Captain America's new look via Alex Ross

Quote

<P>
- NRAMA: And while we're on the elements of the costume - and a knife and gun? You're not saying who this is, but still - is "Cap" issued those weapons, or does he bring them with him?
<P>
- EB: They're issued to him. But who issues them? People think they know everything that's going to happen or what's coming up... but they don't. And just because he's got a gun, does that mean he's going to be blowing people's heads off? Not necessarily. Cops carry guns, as do soldiers. A modern super-soldier might, as well. It's just another tool in the arsenal.
<P>
- NRAMA: Well, theoretically you can have Cap use the gun to shoot the weapons out of his enemies' hands or to split a rope and have a sandbag fall on their head, but guns and knives are offensive, violent weapons by nature. Handguns are created specifically to use on other humans, for example.
<P>
What would you say to those who might say (though according to our poll, they'd be a minority) that a handgun and knife isn't consistent with the symbolic nature of a Captain America in the Marvel Universe?
<P>
- EB: I would tell them to read the comic and not speculate... but that wouldn't really do any good, would it?
<P>
- NRAMA: Are you new around here?
<P>
- EB: [laughs] Right. I don't think the iconic or symbolic nature of a superhero is as fragile as some might think. Icons, in general, are pretty elastic and tend to weather change pretty well. I don't think having a new Cap who happens to carry a firearm and a combat knife is that big a deal or damages the nature of the icon. But that's just me, and like I said, this is part of a story as far as I'm concerned, not a stunt or event or gimmick. I know that most PR tends to come across like stunts or gimmicks, but I'm a writer, not a publicist, so all I care about is my story and my characters.
<P>
Plus, Cap carried guns plenty in World War II and has used them here and there since coming out of the ice, too, so again, it just doesn't seem like an outrage to me. As I've said many times, though, I'm much more in tune with Steranko's version of Cap than the softer "Cap never killed a Nazi in WW2" version that came along in the late '80s or thereabouts. I don't think any soldier who's a decent person enjoys killing, mind you, and I'm not saying Cap -- this Cap or Steve Rogers -- enjoys shooting people, but it's the burden of war. And in the Marvel Universe, Cap fought in more war than most soldiers did.
<P>
- NRAMA: Have you given any thoughts to what could be interpreted as the symbolism of that change? America's symbol needing these tools to fight his fight in 2007?
<P>
- EB: Well, to me, symbolism is usually inferred by the viewer or reader, moreso than something intended consciously by the artist or writer. It's the things that are there whether we intend them to be or not.
<P>
So, I really don't spend much time speculating about symbolism. Everyone will see different things for different reasons and that's fine. That's how it should be, I think. Just as Cap has always had different camps saying what he should and shouldn't stand for, some people will shrug off a Cap with a gun, and others will read stuff into it and get upset. It's the nature of the beast and if you worry too much about it, you won't get much work done, and I've got a lot of story to write for this book, still.

Quote

- EB: [laughs] Right. I don't think the iconic or symbolic nature of a superhero is as fragile as some might think. Icons, in general, are pretty elastic and tend to weather change pretty well. I don't think having a new Cap who happens to carry a firearm and a combat knife is that big a deal or damages the nature of the icon. But that's just me, and like I said, this is part of a story as far as I'm concerned, not a stunt or event or gimmick. I know that most PR tends to come across like stunts or gimmicks, but I'm a writer, not a publicist, so all I care about is my story and my characters.

Quote

I can't disagree more. That's like saying "Oh, don't worry. Times change. In 20 years it won't seem unusual to see Superman carrying around a machine gun and covered with bandoleers of ammo... he's got to update himself to the modern times, after all". I feel that it does hurt the icon, because if kids in the Marvel U see Captain America carrying a gun, they'll think it's ok to carry a gun. Guns have never been a part of Captain America in the comics. They may be a part of his history, but it's never been a part of his SOP... when he has used guns in the past comics it's seemed odd and uncommon... even wrong. He's got one of the most powerful melee and throwing weapons in the entire Marvel Universe... he doesn't NEED a gun, and that's the point. It's being put in there to enhance the "coolness factor" of Cap (mostly to the younger audience), and using a gun to do that is wrong on so many levels.