Thursday, March 8, 2007

Farewell the Hero

This is not a triathlon post but I grew up fiercely devoted to Captain America and his fight for Truth and Liberty. I haven't read comics in years but why did Marvel Comics kill Captain America? Unfortunately I think it has less to do with money and more about how they can play the repercussions of his death in the rest of the Marvel Universe ergo how will the demise of America affect the world.

So why is this blog worthy? Because Captain America stands for something more than just a comic icon. He was an ideal. He was noble and he was brave and he defended his family (America) and he protected the weak and he did it with honor. Notice the colors of this blog; red, white and blue. The colors of my country and the colors of Captain America. His was not the highest selling story line for Marvel but in the marvel universe all the other superheroes (and more popular and profitable characters for the company) were written to look up to Cap. with admiration for his leadership and authority.

Now Marvel Comics is tossing that leadership away, constructing a vacuum of doubt and drama, in a product (comic books) that thousands of children and adults look to as a diversion from reality. If Captain America can be killed by a sniper on the courthouse steps, then certainly Spider-Man should be thinking twice.

The one thing this country has lacked for many years is an solid indisputable avatar; a person or item, an icon, that conveys this country's substance of character. Presidents haven't done that. Our flag used to do it before it was physically burned by our own people and symbolically burned by our courts who upheld it. Captain America was a champion of that flag. Captain America, Superman, Mickey Mouse, Ronald McDonald and very few others project the great ideal of America with such a clean vision to the world.

The life of Captain America, albeit a fictional character, imparted a thread of decency and honor in our society that is sorely lacking it. When I open magazines today or surf the web there seems to be no sense of shame. People making money on sex tapes and exposing body parts, leaving baby's at home and getting sloppy drunk. Spending thousands on clothes but not a minute on self reflection, celebrity bastard babies. Self aggrandizement. Victimization. The one thing I think everyone can associate with Captain America, whether you read him or not, was that he strived for better things for this country and its people. And we need more of that in this society.

6 comments:

Spokane Al said...

Thanks for the thoughtful post. I also grew up reading Capt America and feel much the same as you do.

Perhaps it goes towards the (wrong headed in my view) perspective that the anti-hero is the one to admire. We can see it in the news where many feel that the US stands for everything that is wrong and is the cause of all the problems in the world.

We can see it when people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and instead demand that the government generate laws and use our tax dollars to resolve issues that they should handle on their own.

Now you've got me going. I better stop before I get myself in real trouble . . .

Flo said...

Well, I've tried to post my comment twice now and blogger keeps eating it.

Amen Comm!!!

Bigun said...

here, here! "they" should make a Cpt. America tri-suit or Bike Jersey. I'd wear it as a reminder of the ideals he stands for, and what our country SHOULD continue to stand for - despite the leadership vaccuum. You're alright, there, Commadore!

Iron Pol said...

Great post. Truth be told, Captain America can't be killed. That was part of what makes him the hero he is.

Captain America isn't one hero. He is thousands upon thousands of heros. All those who exhibit the very image you mention.

SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

I'm with Al on this one, and go one step further - it's trendy and popular now to hate all things American and military-sounding ("captain" anything is a big no-no these days so I figures that's why he got killed off.)
Not me, though. I still thank military folks and admit freely and publicly (gasp) that I love America and being American. OK, better sit down for my sign-off... here it comes...
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
;-)
Jenny

Fumo Santo said...

It's strange this post popped into my head when reading the following article. Since you're into movies, you may find this interesting...

http://www.joblo.com/cap-america-flick