Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of “Between the World and Me,” announced today that he would be taking on the legendary Steve Rogers/Captain America for Marvel Comics.
In an op-ed for The Atlantic, Coates explains transitioning from penning his own Black Panther title to writing for the all-American superhero. In the process, he forgives uninitiated audiences for believing Captain America to be an “unblinking mascot for American nationalism” – irony that Coates embraces as well as being part of what compelled him to the series.
Explaining Rogers’ growth from wimp to super soldier, Coates stresses the importance of the ideals of Captain America and why his World War II propaganda-laced history makes his postmodern presence one of interest.
“He is ‘a man out of time,’ a walking emblem of greatest-generation propaganda brought to life in this splintered postmodern time,” the author writes. “Thus, Captain America is not so much tied to America as it is, but to an America of the imagined past.”
However, Coates is dedicated to the psychology of the hero, and what precisely is the American dream, even going as far as to ask himself, “Why would anyone believe in The Dream?”
“What is exciting here is not some didactic act of putting my words in Captain America’s head, but attempting to put Captain America’s words in my head. What is exciting is the possibility of exploration, of avoiding the repetition of a voice I’ve tired of.”
With Leinil Yu and Alex Ross handling the art, Captain America #1 hits shelves on July 4th.