Marvel’s Most Tragic Captain America Reveals a Dark Truth about Steve’s Legacy

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With the first story arc of the new Captain America comic ending, the situation facing Steve Rogers’ replacement reveals a troubling reality. This series added a new layer to Marvel history by introducing David Colton, a Captain America who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. Like Steve Rogers, Colton was physically weak but deeply desired to serve his country. However, Colton’s time as Captain America led him down a more difficult and troubling road than Steve’s.

The first story arc of the Captain America comic, titled “Our Secret Wars” by Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti, tells two stories at once. It follows Steve Rogers’ first mission after being revived, alongside flashbacks to Colton’s time as Captain America. While the original Captain America remained steadfast in his beliefs, the newer version of the hero saw things that gradually destroyed his faith. As Colton’s story comes to a close, a troubling truth about Captain America and what he represents is revealed.

The United States is Incapable of Ever Recreating Captain America

The story in Captain America #5 picks up after Colton learns the U.S. government secretly supported Doctor Doom’s rise to power and used his team to cover it up. Overwhelmed by this betrayal, Colton has a breakdown and, feeling responsible for the harm done to Latveria, attempts to make amends. In a desperate act, the current Captain America attacks and kills soldiers, hoping to bring peace to the people of Latveria.

Steve arrives to stop Colton, but he’s too late to prevent a massacre. Driven to the edge by years of betrayal and violence, Colton has killed dozens of soldiers, desperately seeking meaning in his experiences. During their fight, Colton is badly wounded and reveals a shocking truth to Captain America: the U.S. government actively worked to replace Latveria’s former leader with Doctor Doom. This revelation completely shatters Captain America’s faith in the government, leading him to resign from service and instead dedicate himself to the Avengers.

David Colton isn’t meant to be a bad guy – he genuinely wants to do what’s right, just like Steve. Both men volunteered to serve their country and protect people. However, Steve operated in a simpler time with clear heroes and villains, while Colton entered service during a very complex period in American history. The government wasn’t looking for a public figurehead like in the past; they needed someone who would carry out their plans without any hesitation or questioning.

Being Captain America is More Than Blind Service to the United States

For Captain America fans, Steve Rogers is known for his unwavering commitment to his ideals – he’s always been a hero driven by hope. However, the world Steve Rogers fought in felt simpler and more clear-cut than the one Colton, the new Captain America, experienced. The original Captain America had a strong sense of what his country stood for, shaped by his experiences in World War II. Colton, on the other hand, was formed by the complexities and controversies of the War on Terror, a conflict that even those who fought in it often questioned.

The concept of America having a strong, heroic figure to save the world is appealing – it’s a powerful image, similar to the reasoning used to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, this ultimately leads to David’s breakdown. He discovers that the ideals he’s been fighting for aren’t genuine and that his actions as Captain America actually go against his core beliefs.

It’s not that Steve Rogers was the only person who could be Captain America. Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes both stepped into the role and upheld Steve’s values. However, their versions of Captain America weren’t chosen by the U.S. government – they chose the role themselves. Colton, on the other hand, was selected by his government, with the expectation that he would further their own goals. As the story showed, that arrangement didn’t work out well.

The idea of Captain America originated during a specific period in American history, always rooted in Steve Rogers’ dedication to serving his country. However, the current version of Captain America has evolved to be more focused on helping everyone, not just the United States. While Captain America will always exist, and new heroes will emerge, today’s world demands a Captain America who represents global interests, not just those of one nation.

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2025-11-19 19:23