Captain America

There is really only one comic to talk about this week. The news of the death of Steve Rogers in "Captain America" No. 25 hit me like a punch to the gut. I have always admired the character and what he stands for. What is sad to me is that people seem to be focusing on the event rather than the story or the character. Which is a shame, since the tale spun by the talented Ed Brubaker is outstanding. The story has the hero sacrificing himself in a heroic way. His first wound, from a sniper, is a direct result of his selflessness.

The stage of grief the third installment of "Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America" deals with is Bargaining, which is perfect. Because this book is a bargain at any price. It's that good. While I thought the previous "Fallen Son" issue fell short, this chapter hits the mark by emphasizing the importance of Captain America, even in death. The excellent story starts off with Iron Man (Tony Stark) skeptical about a character claiming to be the expert archer and ex-Avenger Hawkeye, who was also recently killed.

More 'Captain America' casting news Toby Jones, the British actor best known for playing Truman Capote in "Infamous," will play in his first comic-book movie, in Marvel Studios' "Captain America. " Jones is in final negotiations to portray a villainous scientist named Arnim Zola in the production, which already has Hugo Weaving as another bad guy, the Red Skull. The movie shoots this summer in England. In comics lore, Zola was a genetic engineer who created clones and various monstrosities.

FOUR MONTHS after Marvel Comics killed off Captain America, he's back - in a story before his "death," and made exclusively for U.S. soldiers (collectors, comic dealers and eBay). One million copies of "The New Avengers: The Spirit of America," the fifth in Marvel's series for the military, became available this Veterans Day weekend at military base stores worldwide. "If you really, really want one, you need to know someone in the military," said Jim Skibo, director of support for the Dallas-based Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which is distributing the comic.

When a hero dies, do we all follow? Even when he's imaginary? On Wednesday, Marvel Comics issued the final panels of the colorful career of Captain America. In the midst of a civil war, Steve Rogers, the little-guy alter ego of the Captain, is gunned down on the steps of the Manhattan courthouse by a sniper. Captain America, like his country, has faded and come back before. A wartime creation, he first appeared in 1941, enjoyed popularity as a Cold War superhero, then dwindled.

Only Tony Stark - and Marvel - would do this. While much of the advance press for the fifth and final issue of "Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America" has centered on Cap's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, the end of the issue offers a surprise twist. This is one of writer Jeph Loeb's better efforts in this series. There are a few powerful and poignant moments, the highlight of which is the eulogy given at Arlington by Sam Wilson, Cap's longtime partner, the Falcon.

GOT A PROBLEM with some guy named bin Laden? Cue Superman. Or Captain America. After all, they knew how to handle one ubervillain named Hitler. Comic-book superheroes have historically reflected their times. Superman (1938), Batman (1939) and Wonder Woman (1941) were created at a time of crisis for America. The stories of their battles against the Axis powers were hugely popular with wartime readers. Superman sank Nazi submarines. Wonder Woman smashed German tanks. Batman delivered guns to soldiers around the world.

The reason to pick up "Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America" No. 2, is for the spot-on portrayal of Spidey. To recap the premise of the series, each issue will have a hero or group of heroes going through one of the "five stages of grief" in the aftermath of the death of the beloved icon. This issue has both teams of Avengers representing "Anger. " Or at least that's what the promo says. Inside the issue are more than 10 characters, and only two, Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel, seem to be exuding any anger.

They didn't have to tell Chris Evans it was his "patriotic duty" to play Captain America in "Captain America: The First Avenger. " But it almost came to that. "I was saving that pitch for last," joked Joe Johnston, the popcorn-picture specialist ("Jumanji," "Jurassic Park III") hired to turn the comic book into a movie. "Fortunately, I didn't have to play that card. " For many actors, landing the lead in an action franchise is a dream come true: financial security, name recognition and a big stroke to the ego. Evans, 30, and a veteran of the "Fantastic Four" movies, wasn't having it. "Extreme reluctance," is how he put it. "It's the type of thing that represents a giant commitment," said Evans.

With the country at war and patriotism high this Fourth of July, it is worth noting that Captain America - a character who embodies patriotism and has the U.S. flag for a costume - is as popular and relevant as ever. A huge reason is that the character was strongly conceived and a lion's share of the credit has to go to 91-year-old Joe Simon, who - along with artist Jack Kirby - created Captain America in 1940. "We were just trying out new superheroes at the time," said Simon.

