Marvel Adding Team of Heroes to 'Captain America'

This stuff really isn't rocket surgery, so why is it that so many potential blockbusters seem to be handcuffed by overthinking the process? If you're going to give us a Captain America movie, give us Captain America. And if you have to call it The First Avenger: Captain America because you're building to a greatest hits movie the next summer featuring other Avengers...don't put even more superheroes in Cap's first movie. We found out over the weekend that, for some reason, Steve Rogers has to join the USO in order to wear his American flag-inspired outfit. I don't understand it, either: Lee Effing Greenwood can wear this tasteless leather monstrosity whenever he wants, but a super soldier has to join a song-and-dance group? Pointless. Now here's worse news: CHUD reports that Marvel is so keen to introduce The Invaders in Captain America that they're essentially going to dominate half the movie. Director Joe Johnston confirmed as much, saying The Invaders are "in the entire second half," and that there will be six of them fighting alongside Cap in the WWII-period action flick. Six? As in more than five? Then why the hell do you need Captain America? Doesn't he have troops to entertain with Betty Grable and Bob Hope? Here's the deal: Superheroes, almost by definition, don't need this kind of help, certainly not in an origin story. The same goes for supervillains, which is one of the reasons Spider-Man 3 was compromised, and it's what keeps The Dark Knight from being an A+ movie. Yo, Two-Face, I'm really happy for you. I'mma let you finish, but The Joker is the best comic book villain of all time. The best comic book villain of all Time! (Translation: Get your own movie, because The Joker can handle this one on his own.) So will The Invaders play a part in The Avengers, or is this just another way Marvel can weasel characters in where they don't naturally fit so they can spin them off down the line (*cough* Deadpool)? No question, there is history between Cap and the group of super-Euros, but that's why you adapt comic books into movies, not carry them over wholesale. In the comics, you have as much time as you need to make this storyline work. In a film, particularly one that's already setting up a home run derby with three other heroes, there's not time, space, or need for this kind of thing. Additionally, by building up The Invaders - even if they're only viewed as one supporting character in terms of narrative weight - you're taking the focus off Captain America. Look, he's already being built as part of this Avengers team concept, and if he doesn't even dominate 60% of his own movie, there's really no point in making Captain America in the first place. Stick 20 minutes in the front of The Avengers, skip the USO nonsense and be done with it. In the words of Fantastic Mr. Fox, this is starting to sound like a clustercuss.

Comments

[Patrick]

I understand your worries about the Invaders, and I don't agree with it either. However, the whole USO thing makes perfect sense. The military only has one of these super soldiers. Just one. I don't understand why you can't get the point that they are trying to conserve him. Capt. can die. They don't want their only specimen to be killed in the battle field. So, they try and maintain him as USO act. Capt. doesn't like the idea either from what I understand. Plus, it's a unique way to tell the story of how he gets that awesome costume. Just give it time. I wasn't fond of the idea either, but it has quickly grown on me.

[Patrick]

Also... Maybe having the Invaders in the movie will prove to the audience that he is capable of leading a group of superheroes. Enter the Avengers later down the road. As a matter of fact, I'm fairly certain that is what is going to happen. He goes AWOL from the USO tour and leads that group of heroes to fight the Red Skull (possibly Baron Zemo and Crossbones as well). It's all about letting us as the audience believe that the character can lead a group of heroes. It isn't that hard to comprehend.

[matt_kay]

Enjoyed the article. This was the first mention of the Invaders that I've read. I think studios feel they have to pack movies with a lot of characters in order to justify the ticket price. I'm bettin they think Cap vs Red Skull couldn't fill 2 hours with enough action. But- how they're gonna explain Toro is beyond me.

[D]

Patrick-

I think I take the middle road between your position and Colin's. I think the idea of using Cap as a PR and morale booster has potential, but the problem is the idea of a singing and dancing Captain America. If they could rework it as a guy who has to go and "amaze" people with feats of strength or whatever then it might work but having him up on stage doing comedy sketches and singing just sounds like an awful idea.

[John]

I know this isn't that significant to the CA post, but Deadpool was part of the weapon x program.

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