Since the time of his 'birth' Steve Rogers or Captain America, has represented the American ideal. Steve was an ordinary citizen even as far as being a weak and frail man, but he was a patriot, a true American. His birth came as World War 2 loomed large in the eyes of the world. Steve wanted to do his part and help fight the Nazi menace, but was to fragile and so he found another role he could play to help defend freedom. He opts to become a test subject in Operation:Rebirth. This project is testing the 'Super Soldier' serum, a chemical booster that would allow the military to create a nearly perfect human.
Throughout the history of this character his views change to reflect what current cultural view is in America. Captain America has changed both subtly and overtly to conform to these veiws.
- Birth role was a rallying role to define the American spirit of freedom, liberty and strenght of character combined with the need and will to serve in the war effort. At the end of this era Captain American and his partner Bucky 'die' in their effort to save America from a villans doomsday bomb(Atomic)
- Reflecting the Cold War mindset, the identity of Captain America and Bucky are bestowed upon other individuals so as to keep the defender of the American way alive in the public's eye. The characters are used in ways that reflect the current societal mindset that borders on paranoia in regards to the Communist threat.
- During the 1970's the character is used again to reflect the societal mores that are prevelant. Still representing the defender of freedom and the American way he is written to address other issues as well. Befriending and training an African American hero called the Falcon as well as issues that surround the real life Watergate scandal.
- The 1980's have the character deal with corruption in politics. Information and actions that he has uncovered have lead him to doubt the government to the point that he 'retires' from the identity of Captian America and adopt the persona of Nomad. He chooses this name to represent the fact that he feels adrift and without a nation or government he can call 'his'.
- The 1990's find the character addressing the growing drug problems, the genetic research controversy as well as growing terrorist threats to the American way.
- The 2000's find the character embroiled in plots and threats that reflect the current world. Drugs, corporate crime, corrupt officials of all levels, terrorists and the myriad of threat types they bring. However the largest and perhaps most controversial storyline deals with the errosion of personal freedoms and liberties in America. The storyline entitled "Civil War" dealt with the public and government calls for regulation of the superheroes. Steve Rogers felt that revealing to the government, the secret identities of the heroes would be dangerous as well as take away one of the core freedoms the both fights for and believes. The story goes back and forth through both sides and the dillemas each face in the struggle to support and defend what they feel is right. As the fight escalates Captian America realizes the methods he is using are counter to what he is trying to achieve. Seeing this he surrenders and lets himself be taken into custody so that he may fight using the system he so vigorously defends. As he is being escorted into court Steve notices a laser indicator on the back of a federal agent and leaps to get the man out of the way. It is here that Captian America is assasinated, killed in public while suffering disgrace and in handcuffs. A coalition of his enemies, figures that represent all the 'evil' that want to destroy American and its way of life are responsible for this death.
No comments:
Post a Comment