AS THE LATEST on-screen incarnation of America's most iconic superhero, Superman, hits cineplexes this weekend, it's clear there is more at stake than the success of the movie, which seems guaranteed to be a hit on some level the same year "The Big Red S" turns 75. Indeed, "Man of Steel" will play a large part in shaping what we see - or don't see - in theaters for some time to come. DC Entertainment/Warner Brothers (hereafter referred to as DC/WB) has a lot at stake here and, with its rivals, will be waiting anxiously to see just how super "Man of Steel" is. First, there is the obvious.

IF THE REPUBLICANS are too socially regressive and the Democrats are enablers, has Tattle got a presidential candidate for you. Captain America . One of Marvel's best-known heroes since he socked Adolf Hitler in the jaw in 1941, Cap will move into the White House in the pages of Marvel Comics' The Ultimates , a series set in the Ultimate Comics universe where the U.S. has been torn apart by factionalism, out-of-control anti-mutant hysteria and...

Movies Opening This Week Lola Versus After being dumped by her fiance just weeks before their wedding, a woman (Greta Gerwig) enlists her friends to help her find her place in the world as a single woman about to turn 30. Rock of Ages A romance is played out in 1980s Los Angeles with rock music setting the mood. Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Hough, and Catherine Zeta-Jones star. Safety Not Guaranteed Three journalists set out to interview a man who placed an ad for a time-travel companion.

It was prophetic. In March 1941, some nine months before Pearl Harbor, two Jews drew Captain America punching Adolf Hitler right in the face. That inaugural cover of the Marvel comic became such a pop culture icon that it was acted out in the 2011 movie Captain America: The First Avenger. The embodiment of all that was great about America, Cap — like Superman, Batman, the X-Men, and so many other superheroes — was created by a pair of Jews, Joe Simon (born Hymie Simon)

Fine Arts Maya 2012: Lords of Time. The origins of intricate Maya timekeeping systems are an integral part of the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology's exploration of a civilization that flourished, with cities already in existence by 500 B.C., in what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, president of Honduras, will join Penn Museum director Richard Hodges at a ceremony to open the exhibition. — Sally Friedman Exhibition hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, through Jan. 13 at 3260 South St. Timed tickets, which include admission to the rest of the museum, are $22.50, $18.50 for ages 65 and older and military, and $16.50 for students (full-time with ID)

THE SUMMER movie season commences today with "The Avengers," a giant Thor-gasm of Marvel superheroes wrapped in one package. It has the star attractions — Iron Man, Thor, Captain America — from previous summer hits, and magnanimously gives The Hulk yet another chance to make his blockbuster bones. For good measure, it also offers Hawkeye, Black Widow, Nick Fury, a night-of-a-thousand-stars cast, a $220 million budget, and geek-guru director Joss Whedon. You could pretty much see the "Avengers" and take the rest of the summer off, but you'd miss 50 other blockbusters ("The Dark Knight Rises")

By sheer numbers, the caped crusaders, masked crimebusters and spandex-ed superheroes lining up at the movie box office for the summer season — which begins Friday when The Avengers opens — has to be the largest gathering of comicbook-spawned dudes (and dudettes) in the history of summer movies. In The Avengers alone, there are, of course, Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Thor, brought together by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to save the world from a demented Norse god (Thor's evil sibling, Loki)

WHAT IS with all the Ks? Kim Kardashian , in the middle of kontentious divorce proceeding with Kris Humphries , may be hooking up with Kanye West . The Los Angeles Times reports that longtime pals Kim and Kanye are said to have taken their relationship to the next level. But are they sex-tape worthy? "Kim and Kanye have now just started dating," an anonymous source told People , adding that the duo are "keeping it light" and "seeing where it goes.

This week's DVD releases are topped by films about people who fight injustice and evil. Captain America: The First Avenger, Grade C-minus: Chris Evans - the guy who put the heat in the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies - steps into the boots of the latest comic-book-inspired film champion. He plays Steve Rogers, a 90-pound weakling who, through the magic of science, becomes the hunky Captain America. The film isn't a major disaster, but it generally could use some work.

MY TENT has never been my home or a last resort. It's never been a symbol for change. The old blue-and-white Coleman rarely occupied a space I didn't rent along some lake on a summer weekend. It's where I crash after campfires and hot dogs, full and content, in a bundle of sleeping bags with my kids. On Sunday afternoon, though, I duct-taped that tent to the concrete near a fountain on a windswept corner of Dilworth Plaza, adjacent to City Hall. I joined the encampment at Occupy Philadelphia.