In A Sea Of Comic Art

As a fan of the New York Jets many would diagnose me as something of a masochist. For years the team was awful and thus head shrinks began speculating that the fan base really needed to lose and have something to complain about because we would not know how to accept success.

Well as a long-time diehard fan of Marvel Comics I could not have predicted such glory days for the characters and comics I grew up with. I began reading Marvel Comics – especially Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil and Hulk – in the mid 80’s. I suffered through the speculator boom in the late 90’s and was dumbfounded when Marvel went bankrupt. I worried my heroes were defeated by the almighty dollar after having survived numerous attacks from Dr. Doom et al. Now Marvel is surging. They’re the top publisher and their films can do no wrong – and they’re really good. Iron Man was sensational and Robert Downey, Jr. has been reborn and was born to play Tony Stark. Thor was very good and a super fun movie with very good performances and now Captain America has stormed the screens and de-throned a certain little British magician for top spot on box office even if for just one week.

The movie was brilliant. Again, Marvel has struck casting gold with Chris Evans. He was excellent as the Human Torch and he played Cap perfectly. He showed enormous heart, which is what Cap is all about at the very core. The size of Steve Rogers heart is so much more incalculable than his frail 98 pound frame. That is the true message of the story. If Spider-Man is all about responsibility than Captain America is about never giving up no matter what hand you are dealt.

New Captain America #1 cover by Steve McNiven and Mark Morales featuring the return of Steve Rogers as Captain America.

There was immense pressure with this film. What time period do you set a movie about a man out of time? The schlock, uninformed Hollywood studios and directors of a decade ago would have butchered the movie by ignoring the history and setting Cap’s origin in modern-day Iraq or Afghanistan. Thankfully Marvel was in control and did it right by setting the film in WWII. The cast was sensational: Stanley Tucci, Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, and Hugo Weaving were superb. They even added the Howling Commandos! The action was top notch and the FX were kept to a very un-Michael Bay minimum so as not to overload the senses. It was such a joy to see. I even loved the mock propaganda tour replete with catchy theme song (that I thankfully can’t get out of my head!) With nods to the Original Human Torch and even a prop cameo of the oh so wonderful Captain America Comics #1!!! It was just a fanboys delight and so much more. A very good movie very well done. Go see it. I promise you will enjoy it! Go Cap go!