The American Dream is Dead

March 7, 2007 marked the day in which after 60 years one man, one icon, died. This man was Steve Rogers, who most would know as Captain America. His death came after the end of a Civil War between the heroes of the Marvel Universe, and was done in front of millions of fictional citizens of the world in which Marvel takes place; a world not much different than our own.

Captain America, a hero since 1941, was shot by a sniper (old enemy Crossbones) when brought to Federal Court in NYC after his surrender during the Civil War. Crossbones, the sniper, is a common accessory to Red Skull, Rogers' most deadly enemy who has plotted revenger over the last few months. Captain America Volume 5, issue 25, is the result of this plot. Red Skull, who had been hiding as Secretary of Defense in the American Government, maneveured to have Rogers' court date here, where Crossbones then targeted an officer bringing Captain in to the courthouse. Rogers' took the shot and knocked the officer out of the way, and Agent 13 (Sharon Carter) Rogers' girlfriend ran to him immediately afterwards. Captain was then shot three more times by a handgun in the abdomen. This was a subconcious brainwashing move by Dr. Fastus, another longtime Captain America villain, who was in-league with Red Skull. The brainwashing victim was Agent 13, who shot her lover with no knowledge of her doing so. It was only afterwards that Sin, another Red Skull flunky made her remember what she did. By then it was too late, and Captain America lie dead on a gurney.

Meanwhile, Crossbones was apprehanded by the Falcon, and the Winter Soldier. The Falcon is Cap's longtime ally since the '70s, and the Winter Soldier is the original Bucky whose story is too much to get into here.

This is only the first issue of 9 in this story arc, so there is more to come, but for now, Captain America is dead.

With rumours of a movie though, one cannot say for how long. Though some speculate that Steve Rogers might be dead, but Captain America, as a symbol, may live on through someone else.

Sadly for me, I did not get the better cover shown at the top of this post, but this variant one due to the comic selling out in large numbers. Saleswise, the comic is going like hotcakes and there is already a demand for a second printing which will arrive by the end of the month. Due to the knowledge of the event being classified, not all stores knew to order enough, and so sold out quickly making some readers angry.