Essay on Superhero Captain America in Marvel Comics

📌Category: Literary Genre, Literature
📌Words: 1018
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 25 June 2021

Superheroes are traditionally depicted as heroic leaders that fight criminals often using their superpowers like super strength, laser eyesight, telekinesis, or a combination of both. Although these superheroes serve more than what's printed in the pages of a three dollar comic book, each superhero is created from the roots of America's societal worries and issues. Heroes like Captain America are a prime example of the embodiment of American patriotism and freedom. He is a distinctive superhero not born with any superpower, yet uses enhanced mobility, agility, and reaction as a human. Emerging during the 1940s with global threats of WWII, and most importantly, when Americans were fearful for their lives and freedom. Captain America's comic strips served as hope for Americans and as a patriotic reminder of their freedoms and rights. Rooted from fears of terrorism and national security during WWII, Captain America continues to be a reminder of our freedom and democracy in the modern-day.

The beginning of Captain America's adventures started during America's emergence from the Great Depression and then immediately partaking in WWII. One year before the creation of Captain America, "the German Wehrmacht launched a lightning attack into France and within weeks destroyed the combined French and British armies" (Davis). Nazi Germany’s influence was militarily aggressive and quickly took over substantial European powers in a matter of weeks. With this lack of certainty of their protection, Americans manifested radical fears of being overtaken by Hitler as he became a worldwide threat to global sovereignty. Displayed in "1940, a grow- ing number of Americans, particularly Jewish Americans, were becoming increasingly aware of the threat posed by the Nazi regime overseas" (Hall, 136-142). At this time, frenzies of panic were spreading throughout the country, and just coming out from the Great Depression, America was even more vulnerable. American society had trapped itself in a continuous circle of fear and forgot its patriotism in the works-America needed a hero. The introduction of Captain America brought hope to the citizens through his American flag-themed costumes and indestructible shield, he truly embodied America, and it's fights for American interests (Dittmer, 177-178). Captain America, also known as Steve Rogers, clearly resembled American patriotism that Americans lacked at the time. During his battles with the Nazis, he continually reigned as the victor, giving reinforcements of hope to Americans to also come out as victors of WWII. The war was the most devastating conflict ever experienced in world history resulting in the deaths of 50,000,000 people. Rogers became a real force that motivated soldiers of the Armed Forces whose world was saturated with constant real threats from overseas. He ultimately came to be a goal and symbolic figure to look up to for the people. Overall, this era riddled Americans with uneasiness, and the premiere of Captain America served to fight for individualistic freedom and protection of American citizens.

In early 1941, Joe Simon and Jack Kerby created Captain America, a new character for the Marvel Comics. Both authors were Jewish, so they were aroused to defy the mood of isolationism in America due to the threat. This lead to the creation of "Captain America [who] would…[represent] American intervention against the Axis powers" (Wright, 429-30). Therefore, Captain America's main storyline would be centralized around the Nazi powers and his actions to subdue them in America. For America to escape this isolation and weakness, this heroic figure paved the way for Americans to refind themselves. The very first plot being regarded as a "rallying cry for the American public to support the war effort," as the front page depicted a Nazi being hit by Captain America (Rose, 355-59). From the beginning, the Captain America comic's purpose was to fight and defeat the Nazis. His heroic actions symbolize American patriotism and strength while also calling for American power for WWII. As the comic was widespread, readers gradually incorporated the comical strength of Captain America into their own lives; that Americans are not powerless against the Nazi powers. Reminders like these surrounding American patriotism and the enforcement of liberty persisted in one Captain America comic strip called "A Political World." Here, authors, Simon and Kerby, made readers recall the importance of American ideals and freedom, "America is nothing! Without its ideals--its commitment to the freedom of all men" (Cronin). It is straightforward that Captain America's morales were to ensure that America remains a great country through the instillment of freedom and liberty to all men. During the time of crisis, we must remind ourselves of our rights and freedoms, and ensure that justice is enforced and maintained. In summation, Captain America's noble actions throughout the comic strips imply that Americans must put forth the priority of their rights for safety and freedom in order to protect America.

Regarding current American events, Captain America is in need as there are still threats to the democracy, safety, and freedom of Americans. The modern-day United States is experiencing a plethora of constant threats worldwide, but the main attacker is by the dictatorship of North Korea. With its development and testing of large military missiles, American people are threatened by the North Korean nuclear crisis and the anxiousness sprouting from these terrorist-like threats and including threats to national security. North Korea currently holds a stockpile of these missiles in order to "hold U.S., allied forces, and civilian areas at risk" with developments for longer-ranged missile technology (Missiles). Captain America's intentions of keeping America safe will remain the same as the national threat to security is similar to that of WWII. Although this is a delicate situation, Roger will have to approach it differently than aggressively apprehending criminals since not just American lives are at stake, but people of countries surrounding North Korea and North Korean citizens are also at risk. The progression of technology, the usage of advanced weapons would replace the rifles of WWII. Inconclusively, Captain America is the symbol of American patriotism that is still needed as much in the current day as during the 1940s as global threats to security and freedom persists.

Captain America continues to be a popular superhero in the twentieth century. His character, although different from the era of WWII, continues to be a symbol of patriotism, individualistic freedom, and a sign of protection to Americans. The character of Steve Rogers was first brought up during WWII to defeat the Nazis in comic strips, but also to carry away the fears of Americans given the international threat. Coupled with his indestructible shield, he still protects the idealism of American freedom. As terrorism continues to evolve and develop, Captain America is more needed for the protection of freedom, rights, and as insurance to citizens in the unforeseen future.

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