Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America
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| Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America | |
 Cover art for Fallen Son: Death of Captain America -- Captain America by John Romita, Jr. |
|
| Publisher | Marvel comics |
|---|---|
| Format | Limited series |
| Publication date | June 2007 - August 2007 |
| Number of issues | 5 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Jeph Loeb |
| Artist(s) | Leinil Yu Ed McGuinness John Romita Jr. David Finch John Cassaday |
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America is a comic book limited series dealing with various superheroes' reactions to death of Captain America in the Marvel comics universe.
The five-issue series is written by Jeph Loeb, with Leinil Yu, Ed McGuinness, John Romita Jr., David Finch, and John Cassaday each illustrating one of the issues.
Contents |
[edit] Background
According to Loeb, each issue deals with the Five Stages of Grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The title comes from Loeb's own experience of having lost his son Sam Loeb. The theme of each issue is represented by a particular Marvel character and also ends with a transition phase leading into the following stage. Denial deals with Wolverine, Anger deals with the two Avengers teams (Mighty Avengers & New Avengers), Captain America himself is dealt with in Bargaining, Spider-Man is the focus of Depression and Iron Man comes under the spotlight in Acceptance.[1]
[edit] Plot
[edit] Issue #1 - Denial
Wolverine confronts Winter Soldier about the improbability of Captain America dying from the gunshot wounds suffered at the court house. They argue over what actually happened that day (Including Wolverine bringing up the fact that Captain America and Winter Soldier, the former Bucky, have both been thought to be dead at one time yet survived). Unable to get Winter Soldier to agree on a trip to S.H.I.E.L.D Headquarters to see with their own eyes that Captain America is indeed dead, Wolverine goes to find the only other man who could help him find the truth; Daredevil. Using some enchantments created by Doctor Strange, the duo make their way into the main S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier and to the holding cell of Crossbones, the man who made the first shot on Captain America. After some interrogation by Daredevil and Wolverine (including Wolverine using his own "brand" of interrogation.) Wolverine makes his way to where S.H.I.E.L.D is keeping Captain America's body. Iron Man shows up to tell Wolverine that Captain America is indeed dead. Wolverine notes that Captain America's shield is not in the coffin and accuses that Iron Man is probably looking to create a replacement Captain America. Instead of arresting Wolverine, Iron Man lets him go for the simple reason that Wolverine can tell the others that Steve Rogers, Captain America, is indeed dead. As he leaves; Wolverine warns Iron Man that if he learns that Stark had anything to do with Captain America's death, he would kill him.
[edit] Issue #2 - Anger
Following Wolverine's infiltration, Iron Man contacts the the Mighty Avengers who are on route to prevent the super-villain Tiger Shark from attacking a coastal missile base. Tiger Shark has stolen the so-called "Horn of Gabriel" from Atlantis, which can summon terrible sea monsters to his side. As Tiger Shark boasts that he'll finally gain the respect he deserves, a furious Ms. Marvel begins to savagely beat him until the Sub-Mariner arrives to calm the raging monsters. Condemning the brutality used by them against both Tiger Shark and the sea monsters as an outlet for their anger regarding Cap's death, Namor reveals he learned there are missiles hidden in the coastline of Maine. As he takes Tiger Shark into custody for stealing the Horn of Gabriel, Namor warns the Mighty Avengers that he will retaliate if Atlantis is ever attacked. Meanwhile, the Thing joins a poker game organized by the New Avengers at the Sanctum Sanctorum. They argue about Cap's death and recent events caused by the Civil War. Each member has his or her own opinion which sometimes causes conflict, but they always end up resolved. Wolverine returns from his quest aboard the SHIELD Helicarrier and informs the other Avengers that Cap is really dead, much to the anger of a grieving Spider-Man. A fight breaks out between them and Thing separates them as he points out that fighting each other won't alleviate either of their pain regarding the loss of someone like Cap. Spiderman angrily leaves the game and Wolverine shadows him to make sure the webslinger gets home safe. In between, the distraught Young Avengers Patriot and Hawkeye leave the New Avengers home to take out their frustration on some bad guys.
