A Superhero As Fallen

[happyfilmluvguy]

NEW YORK - It's a funeral fit for a superhero. In the drizzling rain at Arlington National Cemetery, thousands of grieving patriots solemnly watch as the pallbearers — Iron Man, the Black Panther, Ben Grimm and Ms. Marvel — carry a casket draped with an American flag.

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Yes, folks, Captain America is dead and buried in the latest issue of Marvel Comics' "Fallen Son," due on newsstands the morning after Independence Day. After 66 years of battling villains from Adolf Hitler to the Red Skull, the red, white and blue leader of the Avengers was felled by an assassin's bullet on the steps of a New York federal courthouse.

He was headed to court after refusing to sign the government's Superhero Registration Act, a move that would have revealed his true identity. A sniper who fired from a rooftop was captured as police and Captain America's military escort were left to cope with chaos in the streets.

But the sniper didn't act alone, and didn't even fire the shot that killed the captain.

Writer Jeph Loeb has been busy working through the stages of grief in his most recent titles. A book centered on Wolverine dealt with denial; one with the Avengers covered anger; and Spider-Man battled depression.

With the story line so relevant to present-day politics, and the timing of the latest issue so precise, it's hard not to think the whole thing is one big slam on the government.

"Part of it grew out of the fact that we are a country that's at war, we are being perceived differently in the world," Loeb said. "He wears the flag and he is assassinated — it's impossible not to have it at least be a metaphor for the complications of present day."

But Loeb says he was working with more personal material: the death of his 17-year-old son from cancer.

"So many people have lost their sons and daughters over the years, for the greater good or to cancer or other horrible things," said Loeb, an executive producer for NBC's "Heroes." "I wanted this to be something people would identify with."

In the final frames of the book, the Falcon delivers a eulogy asking superheros old and young to stand up and honor Captain America. Loeb did a similar thing at his son's funeral.

"It was this moment where I realized that we were all different, but this boy, my son, made us all connected," he said. "It was powerful."

Captain America, whose secret identity was Steve Rogers, was an early member of the pantheon of comic book heroes that began with Superman in the 1930s.

He landed on newsstands in March 1941, nine months before Pearl Harbor — delivering a punch to Hitler on the cover of his first issue, a sock-in-the-jaw reminder that there was a war on and the United States was not involved.

Since then, Marvel Entertainment Inc., has sold more than 200 million copies of Captain America magazine in 75 countries.

In the most recent story line, he became involved in a superhero "civil war," taking up sides against Iron Man in the registration controversy, climaxed by his arrest and assassination.

Marvel says you never know what will happen. He may make it back from the dead after all, although Loeb says that question isn't really important right now.

"The question is, how does the world continue without this hero?" he said. "If that story of his return gets told further down the line, great. But everyone's still been dealing with his loss.

"They aren't going to wake up and it's a dream, like it's some episode of 'Dallas.'"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070701/ap_en_ot/captain_america

 

[Zig2k143]

I actually got tears in my eyes... Lol I'm such a dweb...

 

[Doctor Strange]

It's The Death of Superman all over again - a publicity stunt to gain attention for a flagging book. I predict others will take up the mantle of Captain America, but Marvel's clever writers will find a way to resurrect Steve Rogers within a year or two.

And if not, then it will be a couple of years later, after the inevitable Captain America movie is a success.

(I have become awfully cynical about this sort of thing! The days when Marvel's "When we kill them, they stay dead!" claim could be taken seriously are LONG past.)

 

[Viola]

I predict others will take up the mantle of Captain America, but Marvel's clever writers will find a way to resurrect Steve Rogers within a year or two.

True enough, but if they do as they are teasing and make Punisher Temporary-Captain America until Steve gets un-murdered, I will be forced to buy every single issue.

They're my two favorite Marvel heroes.

Signed,
Unrepentant Punisher Fan-Girl

 

[Doh!]

