Opinion – Captain America, Hail Hydra

I had not planned on writing this piece because I personally am not a fan of negative articles. It’s not to say I have a problem with articles that critique works but in this culture there simply appears to be less criticism and more shouting at the people behind the work. Then why even write this piece? In the past two weeks since the news hit, I have had a fair amount of people ask me what the hell is going on at Marvel and what is with this news? Many Marvel movie fans are generally interested in what this means and their only source of reference are the films. So I thought I would formally share my own opinion on the matter.

Before I even begin, I would like to clarify that I do not hate Marvel for allowing this new Captain America story to be printed. I do not hate Nick Spencer for creating this story. I believe that as a writer, he truly loves this tale and wants to tell it. I trust that he has every intention to tell a good Captain America story without slandering the character. As a writer, I understand that you want to push those boundaries and ask those questions. The question that Spencer posits is what if Steve Rogers was a deep cover informant for Hydra? What would that mean for the Marvel Universe if Captain America had been working with the evil organization since his childhood? A powerful story to be told for sure, but in my opinion it is not the right one.

My issues with this tale are not Captain America’s allegiance to the criminal organization. No, my complaint comes with the altering of his origin. Captain America was created during an era of war, as a result of the atrocities that were occurring overseas. He was created to stand up against tyranny when America as a nation had yet to do the same. Captain America was the embodiment of what made our nation great at the time: his unwavering loyalty, his relentless determination, and his endless pursuit of what was right. So to have this same man be serving Hydra, a secret tyrannical organization bent on world domination, during the era of his creation is obscene, in my opinion.

Hydra was created in 1965 as an antithesis for SHIELD and its Director, Nick Fury. It’s backstory has grown a fair bit since its creation but it has always been something “Anti-American.” It has never served the people and instead looks for people to serve its goals and cause. “We serve none but the Master—as the world shall soon serve us! Hail Hydra!” This is the organization that Steve Rogers has supposedly been aiding since his time as a young boy.

Now Hydra is not Nazi Germany. It is not Imperial Japan. I am not going to say that this twist now makes Steve Rogers a Nazi. However Hydra has been supported by both Axis powers with the likes of Marvel villains and Nazi party members, Baron Von Strucker and Red Skull. It’s current history has linked itself with Japanese ultra-nationalists prior to the events of World War II with the same people aiding Hydra’s resurgence. The thought of the same war hero covertly aiding the Axis during the war is again, disgusting.

 

I understand that this is a new way to explore Captain America’s impact in our culture and the Marvel comic universe as well. Spencer has stated in a recent interview with the Daily Beast, “it reinforces what everybody already knows about Captain America, which is his power as a symbol and what that means.” That is clearly the point of discussion here: what is the legacy of Captain America and what does that mean to everyone? This legacy has played a defining role in many Captain America tales: from his return to lead the Avengers, to his death after the fallout of Civil War. News outlets nationwide responded to the death of the American hero at the time. Preserving that same legacy in Roger’s his absence had pressured others to take up the shield and the mantle of Captain America. It is all too clear how important the Captain America name is but to change the meaning of that legacy to Steve himself is in fact taking the Captain America out of Steve Rogers. He really has been Captain Hydra for all these years.

Props to artist BossLogic for this glorious what if.

Being given the opportunity to write about this controversy has definitely helped me organize my own thoughts and feelings on the matter. I am a new dad and I recently told my wife that I want our son to be more exposed to heroes such as Superman and Captain America as he gets older, as opposed to grim heroes such as Batman. Super heroes who in my mind, are more worth idolizing as a child. The hope for a better and brighter tomorrow is something that the two have always exemplified and something I hope to teach my boy. There is an optimism in these heroes that others clearly lack. And while it is certainly hard to see a hero you admired in your youth revealed to be working for the bad guys, my son still has Sam Wilson, who currently embodies the spirit of the shield he has inherited.

 

All in all though, despite disagreeing deeply with aspects of the story Spencer and Marvel are telling, I do appreciate what Spencer is doing as a writer. His characterization of Red Skull and the growing threat of Hydra in the States is very brilliant and poignant. Plus, Steve Roger’s deep cover changes the meaning of every decision he has made to this point. Why would Hydra want him to found the Avengers? What did Hydra have to gain from the first Civil War? What does his allegiance mean for the unsuspecting heroes of the Civil War II? Whatever the answers we may be given, Nick Spencer sure has his work cut out for him on this new series and I will curiously watch to see where he takes the original Sentinel of Liberty.