Last week our friends at Marvel released the anticipated "Steve Rogers: Captain America #1" by Nick Spencer. Just to give some background on to why this was so anticipated, Steve Rogers the Captain America we have all known for the past 75 years had given his mantle up to his partner and friend Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon. Steve did this because his super soldier serum was wearing off and he could not go on as Captain America anymore, therefore he gave his legacy to Sam. "Steve Rogers: Captain America" leads with Steve having his powers back with an all new uniform, shield and feel to the hero we know and adore.
The Internet went crazy just minutes after the issue went on shelves because the writer, Nick Spencer, did one of the most unspeakable things any comic reader would expect, he made Captain America a bad guy. "Hail Hydra." With just two simple words our hero that we have adored for all of these years has apparently turned into a member of the evil German organization known as Hydra and apparently after his 75 years of service with S.H.I.E.L.D and The Avengers he has been secretly a part of Hydra. This crushed and shocked so many fans of Marvel and just left the comic community feeling mostly lost and confused as to why Marvel would take this move. Nick Spencer, in many fans eyes, killed an American icon that is so close to so many people. Nick Spencer has received many death threats and pretty harmful tweets about his run on the hero, and he hasn't even had the chance to get issue #2 out on shelves. The series is already getting petitions and it's own twitter hashtag "#BOYCOTTCAPTAINAMERICA." You see in America you can hate Donald Trump, call Hilary Clinton every name in the book but dammit if you mess with Captain America then you have drawn the line.
This doesn't make sense to anyone that keeps up with pop culture; this has hit every media site and has caused such a controversy inside the comic community that fans have threatened to just quit reading Marvel all together. Marvel has done some bold things within their continuity like making Doctor Octopus Spider-Man, or turning Thor into a woman (Gods of Asgard forbid we have a kick-ass Thor that's a woman without somebody getting butt hurt). Marvel, regardless of the hate they have received in the past, has made these stories work, and made them interesting and memorable. This story arc has received a lot of attention but it is a ride Marvel has sat us on and we as readers should sit back and wait and see where this may go. Marvel has gotten people talking about comics again and has hit people in a way that most things in our media hasn't. Personally, I hope there is some great story or surprise planned for Captain America in these next issues because I for one don't want that hope and pride that Steve Rogers gave me to disappear with this writer changing the "America" part of this hero. I mean, he punched Hitler in the face. Wouldn't you?
Remember kids, always find something you love and hold onto it. It will always be by your side through anything and everything.
