Captain HYDRA and the Rebirth of DC.

In the world of comic book geekdom, which I have recently been able to get into because of the MCU and the Arrowverse, there has been three rather fascinating events that has taken the Internet by storm. It is in that regard, I would like to take the time to talk about a few new reveals that has recently happened. After all, in what way can we take these events?


Let's begin with a horrible reveal that has recently happened:

You are seeing that correctly. Captain America, Steve Rogers, the man who famously punched Hitler, the bastion of hope and patriotic pride for America.

...Has just said "Hail Hydra." 

Let me repeat that, Captain America. 

Hail Hydra. 

Non-ironically as well. 

I honestly do not know what is going on in the writer's head...but this? This is character assassination. There is honestly no need for Captain America to be a sleeper agent of HYDRA and there is no need to show a "lighter shade of black" here. Captain America should be a bastion of hope and the premier superhero, right next to Superman. 

I didn't mind Falcon becoming Captain America, many people have taken the mantle of Captain America before. The name Captain America is one of hope and peace, not one of fear and hatred. I just hope that the fan response is heard so loud that they retcon this horrible event. 

Finally, I would like to report on DC: Rebirth and a few reveals that it has given us. Now, to be more specific, I would like to highlight this. 

Dr. Manhattan created the New 52 universe.

While at first, I thought this to be "jumping the shark," then I learned something rather fascinating. 

This is meant to be a deconstruction at the idea of "Darker and Edgier" means "super cool and new." This is truly a testament to the skills of Geoff Johns as he notes the problem that was crafted due to the Dark Age of Comic Books. Every comic book wanted to be the next Watchman without understanding that Watchman was created as a deconstruction of the heroic mindset and doing said deconstruction well. However, people saw the "punch people in the face" as a fascinating solution to the problem. To be more specific, the writers of the New 52.

That is simply not true. 

When people deconstruct, they want to ask the question: What if we applied real life consequences to it? What reason would these characters do this or that? 

And now? 

Now DC: Rebirth will be bringing back hope to an era where there appeared to be no hope. No more depressing stories where heroes are no better than villains. Now, we get to see heroes be actual heroes.

All in all, it seems to me that DC is honestly telling Marvel that one doesn't need to make an event darker and edgier or a hero turn out to be evil. That goes against everything a hero stands for.

Superheroes are super because they are people we want to be. They make us want to strive more and more, reaching gradually into the goal that we set for ourselves. Of course, that's what DC wants us to achieve. And that's perfectly fine. 

In contrast, Marvel wants us to relate to these heroes, and that's perfectly fine, but how much can one relate to a sleeper agent who was working for the Nazis? We relate more to the poor kid in Brooklyn who wanted to fight for his country. 

We do not relate to a man who decided to take the identity of a hero and being a jerk to others. Much rather, we relate to the kid in Queens who learned the lesson: "With great power comes great responsibility." 

We do not relate to the alcoholic playboy who acted like a complete jerk to everyone, but instead, we relate to a struggling man who wants to move on from his past. 

DC makes us hope, Marvel makes us relate.