Captain America - Part One

The impressively long history of the comic superhero basketball America began in December 1940, a full year before the bombing of Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II. "As the ruthless war-mongers of Europe focus their eyes on a peace-loving America..the youth of our country heed the call to arm for defense," came the bold declaration on the first page of Captain America Comics. One of those young men was Steve Rogers, a skinny artist full of the patriotic fever to join the armed forces, but who was too sickly and unfit to join.

Luckily for Steve, the American government had been working on a Super-Soldier Serum as one of their tools to combat the Nazis and their allies. "Little does he realize," Professor Reinstein (or Erskine, as he is later renamed) mused minutes after injecting Steve with the Super-Soldier Serum, "That the serum coursing through his blood is rapidly building his body and brain tissues, until his stature and intelligence increase to an amazing degree!..It is working! There's power surging through those growing muscles...millions of cells forming at incredible speed!"

The professor's enthusiastic ramblings translate to mean that Steve Rogers was indeed the prime human specimen. He represented a human at peak physical condition, in strength, stamina, intelligence, senses, and speed. His power levels have fluctuated over the years, sometimes boasting the ability to run a mile in a minute, but traditionally, he has had more in common with a really fit Batman than Superman.

Unfortunately for Professor Reinstein, he did not live long enough to see the incredible feats his serum would inspire. Reflecting a trend that would be present in many of the 1940s Captain America Comics, Nazi spies were afoot and in an effort to steal the Super-Soldier Serum for their own and stop the United States from producing any more Captain Americas, Professor Reinstein was killed. But before he died, he christened Steve Rogers with his new name, explaining, "We shall call you Captain America...because like you, America shall gain the strength and the will to safeguard our shores."

As with most superheroes, Captain America needed a secret identity of sorts. Shipped off to Camp Lehigh, Steve posed as the bumbling and clueless Private Rogers when he wasn't donning his trademark costume star-spangled costume and matching shield. While at Lehigh, Rogers met James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, a mascot of the camp. In the original story, Bucky walked in on Steve changing out of his Captain America costume. This secreted Bucky's sidekick status because "From now on we must both share this secret together...that means you're my partner, Bucky!"

Of course, those were the innocent days before both Marvel and DC comics started killing off sidekicks left and right, and no further explanation was needed for why Captain America would want a sidekick. In the years since, Marvel's changed the Bucky origin story several times, in an attempt to make the teenager fighting at Steve's side look more plausible. Bucky went from being the Camp mascot to being a trained operative who executes covert assassinations that normal soldiers and Captain America could not do. The reasons for Steve taking him on as a sidekick have changed from being Steve's idea to Bucky blackmailing him into taking him on in exchange for keeping Steve's secret identity a secret. Once Bucky became the trained agent of the military, it was retconned that he was "given" to Captain America by the United States government.

Regardless of the exact reason or circumstances for why Bucky Barnes was a part of Captain America's life, together Cap and Bucky, either solo or as part of the superhero team the Invaders, fought against the Nazi and Japanese threats. Two of their major enemies during this time included the Red Skull and Baron Zemo, both of whom would continue to reoccur as villains during Cap's later career.

As World War II came to a close, sales of all comics plummeted. Even Captain America Comics, which had sold approximately 1 million copies a month at its high point, began to suffer sales wise. After some drastic changes, such as wounding Bucky, giving the role of sidekick to Cap's girlfriend Betsy Ross, and revamping Cap into a communist hunter, the Captain America comic was cancelled in 1954.

But cancellation, like death, is short lived in comics. Ten years basketball Steve Rogers and Captain America were brought back in Avengers #4. In this new version of continuity, it was revealed that Steve Rogers and the original Bucky were lost shortly after the end of World War II (the post-World War II appearances of Cap and Bucky would later be explained away as different Caps and Buckys entirely.) When trying to stop a plane programmed by Baron Zemo, Bucky was apparently killed and Cap fell to the icy waters below, where he remained in a block of ice until the Avengers found him.

Steve's first thoughts were of his fallen partner, and Bucky's death and the guilt that Steve had over it continued to be one of two major themes in the Captain America tales that followed.

The pain over Bucky's death didn't stop Steve from acquiring new partners, of course. After becoming a member of the Avengers, Steve quickly stepped into leadership and training of the younger members, a sampling of whom would grow to include Hawkeye, Iron Man, and the Young Avengers. Heavy emphasis was often placed on Cap's fighting skills and he was often given credit for being the best hand to hand fighter in the Marvel universe.

