Here's a question. [Music] Captain America is not the first character that was created as war propaganda, but he is certainly the most enduring and widely known. Blindly patriotic Hitler puncher? He's been that. Anti-government dissident? He's been that too. Jingoistic France hater? ...Yes. But most often he has been the defender of the defenceless regardless of what country they hail from. Because that's what America does, right? Right? [Music] Hugely popular during the war, Cap was revived in 1964 and has remained one of Marvels most popular characters ever since. But he's not just any super person, he's Captain America! So, how has his American-ness and the changing landscape of American culture influenced his many iterations over the years? Well, prepare to be unfrozen many times over. This is Loose Cannon, Captain America. [Music] [Music] The Superhero genre was only about 3 years old when Cap punched his way onto the scene. In 1941, Timely Comics released Captain America comics number one a full 9 months before the U.S. even declared war, and it became very popular very quickly. Once the U.S. did go to war, Captain America comics were sent in huge numbers to American troops overseas, and in contrast to the jaded troops we see in the 2011 film Nice boots Tinkerbell! Captain America comics were actually super popular. They were cheap, easy to ship entertainment that also boosted morale; and you know, were propaganda. Troops saw themselves in the stalwart, manly Cap, and the kids back home saw themselves in Bucky Barnes, Captain America's young ward sidekick Captain America's enemies were usually fictionalized Nazi types; the Red Skull being the most popular and enduring. Steve Rogers in contrast is strong, pure and masculine. He has no interest in the underlying cause of the conflicts. Like all comic heroes of the day, he just knows that punching faces will solve the problem forever. The German, Jewish defector scientists; originally Doctor Reinstein, a very thinly veiled allusion to the real story of Albert Einstein, leaves Germany and helps the U.S. invent a super serum to create an army of super soldiers. But then he's killed by a Nazi assassin, and Steve ends up the only one. But it's okay, because now we have Captain America. So, in a way Steve Rogers is like the atomic bomb you know, if we had made only one, and he became a popular franchise character. Normally this sort of Frankenstein story is a cautionary, 'don't play God' kind of thing, but, hey, it's war. Works out fine for Steve. Yeah, we got our own own Übermensch; he doesn't like you Hitler. Cap didn't work out too well in the post war context. Unlike Superman who didn't have the very specific 'defeat Hitler' reason for being. Captain America became a little lost. In the 1950's the comics industry created the CCA as the monitoring agent at the height of the McCarthy era. This resulted in Cap being rebranded as a 'Commie Smasher' Because of course! This version did not do too well, and the comic folded in 1954. So that was that? Not quite. [Music] The company by 1964, known as Marvel Comics, decided, hey, let's bring Captain America back and make him part of the nascent Avengers. Captain 'Commie Smasher' got retconned. See the real Steve Rogers disappeared with Bucky Barnes in 1944. Neither of their bodies were found. Both were presumed dead until the Avengers find him frozen in the North Atlantic. Cap also has one of the more homogeneous origin stories, so strap in, we're about to see a lot of white dudes get thawed. It is here that Captain America finally has a defining character trait. You know, besides punching. Being the man out of time and reconciling his identity as an American icon with the constantly changing times. Since the 60's Cap a mainstay of the Avengers, as well as a star of his own title. In 1969 he partnered with Marvel's first African-American Superhero. African-American. Black Panther is African. Sam Wilson, a.k.a. The Falcon. In fact for most of the 70's the book as rebranded as 'Captain America and the Falcon'. And given that Vietnam just happened, and we're not too like patriotic in the 70's. how did the Cap spend his days back then? Why, helping the Falcon patrol Harlem and keeping the kids off the street of course! Captain America and the Falcon dealt heavily with issues of race and class and race and race is fabulous. But, being Captain America his relationship with his country and his in-universe place as an American icon is a recurring theme. He sits Vietnam out altogether. After Watergate, Steve resigns as Captain America and becomes 'Nomad', the man without a country. It's actually a lot less emo than it sounds, and it didn't last terribly long. He resigned again during the Reagan Administration because he won't go along with the Government's idea of what he should be, since the Government owns the rights to Captain America or something. His replacement embodied a very different American ideal. John