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Captain America as a patriot
People who don’t know comics and who especially don’t know Captain America will tell you how much they dislike him or how boring they find him because he’s just a super patriot, blind to anything but America. This probably, though I have not confirmed this, is probably not helped by literally every video game he appears in since he always spouts off lines about how no one can beat America and he’s been fighting America haters (or Americaters) since before you were born.
Guys, this is not okay.
Yes, Captain America loves America. Yes, he loves justice. Yes, he hates Nazis and Hitler and terrorists and things that aren’t apple pie (that’s blatantly untrue). But that does not make him a government tool. Guess what I love? America, justice, apple pie, hating Nazis, hating Hitler, and hating terrorists. I’d totally bet that 95% of the people in America love those things too. I’ve never really considered myself a government tool. I’m not really against government (at least in theory) but I probably wouldn’t kill a man for them (except Hitler. I totally hate that guy). Everyone sees Captain America as a guy who does whatever it is the government tells him, just a weapon they can point. And he’s not.
One of the things that’s so great about that Captain America movie trailer that says “heroes are made in America” is that they spend the first half talking about the creation of the super soldier serum, then show “heroes are made” THEN they show Cap in action and say “in America.” Here’s what you can take away from that: yes, Captain America was created but it’s not the serum that makes him the hero, it’s the man. Abraham Erskine (played by Stanley Tucci) says as much in the trailer. That’s what non-Cap fans usually don’t take into account. He’s not a hero because of what he can do, he’s a hero because he’s him. This kind of goes back to post one of this Cap week (found here: http://timodactyl.tumblr.com/post/7784539061/why-steve-rogers-is-the-greatest-superhero-in-comics), why Steve is the hero no one else can be.
The U.S. Army gave him his power but he’s never been afraid to make the choices he feels are right. Certainly a lot of times that goes alongside what the government wants anyway (i.e., fighting in WWII, saving people, protecting the country, whateva) but so would any hero, hence the “hero” part. However, there are several prominent examples where Steve has taken his future into his own hands and gone against the government. In the tamer times of comics (pre-dark and gritty), Cap watched as a powerful member of the government ended up pushing forward the agenda of a secret terrorist society. Disappointed in the government, Steve hangs up the costume and instead becomes Nomad. While his run as Nomad was almost entirely unimpressive (at one point, he tripped on the cape that he excitedly put into his new costume, allowing a criminal to get away. Seriously, that happened), it still showed a very important side to Steve.
More notably, during Marvel’s Civil War event, Maria Hill, commonly referred to as the worst character to ever be included in anything ever (by me), calls Captain America to the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier to talk to him about bringing in all the heroes who don’t want to comply with the superhuman registration act. Cap sees the SHRA as a violation of rights (heroes would be required to give their identity to the government, go through mandatory government training and be government sanctioned) and, more importantly, endanger the heroes who don’t give their real names in fear for their loved ones. Hill assumes Cap will help, as he’s already government sanctioned and everyone knows his real identity, and realizes that if he DOESN’T help, she wants to put him down fast, knowing he’s a rallying point for all other heroes. Cap says no and she quickly directs all the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents she’s had poised at the ready begin firing at Cap. He escapes (it’s totally badass) and indeed rallies the anti-registration heroes into a real threat. In the last issue of the series (spoilers), the battle that has finally erupted between both sides seems near an end with Cap about to deliver the finishing blows to Iron Man before understanding that the citizens want the SHRA and giving up the fight in their honor.
(spoilers) He is subsequently killed heading to his trial, so good work everyone. He has since come back.
This unwavering ability to put aside the people who created him and not simply to act as a pawn is something often overlooked by people who don’t really know Captain America and want to brand him before learning.
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