My affinity for Cap was re-energized when Marvel launched its Civil War storyline last year, with its thinly veiled reflections of both McCarthyism and the post-9/11 erosion of civil liberties. When I first heard the Marvel heroes were going to become polarized by the enactment of a "Superhero Registration Act," I figured Captain America would be first in line to take the loyalty oath. After all, he's the uber-patriot, the ever-faithful Nazi-bashing champion of American Values. He actually wears the American flag as his costume, for crying out loud.

Nope. Instead, Cap became Marvel's leading champion of privacy rights and civil liberties, and the outlaw leader of the anti-Registration faction of heroes, squaring off against that fascist bastard Iron Man. Because he's really an FDR-era patriot, not a W-era jingoist.

As I read this and pondered the death of Cap and what he stood for, I wondered if he has an equivalent when it comes to defending the environment? And if it not, isn't it time for one?