Captain Metropolis
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Captain Metropolis is a fictional character appearing in the Watchmen graphic novel published by DC Comics in 1986.
[edit] Character history
As a child, Nelson Gardner was sickly and asthmatic, but years of training allowed him to get past his condition and eventually played football in college before joining the U.S. Marines. He later adopted the Captain Metropolis persona, and, using the skills he acquired in the military, attempted to eradicate organized crime in urban areas. In the Fall of 1939, he founded a superhero team called the Minutemen which was comprised of Silk Spectre, Hooded Justice, The Silhouette, Nite Owl, The Comedian, Mothman and Dollar Bill.
In Watchmen #9, it is implied that he had a homosexual relationship with fellow gay teammate Hooded Justice, yet this information was kept out of public knowledge. This revelation may explain his mysterious departure from the Marines.
Unhappy with the way the team was more concerned about social appearances than actual crime fighting, the Minutemen were eventually disbanded by Captain Metropolis himself in 1949, but he continued his crime fighting career until he was called back into service for World War II. Upon returning to the states in 1966, he attempted to form another team, The Crimebusters, but his plans never fully came to fruition. Also, about this time, he was making various racist statements about Hispanics and African Americans, which contributed to the public's already growing distaste for superheroes. He was killed in an automobile accident in 1974.
[edit] Powers
Captain Metropolis has no super powers to speak of, but he is a skilled fighter and a cunning strategist. His natural leadership abilities also made him a good choice for the head of a superhero team.