Walker had a jingoistic attitude that reflected the large segment of American culture during the Reagan years. He's more of a Rambo, than a Chris Evans. Though, when Steve does eventually reassume his alter ego he decided that Captain America identity is a symbol of America's ideal , rather than it's Government. Who decides these ideals? Steve; and, you know, whoever is writing him. I'm just gonna skip talking about the 90's. Except, you should know that Cap was a Werewolf at one point. He was a werewolf.. Now let's talk about the adaptations. [Music] He shook so many of them out of the trees that they coined a nickname for him. Captain America Captain America? After the success of the Incredible Hulk and Wonder Woman, CBS thought 'Hey, who else can we make a superhero show out of?' And what more obvious a choice to capture the late 70's disillusionment with the U.S. and the economic ennui than Captain America? American Ideal Little tough to find these days isn't it. Not if you know where to look. Right on. CBS ended up commissioning two TV movies, and while the first one is considerably worse than the second; due mostly to the presence of slumming Christopher Lee in the sequel, they are both pretty bad. How much more, in game, will there be? Steve Rogers is played by former USC football player and future Big McLarge huge, Red Brown. He is not a soldier, nor does he aspire to be. In fact, I'm not sure what he is really, other than like, you know, an Easy Rider. I've been coming down the coast, slow and easy, kicking back. Some science types want him to do the serum for some reason. He doesn't want to.. Because.. I just want to kick back; find out who I am. Hey I don't need this. Steve drives off a cliff early on, damaging only his shirt, because the the bad guys, or something. The second time he drives off a cliff, it turns out maybe it's going to be a problem. And the scientists' super serum came in order to save his life. So, this version goes down as the only one where his injection is non-consensual. He eventually adopts the moniker Captain America because his father embodied the American ideal. That he believed in American ideal and he tried to live it. Really a lot. Somehow people called him Captain America as a joke. If I'm going to be Captain America. I want to be the same Captain America my father was, in every way. I don't just want to do the things he did, I want to look the way he did as well. Because For reasons that I'm sure made sense at the time, CBS mandated that the film not be too close to the comics, and the result only resembles Captain America in that he's the product of a drug experiment, and, that's pretty much it. and they are trying to make the Captain America thing work, and it just lands with an unimaginable thud. It's perfect. Be Captain America, Steve. Jam Captain America down their throats. The late 70's being a time of disillusionment in the American dream and crumbling economy was not a great atmosphere for a Captain America TV show. But, even that doesn't excuse the bewildering choices made for this sucker. Onward. [Music] [Roars] From the director of Cyborg, Nemesis, and Cyborg Nemesis, and starring Matt Salinger of J.D. Salinger's son fame, this starts not with the Captain's childhood backstory, but Red Skull's. This version didn't have a theatrical release because when the studio took a look at the finished product, they went 'Nope, we're not releasing that. Direct-to-video it is.' But the first third does take place in the 40's. Which looks an awful lot like the 80's. So after the the super serum he goes on his first mission and fails utterly and immediately. Fifty years later, he gets unfrozen and the President sends his chunk friend played by Ned Beatty instead of you know, Secret Service, military, Sled dogs, anyone, to Alaska to get Steve after he has been unfrozen Caveman lawyer. Seeing this guys German and Japanese devices he steals the guys car. Don't leave me out here Aw Captain America This is no the only time in the film he steals a car, by-the-by, No, no, stop Like the Red Baron and hell even the 1944 serial version, the fact that he's Captain America is completely incidental. This guy is Captain America in that he is a zenophobic asshole who steals cars. Don't leave me out here. Next. [Music] The Ultimates was intended to be a more realistic and gritty reboot of the Marvel Universe. But this book was running alongside the likes of Grant Morrison's new X-Men which was already plenty.. that so in order to differentiate itself, the Ultimate Universe had to go really Grimdark Enter Mark Miller, Patron Saint of Angry Thirteen year old boys. Ultimate Captain America is less an extreme version and more a logical alternative. I say 'logical' in that some people have argued, Hey wouldn't a guy from the 40's be kind of a jingoisitic, belligerent prick? This version of Steve hangs out at the old folks home because he can't relate to the modern folk. You know what?
