The year is 1941, and the Second World War is being waged across the globe. The axis powers are attempting to dominate the world, headed by one of the most influential people of all time, Adolf Hitler. The world needs a hero, the world needs Captain America!
Captain America, alter ego Steve Rodgers is a product of his time, and is one of the most influential heroes in the comic universe. He is the leader of the avengers, the Unity Squad, and more. Of course, he is the embodiment of the American way and universal freedom, so he basically a metaphor for how the United States saw itself in the war time.
In the comics, Cap fought against the forces of Hydra, a Nazi offshoot that conducts evil experiments to crush the allied powers. The organization is created and led by the Red Skull, a red faced villain who wants to control the world. Of course, Cap always came out on top since that was what America would do, win the war. The interesting thing about the character of Captain America is not the fact that he beats the bad guys, it’s HOW he does it.
Captain America’s signature weapon is his stared red, white and blue shield. He could use anything: a gun, a sword, any weapon that would be fatal in defeating a foe. Instead, he uses a shield, an item that protects. The shield represents the goal of America: protect. They were in the war to help protect the world, or so we say to this day. Cap served as a piece of propaganda in the 40’s to convince readers that America wanted to help and protect their allies, not come in and take over the world. Not only that, but Cap can be viewed as a propaganda piece to enlist.
Steve Rodgers was a frail kid before getting the super serum that would turn him into Captain America. He wanted to enlist in the armed forces, but his small stature made him unable. If you have seen the new Captain America movie, you see that because Steve was such a good, caring individual, he got the serum to make him the ultimate soldier. In other words, if you as an American were feeling small because of this frightening war going on, you can become big and powerful by joining the armed forces and assisting your country in defeating the enemy.
Cap might be a metaphor for the US, but his publication history is a bit choppy. After the war in 1950, the comic came to a halt in favor of new characters that were more popular. It was not until 1963 that the flag clad hero came back in a continuing publication. Even though Captain America was in essence America itself, he still got the cutting block a few times.
Captain America has had a rough past. He has recently made a resurgence as the “first Avenger” and with the Marvel movies coming out, we should be seeing plenty of him over the next few years. But, as a symbol of an old American Dream, is Cap ready for a new changing world that he no longer fits into? Or can his revival bring back the America that existed post World War II?
I should note, none of this is an official analysis of Captain America. This is all what I think about the character and what he stands for.