Warning: This article includes discussions about suicide, alcoholism, and domestic violence.
The DC Comics world has its own dark and gritty version of Captain America in the form of a radical ’90s soldier named Militia. The comic book industry of the 1990s was known for a lot of angry new villains. One of them is a sibling of the famous Green Lantern and turns out to be a dangerous anti-hero with a past similar to Marvel’s Captain America.
Mace Gardner is the brother of Guy Gardner of the Green Lantern Corps, and whose origin story is easy to understand. debuted in 1993 Mr. Gardner #12 Directed by Chuck Dixon and Joe Staton, Mace and Guy were raised together by an abusive, alcoholic father who had high expectations for his eldest son. Sadly, the stress is too great for Mays as he turns to drugs and alcohol while still fulfilling his dream of becoming a cop. Guy Gardner would become the Green Lantern, while Mace was shot in the spine by a criminal, was confined to a wheelchair and presumably committed suicide by drowning. However, Mace’s suicide attempt has been faked by a secret organization called Quorum, which recruits crippled policemen as part of the latest experiment.
Minuteman is the evil mirror image of Captain America
Quorum turns Mace into his own version of Captain America known as the Vigilant Militia/super soldier. Mace’s uncanny resemblance to Captain America is reflected in Steve’s origin story. Steve Rogers, a sick child raised by an alcoholic father who wants to join the United States Army, is recruited by the government as a test subject for a super-soldier program. There are even few similarities, such as Steve Rogers having a younger brother and both working as a police officer. Although they both have the same upbringing and esper origins, Mace and Steve approach justice and use their powers differently.
The militia is a prime example of how power can be corrupted when given to the wrong person. Unlike Steve, Mace was taught to succeed by any means necessary and to remain the authority in any situation. Mace Gardner plays a militiaman who uses Quorum’s orthopedic suit to track down criminals and even his brother Guy after the Green Lantern is charged with murder. Captain America’s philosophy is that anyone can become a superhero, regardless of their background or limitations. His parents had flaws, but Steve learned to appreciate his gifts and not let his flaws let him down. That’s why Steve is the perfect candidate for the super soldier serum project that turns him into America’s Greatest Hero. Militia is too proud to hold so much power, while Captain America always remembers where he comes from and never shirks his responsibility to help others.
Captain America and the militia have similar origins and different views on justice
Both Quorum and the US government create super-soldiers to fulfill their needs, but the life choices of Militia and Captain America shaped their true destinies. Steve Rogers isn’t ashamed of his upbringing, and in accepting the choice to be the First Avenger, he chose to embrace his roots. However, blinded by overwhelming expectations and paralyzed by fear of failure, Meth Gardner denied her past after receiving DC’s version of Super Soldier Serum, becoming an anti-hero of justice and destroy him on his way. of all the villains. Captain America and DC Comics’ Militia may come from similar backgrounds, but heroes must remember that true justice cannot be born out of pride, anger, and hatred.