*WARNING: If you haven't read CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 or heard the news on all the News channels, then DO NOT read on....SPOILERS IMMEDIATELY BELOW:------------------------
Ok, besides the WAY Marvel revealed the death of CAPTAIN AMERICA, I think it was a poor choice in killing Cap. I know its a cheap marketing ploy (which in a way makes it worse) and either he's NOT really dead or he will eventually be resurrected somehow. DC did the same thing with Superman in the 90s, but with Cap its a bit different. And here's why:
Captain America is so much more than just a comic character. He transcends social, political, religious and cultural agenda's. He is a Hero, a Role Model, an Icon and a SYMBOL. A symbol of many things: Courage, Bravery, Freedom, Liberty, Human Rights, Civil Rights, Religious Rights, Honor, and most of all... HOPE.... He is what an imperfect country strives to be. What America strives to be. What WE strive to be. He is also a WWII vet and hero. In many ways, he will always represents that Generation. "The Greatest Generation" as Tom Brokaw wrote. But he is all of us; past, present and future generations. Soldiers, Citizens, Americans, all people from all countries; anyone who wishes for a better Tomorrow. In the end, Captain America is a symbol of HOPE. And to kill him destroys that hope. In a time of a polarizing war, Political partisanships, and a society that seems to be eating it's self from within.............. a heart-broken Joe Simon (Captain America Co-Creator, age 93) said it best today, "We really need him now."
HERE's what some fans are saying online.
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7 comments:
I saw this graet post online,..it's pretty long but worth reading......
When Scourge of the Underworld went on his spree, taking out b-rate characters with mere bullets, Bluestreak got in touch with who?
That's right. Captain America.
But you know, it's not surprising that that storyline wouldn't even be remembered. The folks who are at Marvel right now really have no respect for the history of the universe they work with. Nor do they really pay much attention to continuity.
Let's put Joe Q in perspective for a moment. He's stated in interviews that he never really wanted anything to do with comics when he was growing up. He wanted to be a musician. That Dark Knight Returns changed his perspective on that. He then came up into the biz in the 90s speculator's era. Where variant covers and over done print runs spoiled the back issue market. He cut his teeth doing things like Solar Man of the Atom covers, and X-O Manowar #0. His nouveau "homages" in Ninjak were a pretty big hint that super hero fare really isn't his bag.
Let's put Brian Michael Bendis in perspective for a moment. He cut his teeth in newspapers. And then broke in doing crime comics. His notable super hero work prior to Ultimate Spider-man was in Powers, where he spent issue after issue after issue killing super heroes that were thinly veiled copies of established icons (superman, wonder woman, the FF, and so on). Then he "modernized" Stan Lee's greatest achievement (early The Amazing Spider-man stories), and he retold Frank Miller's old Daredevil stories right after Kevin Smith got done redefining Daredevil back to his Frank Miller standard. Somewhere along the lines someone (notably Joe Q) was convinced this primed him for telling actual super hero stories?
Let's put Mark Millar into perspective. He comes from the Warren Ellis school of "kill em all, but let Bryan Hitch draw it and people won't mind." The Authority from Ellis was an extension of Ellis' prior work in Stormwatch. The thing is, those characters needed that kind of treatment. They were stale. Ellis came in and just evolved them to a whole new level of interesting. And Millar followed suit, with some amazing work. But it's dark. It's unrelenting. It's tinged in that Watchmen feel. Warning bells should be going off right about now. The Watchmen ruined the 90s. Remember the 90s? That's when Joe Q came up! Lo and behold ... The Ultimates. An Authority treatment (which by extension is a watchmenizing) of the Avengers. It sold so well, that the powers that be decided to take that next step ...
Civil War.
Marvel has been firmly steered back into the morass of the 90s. With variant cover limited edition runs commanding stupid back issue prices that don't reflect any actual worth whatsoever. With large crossover storylines that force you to buy issues of a comic you don't normally like. With dark, gritty "realism" overcoming the youthful fantasy most people associate with super heroics.
There's a pretty big bubble forming. And it might burst with the way things are being handled at Marvel.
I wish Mr. Breevort would try and remember exactly how powerful sales were when Kurt Busiek and George Perez were working on The Avengers. It's proof positive that people still buy into the bright, colorful fantasy of comics. For two years, the Avengers were practically unbeatable in terms of quality. And their popularity and sales reflected it.
I wish Joe Q would remember how wildly successful JLA/Avengers was. How fans still get chills over the Captain America/Batman standoff.
There's no need to shove the Ultimates style of bleakness down peoples' throats. Joss Whedon should have proven to Joe Q that a "classic" take on a super hero book still works. But somehow, we're stuck with snipers taking out old women and flagship heroes.
Ugh.
At least Brave and the Bold #1 looked freaking amazing. Kinda funny that not too long ago BOTH Mark Waid and George Perez worked for Marvel. But I guess there isn't much room for them at the house of ideas these days, since they're not gritty enough to spit, trash, or kill peoples' favorite escapist fantasy.
Based on Marvel's press releases yesterday, Steve will be dead "for the forseable future" meaning they don't have any current story lines in which to resurect him. But, Tony Stark is going to try to get to be the man who chooses the new Captain America, so there WILL be a Captain America--just not Steve.
But Marvel, via Civil War, has been expressing their displeasure with America, so I am not at all surprised that they'd kill an American icon. Not at all. I think that this whole series has been, and continues to be, a political statement and I'm pretty tired of it. I know my politics don't agree with a lot of other comic book reader's politics, but I don't force my opinions on people. I don't think comics, which are supposed to be fun, are a good place to get all preachy and political.
I agree, Lisa.
And in addition, as a liberal myself, I feel they are giving us a bad name! We're not America haters!!!
:)
oh, also... I think I'm more upset in HOW Marvel revealed Steve's death than his actual death - I mean, he'll be back. They ALL come back.
No WAY Jim. Joe Q said he'd never allow it. He said he never brings characters back.
You tell him, Lisa!
;P
PREACH ON LISA!!!!!!! PREACH ON!!!!
Amen Lisa!
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