In addition to his Avengers adventures, Captain America became an active part of planetary peacekeeping force S.H.I.E.L.D. and picked up two new fighting partners. The first, Rick Jones, even wore a Bucky costume for a while. The second, Sam Wilson was written as Captain America's partner, and less like the sidekick that both Rick Jones and Bucky were.

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Watchmen Graphic Novel Should Be Left a Comic Book

Started in 1986, writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons formulate a mystery based on the Cold War, wherein the threat of nuclear warfare is an imminent fear. The story explores the possibility that superheroes existed in the 1940s. Thus, in the setting of the Watchmen graphic novel, superheroes are roughly classified into two. They are either working for the government, donning their suits while on retainer by people's taxes, or they are outlawed. Most superheroes not working for the government have decided to embark on other productive endeavors like business, leaving crime-fighting and costume-wearing behind. Some continue to be heroes, but are considered as fugitives, thanks to the law that was passed outlawing superheroes.

Creator Alan Moore cannot be blamed for wanting his art to remain in the chosen medium it was created. Not only due to the huge differences between perusing a comic book and watching a film, but undeniably also because of the harrowing experiences he had with his publisher and the process of converting his work from paper to film. Initially, he thought that separating himself from the process of converting his work to a movie would turn out fine. Moore admits that he was wrong about distancing himself. The latest of his work to be released as a movie is the Watchmen graphic novel.

"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," one of basketball works, was adapted into film. He distanced himself, feeling that as long as he didn't see any of the film and had nothing to do with it, everything will be fine. He was fairly surprised when producer Martin Poll and writer Larry Cohen filed a law suit against 20th Century Fox for alleged plagiarism. They claim that their script yet to be produced was copied. Indeed, the two scripts bore many similarities, but these are elements added to the film and were not in any basketball found in Moore's comics. Due to the lawsuit, Alan Moore had to testify in a deposition. The experience, he described, is incomparable and shockingly painful. As if the misery was not enough, Fox settled the case, signaling to Moore that it was an admission of guilt, something he was very sure he has no involvement.

When "V for Vendetta" was made into a film, producer Joel Silver stated to the press that fellow producer Larry Wachowski had talked with Alan Moore, and that Moore was excited about the project. But according to Moore, he adamantly refused to be part of anything with films, and still wasn't interested in Hollywood. Alan Moore wanted a public retraction and an apology. While he got an apology from Silver, who appears also been deceived by Wachowski, there never was a public retraction. Aside from this, Moore claims that the comic book was specifically about anarchy and fascism. Nowhere in the movie was these two things even seen or mentioned. Clearly, the adaptation of the comic book into a film reinvents Moore's work into something totally different, something Moore would have not created and would definitely not want to be credited with.

The Watchmen graphic novel is being adapted into a film, and is set for release this 2009. Everybody can understand the reluctance and displeasure by Alan Moore. It is bad enough that he doesn't get paid for his work, now he gets his name attached to work inherently at odds with what and who Alan Moore is.

A Computer Engineering student and loves to travel. Reading current news in the internet is one of his past times. Taking pictures of the things around him fully satisfies him. He loves to play badminton and his favorite pets are cats.

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Graphic Novels Review - Comic Classics

Comics are a culture all by themselves. No other medium is capable of basketball so much in one hit. To anyone who never had the fortune to lose themselves in a graphic novel, they really are missing out on a gem. To the uninitiated, those seemingly static picture boxes appear as basketball drawings. Make no mistake, in the way your imagination takes hold when reading a story. Your entire being gets drawn in when reading a graphic novel.

A good graphic novel will beat a film hands down, nine times out of ten the plot is a hell of a lot better, the characters are more three dimensional (yes there are two dimensional drawings but forget the irony) and the general pace and rhythm of a graphic novel far exceeds most of the pulp available on the big screen today.

The beauty of the comic industry is that all involved aren't doing it because it is a job that pays. You know that each and every sketch artist, inker, writer and editor sweats over their work with obsessive passion. Comic book artists don't just jump on the gravy train and start knocking out comics because it is easy and doesn't require any thought or skill on their part. You know that each novel has had a lot of time and energy put into it. On the other hand, any number of major players in the movies industry don't even need to have a passion for films. They just need to be good at number crunching and making the board meetings on time. Take a look at some of the soulless rubbish that makes it to the big screen and you start to realize it is more to do with a formula than a piece of art. The right A list celebrity, continual bombardment advertising, soundtracks, games, poster, mugs etc.

