Captain America says American Masculinity is Dead.

Did the Superhero kill it?

By Greg Rabidoux

Actor Anthony Mackie recently took full control of Captain America's powerful Red, White, and Blue Shield from Actor Chris Evans who played the Superhero in eleven MCU movies.

And then Mackie promptly face-planted on his new Shield.

ICYMI, Mackie is now the Captain America with the release of Captain America: Brave New World which while already topping $300 million in gross box office revenue is well, anything but brave or new.

But that's not what compels me to discuss the big guy in the blue tights and red boots (No, not Santa).

It's Mr. Mackie who intentionally or unintentionally made himself the story rather than say, Harrison Ford as President Ross (We are a long way removed from Ford as the President in Air Force One) who transforms into a fury-raged Hulk as President with an irrational fear of aliens. Hmmm, that's not too heavy-handed, is it? I note that Mr. Mackie is a Black Male and Chris Evans, a White Male, in large part because the writers, directors, and both actors have, in words and deeds, made this fact a big deal. Especially, our new superhero Captain.

First, Mr. Mackie in a publicity junket in Rome just this past January, made it clear that "While the film is about a man who keeps his word, has honor, dignity, and integrity, and is trustworthy, and dependable, he (Captain America) does not represent America."

He also made clear that he believes that all black kids need to see a black Captain America as well as white kids, to know that Captain America is black."

"For me," Mackie went on to um, clarify, "Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don't think the term, you know 'America' should be one of those representations."

Confused? Should we call Agent Carter, Nick Fury, or the Falcon to clean up the mess?

If Captain America does not represent America, who does he represent? Lichtenstein? Tobago? The Penguins of Madagascar?

Well, since the Shield is in Mackie's firm grasp now, we'll let him sort it out.

Which he did, sort of, just a few days ago.

Mackie has now said that playing Captain America is truly an honor of a lifetime, especially as a black actor, but also, that for some twenty years now American masculinity has been dead. Man, I don't know about you but as a writer and filmmaker there those times when I just want my actors to read their lines, hit their marks, lose themselves in the character and together we create movie magic.

Back in the day, MGM handlers made sure all the naughty secrets of their stars, including their innermost thoughts, feelings, and ideas stayed inner lest fans who paid to see John Wayne shoot the bad guy couldn't stop thinking of what John Wayne the actor thought of world politics.

Tom Cruise almost derailed his own career and stardom several years ago when his Scientology beliefs and ideas were grabbing far too many headlines. Notice how silent he has been about that lately? Yeah. Me, too. Smart guy that Tom Cruise.

But look, I get it. The Black Panther represented a huge breakthrough for lots of kids who could now see a bit of themselves in their superhero. And, as Sam Goldwyn of Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) once noted, "It's even better if it brings 'em into the theater."

And honestly, the whole Captain America character (December 1940) has always been overtly political. He was born out of a strong desire by its writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby, to be a symbol of patriotism, and unwavering commitment to justice, and not so subtly be a push to all of America to get off the sidelines and go fight Hitler and the Nazis.

C.A. has undergone lots of changes, even for a time being a "Nomad, a man with no country" to protest Nixon's Watergate cover-up.

And Captain America: Brave New World has not been shy about making one of the film's themes be about asking why a black man would even represent America which has historically marginalized people of color. Can you not love and represent something for what it is now?

Well, I guess for Mr. Mackie the answer is either it is a dream come true to slip into the tights and hold the shield or the character doesn't really represent America at all, so no big deal.

Maybe both can be true at the same time. IDK.

For me, well, there are those times when I wish our superheroes could be more supersecret about their innermost thoughts and let their performance do all the talking and vanquishing of bad guys, foreign or domestic.

But then I wouldn't have been inspired to write this particular blog, so I guess thanks are in order to Anthony. As for masculinity, that is one truth which will always be in the eyes of the beholder and doer.

BTW, anyone else anxious to see Julia Louis-Dreyfus reprise her Valentina Allegra de Fontaine MCU role? I thought so. Crank up the popcorn and butter. It's set to happen soon.

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Greg Rabidoux is a writer, bestselling author, and award-winning filmmaker.