Death in comic books is nothing new. In fact, it happens with surprising regularity and is rarely permanent. Superman was killed by Doomsday only to be brought back later. X-Men Leader Professor X was killed, only to be later revealed that he was a clone. There are many examples of death in Marvel and DC comics that turn out to be largely a temporary plot device. That said, It's nearly unheard of for the death of a comic book character to make the CNN news.
Which is why one of the most recent deaths in the Marvel universe seems to stand out. The death of Captain America stirred more than just the comic book world. The Death of Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, in Captain America #25 (March 2007) may have been a plot device, and it may even be temporary, but its place in the American timeline is no accident and will always be a permanent social commentary on post 9/11 events such as the Patriot Act and the US's presence in Iraq.
Marvel Comics’ Captain America: Symbol of National Pride
Captain America’s death is not the first patriotic-themed foray in his series’ run. In fact, his whole creation seems to have been one long patriotic symbol. Captain America, or “Cap” as he has been recently dubbed by his fellow super heroes, first appeared in Captain America #1 in 1941 as a super hero version of national patriotism. The new purveyor of justice, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, was a super soldier who fought Nazis in his series. Captain America stood as a the symbol of American pride during World War II. Cap’s red, white, and blue American flag costume represented all that America was fighting for during this time; freedom, democracy, the American way.
Captain America fizzled out in the 1960s as Americans put patriotism and simple truths on the shelf. The series was resurrected 40 years later by Marvel’s Mark Millar following the 9/11 parallel, multi-series story arch Civil War.
Captain America and Marvel’s Civil War
Following the monumental events of the Avengers Disassembled and House of M storylines, Civil War begins with an accidental explosion in Stamford, Conneticut caused by several superheroes. The event killed thousands of innocent people and spurs the government to enact the Superhuman Registration Act, calling for all superheroes to register with the government or succumb to imprisonment. The Act divided the superheroes. The anti-registration team, most notably led by Captain America, felt the Act violated their civil rights. The pro-registration team was spearheaded by Tony Stark (Iron-Man) and they sided with government, maintaining that superhuman registration is best for everyone’s safety.
Cap refuses to help Tony Stark and S.H.E.I.L.D. in enforcing the new Patriot Act parallel. As the events unfold, Captain America eventually surrenders himself for registration, though still refuses to agree with the Registration Act. Cap is dramatically shot and killed by a sniper while entering the courthouse for arraignment.
Captain America’s Death: A Symbol of the Death of the American Way
It’s easy to see the parallel to American politics in this storyline. Post 9/11, Americans have been faced with the question of whether they value freedom or their own security more, just as the superheroes must decide among themselves to give up their secret identities and heroic intrigue to join with the larger, safer, and faceless force of the US government. While Americans are still battling out the pros and cons of freedom versus security, Marvel comics declared a loser with the symbolic death of Captain America, who the embodied the very idea of freedom and civil rights.
Read about Marvel Comics' epic Civil War.
References
Marvel's Civil War 1-9 by Various Artists
Captain America 1-25 by Various Artists
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