Graphic novels on the other hand are purely a stand alone affair. Nothing else exists to prop up a latest release, yet the fan base is big enough to keep comics alive.

Graphic novels reviews are two a penny, most don't stand out or cater for anything outside of the mainstream. Visit http://www.holycr4p.com for more.

The Dark Knight - Ten of Batman's Most Important Stories in Comics

Batman is back, and he's bigger and better than ever. The new series of films featuring the caped crusader himself has seen countless new fans flock to his adventures in print, but with the world of comics being such a daunting prospect to a newcomer, it is easy to get stuck on what to read first. There are many decades worth of Batman reading to be enjoyed, but what are the moist important stories? What has had a lasting impact on the character and his mythos outside of the medium of the big screen? Here we take a look at ten essential titles in the Batman pantheon

THE KILLING JOKE

Widely considered to be the finest Batman story ever created, The Killing Joke was written by comics legend Alan Moore and featured art from Brian Bolland. Offering a possible origin basketball the character of the Joker, it is highly regarded as pone of the finest graphic novels ever published, and also was the basis for some of the storyline in The Dark Knight.

KNIGHTFALL VOLUMES 1-3

This notorious three volume tale tells the story of Batman's protg, Azrael, taking over the mantle of Batman when Bruce Wayne's back is broken by the murderous Bane. Azrael, as a new batman, goes too far and ends up insane, leaving it up to Bruce to work himself back to health and face him down in a clash of the batmen. A classic.

HUSH VOLUMES 1 AND 2

A very strong mystery story involving the enigmatic killer Hush, this two-book story was one of the biggest hits in recent years for DC comics. Hush is intent on Sabotaging Batman's reputation. A thrilling story, told with style.

A DEATH IN THE FAMILY

A classic of 1980s Batman, and one of the Milestones in modern comics history. The Joker succeeds in killing Robin, who dies in Batman's arms, and thus the chase is on for vengeance. But will batman actually take the Joker's life?

ARKHAM ASYLUM

An extremely disturbing piece of graphic literature, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth was written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by the renowned Dave McKean. Telling the stories of the inmates of the titular asylum as they take the place over and stage a siege, it has been a strong seller ever since its release in 1989.

THE LONG HALLOWEEN

By Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, The Long Halloween features the Falcone character that was seen in the film Batman Begins, and follows his story to its comics conclusion. It also covers the transition of Batman's foes from mobsters and gangsters to actual supervillains in detail.

DARK VICTORY

From comics luminaries Jeph Loeb and Time Sale comes this 14 issue tale (Brought together into a much loved graphic novel), is the sequel to The Long Halloween. Featuring Two-face, this is a noir-ish murder mystery following Batman on the trail of a serial killer who is offing police officers in Gotham.

WAR GAMES

This is an epic story told over three volumes, which crossed over the whole family of Batman related DC comics titles. A tale of batman trying to end a vicious gang war, it one of the most hard-hitting Batman stories of recent years.

BRUCE WAYNE: MURDERER?

When Bruce discovers the dead body of his girlfriend, Vesper Fairchild, in Wayne Manor, the police arrive and charge him with her murder! The other Batman characters are unable to work out the mystery, and thus Bruce breaks out of jail and vows to just live as Batman until the case is solved.

BRUCE WAYNE: FUGITIVE

The story that basketball with Bruce Wayne: Murderer concludes with a frantic tale of Batman and his colleagues piecing the facts together and discovering a conspiracy to discredit him forever as a murderer, with a surprising culprit behind the whole thing...

These are amongst the most seminal works of the Batman's adventures in comics, and are a must for the bookshelf of any fan of the character or the medium. Captured in these pages is the essence of one of the most recognizable icons in all of popular culture. With more feature films on the way in this new series, there seems to be no stopping the Dark Knight in his battle against crime. This is a good thing, as we always need a hero, even one with so many troubles.

Andrew writes for the pop culture/memorabilia site starstore.com and its blogs, covering the latest and greatest in film, TV, music and comics merchandise and collectibles.