Captain Patriotic: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:Cap.jpg|link=Captain America|right| Courage, Honor, Loyalty, Sacrifice, the American Way!]]
[[File:Cap.jpg|link=Captain America|frame| Courage, Honor, Loyalty, Sacrifice, the American Way!]]




{{quote|''"[[My Country Right or Wrong|My country, right or wrong]]; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."'' |'''Carl Schurz'''}}
{{quote|''"[[My Country, Right or Wrong|My country, right or wrong]]; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."'' |'''Carl Schurz'''}}


This [[Superhero]] is motivated by one thing above all: love of country. He loves everything it symbolizes, all its values, and is damn proud of its history.
This [[Superhero]] is motivated by one thing above all: love of country. He loves everything it symbolizes, all its values, and is damn proud of its history.
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[[Ideal Hero|He's heroic]], maybe [[The Cape]], and will normally follow [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]]. Unless it's war, then you can expect him to be on the front line, taking down as many of [[Those Wacky Nazis]] and [[Dirty Communists]] as he can. He is a master of the [[Rousing Speech]] or can give somebody a powerful [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]] moment. If he becomes [[Older and Wiser]], he will almost always end as [[The Mentor]].
[[Ideal Hero|He's heroic]], maybe [[The Cape]], and will normally follow [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]]. Unless it's war, then you can expect him to be on the front line, taking down as many of [[Those Wacky Nazis]] and [[Dirty Communists]] as he can. He is a master of the [[Rousing Speech]] or can give somebody a powerful [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]] moment. If he becomes [[Older and Wiser]], he will almost always end as [[The Mentor]].


No matter how near the cynical end of [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]] the major premise is, he will be idealistic. In the [[Five-Man Band]] he is [[The Hero]], on a [[Super Team]] or any other kind of [[The Squad|super group]] he will be [[The Captain]]. He can be very harsh and strict - [[The Cowl]] may not get along with him. The [[Anti-Hero]] should not expect to see him among his fans. If you are a [[Nineties Anti Hero]], better stay the hell away from him if you don't want to get your butt kicked. On the other hand, he is respectful of true patriots, no matter what country they serve - he will quickly recognize that their patriotism is akin to his own. The same goes with dissenters with his government's policies and/or his nation's current public sentiments, if their ultimate principles are in keeping with the larger ideals he values. For instance, if a historical 1960s American [[Captain Patriotic]] heard growls accusing [[Martin Luther King Jr]] of being a traitor, he'd be first to answer, "No, he is a true American patriot!"
No matter how near the cynical end of [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]] the major premise is, he will be idealistic. In the [[Five-Man Band]] he is [[The Hero]], on a [[Super Team]] or any other kind of [[The Squad|super group]] he will be [[The Captain]]. He can be very harsh and strict - [[The Cowl]] may not get along with him. The [[Anti-Hero]] should not expect to see him among his fans. If you are a [[Nineties Anti-Hero]], better stay the hell away from him if you don't want to get your butt kicked. On the other hand, he is respectful of true patriots, no matter what country they serve - he will quickly recognize that their patriotism is akin to his own. The same goes with dissenters with his government's policies and/or his nation's current public sentiments, if their ultimate principles are in keeping with the larger ideals he values. For instance, if a historical 1960s American [[Captain Patriotic]] heard growls accusing [[Martin Luther King Jr]] of being a traitor, he'd be first to answer, "No, he is a true American patriot!"


However, all [[General Ripper|Mad Generals]], [[Obstructive Bureaucrat|crooked politicians]], [[President Evil|Evil Presidents]], and [[The Mole|infiltrators]] from [[The Illuminati]] must remember that he's not [[My Country Right or Wrong|loyal to government, law or army]]. He may serve them, but his true loyalty is to his country's spirit and ideals. Attack his values, use the symbols he values as a hypocritical excuse to commit injustice, or limit people's freedom with law, and he will be the first to [[Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right|kick you in the face]].
However, all [[General Ripper|Mad Generals]], [[Obstructive Bureaucrat|crooked politicians]], [[President Evil|Evil Presidents]], and [[The Mole|infiltrators]] from [[The Illuminati]] must remember that he's not [[My Country, Right or Wrong|loyal to government, law or army]]. He may serve them, but his true loyalty is to his country's spirit and ideals. Attack his values, use the symbols he values as a hypocritical excuse to commit injustice, or limit people's freedom with law, and he will be the first to [[Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right|kick you in the face]].


