Around the world, Marvel Comics fans have just received the shock of their lives. Two days ago, Marvel released the first issue in their newest Captain America series, Captain America: Steve Rogers. And what awaited readers was news sure to make them all think that all they've known previously was a lie.
In a way, it has. Regarding the Captain America we've always known and loved, that is. You might want to grab a cup of tea to calm you. Because my friends, Captain America—the scrawny kid from Brooklyn, the man with a heart of gold, the First Avenger, the symbol of freedom, the man who punched Hitler in the jaw, the man respected for standing for all that is right—is Hydra.
In this Marvel Universe-changing comic, it is revealed that Steve Rogers has been an agent of the corrupt organization of Hydra all along. According to Nick Spencer, the writer of this series, Steve's mother was recruited for Hydra when his abusive father died, leading to Steve's recruitment at a young age. All these years that the beloved Captain has spent fighting Nazis, ne'er-do-wells, and anything that stands in the way of freedom have meant nothing. And this isn't some parallel-universe Cap; nor is he a clone, an imposter, or under mind control. The writer has made it clear that this is indeed the original Captain America. Our Captain has betrayed us.
Marvel has betrayed us, the lovers of the Marvel Universe. With 75 years in the making, Captain America has long represented all that is good, standing for freedom and justice. In one fell swoop, Marvel Comics has told us that it's void, that Cap was just playing some part.
If you aren't up on Marvel history, the legendary stories all started with Captain America, hence his moniker "The First Avenger." In the midst of WWII in 1941, two Jewish men, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, wanted to create an ideal for the world at war against the fearsome Nazis. They came up with the idea for a hero who was just an ordinary guy with a heart for justice and the bravery to stand up for it: Captain America. Stan Lee, then known as Stanley Lieber, had been an intern at the then Timely Comics, the industry that would one day become the famous Marvel Comics. Kirby and Simon gave him the responsibilty of writing the very first storyline for our red-white-and-blue hero. That's right, two Jewish men created Cap. If nothing else, this revelation of Cap's true loyalties disrespects these men. It disrespect all those of Jewish descent. The horrors of Nazism are not some plot-device to be used for shock value, as this current writer has decided he has the liberty to do. By turning Captain America into a Nazi-supporter, Marvel has destroyed all that Simon and Kirby worked for in their ideals of freedom.
If this plot twist was an intended story arc from the beginning, perhaps it would be a little easier to handle. However, there are so many things in previous canonized Captain America comics that do not line up with this sudden unveiling—such as Stave having the ability to lift Thor's hammer Mjolnir. Mjolnir can only be handled by those who are worthy. Therefore, what does this say about Cap? A member of Hydra is surely not worthy of any sort of honor. Either he was worthy at one point, or the hammer is at fault for allowing Cap to lift it. Both discredit the reliability Marvel storylines. It is obvious that this new path for Captain America was something decided fairly recently, probably merely for the purpose of gaining renewed interest from readers and thus boosting sales.
However, I'm not all that sure that this new side to Cap will go over as well as creators are hoping. I am not the first to be astounded and horrified by this news and I will surely not be the last. As word gets out, how many of those who respected Cap for who he was and what he stood for, who revered him as a symbol of righteousness, will stand by and allow all that Captain America has always represented to crumble? Veterans who have proudly stood by what Captain America practiced, children who have looked up to him as a standard for absolute right... Captain America has been Marvel's best character, both in morality, and in storyline. Not only is he Marvel's most beloved character, he is one of the most iconic heroes of all time. Respected, revered, admired, the most famous fictional moral compass. It doesn't get any more original, any more Marvel, than Captain America. 75 years of legacy—dashed among the rocks of marketing and publicity regimes. Marvel has taken one of my personal heroes, one of my role models, my favorite little cinnamon roll, and corrupted him.
What can we say now? Can anyone say that Captain America is their favorite Avenger? The Captain America Marvel is trying to sell now is no longer worthy of admiration. But that's the thing here: this is the Cap of the newest story. This is just another story, made up by some writer who doesn't seem to care about all the people who see Cap as more than just some fictional character. Captain America—Steve Rogers—has always been so much more than some character in a comic or a movie to me. He is like a dear friend, someone I know I can respect. And the Captain America that I know, the Captain America I love, well, he's still my hero. And no one can take that away from me. They can put "Hail Hydra" in Captain America's mouth all they want, but they cannot tell me that this is truly my Cap. Because it isn't.
To all of those like me, who are looking on with shock and sadness at the apparent downfall of a hero, don't be discouraged. You know who Captain America really is. You know that the Steven Grant Rogers we love is not an agent of Hydra, not some traitor and secret Nazi-supporter. He is a hero. You know all of Cap's stories. The ones where he battles against bullies big and small, where he fights for justice, where he tells us that we can be brave no matter who we are. Steve Rogers is a good man, and no one can take that away from us. We don't have to let this new storyline take our hero away from us. Because the truth is, he isn't gone. His actions and words that have been around for 75 years still stand. Do I respect Marvel like I used to? No. Is the legacy tainted? Yeah. But the ideals that Cap has always represented do not have to be. He is still our hero, our role model. That is the version of Captain America that we must keep alive.
This world is constantly seeking to corrupt all that is good and right. In all things, the evil of this world will stop at nothing to kill and destroy, to take and to pervert, to extinguish all traces of light, to squash what is pure. It has always been this way and it always will be. But you know what? We don't have to stand by and take it. This is not the only time that a hero will meet an apparent downfall. This is not the only time that someone we respect and love will be twisted by the evils of our world. The world will over and over again try to take your heroes from you, to tell you that what you once admired is not worth admiring. Don't accept defeat. You continue to stand up for what you know is right, for what you believe in. And don't let this world take away your belief in what is good. After all, would Captain America want you to back down?
When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree by the river of truth, and tell the whole world "No, you move."
— Steven Rogers, Earth-616