Sure, why not. He also hits people while they're defenseless, and starts fights when he's angry. He later murders his enemies after they are beaten and defenseless. Propping up the the ugly post 911 attitude on countries that weren't wild about American foreign policy at the time. Ulitimates also gives us probably the most infamous frame of the all of the Captain America comics. And it gets a full page too, and then an entire panel in the following issue congratulating itself on what a funny joke that was. Personally, I don't think someone for whom fighting alongside the French Resistance was only a few months ago to him would be toeing the party line of freedom fries. But hey It's not a completely unfair interpretation and there is something interesting about the idea that Steve is genuinely unable to relate to anyone under the age of 80. Even so, it figures that this would the only version who eventually becomes President. Next. [Music] Marvel's 1602 was a one-off mini-series written by Neil Gaiman. The basic thrust being that the events of the Marvel Universe took place four hundred years earlier, and they centered around the Roanoke Colony in Virginia. Blonde haired, blue eyed Steve Rogers is the Native American bodyguard to Virginia Dare. Rojhaz. See it only made sense to me once I said it out loud. The Native American part is sort hand waved away with like oh some Welshman must have gotten fresh with one of the natives like 23 years ago. But where are all of the other characters are actually of their time, Albeit like mutants. Turns out that Roj has the actual Captain America who was sent back in time from a future Fascist America. And it's Steves' presence in the past that makes it so that the heroes of his time appear 400 years earlier, instead of as we know it. So he's got to go back to the future or the universe will explode. Only, he doesn't want to go back you guys. See now that he's in the past, he can make it so all the American bad never happens. You know, we can circumvent the genocide of the natives. We can make it so slavery is never a thing. No McCarthyism, no Scientology,
no Space Jam. But, Nick Fury tricks him into going back, so, no better future America for you Cap. Nice try though. Moving on. There are roughly one shit million Marvel cartoons from the last 15 years, and about half of them are Avengers type things, and Captain America at least cameos in all of them. Here are ... some. [Music] Ultimate Avengers is implied by the title is loosely based on the first Ultimates limited run. It is boring and unremarkable. Hitler's dead. Hey
Except for that Red Skull, I can't believe somebody found you and thawed you out. The Super Hero Squad show is the rare Marvel based comedy. So the unfrozen Caveman lawyer aspect is not only played up, it seems to be Captain America's main defining attribute. Karaoke, it's Japanese. Yes, the Japanese are on our side now, and I bid them welcome. Oh, he's so happy we're friends. You're safe, you're with friends What are you? Some kind of Hydra automaton. Listen. Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes, marks the first attempted tie in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is also unremarkable. But, I do like how this show manages to cut Hitler out of World War 2 entirely. Apparently Hydra originated in a more like, Russia-ly direction. How does this contraption turn water into coffee? Is it coal power, or is it a miracle? Avenger Assemble, while not officially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon like say, Agent Carter, is based off the movie universe. So, with the exception of the Hulk, who is inexplicably articulate, and Falcon who does not share his movie counterpart's backstory. These are basically kid-ified versions of the movie characters. Anyway, moving on. [Music] Civil War may be the most well known arc in comics in which Captain America is a main player. Sadly. The basic premise is that the American Government passes a Super Human Registration Act. Iron Man supports it, Captain America opposes it. Everyone is completely out of character to make the whole 'Civil War' premise work. And it's terrible. So it's no real surprise that this too was written by odious fuck boy Mark Miller. Cap is portrayed as a short-sighted reactionary hot-head. Meanwhile, Tony Stark and Reed Richards create some sort of like, inter-dimensional space Gulag, where they keep unregistered super-people in order to make Steve's extremes seem justified. Civil War ends when he just kinda gives up in Issue 7 because fighting is bad and property damage you guys. You