The Virtues of Captain America

"Enjoyable and consistently stimulating, presenting complex arguments in ways that will be accessible to just about any reader, The Virtues of Captain America is popular philosophy of a high order." John Gray, New Statesman "Interesting, stimulating, convincing, well-written, and well-documented" Alain Marciano, The Journal of Popular Culture "An intriguing look at one of the most iconic and misunderstood characters in the history of comics." J.M. DeMatteis, Writer--Captain America In The Virtues of Captain America, philosopher and pop culture expert Mark D. White explores Captain America's personal morality within a virtue ethics framework, delving into the moral and political philosophy behind 80 years of Captain America comics and movies in a light-hearted, often humorous tone. Requiring no background in philosophy or familiarity with the source material, The Virtues of Captain America explores the virtues that "Cap" exemplifies, his moral character, his ethical code, his ongoing battle with fascism, his personal vision of patriotism and the "American Dream," his sense of honor, and much more. Throughout the book, White argues that the core principles and judgment exhibited by Captain America in the 1940s remain highly relevant in the twenty-first century. This second edition is updated to include recent developments in Captain America's story, featuring many examples from the last ten years of his appearances in Marvel Comics. Entirely new material offers insights into the recent "Secret Empire" storyline, such as how Captain America's character and virtues were affected by the fascist organization Hydra, as well as Sam Wilson (formerly the Falcon) taking on the role of Captain America as he teams up with his fellow Avengers. Showing us how Captain America stands for the basic ideals of America, not its politics or government, The Virtues of Captain America is essential reading for everyone wanting to address the personal and political issues of today with integrity, honor, and respect.