If your knowledge about Captain America comes exclusively from the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, you might be surprised at how dark the superhero’s world can get sometimes. That isn’t to say that the MCU doesn’t tackle serious issues, but it generally sees Captain America as the strongest symbol of hope and optimism. However, in the comic book world, the captain is showing us the realities of war.
Captain America’s Newest Comic Storyline
The latest issue of the captain’s current saga, Captain America #3, has been digging into a dark, realistic storyline, despite the presence of superheroes and supervillains. The storyline, written by Chip Zdarsky, centers around a new Captain America, David Colton, although Steve Rogers still plays a large role in the stories. Steve has been thrust into a grim world devoid of hope and where war seems endless.
Colton is not an idealized symbol of hope, but instead, he gives us an honest look at how war can eat away at a person physically, mentally, and spiritually. Zdarsky doesn’t hesitate to show the darker aspects of our modern world, portraying war not as an exciting adventure, but as a tragic, horrible experience.
An Unflinching Look at War and Death
In the latest issue, Colton and his squad are shown serving in Iran and falling under a car bomb attack. That in itself is pretty dark, but then the envelope is pushed even further when one of Colton’s men kills a child in the chaos, claiming the child knew about the attack. Colton has a breakdown and murders the man with the iconic shield. Yikes.
Some might argue that this kind of storyline has no place in a series that is meant to spread hope and faith in America, but why should we have faith in America? Should we have faith in America simply for existing, or should America earn faith through its actions and principles? America has done many wonderful things over the years, but it has also done horrible things that shouldn’t be ignored. In the current series, Steve Rogers still represents what America aspires to be, but David Colton represents more of what America actually is.
Final Thoughts
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gone dark places and killed beloved characters like Tony Stark, but the battles tend to be exciting and heroic, even when there are casualties. Captain America #3 shows us a dramatic contrast to that, forcing us to see war as it really is. In today’s increasingly divisive world, looking at the uglier side of America could help people to expand their worldview.
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