USA: Marvel comics' iconic superhero Captain America is shot dead -- maybe

He fought the Nazis. He is revered by other crime-fighters world-wide. But the beloved, shield-carrying superhero, Captain America, has finally met his end -- or has he? The winged-hooded Marvel Entertainment hero created in 1941 is shot dead by a sniper in the latest "Captain America" issue that hit newsstands on Wednesday (March 07), in a sensational comic-book plot twist that had been kept a closely guarded secret. Blood seeps from his red-white-and-blue costume as life ebbs from Steve Rogers, the scrawny student who was transformed into the physically perfect superhero when he volunteered to be injected with "Super Soldier" serum during World War II. Some comic books fans have speculated that 'Cap's' assassination was Marvel's testament to the political state of the U.S.: a man dressed in the American flag being taken out by a sniper's bullet. But Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief, Joe Quesada said any symbolic representation is in the eyes of the reader. "Everybody reads something different into it. Especially when you are dealing with a character like Captain America who wears the American flag, I think people tend to project their ideals, their beliefs, their patriotic beliefs, what they feel America should be or is, onto Captain America when they see him and that is different for everyone," said Quesada. At Midtown Comics in New York City, people packed the store vying for a copy of the comic. Shoppers were so enthused that the store had to enforce a 'one copy per customer' order, while other comic stores in the city and across the U.S. were already running out of stock. "Our phones are ringing off the hooks. People are asking about it. People who don't normally buy comics are coming into buy specifically "Captain America", so yeah it's a very big seller," said Adan Jimenez a Manager at Midtown Comics. Despite the death of its namesake, "Captain America" will continue its monthly publication. However some suspect that it won't be long until Marvel brings the 66-year-old character back. "When Superman died, we all know how that turned out; he did come back. So most of the time in comic books death is always a temporary thing, so I wouldn't be surprised," said shopper and comic enthusiast James Wortman. Whether Marvel decides to resurrect "Captain America" or not, he will live on in Hollywood: a "Captain America" movie is currently in development with a release date expected sometime in 2009.

ITN Source | March 16, 2007

Tags:. .blood. .wont. .ringing. .representation. .maybe