I usually roll my eyes at such comic book stunts 'cause you just KNOW the hero will return to his old self somehow. That said, I respect the hell out of DC Comics for keeping Batgirl in a wheelchair for, what, 20 years now?

 

[The Wolf]

The one steadfast rule of Marvel was only bucky stays dead.
I think Cap's death is temporary. When he comes back he had better be Steve Rogers, too!

Sincerely
The Wolf

 

[Viola]

The one steadfast rule of Marvel was only bucky stays dead.
I think Cap's death is temporary. When he comes back he had better be Steve Rogers, too!

Sincerely
The Wolf

You know Bucky is back, right?

-Viola

 

[Sefton]

This is just a bit too post modern for me. If I want subtle nuanced characterizations I'll read a novel. Let Captain America get back to punching out the BAD GUYS and skip the metaphors. On second thought, he's too "Golden Era" for these times anyway. (End grouchy old man rant)

 

[jamespowers]

This is just a bit too post modern for me. If I want subtle nuanced characterizations I'll read a novel. Let Captain America get back to punching out the BAD GUYS and skip the metaphors.

I second that with no old man rant. The heroes that operate outside government oversight were always my favorites anyway. Batman number one. Punisher and The Shadow up there as well. If Cap was telling them go pound salt then he is up there too.
I still love the comic where Batman kicked the heck out of Superman---leaving him down and bleeding by the way.

Regards,

J

 

[Diamondback]

Yeah, but Punny's got the perfect attitude for a contemporary "go it alone" Captain America--sometimes allies only get in the way...

 

[jamespowers]

Yeah, but Punny's got the perfect attitude for a contemporary "go it alone" Captain America--sometimes allies only get in the way...

Yeah tell me about it. Let him be dark and brooding.

Regards,

J

 

[Diamondback]

Let him be dark and brooding.

What's wrong with "dark and brooding?" Does this mean my membership here's in jeopardy for fitting that demographic?

 

[jamespowers]

What's wrong with "dark and brooding?" Does this mean my membership here's in jeopardy for fitting that demographic?

Actually no. I like dark and brooding--that's why I mentioned it. Makes for a more manly superhero.

 

[Diamondback]

Actually no. I like dark and brooding--that's why I mentioned it. Makes for a more manly superhero.

*colossal serpentine sigh of relief*

Does this mean we can expect more gunplay from Cap'n A for a while?lol (Not to mention "creative interrogations" like the "Popsicle, soldering iron and steak" trick?)

 

[jamespowers]

*colossal serpentine sigh of relief*

Does this mean we can expect more gunplay from Cap'n A for a while?lol (Not to mention "creative interrogations" like the "Popsicle, soldering iron and steak" trick?)

Nah, we can expect to see the use of the blowtorch and vicegrips as a creative interogation.
Cap will now carry a Desert Eagle.

Regards,

J

 

[Diamondback]

Nah, we can expect to see the use of the blowtorch and vicegrips as a creative interogation.
Cap will now carry a Desert Eagle.

But where's the creativity in it? That's just "brutality", with no actual inspiration involved... And isn't a DE the Executioner's gun, not the Punisher's?lol

 

[jamespowers]

But where's the creativity in it? That's just "brutality", with no actual inspiration involved... And isn't a DE the Executioner's gun, not the Punisher's?lol

Never heard of the executioner. [huh] Still like the Desert Eagle though.
The interogation method is just one stolen from Al Capone actually. I suppose you could just use electrodes exclusively.

Regards,

J

 

[Diamondback]

Never heard of the executioner.

Not a comic--pulp fiction by Don Pendleton, almost the direct inspiration for the Punisher. (The similarities between the two are downright creepy, if not plagiaristic, frankly...)

 

[jamespowers]

Not a comic--pulp fiction by Don Pendleton, almost the direct inspiration for the Punisher. (The similarities between the two are downright creepy, if not plagiaristic, frankly...)

Wait a minute. You mean Mack Bowlan?

 

[Diamondback]

Wait a minute. You mean Mack Bowlan?

It's actually "Bolan", sir, but yes.