R.I.P. Captain America (1941 - 2007)
Published July 01, 2007
Captain America is dead.
If, like me, you grew up loving comic books — and those published by Marvel Comics in particular — then you already know the name of Captain America. And even if you didn't, the image of the red, white, and blue clad superhero should be a familiar one. From the time of the first Captain America book — published in 1941, just nine months before Pearl Harbor was attacked — Captain America has been an unmistakable part of America's cultural landscape.
Like other comic book superheroes who emerged during the time of World War II — such as DC Comics' Superman — Captain America symbolized patriotism, virtue, and everything that was supposed to be good about America. His character was both a reminder and a reassurance to an America struggling with its own place in a world that was spinning out of control, and into war.
But it was the theme of patriotism that was most central to this character. From his red, white, and blue costume and matching shield to the enemies he faced down in issue after issue — they included everyone from the evil Red Skull to Adolf Hitler himself, who was sometimes under a hooded mask as the villainous Hate Monger — Captain America was the original go-to guy.
Whether battling for the causes of truth and justice as a solo act, or with the group of superheroes he sometimes led called The Avengers, Captain America was a guy who had the entire country's back. And he certainly never questioned the actions of his president or his government.
But that was then, and this is now.
In the current Captain America storyline titled "Civil War," the good Captain has taken up arms against both his government and even fellow superheroes like Iron Man, over the issue of something called the Superhero Registration Act. The issue becomes problematic for Captain America because it would require him to reveal his secret identity of Steve Rogers — but more importantly, because he strongly believes the Act to be a violation of civil rights.
- R.I.P. Captain America (1941 - 2007)
- Published: July 01, 2007
- Type: News
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Politics: U.S., Culture: Society, Culture: Media, Books: Comics and Graphic Novels
- Writer: Glen Boyd
- Glen Boyd's BC Writer page
- Glen Boyd's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Sal,
Even the writers have admitted in interviews that they are not slamming the door shut here, and yes, in the world of comics pretty much anything is possible. So we'll see I guess. Thanx for the comment.
-Glen
Loeb said it was unimportant if he was going to be revived at this moment. It was more important to add extra dimensions to some of the flagship characters at Marvel, such as Wolverine and Spiderman.
I am pretty sad that he is gone, loved that guy ever since i started to read comicbooks.
Correction- Captian America was shot March 7, 2007 in issue Captain America Vol. 5, No. 25. This is his funeral.
Nerd moment part2- I find it weird that Ironman is a pallbearer considering he is the one who gave the order to kill the Cap.
Is it possible for someone to check to see if poster #4's info about the assasination occuring in an earlier issue is accurate? (I'll be out most of today, until later tonight). If so, it should probably be changed in the story.
My info in the story about the assassination taking place in the upcoming July 5 issue came from various wire sercive sources.
Many thanx on this.
-Glen
Brad is indeed correct and there was much fuss about it at the time.
Nor was it the snipers bullet that killed him but to say more would spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the story.
Captain America was killed in issue 25 of the current run on Captain America.
Iron Man, aka Tony Stark, did not give the order to kill Cap. Cap was killed thru a complex series of events involving multiple people organized by The Red Skull. Crossbones was the actual person to pull the trigger, but it was not he who killed Cap. Cap was killed by a brainwashed stooge whose name I shall not reveal.
The Civil War was the best crossover story ever done in comics. And once again, it's so sad to see DC trying to play catch up with the current WORLD WAR after the "52 Weeks" storyline mostly failed.
Correction made. Thanks to Brad and everyone else for pointing it out, and then verifying it.
-Glen
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net , which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and to Boston.com. Nice work!
1941-2007.
So young. Relatively speaking.
May he rest temporarily in peace and rise again.
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great item...i think that this is just another attempt by marvel to drum up interest in a title. the word that cap was going to be done in was released months ago to increase awareness of the event.
and besides we all know that nobody dies in comics! does anyone want to take bets as to how long before cap reappears?