Captain America - R.I.P.

Gentle Giant · March-8th-2007, 10:36 PM

This is what happens when you don't really have much in the way of super powers.

The New York Times
March 8, 2007
Captain America Is Dead; National Hero Since 1941
By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES

Captain America, a Marvel Entertainment superhero, is fatally shot by a sniper in the 25th issue of his eponymous comic, which arrived in stores yesterday. The assassination ends the sentinel of liberty’s fight for right, which began in 1941.

The last episode in Captain America’s life comes after the events of “Civil War,” a seven-issue mini-series that has affected nearly the entire line of Marvel’s library of titles. In “Civil War,” the government began requiring superheroes to register their services, and it outlawed vigilantism after supervillains and superheroes fought during a reality show, accidentally killing hundreds of civilians. The public likened the heroes to weapons of mass destruction that must be controlled.

The registration act polarized the superhero community. Captain America (whose true identity was Steve Rogers) considered the legislation an erosion of civil liberties; Iron Man, on the other side, believed that training heroes as the military, firefighters or the police are trained would only benefit society. When the factions came to blows and caused more destruction, Captain America chose to fight his battle in court.

But in the current issue of his title, Captain America takes bullets in the shoulder and stomach while on the courthouse steps. The assassin is alleged to be Sharon Carter, an intelligence agent romantically involved with Captain America. She was apparently under the control of Dr. Faustus, a supervillain. “It seemed a little radical when it was first brought up,” said Dan Buckley, the president and publisher of Marvel Entertainment, about the hero’s death. “But sometimes stories just take you places.”

“We as publishers and as creative people knew where the ending was going to go for a long time,” he said. “We knew people might not like it, but I think we delivered a compelling story that made everyone think.”

He added: “The stories we have planned dealing with Cap’s death are really compelling too.”

This is not Captain America’s first brush with death. Toward the end of World War II he plunged into the ocean during a flight on an experimental plane, and he was presumed killed in action. Actually, he was encased in ice and in a state of suspended animation. Many years later he was discovered by the superhero group the Avengers and thawed out to continue his career.

More recently, Bucky, the Captain’s wartime partner — who was thought killed by an explosion as he tried to defuse a bomb — was revealed to be alive. Bucky was saved by Soviet forces, who put him on ice and thawed him for their own missions. Captain America broke the Soviet hold on Bucky, and the two had a brief reunion. Bucky, who has taken on the name the Winter Soldier, is now on a quest to redeem his actions.

So is this the end of Captain America? “He’s very dead right now,” Mr. Buckley said.

Still, these are comic books, where characters have a history of dying and returning. Most famously, DC published “The Death of Superman” in November 1992. That comic was a best seller, but the Man of Steel eventually returned to the land of the living in August 1993.

Fans on newsarama.com, a Web site devoted to comic book news, quickly posted their reactions to Captain America’s death. They ranged from a cynical “Yeah, right!” and “I know it’s temporary” to the more media-savvy: “I’m fairly sure killing Cap with a movie in development (plus a possible Avengers flick on the way as well) would not be very sensible. So, I shall wait and see.”

GoodSpeak · March-8th-2007, 10:40 PM

OK.

Help me out here.

Why the hell do famous comic book heros have to be killed in order to end their run on the newsstands? I mean, that's the best these guys can do?

Scott Dolan · March-8th-2007, 11:59 PM

GG, I just heard about this tonight from your local NPR show Here & Now.

Appropriate enough, I suppose.

One of the original creators was interviewed and was talking about how back in 1941 people use to threaten him because the character was fighting the Nazi's. He said that most folks now are under the illusion that America was, as a whole, against the Nazi's. But, he said, there were the same types of divisions against our war in Europe that exist now in our war in Iraq.

Interesting stuff!!

crawjo · March-9th-2007, 12:23 AM

He'll be back in two years.

Scott Dolan · March-9th-2007, 12:25 AM

He's Superman!!!!

gonzo · March-9th-2007, 12:54 AM

he is dead but the book has yet to be cancelled, and who is the myterious "ronin" who is soon to join the avengers? hmmm!!!

Brian Olewnick · March-9th-2007, 08:36 AM

Gentle Giant · March-9th-2007, 09:02 AM

That's no way to dress for a funeral.

So what's the deal, since 1941 no one thought to fire a bullet at him? I know he'll miraculously be resurrected, but that's kind of a lame way to put him down.

Better he should die from using a men's room after the Hulk.

Alastair · March-9th-2007, 05:29 PM

Oh Brian, I don't think I've seen that Steranko pic before - where's it from - something to do with his two/three issues on Captain America back in '70ish? Must dig them out...

Brian Olewnick · March-9th-2007, 06:14 PM

You a Steranko fan, Alastair? (Did I already know this and just forget?). I just found it googling, but I remember the image, I'm guessing from back around '68 when he drew a few issues. Steranko was one of my first impetuses to begin drawing....

steve(thelil) · March-9th-2007, 06:16 PM

Did Bucky Barnes kill him?

gonzo · March-10th-2007, 04:17 AM

once again, great steranko. bucky, now the winter soldier may very well have killed him......

Rob C · March-10th-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

He'll be back in two years.

If that. Remember when Superman "died" about ten years ago? That was practically front-page news! These publicity stunts are irritating.

Alastair · March-10th-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

You a Steranko fan, Alastair? (Did I already know this and just forget?).

Yes, and possibly.

My introduction to his stuff was the two oversized "History of Comics" books he did, which I found in the mid-eighties, then reprints of the SHIELD books and Captain America stuff. I was so pleased to find the reprint collection of the "Strange Tales" SHIELD stuff recently as finding the original books in readable condition for a sensible price was getting harder and harder...

Although I prefer the original "flat" colouring. Every time. Damn computer colouring. Comics - make 'em four-colour and print 'em on pulp,

moneyp · March-10th-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

OK.

Help me out here.

Why the hell do famous comic book heros have to be killed in order to end their run on the newsstands? I mean, that's the best these guys can do?

Neither the comic book or the identity of Captain America are ending. The guy who's been Captain America all these years, Steve Rogers, was killed, but everyone knows that comic book characters don't stay dead.

Alastair · March-11th-2007, 08:20 AM

Gentle Giant · March-11th-2007, 10:30 AM

Whatever became of Howard the Duck?

Alastair · March-11th-2007, 06:58 PM

rollhead · March-23rd-2007, 10:42 AM

Oh, that "Captain America" ... was so yesterday. Today's "Captain America's" specialize in torture, something the original could never bring himself to do.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-23rd-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

Oh, that "Captain America" ... was so yesterday. Today's "Captain America's" specialize in torture, something the original could never bring himself to do.

Out of 4,690, what would be your guesstimate for the number of your posts which haven't been completely devoid of anything worthwhile?

I'll start the bidding at 2.

clinthopson · March-23rd-2007, 12:25 PM

Sherlock Holmes died when he fell over that waterfall.

And then he didn't.