If Cap comics are just silly mindless entertainment, then having a silly twist isn't really offensive and people are overreacting. But if Cap's supposed to be a character we're emotionally invested in, if he's a broader symbol of what's good about America, democracy & freedom, then I do think it's kind of hurtful to take that hero away & turn him into a fictionalized version of a Nazi, even if they're saying Hydra is bad within the comic. Problem is, doesn't Marvel prefer the latter to be true?

I agree that we want you to be emotionally invested in the characters, and even that Cap is a broader symbol of what’s good about America. The part I disagree with is the idea that putting the hero/symbol in the worst possible place is a bad thing.

All this is focused on Captain America, who is a natural symbol for a lot of big American ideals. I’ve compared this story in the past to Superior Spider-Man, and people have argued that they don’t think it’s the same thing because of what Cap represents. Well…I disagree, for myself at least.

Spider-Man is a really important character, to me. I have said before that Spider-Man is my religion, and I really believe that with all my heart. I am a die-hard Atheist and I do not believe in or support religion. But all the good things people have told me they have gotten from religion in their lives? I got all of those things from Spider-Man. Morality, community, a way of looking at life…the idea that you need to try to do what’s right even if it’s to your own detriment, that you don’t do what’s right because it’s easy, you do it because it’s right and you might even suffer for it…all that is a big part of my personal belief system, and I think SO MUCH of that is rooted in Peter Parker and his trials and tribulations.

So, Superior Spider-Man. It was the story of Spidey’s greatest enemy, Doctor Octopus, defeating Spider-Man, taking his body and stealing his life and identity. Peter’s mind dies, and Otto Octavius lives on in hos body, taking his place.

And there were lots of fans who were outraged by this story. They were furious that we would have such an amazing hero be defeated, and that we would follow the story of a villain. Not to spoil it too much, I will just say that by the course of that series, by taking Peter to and even past his lowest point of dying and being gone…it actually reaffirmed all the wonderful things that I and those other fans love about Peter. It only through overcoming the greatest adversity that the full strength of the character can be shown. It’s the emotional and moral version of Spidey being trapped under the rubble in Spider-Man 33…he has to use EVERY OUNCE of his strength and determination to lift himself free.

And yes–some of those unhappy fans really did stop reading Spider-Man forever. Others read it and reached out to say they had been wrong and that they loved the full story when it came out.

To me, believing that he is and always has been an agent of the very forces he has fought against for his entire career sounds like the lowest possible point for Captain America. That’s why I want to see how he climbs back from it.