One Perfect Moment: Captain America speaks the Truth.

[proteus_lives.insanejournal.com]

Greetings True Believers! Captain America is a character that practically made of perfect moments. Everyone knows that Cap has the secret mutant power of the "Inspirational Speech" Because of it, he rallies armies, Gods follow him into battle, enemies become friends and he teaches whole generations of heroes.

These scans have what I consider the "The Speech" which totally defines Steve Rogers and what he stands for. (What we should all stand for.) It's from Amazing Spider-Man #537, during the Civil War event. Peter has just switched sides and he's screwed up the fight, putting his family in danger and what people are saying about him. So he asks Cap a very important question.






BTW, Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens is the fucking man. To this day.




















That is Steve-By-God-Rogers. That's not the Super Soldier Serum talking, that's Steve Rogers. Still gives me the goosebumps.

Comments

[kitty_tc_69.insanejournal.com]

...aaand then they kill him off and try to make us buy that Tony was right. Cap surrendered, Spidey sold his soul and his characterization to a lame Satan wannabe, and editorial is still using their bully pulpit to make attacks on the fans who rightfully disagree.

Well I for one plant myself like that tree beside the river of truth and tell Quesada and his cronies and sycophants

"NO. You move."

[requiem2adream.insanejournal.com]

*cries just a little bit* Right there with you on the goosebumps front.

Oh Steve. We miss you.

[icon_uk.insanejournal.com]

Hmmmm, it IS great, but six pages DOES seem to be a little bit much for a "moment", even for Cap and Spidey.

I'd have said the last panel of scan 4 and all of scan 5 would have summarised it nicely.

[liarashadowsong.insanejournal.com]

That's long for a 'moment'. But I don't mind, personally, because it is so awesome, and I don't want to see it abridged. Steve!!! ^_^ Also, pre-Cap!Steve is teeny and adorable and looks like a blond version of a younger Peter sans glasses, which makes me very happy for some reason that I cannot pinpoint. Also, do I detect a hero-worship crush here? *imagines Peter/MJ/Steve for a moment, and brain breaks*

[filkertom.insanejournal.com]

As I was so angry with Marvel by this time, I had stopped buying Amazing (the one book I'd carried on with for awhile), I'd never seen that.

Thank you. Yeah, that's Cap. Also, that's Peter. Thank you.

[schala_kid.insanejournal.com]

I love when Peter acts like a fanboy with Cap <3 and I loved their relationship especially when Pete, May and MJ went to live in Avengers tower.

Also another reason I hate about OMD it had that scene with Spidey saying "I bet Captain America doesn't have these problems. ... Then again, he's dead." very fucking classy.

[cmdr_zoom.insanejournal.com]

Yes. This.

[mykie1234.insanejournal.com]

Sir or Madam who posted this... thank you. This is my favourite Steve Rogers moment of all time. I put the end of that Mark Twain quote on my myspace and everything. Thanks.

[starwolf_oakley.insanejournal.com]

I can understand if the plan for CIVIL WAR was "First have the audience on the side of Cap, then have them realize Iron Man was right." But no one seemed to put the second part into effect until the end of CIVIL WAR #7 and FRONT LINE #11.

The thing about Cap's speech was... there are certain people in this country that believe certain things fervently and with all their hearts... but that doesn't mean they are right. I recently studied Arthur Miller's works, and many of his characters like Willy Loman and Eddie Carbone believe things very purely... but that doesn't mean they are right. To risk getting more political, did Cap and Co. really think that Iron Man and Co. didn't believe in Superhero Registration? Did Cap think it was all a scam by Tony to get rich?

[kingrockwell]

Tell us a story, Uncle Steve!
Oh man, I just remembered! I found Amazing Spider-Man #-1 at an LCS recently, it's totally about kid!Peter fantasizing that he's Captain America! Just look at the cover!

Man, I've gotta dig up some Cap moments. Even on my Marvel embargo, Cap is too momentous to ignore.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

That's pretty cool, all right. The one thing that I would quibble with Twain about is the bit about country - I don't think it matters which sort of country you're in; you should do what you believe is right regardless of the political system under which you live. Sure, America's constitution is specifically founded on the principle, but I think the important point is that you are a traitor to YOURSELF if you compromise your beliefs for the sake of expediency. Screw the government - the point is that you have a duty to yourself and to others to stand up for what you believe is right.
Other than that, spot on. Good on ya, Twain - and well-delivered, Mr. Rogers.

[magus_69.insanejournal.com]

This is why I cannot buy Bucky as Captain America. I like Bucky, and I think that Brubaker is doing fantastic stuff with him, but Captain America and Steve Rogers are intertwined. The idealism that is never lost, despite everything that has ever been thrown at him is definitive of who Steve Rogers is, and why he stands as one of the greats.

[hybridhelen.insanejournal.com]

Not gonna lie, this made me cry.
Thank you for posting it.

[lookingforsigns.insanejournal.com]

I think I teared up a bit just reading that.

[joysweeper.insanejournal.com]

I still love this.

No, sir!

[(Anonymous)]

Wow, couldn't agree less. Aside from the river of truth comment, the logic of the statement precludes no action as unpatriotic. Manson or hell some member of the KKK hold to "truths" that the mass of us all agree is utter trash, but by Captain A_o here, they're being patriotic. What about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? How about all men are created equal... These are our American truths, our human truths. Replacing individual freedom with populism masquerading as rebellion is certainly not my ideal. And, if you think the mob is represented by some construct of the comic book, maybe you should look at this endless thread of yes,yes,yes... Maybe you're the mob.