[edit] Issue #3 - Bargaining
Clint Barton summons Tony Stark to the deserted old Avengers' Mansion and confronts him over the death of Steve Rogers. Stark then takes Barton into custody at the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier to confirm that he is, in fact, Clint Barton - back from the grave. Upon confirmation of his identity, Stark reveals Captain America's real shield and Barton has the chance to take the shield for a spin (literally) on the helicarrier deck. When he proves he can handle it effectively, unlike others who have tried, Stark makes Barton an incredible offer: to restore Captain America to the people of the United States. Stark takes Barton out on patrol and they discover Elijah Bradley and the new Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, defeating Firebrand. Stark confronts the duo about their violation of the Superhuman Registration Act. Hawkeye temporarily disables Iron Man with an E.M.P. arrow and they flee, only to be confronted by Barton as Captain America; shield and star spangled uniform included. Barton confronts Kate Bishop about her assumption of the Hawkeye mantle and makes a profound discovery that he cannot become the new Captain America. He allows Patriot and Hawkeye to escape and returns the shield to Stark, realizing that Iron Man's desire to find a replacement Cap was more for his own comfort as an attempt to alleviate his own guilt over Roger's death rather than the comfort of the American People. Barton promises to mail Stark and Iron Man vows to pursue Barton if he sides with the New Avengers. Barton doesn't reply, leaving Stark to stand alone in the rain.
[edit] Issue #4 - Depression
Spider-Man visits his Uncle Ben's grave, reflecting that while a true hero's legacy is judged by the lives he's saved, his will be judged by those he's lost, citing Uncle Ben, his parents, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, her father and now Captain America. He laments that although Uncle Ben told him that there would be 'days that would test him', he does not know if he can 'do this anymore'. Just then, his thoughts are interrupted by his spider-sense going off, and finding a grieving Rhino by his mother's grave he attacks him, believing that Rhino is somehow up to something. Spider-Man taunts and insults Rhino while attacking him, while a genuinely confused and angered Rhino wants to know why he is being attacked and what Spider-Man is doing at the cemetery. In the midst of the fight, Rhino accidentally breaks his mother's headstone and goes into a rage as Spider-Man realizes his mistake. He wants to apologize but cannot bring himself to say anything as Rhino beats him to a pulp. Spider-Man recalls a time when he went against the Hulk and was nearly killed until Captain America came to his aid. Realizing he won't be saved this time, Spider-Man wills himself to his feet and defeats Rhino much in the same way Cap defeated the Hulk. At that moment, Wolverine reveals himself and begrudgingly congratulates Spider-Man who brushes him off before heading to the Brooklyn Bridge where Gwen Stacy died. Wolverine follows him and an angry Spiderman accuses him of incapable of understanding what he's feeling were upon Wolverine describes a condition like having a cannon shot through one's stomach, leaving a hole that has a tendency to reopen whenever the memory of the departed is triggered. Spiderman asks if the pain ever goes away and Wolverine explains that you never 'get over' a death. You have to learn to live with it and that the pain will get better 'someday'.
[edit] Issue #5 - Acceptance
Captain America is given a funeral with full military honors (in a ceremony usually reserved for the president), and many thousands are in attendance, not to count the people watching on TV. Among the audience and speakers are Tony Stark, Sam Wilson, Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, Ben Grimm, and a number of other heroes both old and modern, as well as their loved ones and the people Cap inspired. Tony is given the first opportunity to speak, but a wave of emotion renders him incapable of speaking anything besides "It wasn't supposed to be this way..." Sam then gets up and takes over, starting with a history of the names Cap was once called by, and pointing out that despite that, it was always Steve Rogers who really mattered. He speaks of how soldiers and heroes of yesteryear were inspired to be what they are simply by watching Cap in action. He asks them to stand up, and recounts the events that froze Cap and helped him survive to the modern day. He mentions--with emphasis on why he couldn't be in attendance--how Namor was involved in bringing him back. Then he asks all those inspired by Cap's return to stand up as well, including heroes and those who supported the heroes. He references the New Avengers (not by name), who wanted to be there, but couldn't. At Dr. Strange's house, they are watching the funeral and discussing why they didn't go; Spider-man says it would have been worth the risk. Sam concludes by saying that with everyone in attendance proving they were inspired by Cap--since by this point literally everyone is standing--it shouldn't be a sad day, but one of celebration of all the things Steve Rogers would have wanted. Three days later, in the arctic, Iron Man, Wasp and Yellowjacket land in a S.H.I.E.L.D. ship with Rogers' casket. Tony mentions that the body in Arlington isn't really Cap's, but a decoy to please the public. The real body is here, and it will rest in the Arctic forever, the rationale being that he was preserved in peace here for decades until he could be revived, and so it was the best place for him to rest forever. After Tony says a heartfelt good-bye, Namor shows up, revealing that he too is touched by the death, and that as long as he rules the oceans, Steve Rogers will rest in peace. Janet then asks whether everyone must now accept that the old era is finally over and a new one is beginning. The casket sinks slowly into nothingness without an answer.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America at the Comic Book DB
