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Comics: On the “death” of Captain America
As the mainstream media wrings its hands over the “death” of Captain America, here are 12 things to keep in mind:
1) In most cases, a comic book character only dies when it makes financial sense for him or her to do so.
2) In most cases, a comic book character only stays dead for as long as it makes financial sense for him or her to do so.
3) In most cases, a comic book character will come back to life when it makes financial sense for him or her to do so.
4)There’s not a tremendous amount of evidence to suggest the “death” of Captain America is any sort of exception to the above three rules. It is “most cases.”
5) Mainstream media has done this before with the “death” of Superman in 1992.
6) The Man of Steel didn’t stay dead for all that long.
7) According to the complex continuity of the 60-year-old Marvel Universe, other characters have donned the Captain America outfit before.
8) Right now, the implication is that villian-slaughtering vigilante the Punisher donning the red, white and blue.
9) Debate is on-going as to whether this would be the very height of cyncism, a savvy marketing ploy, or the very height of cynicism because it is a savvy marketing ploy.
10) All of this mishigas spins out of the “Civil War” inter-title crossover event over at Marvel, which was actually a neat idea undone by chronic lateness, inconsistent characterization across the company’s titles and some of the very worst super hero comic book writing in recent memory. “Civil War” was also a smash hit.
11) For those who need more “death” of Captain American news and analysis, check out the always-excellent “Comics Reporter” site.
12) Anyway, there are lots of terrific comics out there (some of them produced by Marvel, actually)(I’m thinking about “Marvel Adventures: Avengers #9” specifically) that have nothing to do with any of this. What’s Good will discuss them further when all of this SXSW stuff dies down.
As you were.
Comments
By Joe
March 8, 2007 9:54 PM | Link to this
Really, Captain America used to represent truth, justice, and the American way. Today, truth and justice are relative and the American way is being run down by political jackels.
So long CA. Your patriotic time has passed.