Great White Snark notes that Marvel’s replacement to the recently deceased Captain America is now armed with a gun (and seems to be wearing a costume that’s coated in baby oil). GWS also notes that this runs counter to the ideals of the original character:
The original (and the best) Captain America had a strict no-killing policy. It’s what separated him from being a primary-color-clad version of the Punisher. Is the new Cap operating sans-scruples, or is he just out to kneecap some bitches? Either way, the Captain America mantle and firearms do. Not. Belong. Together.
The original Captain America was created as a symbol of our fight against the Nazis. He was the personification of our ideals; that even in a struggle against a pure and relentless evil we would never cede our beliefs in liberty and justice. He didn’t need guns or knives; all he needed was a shield. Correction, an indestructable shield. The symbolism is as obvious as it is poetic. He was a reflection of the American soul.
Sadly, the new Captain America strikes me as a reflection of the new American soul. He represents an America that believes that we need to be just as vicious as our enemies, that we should hunt down and kill our enemies before they can do us harm, and that we can still maintain moral superiority simply by virtue of who we are, rather than what we do.
This new — “wrong” — Captain America is us. Or more appropriately, he’s everything the new America wants to be. Am I the only one that finds that unfortunate?