Discovering that his country has fallen and become corrupt is the best way to cause his [[Heroic BSOD]]. This is temporary. You can be damn sure he will stand again to restore his fatherland to glory. In case he is forced to [[Turn in Your Badge|give up his costume and secret identity]], he will join the army or the police, or adapt a similar superhero identity. He knows there are many ways to serve his country.
Discovering that his country has fallen and become corrupt is the best way to cause his [[Heroic BSOD]]. This is temporary. You can be damn sure he will stand again to restore his fatherland to glory. In case he is forced to [[Turn in Your Badge|give up his costume and secret identity]], he will join the army or the police, or adapt a similar superhero identity. He knows there are many ways to serve his country.
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**** [[Alpha Flight|James MacDonald Hudson]] once pointed out in discussing [[Captain Geographic|his own costume]] that Cap's costume was meant to be a loose interpretation due to U.S. restrictions on flag-wearing, while his own costume as Weapon Alpha/Vindicator/Guardian was essentially the Canadian flag wrapped around him.
**** [[Alpha Flight|James MacDonald Hudson]] once pointed out in discussing [[Captain Geographic|his own costume]] that Cap's costume was meant to be a loose interpretation due to U.S. restrictions on flag-wearing, while his own costume as Weapon Alpha/Vindicator/Guardian was essentially the Canadian flag wrapped around him.
** And then there's [[Black Panther]], the king and national hero of the African nation of Wakanda.
** And then there's [[Black Panther]], the king and national hero of the African nation of Wakanda.
** [[Silver Sable]] is a European example, hailing from [[Ruritania|Symkaria]]. Notably more [[True Neutral]], with a dose of [[My Country Right or Wrong]] for good measure.
** [[Silver Sable]] is a European example, hailing from [[Ruritania|Symkaria]]. Notably more [[True Neutral]], with a dose of [[My Country, Right or Wrong]] for good measure.
** [[Doctor Doom]] could be considered a villainous version of this trope for his nation of Latveria. Ironically, in-universe, the people of Latveria -like- him and think of him as a good ruler as while he may be a tyrant, he honestly thinks of his country and people as his own and protects them/provides for them as such.
** [[Doctor Doom]] could be considered a villainous version of this trope for his nation of Latveria. Ironically, in-universe, the people of Latveria -like- him and think of him as a good ruler as while he may be a tyrant, he honestly thinks of his country and people as his own and protects them/provides for them as such.
** Another villainous [[Captain Patriotic]] was the Tarantula, who was hyped as this trope but was mainly [[The Dragon]] to the murderous dictator who ruled his South American country.
** Another villainous [[Captain Patriotic]] was the Tarantula, who was hyped as this trope but was mainly [[The Dragon]] to the murderous dictator who ruled his South American country.
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* [[DC Comics]] takes it [[Up to Eleven|up to 11]], having its equivalent of Captain America as [[Freedom Fighters (Comic Book)|Uncle Sam]] - the [[Anthropomorphic Personification]] of the American Spirit - himself.
* [[DC Comics]] takes it [[Up to Eleven|up to 11]], having its equivalent of Captain America as [[Freedom Fighters (Comic Book)|Uncle Sam]] - the [[Anthropomorphic Personification]] of the American Spirit - himself.
** Other DC characters who embody this trope are Major Victory, Lady Liberty and the first Star-Spangled Kid.
** Other DC characters who embody this trope are Major Victory, Lady Liberty and the first Star-Spangled Kid.
** DC Comics also has [[Unknown Soldier]]; and Dynamite has [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_Soldier_(Ace_Comics) Soldier Unknown] based on a different "Unknown Soldier" character.
** DC Comics also has [[Unknown Soldier]]; and Dynamite has [[wikipedia:Unknown Soldier (Ace Comics)|Soldier Unknown]] based on a different "Unknown Soldier" character.
** DC's Spirit of America went through a metamorphosis from Minuteman (Revolutionary War) to Brother Johnathan (antebellum period), then splitting into Billy Yank and Johnny Reb (the Civil War), then merging again and becoming Uncle Sam (post-Civil War to today). Well, okay, he was also briefly the Patriot circa 2002, but went back to Uncle Sam after only one or two appearances in that form.
** DC's Spirit of America went through a metamorphosis from Minuteman (Revolutionary War) to Brother Johnathan (antebellum period), then splitting into Billy Yank and Johnny Reb (the Civil War), then merging again and becoming Uncle Sam (post-Civil War to today). Well, okay, he was also briefly the Patriot circa 2002, but went back to Uncle Sam after only one or two appearances in that form.
** [[Wonder Woman]] was this initially, but her character has developed significantly over time. In her first stories she was a foreigner dressed in a costume that Americans would interpret as "patriotic", apparently as conscious propaganda.
** [[Wonder Woman]] was this initially, but her character has developed significantly over time. In her first stories she was a foreigner dressed in a costume that Americans would interpret as "patriotic", apparently as conscious propaganda.
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* Parodied with [[Superlopez|Capitán Hispania]], who carries a shield with the colours of the Spanish flag, but never says anything that can be considered patriotic.
* Parodied with [[Superlopez|Capitán Hispania]], who carries a shield with the colours of the Spanish flag, but never says anything that can be considered patriotic.
* American Eagle is a C-List Marvel hero who combines this trope with [[Animal-Themed Superbeing]] and [[Magical Native American]].
* American Eagle is a C-List Marvel hero who combines this trope with [[Animal-Themed Superbeing]] and [[Magical Native American]].
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdupont Superdupont], by Jacques Lob and [[Gotlib|Marcel Gotlib]], is a French parody of the concept.
* [[wikipedia:Superdupont|Superdupont]], by Jacques Lob and [[Gotlib|Marcel Gotlib]], is a French parody of the concept.
* Ritter Germania from the ''[[Block 109]]'' series, a [[In Universe]] [[Propaganda Machine|nazi propaganda]] hero, with [[In Universe]] movies and comics to boot.
* Ritter Germania from the ''[[Block 109]]'' series, a [[In Universe]] [[Propaganda Machine|nazi propaganda]] hero, with [[In Universe]] movies and comics to boot.


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[[Category:TV Tropes Superhero Team]]
[[Category:TV Tropes Superhero Team]]
[[Category:Captain Patriotic]]
[[Category:Captain Patriotic]]
[[Category:Trope]]
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Captain_Patriotic"