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The Death of Captain America

(Golden Age Debut: Captain America Comics # 1 in March, 1941)

(Silver Age Debut: Avengers vol. 1, # 4 in March, 1964)

(Modern Age Death: Captain America vol. 5, # 25 in March, 2007)

 

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Breaking News...Captain America is shot dead in New York...

"It’s a hell of a time for him to go. We really need him now." Joe Simon, co-creator of Captain America, March 7, 2007

Captain America's Obituary--by the History Guy

The Death of Captain America

 Captain America Death

 

Captain America, alias Steve Rogers, is dead at 89, his comic book age, and at 66, his comic book publication age. He was assassinated by a sniper (and perhaps other shooters) on March 7, 2007 as he entered a Federal Courthouse to face charges for leading a superhero rebellion against the government during the recently concluded Marvel Civil War (2006-2007).

Captain America served his country during World War Two, fighting against the Nazis and leading early teams of superheroes as they fought against fascism and tyranny. During the Cold War, Cap (as he was known to his friends), helped protect America from Communist agents and super-powered villains alike. Many of his adventures with the Avengers super-team involved defending the entire planet from extraterrestrial threats, including invasions by various alien races.

The Avengers

The Star-Spangled Avenger also defended his country from internal threats, including Watergate-like political conspiracies and unsavory politicians. Perhaps his greatest challenge came in 2006, when he publicly and violently split with his close friend and comrade-in-arms, Iron Man. The two erstwhile Avengers landed on opposite sides in the Marvel Civil War. Iron Man sided with the government, which sought to register all superheroes and make them government agents. Captain America led a collection of heroes who opposed this new law on the grounds that it violated the Constitution and trampled on American traditions of civil liberty and justice.

After finally surrendering to Iron Man the government at the end of the Marvel Civil War, Captain America was entering a Federal Courthouse in New York City to face charges related to leading the superhero rebellion. Shots rang out, and Captain America fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. His death was announced shortly thereafter. Evidence suggests that his assassination was part of conspiracy led by the Red Skull, but also involving the mind-controlling Doctor Faustus, outlaw geneticist Arnim Zola,and Crossbones, a long-time henchman of the Red Skull.

Captaiin America

Captain America Links and Resources:

Captain America Vol. 5 # 25: Death of A Dream --Info and analysis on the 25th issue of Captain America, which features the shooting death of the Sentinel of Liberty.

Links on Captain America's Death:

Captain America shot and killed: Living legend assassinated on steps of Federal Courthouse--By The Daily Bugle Staff at Marvel.com

Fans: Captain America Died For His Ideals: 66-Year-Old Superhero Shot Dead In Struggle Between Civil Liberties And National Security-CBS News, March 10, 2007

O Captain! Our Captain!: Stan Lee and Marvel Comics’s Joe Quesada contemplate Captain America's surprising death.--By Samantha Henig, Newsweek, Updated: 7:03 a.m. PT March 9, 2007

Captain America, Marvel Comic Hero, Dies in New Issue (Update2) --By Tom Randall, March 7, 2007

Comic Book version of America dies, too--March 7, 2007

The audacity! Marvel Comics kills off Captain America--Michael Senft, The Arizona Republic, Mar. 8, 2007 12:00 AM

 

The Life of Captain America:

During World War Two, Steve Rogers attempted to volunteer for the military. Due to his weak physical condition, the military rejected him. However, Steve Rogers was selected to take part in a secret government experiment, which attempted to create a 'super-soldier.'

The experiment succeeded, turning Rogers into a muscular physical specimen with the athletic ability of a trained Olympic athlete. The government gave him a red, white, and blue costume, a star spangled shield, and code-named him "Captain America." Throughout World War Two, Captain America fought against the Axis, often side by side with ordinary soldiers. He also served alongside other heroes from several Allied nations, including the first Human Torch, the Torch's sidekick, Toro, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and others. Captain America's most important ally, and his best friend, was Bucky (Bucky Barnes), a young man who discovered Captain America's secret identity and convinced the Captain to let him become his sidekick. (It should be noted, that in the comic book business, i.e. the "real world," many heroes acquired sidekicks, the most famous probably being Robin, the Boy Wonder, who partnered with Batman.)

In modern Marvel Universe continuity, (often called 'canon'), the characters of Captain America and Bucky were supposedly killed near the end of World War Two while stopping a scheme by the first Baron Zemo to launch a missile at the U.S. According to canon, Captain America was thrown clear of the high-flying missile as it exploded, landing in the frozen waters of the north Atlantic. Due to the super-soldier formula in his blood, Captain America survived in frozen animation until discovered by the recently formed superhero group, the Avengers. (Avengers vol. 1, #4). The world thought both Captain America and Bucky had died during that last war mission, and news of Captain America's survival and resurrection were greeted with wonder and acclamation. America still remembered him as one of her greatest heroes.

Captain America soon joined the Avengers, and quickly became the team's leader. The respect afforded him by other heroes cannot be underestimated. In team-ups (episodes when normally un-allied heroes and/or teams gather together to fight villains), Captain America was always the automatic tactical leader.

 

Nicknames: Cap, The Sentinel of Liberty, Star-Spangled Avenger

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Family

Joseph Rogers --Father; deceased

Sarah Rogers --Mother; deceased

Sharon Carter --Off and on again lover, secret agent for S.H.I.E.L.D.

Associates, Colleagues, & Opponents

Friends & Allies

Bucky

Human Torch I

Namor, The Sub-Mariner

The Invaders

The Avengers

The Fantastic Four

Iron Man

Thor

Nick Fury

Enemies

Barons Zemo I & II

The Red Skull

Crossbones

Doctor Faustus

Arnim Zola

Hydra

AIM

The Hate-Monger

 

Links and Resources on Captain America

The Star-Spangled Site--Information resource for those who want to know more about one of Marvel Comics' earliest superheroes.

Marvel Directory: Captain America--A directory of Marvel Universe heroes.

Captain America-Wikipedia article.

Michael Medved on Captain America on National Review Online--critical article by a nationally syndicated columnist.

Continuity Pages: Captain America :A study of Captain America, published by Marvel Comics. Written by Julian Darius.

Captain America Webring

Captain America: Superhero of the Military-Industrial Complex--By Nick Turse -political article about how the Pentagon is trying to create a real version of a Captain America-like super soldiers.

Comic Book Milestones-- A celebration of Captain America vol. 1, # 337.

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