Well, it’s happened. The mantle of “Captain America” has officially been transferred. This has, naturally, sparked more than a bit of discussion.
The League of Melbotis is very happy with the issue and the whole storyline surrounding the Death of Captain America:
You may be aware that Cap was killed some time back, but that story is just as fascinating to watch unfold. Unlike the impenetrable and winding plots of the Death of Superman and World without a Superman stories, the post-Steve Rogers world feels organic, and as if the characters are acting from a real sense of loss and grieving (which, in superhero comics, rarely means sitting around crying).
Pastor James Harleman sees deeper religious meaning in the transfer of the title:
With no miraculous abilities and an admittedly cynical, pessimistic worldview, Barnes represents our current social and political climate. When he hears that there is a public protest demonstration, he panics: “Oh, God… I hope you don’t expect me to address protesters.” He’s not ready for that, immature in his role and even where his faith comes from. Looking at it from a spiritual perspective, he’s not unlike a new Christian: he’s ready to believe and even get to work, but not yet confident to preach.
Alephz is not happy with the turn of events:
New Cap (Cap with a Gun) seems to represent what America IS (or some cynic’s dream thereof); ready to start AND end some shit if need be. The shield doesn’t even come into it. The colours fly over a field of black because we don’t let our flag cover everyone and if someone gets in our way? We kneecap them until they do what we say or we kill them.
I want old Cap. Or someone in that comic to stand up for what I liked to think the character stood for.
So what do you think?
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
It amazes me how wide a variety of symbolism people can read into this.
And the logic can get pretty tortured with stuff like, “We kneecap them until they do what we say or we kill them.” Bucky did no killing in the comic and Old Cap hit quite a few people in the head with his shield over the years. It’s not like doing non-lethal damage is something new for the character.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
“Pastor James Harleman sees deeper religious meaning in the transfer of the title:
With no miraculous abilities and an admittedly cynical, pessimistic worldview, Barnes represents our current social and political climate. When he hears that there is a public protest demonstration, he panics: “Oh, God… I hope you don’t expect me to address protesters.” He’s not ready for that, immature in his role and even where his faith comes from. Looking at it from a spiritual perspective, he’s not unlike a new Christian: he’s ready to believe and even get to work, but not yet confident to preach.”
AWWWW…thats seriously the cutest thing I’ve heard all day. I’m not a christian anymore…but back in Catholic school, one of my teachers was a priest…while me and him didn’t agree on most things, we had quite a few discussions about X-men comics, as on vacations from the church, he’d spend them catching up on X-men comics…I think he’d have gotten a kick out of what this guy said about being a new christian.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Also I think, even in 20 yrs from now…people will look back fondly on this, as the best death and mantle passing of a super hero ever…as far as the story itself goes…it’s been so well done. Really am proud of Bru, Epting, and Marvel for doing this right…even from issue 1.
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
I guess I was kind of siding more on a positive side of things in the symbolism department. Our “new” Captain America seems to be trying to honor Steve Rogers and he’s taken up the mantle of the character because he knows deep down in his heart that it’s ultimately his responsibility and not anyone else’s.
IMO, the symbolism here…especially with the “..address[ing] protesters” is a huge generational message about the apathy of youth and how we’re going to have to learn how to use our “big boy” voices and step up to the plate as our parents and ilk from the Baby Boomer generation start to retire.
Captain America is pound for pound one of–if not the best–comic book that Marvel puts out today. Ed Brubaker’s thoughts are timely and relevant.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Honestly, if you’ve read Bru’s entire Cap saga, I don’t see HOW you can protest about the gun in Barnes’s hands. The gun is what he knows best and he may even be more skilled then Frank Castle in that regard. However, who is to say that the sidearm will always be apart of his arsenal. As he becomes more familiar with the shield he may rely less on the gun. I hope we have many years to see Bucky adjust to being his own Captain America.
Whatever Bru decides him using, I hope the knife stays. They are an amazingly useful tool in the field. Killing being the absolute bottom of that list. Just watch First Blood.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
First off, “Reign of the Supermen” was possibly the last truly great Superman event. It gave us Kon-El, John Henry Irons and lots of action and suspense. It’s nothing like what Brubaker is doing, but it was the sort of thing I still buy super-hero comic books for. It’s a shame that no one seems to know that at DC and Marvel.
As for “Bucky America,” I don’t like the gun. I get that it’s in character. I get that Bucky and Cap used guns in WWII. I get that Bucky’s not Cap. But at the same time, I don’t feel good about super-heroes using them. In the super-hero comic, guns represent something the good guys tend not to. Never mind that guns aren’t really reliable. And that for most heroes, gun are too lethal.
I will reserve judgment, though. I haven’t read this story arc – I am getting it in the collected form. I’ve read the first half of the series and while there’s a lot I like, it’s harsh and dark and slow-moving and makes Cap’s world believable but not entirely worth my time. Whether I join those how swear by this book – and I won’t deny that this is perhaps the most acclaimed super-hero around now – remains to be seen.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
ejulp said: “Also I think, even in 20 yrs from now…people will look back fondly on this, as the best death and mantle passing of a super hero ever…”
I agree, and thanks for the “cute” comment. I think I’d like your old teacher. I believe Brubaker has ingeniusly struck a timeless “disciple” chord here (or at least one that stems back a couple thousand years). The term Christian just meant “little Christ” as followers wanted to “image” Jesus. Barnes is less of a “Captain America”, more of a “Captain American”.
As for the gun and knife, I think it’s perfect for the story. As he grows into the shoes, time will tell if the narrative will bring him extra-human powers or simply the developed gifts that might enable him to put them down… if it makes sense. It might also be a purely philosophical development down the road. In a culture that talks a lot about the importance of the journey, I don’t want Barnes to immediately carbon-copy Rogers. Barnes is still in the midst of his progressive sanctification.