R.I.P. Captain America

[stevekenson]

Marvel’s Civil War storyline has culminated in the death of Captain America (as a tortured allegory for 9/11 and its effect on the USA).

As a comics reader for decades all I can say is, “Yeah? And...?” It’s the same sort of promotional stunt as the much ballyhooed “Death of Superman” storyline (and all that followed it). Marvel certainly isn’t going to write-off a character/property as valuable as Captain-freakin’-America for very long.

Funny thing is, if Civil War were a self-contained “What If?” kind of story, I’d probably read it (and possibly even enjoy it) but as it is, it’s an attempt to substitute marketing and shock value for good storytelling and of no interest to me whatsoever.

Comments

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Yeah. A co-worker just informed me of this news and my own reaction was similar. "They'll just bring him back next year," I opined. But apparently the writer says Nay.

Love that "Flame on!" icon--I don't need to tell you what *I* think of when I read those words!

[hackard.livejournal.com]

OMG CAPTIAN AMERCA IS DED?!??!?

Er, sorry. My inner fanboy is off his meds. I'm with you: this is unlikely to be permanent.

[doccross.livejournal.com]

Agree that this is a big non-story. Characters die in the comics all the time...then they get better.

[(Anonymous)]

I can't help but wonder how much of this is driven by Joe Simon's lawsuit against Marvel.

Your Pal,
Christopher McG.

[xomec.livejournal.com]

Hmmm interesting question, my friend... hadn't considered that.

[thebitterguy]

What's interesting is that apparently the next issue is the last one being solicited for now.

[lucien-soulban.livejournal.com]

Bah... I'm beginning to hate big business approach to creativity. I see it in videogames all the time where businessmen without a dog's lick of creative sense try to "create story." I'm slowly dropping all my Marvel titles except the Ultimates stuff, and the last time I dropped comics completely during the Liefeld era, I didn't return until Kingdom Come.

[waitingforgo.livejournal.com]

It's funny how you mention Death of Superman. At the time I marveled (and still do, in hindsight) at the strength of the brand and interest in the story that Superman was able to support four monthly titles for six months' worth of issues (nine months counting the three-month hiatus) without the titular character. Consider that they made the death of Superman "real" through a couple dozen issues of main-title comics (not counting also-rans like Justice League), and it was almost a year entirely between the beginning of the "Death of Superman" storyline and a restoration of status quo.

Do you think that if Spider-Man disappeared from the Spider-Man books, the titles would last a fraction of that length? Oh, wait; they tried... it turns out the answer is "No."

Fair thee well, Cap. Although, having remembered at least three other times you've "died," all I can recall is the cover of Normalman #7: (http://www.valentinocomics.com/norm2.html) "Who Killed Sgt. Fluffy This Time?"