Captain America, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, was first published as a comic book during the 1940s. It was, of course, an intentionally patriotic creation as part of the American propaganda and war efforts of World War II. Simon affirmed that the character was created primarily because both creators were morally repulsed by the actions of Nazi Germany in the years leading up to the United States' involvement in the war. As war seemed inevitable, they set out to make a statement about the American power.
In this narrative, Steve Rogers was initially a sick and weak man. During World War II, he tried to enlist but was repeatedly rejected due to his frail condition. Even after being denied several times, Roger still eagerly wanted to fight for his country and tried to find a way to overcome his situation. A scientist notices his unstoppable determination and allows him to be accepted for military service. Dr. Abraham Erskine, the scientist who was in charge of a government project, recruited him for the Scientific Strategic Reserve. Rogers would be the first individual to participate in the Project Rebirth, an experiment intended to create super soldiers. Colonel Chester Phillips, who was also in charge of the project, was unconvinced and unimpressed with Rogers and humiliated him at every chance he got. However, Rogers compensated for his lack of physical strength with a noble inner character. Proving his extraordinary courage and virtue, Rogers underwent the experiment and was enhanced to maximum human potential, which would aid the United States government's efforts to win the war.
Meanwhile, Johann Schmidt, head of a German science division known as HYDRA, feared the success of the American project. Schmidt knew that if the experiment worked, it could mean the downfall of the Nazis. He then sent one of his agents to infiltrate their base and murder the scientist in an attempt to stop the Americans. When Dr. Erskine was assassinated, Rogers became a mere U.S. war drive propaganda tool, under the title of Captain America. He quickly became a joke and not the hero that he was supposed to be. However, when his friends’ unit was captured, Rogers promptly went out to rescue them and his war against Nazi Germany begun.
Not surprisingly, Captain America was one of the most popular characters during the 1940s wartime period. But, after the war ended, the character's popularity fell and the comic was discontinued for a while. However, Captain America’s comic books and movies have been consistently published and re-created throughout the years. He has gained popularity with the new generation through the movies Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers series. The reason for that is because Captain America is much more than a war propaganda messenger. He is a mythical representation of American societal values. In this sense, he is timeless.
As any other myth, such as the tales about Pandora, Captain America’s story will be continuously told over the years to perpetuate the core ideals of this nation. The story’s premise is perfect for its purposes. A sickly underdog with high moral standards, engages in determination and perseverance until he is highly rewarded. In other words, an unprivileged individual uses determination and hard work to achieve success, also known as the American dream. So what began as war propaganda will perpetually exist throughout generations as the personification of the values promoted by the American Dream.
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