Warning: SPOILERS for Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9Marvel's and leader of the Avengers is almost universally loved by both superheroes and civilians alike, and he rarely comes across people who hate the sight of his red, white and blue costume. That is precisely what happens in Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9, in which Marvel readers discover a truism about the Star-Spangled Man: New Yorkers are fed up with him.
Captain America can debatably be considered a Marvel superhero before the company as fans know it today even existed. Appearing in March 1941, Captain America was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and immediately became popular among American readers, but his popularity faded during the post-war era. Stan Lee finally revived the character over a decade later; instead of being a patriotic mouthpiece, Captain America examined the problems with the country and how best to resolve them. Unfortunately, many still see him as a one-note American propaganda machine.
In Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9, written by Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly with art by Carmen Carnero, New York City is under attack by AIM's soldiers; the company has erected a massive shield around the city, preventing outside help. Captain America and his Invaders breach the outskirts of the city and Nick Fury rescues trapped civilians. "I ain't never listened to Captain America," says a gruff dockworker when Fury outlines the superhero's plan. "Me and that guy have words. But I know Steve Rogers. And Steve Rogers would want us to save lives."
New Yorkers Hate Cap (For A Very Good Reason)
While New York is home to many superheroes, Captain America is the most easily recognizable, but residents of the city loathe their own hero. The dockworker advocated for Socialism against Capitalism in previous issues during a discussion with Captain America, insinuating that the superhero's life is bought and paid for by the United States government. Even in 2023, Captain America cannot escape his original purpose of being a propaganda superhero (even if Steve Rogers himself has worked against the United States government more often than not in recent years).
By contrast, Steve Rogers as a man - not a hero - is seen as an honest person with a humble background who just wants to do the right thing. Occasionally he fails, but he always learns from his mistakes. Captain America doesn't simply carry a shield - the name is the shield that separates Rogers and his heroic persona - but perhaps this shield hurts him more than it helps.
