LE MONDE'S OPINION

WHY NOT

Created in 1940 by two sons of immigrants, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, Captain America was tasked from the outset with embodying American democracy in the face of Nazi totalitarianism. He is one of the most distinctly patriotic of the bunch of comic-book superheroes flourishing at the time. If Captain America (Steve Rogers in civilian life) were to arrive in Washington today, imagine his surprise at discovering the director of the Department of Government Efficiency giving the Nazi salute in celebration of the new President's victory, and declaring his support for Adolf Hitler's heirs, who meanwhile are rearing their heads in Germany!

It looks as if Disney, releasing the fourth installment of the Captain's adventures under the Marvel banner, had not considered such a possibility either. Initiated during the Biden era, Captain America. Brave New World – reviving, after Black Panther (2018), the firm's diversity diligence – was entrusted to Nigerian American director Julius Onah, who asked black actor Anthony Mackie to play the famous lead. A symbol, to say the least.

For those who closely follow the twists and turns of the Marvel universe, this comes as no surprise. The announcement was made at the time of Avengers. Endgame (2019), when Steve Rogers, bearer of the Star-Spangled Shield, passed the torch to his sidekick Sam Wilson (Mackie), aka The Falcon, to take over as the handsome Captain. He took up his duties in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series (2021), and is now back on the big screen, serving up a fable that can now be enjoyed eyes closed.

Zombie apocalypse

That is, half of humanity decimated. A monolith stranded in the Indian Ocean containing an indestructible material (adamantium, stronger than the vibranium that makes up the captain's shield) attracting all kinds of envy. A truce is envisaged between the federal government and the superheroes to ensure America's supremacy in this battle. A super-villain, locked away in prison and consumed with vengeance has made a Faustian pact with the US President, controlling people from a distance and set about sabotaging whatever can be sabotaged. Fortunately, the captain strikes back. The price tag, considering the pyrotechnics involved: $350 million (€338 million). An alternative version of this zombie apocalypse, albeit much funnier, is currently playing in cinemas under the title The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie

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