WWCAD?

WWCAD?

Mar 07

I’m surprised the internet hasn’t yet burst into flames after CNN started reporting the news about Captain America (and hours before any of us could or would normally pickup up our comics… y’dicks), but I’m sure by the end of the day that the buzz will be heavy and the yelling maddening.

But for all the discussion about to take place, I just have one thing to say, though it would be better to bring up something Joe Quesada said in an interview with CNN.

As originally conceived by creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Rogers was a man born before the Great Depression in a very different America. He disappeared after the war and reappeared only recently in the Marvel timeline. For a superhero many thought perfect, it was perhaps a fatal flaw for “Cap,” as he became known.

“He hasn’t been living in the modern world and the world does move,” says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.

Which is kind of creepy when you think about it. Where DC has Superman, Marvel’s Truth and Justice was the mantle worn by Captain America. Only, where Superman has died and come back fighting for it, Marvel’s march towards “the real” has resulted in Truth and Justice being killed by a bullet. Where Superman went down fighting to save the world, Captain America got double tapped while walking up some steps.

From here, it diverges into fanboyishness – The Punisher will take over. Bucky (you know, that other character from the depression, only this one kills) will take over. It’s a Nick Fury ruse, Cap will come back, God bless those Life Model Decoys*. But fuck that – I think it more important to take a look at what is the meaning of killing the man with the indestructable shield.

Civil War is over, the totalitarian side won, and Captain America is dead.

Doesn’t it all seem disturbingly dark to anyone else?

And I give it under 12 hours before Cory chimes in, and a 85% chance that he’ll be applauding it. Oh, who am I kidding – Doctrow doesn’t read Marvel comics.

*Nope. After picking up my comics and reading Captain America #25, Fury was up to something, but got beat to the punch.