know, because he couldn't deduce that super hero fights might cause collateral damage and cost innocent lives. Steve is a host mess, but honestly the award for character assassination goes to poor Tony. Although the award for literal character assassination goes to Steve, as he gets assassinated at the end. Oh, he comes back. I don't want to discuss Civil War without mentioning also Ed Brubakers excellent run on Captain America. Which ran before, during and after Civil War. Brubaker's run is where the Winter Soldier Arc originated. Post assassination, who but Bucky takes over the role of Captain America. And the series ties in a lot with Steve's past in World War Two. There's even one scene where Cap praises the French, and says 'It really galls me to hear my own people dismissing the French as cowards'. hmmmm Next [Music] So speaking of military propaganda. [Music] But while this film didn't go down that road, it also doesn't shy away from Captain America's roots as propaganda either. [Cymbal Crashes] This movie opts not to demonize Nazis. Instead, they are also almost completely omitted in favor of Hydra. Hang glider back to the American ideal. Which is very specific reason of why Steve wants to go to war in the first place. Do you want to kill Nazis? I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies. Tommy Lee Jones' character has more traditional ideas on power and masculinity, and what makes a good soldier. In a way he is describing OG Captain America from the 40's Hodge passed every test we gave him. He's big, he's fast, he obeys orders.
He's a soldier. He's a bully. But in the end a super soldier isn't an ultra masculine jaw puncher, but a chaste, sensitive artist. First Steve is intuitive. And then he is self-sacrificing. His lack of pomposity is what makes the movie work. I had it. Sorry. That and Chris Evans, whose face has been kissed by the angels. Really Perfect casting. Nobody's perfect. I beg to differ. [Music] You know, the last time I was in Germany, and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing. Where Captain America the First Avenger ends with Steve as unfrozen caveman lawyer, the Avengers, Avengers Assemble in the U.K. for trademark reasons, serves as Steve's acclimation to the modern world. I went under, the world was at war. I wake up. They say we won. They didn't say what we lost. And while we're here, I'm going to quickly touch on this thing that comes up sometimes. If Steve left the world in 1944, how's he not a huge fucking racist? I was wrong director, the world hasn't changed a bit. Some people really hate the idea of Steve even mucking up by saying something that would have been totally acceptable in the 40's but isn't any more. You know, because Steve is just that intuitive. But even if he was the most egalitarian thing that ever lived, he'd probably say something well-meaning and inappropriate.. Oh my lucky stars, a negro But since the MCU is not our universe, and we've got some revisionist history going down therein because the Army in this World War 2 appears to be totally integrated. I'm going with the different universe, different rules. Yes. Word is you can find the cube? Is that the only word on me? Only word I care about. Steve Rogers, perfect human. Steve's paradigm shift in this one is more in the subtext, which for a movie as full as this is a good thing. He's a fish out of water but not obnoxiously so. I do not understand
I do. I understood that reference. He still talks like he's performing when his guard is up, and he calls Natasha Ma'am all the time. Captain Rogers. Ma'am. The closest we ever get to Steve Rogers not perfect human, is when he repeatedly tries to goad Tony into putting on his Iron Man suit so that they can punch it out like men. Put on the suit, let's go a few rounds. Put on the suit, let's find out. I'm not afraid to hit an old man. Put on the suit. This is very unlike movie Steve, but, then there's like, an evil Loki thing in the room, so, you know, OK? His arc is basically can he deal with fucking Tony Stark. Hold on, how is this now about me? I'm sorry, isn't everything. The modern Captain America stands in some contrast to movies like Man of Steel and Transformers which got heavy subsidies from the American Military, and did require script approval from the Government before they were allowed to receive these subsidies. Yes, this is still a thing. The Avengers rather famously sought and was denied the aforementioned DoD subsidy, and all of this stuff is off the book, so we may never know exactly what went on between Marvel and you know, the Government. But apparently