They Killed Cap!

[Cthulhudrew]

Actually, according to The Truth, there was a black Captain America before Steve Rogers.

That's not quite right. Steve Rogers was still the first Captain America. Isaiah Bradley was part of a group wherein they attempted to duplicate the Super Soldier formula that created Cap, and he ended up wearing a variation of Cap's costume in a mission subsequently. I don't think he was ever "officially" given the Captain America moniker.

He was supposed to have been the first Cap (that was the goal of the mini, as I understand it), but in the last issue they declared that his appearance was after Cap's creation.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Something else about the whole "Cap's out of touch with the American populace" thing that just struck me and irritates me. This is another theme that Gruenwald touched on in his Cap run back in the 80's- he had Cap leave New York to go roaming around the nation in his Cap Van for that reason- because he wanted to get back in touch with the people, and really be a hero to the people, not just to New York or the Avengers. Even Mark Waid touched on it (very briefly) in his run on the post-Heroes Reborn Cap, where Cap was confronted with images of American hegemony in Japan. Not to mention that Cap hasn't been living in the 40s for a long time now- even by Marvel's sliding timescale. He's very much a modern day American, and all this "out of touch" nonsense is just a throwback in regards to his characterization.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

And in other news- Is this the new Captain America?

 

[Mouseferatu]

And in other news- Is this the new Captain America?

Oh, God.

Shoot me now.

Edit: Unless... If this is

A) A very temporary thing, and

B) The Punisher actually starts allowing the expectations of the identity to reshape him, perhaps becoming more like the real Cap and less a crazed psychopath, it might be an interesting character arc.

But I think such expectations are ridiculously high...

 

[Felon]

He is not dead.

He's dead, Vig. It was going to happen sooner or later.

 

[Felon]

Not to mention that Cap hasn't been living in the 40s for a long time now- even by Marvel's sliding timescale. He's very much a modern day American, and all this "out of touch" nonsense is just a throwback in regards to his characterization.

You make it sound like characterization is a trivial thing. For a comic book character, it's everything.

 

[wingsandsword]

He's dead, Vig. It was going to happen sooner or later.

How many major, "A-list" Superheroes, the sorts of superhero that the typical person who isn't a comics geek and may have heard of (or seen in the movies or on TV ect.) have died and stayed dead? I can't think of one.

Especially within Marvel, who is downright notorious for the impermanent comic book death. DC has killed off or otherwise permanently lost some characters, but only to replace them with another person using the same identity (Robin, Flash, Green Lantern come to mind)

Those of us who are only casual fans of superheroic exploits still remember being burned by the whole "Death of Superman" thing, so the "Death of Captain America" comes out with skepticism. Just like if they had a "Death of Spiderman" or "Death of Batman" (not just being crippled, being confirmed dead as a doornail) plotline, people will be skeptical now.

 

[Black Omega]

Especially within Marvel, who is downright notorious for the impermanent comic book death. DC has killed off or otherwise permanently lost some characters, but only to replace them with another person using the same identity (Robin, Flash, Green Lantern come to mind)

Robin - Jason Todd has been back.

Pretty much all the Green Lanterns are back, including Hal Jordan. Even the Green Lanterns he left floating in space without their rings were brought back.

Flash is still dead at least, but with the time travel thing, I think he's turned up once. His nemisis, Prof. Zoom, has returned thanks to time travel. He gave Wally West grief, but it was before his death in his own personal timeline.

Edit: Though now that I think about it the original Supergirl is still dead and she has to be one of the more famous deaths, right up there with Barry Allen.

 

[Klaus]

Robin - Jason Todd has been back.

Pretty much all the Green Lanterns are back, including Hal Jordan. Even the Green Lanterns he left floating in space without their rings were brought back.

Flash is still dead at least, but with the time travel thing, I think he's turned up once. His nemisis, Prof. Zoom, has returned thanks to time travel. He gave Wally West grief, but it was before his death in his own personal timeline.

Edit: Though now that I think about it the original Supergirl is still dead and she has to be one of the more famous deaths, right up there with Barry Allen.

Supergirl was rebooted. The current Supergirl is Kara Zor-El again.

Flash (Barry Allen) told Wally he'd show up in the three most terrible days in Wally's life, to help him. He already showed up twice.

And I agree with Mouse on the linked picture.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm surprised there's all this emphasis on Steve Rogers being alive.

Not me. I want him DEAD. Let somebody else don the mask and strap the shield.