Marvel will present a series of new heroes in the upcoming comic book series The United States of Captain America, and it will introduce a gay Captain America in its first issue.
The story of the series is that Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, and John Walker are on a road trip hunting down Captain America's stolen shield (all of these characters have taken up the mantle in the past). Across their travels, they'll encounter members of the community who go above and beyond for their friends, family, and everyone else in need of help. The first of these is Aaron Fischer, an openly gay man who is given the title of "Captain America of the Railways."
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Expectedly, the team is enthusiastic to bring these novel opportunities and dimensions to the historic character, and to the symbology of the hero in volatile and contemporary times. The series is written by Christopher Cantwell and is accompanied with art by Dale Eaglesham, but Aaron Fischer is the creation of a collaboration between writer Joshua Trujillo and artist Jan Bazaldua. "Aaron is inspired by heroes of the queer community: activists, leaders, and everyday folks pushing for a better life," said Trujillo in a press release. "He stands for the oppressed, and the forgotten. I hope his debut story resonates with readers, and helps inspire the next generation of heroes."
"I want to thank Editor Alanna Smith and Joshua Trujillo very much for asking me to create Aaron," added Bazaldua. "I really enjoyed designing him, and as a transgender person, I am happy to be able to present an openly gay person who admires Captain America and fights against evil to help those who are almost invisible to society. While I was drawing him, I thought, well, Cap fights against super-powerful beings and saves the world almost always, but Aaron helps those who walk alone in the street with problems that they face every day. I hope people like the end result!"
As evidenced, it's important to not only see a boost in diversity and representation on the page, but behind the scenes too. Every issue of The United States of Captain America will introduce the quartet to a new Captain America, meaning that the possibilities might be endless for a new individual to step up to the plate. "It's an incredible gift and definitely a creative challenge to take on the character of Captain America, especially during these unprecedented times in our country's history," said Cantwell. "With this miniseries we're hoping to explore what the idea of Captain America means at this precise moment... to everyday and often overlooked communities throughout the United States." The United States of Captain America #1 releases on June 2nd.
Featured Image Credit: Disney, Marvel