the long and short of said denial was that the script wasn't propagandistic enough. I recognise the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-ass decision, I have elected to ignore it. Funny that. [Suspenseful Music] Where Captain America the First Avenger is a coming-of-age war story, The Winter Soldier is more of a conspiracy thriller. At the start of the movie Steve seems more comfortable with the unfrozen caveman lawyer thing. There are subtle changes in his language. For instance, he isn't calling Natasha Ma'am all the time. Where'd Captain America learn how to steal a car? I see what you did you there movie. Don't leave me out here! Aw When we first meet Sam Wilson, he immediately rejects the idea of the good old days as being a better time. You must miss the good old days, huh? Things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better, we used to boil everything. No polio is good, internet, so helpful. He doesn't deify the whole greatest generation thing. Winter Soldier is also much more topical. It deals with themes of Terrorism and Government Transparency. It is considerably less comic booky in tone than either the first movie, or the Avengers. Steve's main internal conflict is that of serving the country he knows, versus the changing nature of the country today. and I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders, sir, it's just not the same. So the the Captain America aspect is very front and center in the form of Steve's conflict. So the mid movie revealed that almost all of the bad things that have happened in the world since World War 2 is because Hydra had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. For seventy years, Hydra has been secretly feeding crisis. is, it's, it's lame. It's extremely lame. The word is lame. Hydra created a world so chaotic that humanity is finally ready to sacrifice its freedom. Like the the movie stops just short of implying that Hydra planned 911. And when history did not cooperate, History was changed. It's kind of nice to be able to stop blaming all of our problems on misfortune, bad people, and short-sighted international policy made in America's own self interest. Just say it's all Hydra's fault. Hang-glider. Given that the film deals heavily with Government surveillance, and with releasing information, we've come to an interesting full-circle. In the beginning, Cap was a blind patriot. Punching for his country without question. Now he defends American ideals, à la, Edward Snowden. Captain America defends freedom by giving the world transparency. And by letting Bucky punch his face. [Punching sounds] Steve Rogers, perfect human. There's been some kerfuffle recently over the current run of all new Captain America and the fact that Captain America is now black. Like, it's just some random black dude. World - it's Sam Wilson.
It's the Falcon. He's been Steve's partner for decades. He was in the movie and everything. You don't have to come with me. I know. When do we start. While a character must have a logical reason to be anything other than the default is a really lame cry for pushing back against more diverse characters. It is especially lame in this case. Steve is still there as a character. Only now his super serum has worn off
and he is aged. And Sam Wilson is in the early stages of figuring out what it means for him to be Captain America. and that is important because one thing that hasn't changed is American people's desire to see themselves in Cap. Even seventy years later, people still expect Cap to uphold what they see as American ideals. But that is part of why he is Steve Rogers, perfect human. People from all political walks of life can aspire to be compassionate, intuitive, trustworthy, adaptable,
and just. And that is just the character that Captain America has evolved into. As long as Mark Miller isn't writing him. [Music] If it doesn't stand for France, what does A stand for? Perhaps it stands for Abstract Personifications of Unfathomable Beings? This being the theme chosen by my patrons on Patreon for the next episode. So, here are your three options: If it's not clear, the options are God, Satan and Death. So, those are the choices. Here's the link for you to vote. The link is also below the video. If you like this show, please consider supporting it on Patreon, and I will announce the winner of this thing a couple of days on my twitter, which is here. Every fifth video will be my choice,
so the video after next is not going up for a vote. It will be my choice. Live in fear people. Thank you for watching and thank you for playing. [Music]
