Geek Talk

Finally got a hold of Captain America #25. What I hate about these issues that the media reports on is that in 3 years it’ll barely be worth the cover price. But until then it’ll cost you $20 bucks. I don’t collect comics so I can put my kids into college, I just like the escape. Needless to say I had no problem waiting for the 2nd printing to read about Cap’s death. Ok back on topic

You never see Steve die. In other books you do see his body however (see left). But in this particular issue there’s no “death” . It’s almost like they left a way out in case they wanted to bring him back (which I think they will). That being said I just read something about next issue having an autopsy done on Steve Rogers… hard to come back from that. Not impossible however. Need I bring up the time when Punisher was brought back as a demon? Now he seems pretty normal. I think this Marvel administration is not going to bring back Steve but all it takes is one creative writer to want him back and it’ll happen. The fan outcry may also play into effect, just like Spider-Man’s clone saga. (For those not in the know, the clone saga basically said that Peter Parker was a clone and had been since the 70’s and this new blonde Peter who went by Ben was the real deal and Peter would soon die because clones weren’t met to last this long… needless to say they later switched it back to Peter being the real one and the original Green Goblin screamed “It was me Peter! It was me all along!” (bonus points to those who get that quote))

The issue brings up more questions than a normal “death of” character story. Like what was Nick Fury planning on doing? Busting him out of the handcuffs? Steve wanted to be taken in. He wasn’t captured. He surrendered! What could Fury possibly be planning? It seemed Steve noticed the sniper long before the trigger was pulled, why didn’t he say anything? He didn’t yell sniper until the bullet pierced his skin. The only thing I can think of is that he was more afraid of the innocent people that would get shot if he was pulled in quickly. Who else was in the room with Red Skull? We saw their faces but I didn’t really recognize them. Does this go higher than Red Skull? Why show the Red Skull so soon? Wouldn’t it be more climatic if we find out it was Red Skull at the end of the Fallen Son mini?

As posted by Tom Brevoort “it’s better to be successful than popular“. This killing of Steve Rogers isn’t a popular choice, but it’s selling like hotcakes (do those seriously sell anymore?). Issue 25 is a well written story. The art is good. It just seems the audience right now is in an uproar over Steve’s apparent death. It’s getting a ton of buzz which is exactly what they wanted to get in the first place. They’ve had both kinds of responses, the “I hate that Marvel is killing an icon” and the “It’s a powerful story and it’s a nice end to Steve Rogers”. I can see both sides. But what happens in 3 years when they bring back the icon? The story loses it’s power. And it’s just a cheap trick to get sales. Unless they can get someone to write the perfect story to bring Steve back and things don’t return to the status quo. Marvel always talks about “universe changing events” but have a hard time sticking to them.

With Steve gone, but Marvel saying the title will remain, it begs the question how can you have a Captain America comic without Steve Rogers? Well it seems they’re going to find a new Captain America. I personally think they should call him something else. Maybe Patriot (I know it’s taken) or something else, but thats just me. The internet is a buzz with possible replacements. There’s even a rumor that the government itself is going to name a replacement. Here’s a list of some

• Punisher - He does have caps mask (picked it up in Civil War 7) and he is sporting a more patriotic but I don’t see that lasting too long. It’s more out of respect for Steve, I think Frank knows he’s no Steve Rogers. And would the government approve of him?
• Falcon - I could see this happening. He’s very cynical but I the death of his friend Steve could change him. Then again he did already track down the sniper who took him out. He might only be out to get Red Skull and give up the title after that.
• Hawkeye - I’m not sure I could see Captain America with a bow and arrow. So I hope they’d change that but other than that I could see it happen.
• USAgent - I seriously doubt it. He’s up in Canada now because of the Civil War. What would make him come back to America? The government has backed him before.
• Iron Man - He’s taking Cap’s death hard but I don’t see it happening at all. I don’t think he could have 3 titles (Iron Man, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D and Captain America)
• Sharon Carter - the woman who loves Steve Rogers and shot him under hypnosis. I’m not sure I see this happening, but it would be a nice spin on things.
• The Taskmaster - Unlikely, but I could see the government hire him to train the new cap. They’ve hired him before.
• Clay Quarterman - S.H.I.E.L.D. veteran, former Hulkbuster. I know nothing about this guy.
• Jessica Jones - I don’t see it happening. She just had a kid, unless Luke Cage is going to be a stay at home dad.
• Bucky - Everyone’s betting on the winter soldier. And it makes sense.
• Luke Cage - I don’t see him in tights. He did however take over the leadership role of the Underground Avengers (New Avengers). But something major is going to have to happen for the government to appoint him as the new Captain America.

I think they should do a completely new character. Someone we haven’t seen before. Someone like Steve, very patriotic loves the ideas of America, stands up for what he believes in all that stuff. I was talking to someone recently and they mentioned having Captain America being a title like Green Lantern. Also mentioned making him Arabic. Which I don’t think is a bad idea. Too many people have a negative view of Arabs because of the whole terrorist thing, but we’ve had Arab Americans years before the majority of America became aware of the middle east. Why not make the new Cap reflect that melting pot that is America?