I have seen my students reading.

Ha Ha!

Yep, people rarely stay dead in superhero comics, that's why I've mostly stopped reading them. Here's the New York Times article:

Captain America Is Dead; National Hero Since 1941 - New York Times

fable · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 07:49 AM

What nonsense!

In an international culture where mendacity is the lingua franca, the question isn't why Captain America is being "killed," but how long he'll stay dead while the comic book publishers reap the financial benefits before they bring him back?

Exactly the same thing happened with Superman comics over a decade ago. The news entertainers were full of it here, and I pointed out to my wife that they'd bring him back in two months. I was wrong, as it turned out. It was only one month.

They're not going to kill off the golden goose. They're just using free advertising that they're going to do so, to bring in more hicks from the countryside.

Avane · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 09:32 AM

No, no this is culturally important. It's not just about a comic book superhero. This is a comment on American ideology and the ways in which the current administration/government has done something so radically detrimental to the American psyche that they feel that they can (or must?) kill off Capt. America. This is because he no longer 'fits' the ideal. (Thanks Moonbiter for the NYT editorial). Seriously, I can feel a thesis coming on, this is a deconstuctionist's dream!

Okay, get this, I can still more or less remember the words to the cartoon song intro

"When Capt. America throws his might shieeeeeeld
All those who choose to oppose his shield must yieeeeld...etc"

You get the drift; this is extremely relevant and a perfect comment on the various 'engagements' currently taking place under the Bush administration

Cyro · #7 (**permalink**) 03-19-2007, 09:35 AM

I agree with the political relevance of the issue, but chances are they'll find someone else to fill the mask, Capitan America is the costume after all, but Marvel would be wise to leave Steve Rogers dead.

I think it's also a commentary on some of the conspiracy theories floating around (*spoiler* multiple shot wounds related to JFK) though I'm not sure of what the writers were intending to convey, if anything, it may just have been an 'interesting parallel.'

Maharlika · #8 (**permalink**) 03-19-2007, 05:44 PM

I still won't be surprised if they made Cap "appear" to be dead and then later reveal himself as one mysterious masked hero just so that he can drive home his point...

Cyro · #9 (**permalink**) 03-19-2007, 07:51 PM

The Punisher theory?

Chanak · #10 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 09:44 AM

From a comic book story perspective, it would be ridiculously easy to bring Captain America back. Far too easy. He became who he is through the Super Soldier serum, si? Said serum granted him superhuman physical prowess. Welllllll...there you go. Cap lies dormant appearing dead, but in actuality his body is repairing the fatal damage. Not a stretch considering the fact they had him frozen like a wooly mammoth for so many years.

Marvel, I expect a paycheck the week you bring him back.

bah, Spiderman rules anyway

kyle · #11 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 01:53 PM

Thought it was really funny when Quesada said "I tell my writers, if they're going to kill off a character, they have to make it mean something". He must think we're all pretty stupid - as if anyone but the Suits at Marvel make those kinds of calls.

It was a financial decision, AND it has meaning in this day and age. They wouldn't have done it if it cost them money, but they also could have made Cap a bigger fascist than ever after 9/11, taken him down the Toby Keith let's-cash-in-on-fear-and-tragedy route. They didn't, they showed some sense, and they balanced that sense with making money. Don't like Marvel, and of course they'll bring him back (he's got a movie in the pipeline), but I don't think this is the entirely cynical move that some people here are making it out to be.

Coot · #12 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable

Exactly the same thing happened with Superman comics over a decade ago.

There's more examples of that. Even longer ago, Jean Grey, aka (Dark) Phoenix died and was finally resurrected (she wasn't called 'Phoenix' for nothing, I suppose) years later. After that she died again and IIRC, again. Not sure if she's still dead though.

I grew up with comics, a lot of them Marvel Comics. Steve Rogers has been around for many decades. What if he's really dead? Marvel would get praised for it's consistence and guts.
This could be as big as Spock dying in Star Trek II. No wait, they brought him back too.