Where It All Began

For ten cents, American, back in 1941, you got 45 “thrilling pages” of action and adventure, featuring Captain America! At this point in time, the bombing run at Pearl Harbor was still nearly a year away; the U.S. was not yet engaged in the war with Nazi Germany. But Jack Kirby and Joe Simon at Timely comics created Captain America, which represented their view that the U.S.’s involvement in the war as inevitable. The hero represented “American” values and a moral authority in the battle against evil. The pulp of those days would serve as rallying propaganda against the Hitler and the Axis powers.

The cover you see above is where it all started. Perhaps 70 years later, in July 2011, we will see the greatest interpretation of Captain America in motion pictures with “The First Avenger: Captain America.” With any luck, Jon Hamm, America’s Actor, will be in his red boots.

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Jon Hamm Fans, You Are Not Alone

As soon as Marvel decided it was going to go nuclear with releasing Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, The Avengers, Thor, and Ant-Man as Marvel Studios films over the next few years, casting suggestions have been flying all around Internets. But it takes the right visionaries to put these films together, and of course it takes the right actors to fill the tights, as it were, of our favorite superheroes. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was inspired casting. Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, good but not redhot. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, a stellar choice. Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock wasn’t my favorite. Everyone loved Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier. Others may have found Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze a bit silly. Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker was just about as perfect as you can get.

Casting Steve Rogers requires a well-tuned perception into what makes a man a hero. An actor who can portray weakness and frailty, but then later demonstrate confidence and strength, will win the role. Cap is a hero who becomes a leader because of the men and women who need him to fight. Very few gentlemen have the ability to capture that character, but one leading man in particular has what it takes.

We are not the first to say these simple words: Jon Hamm should play Captain America.

What is important is the first part of that sentence. We are not the first to say this. All across the Internet, Jon Hamm’s name has been popping up as the underdog casting choice.

• The first one to publicly suggest Jon Hamm is likely this commenter on a Slashfilm post about Cap’s Shield showing up in the Iron Man movie. This is in May of 2008!
• Thomas over at his The Movie Blog makes the first truly coherent argument to cast Jon Hamm as Captain America in August of 2008, and he comments on this Variety.com entry that likens Jon Hamm to the next George Clooney in October. Thomas’s post is required reading.
• Brilliant humorist and McSweeney’s contributor Andrew Bridgman briefly posts his recommendation in September 2008.
• Jon Hamm’s name gets tosses around as a possible contender for Green Lantern on Ain’t It Cool News, but commenters suggest he would be better suited as Captain America in early October.
• Over at Screen Rant, commenters also point out Jon Hamm’s appropriate WWII-era looks, also in October.
• Further support for Hamm-as-Rogers is seen at FlimFlam.net.
• Commenters on a JoBlo.com post about Johnston’s directing assignment bring up Jon Hamm.
• A post about the film and the casting choices over at the IGN message boards also includes support for our guy in November.
• The same day as the IGN post, Pajiba’s Dustin Rowles discusses the film’s director Joe Johnston and supports Jon Hamm because, quote, “Why the fuck not, you know? He just looks like a Steve Rogers, doesn’t he?”
• One lone commenter suggests Jon Hamm amid a sea of insane suggestions over at Film School Rejects.
• Geoff Boucher at the LATimes blogs that he’s heard such buzz on the Internet on March 13.
• Finally, critic/writer/entertainment writer Scott Mendelson cross-posted his case for the casting across three blogs, and also gives credit to Thomas’s argument at The Movie Blog.

This is not a complete list by any means. Many other voices have spoken about this in chat rooms, comic book stores, and slumber parties across the globe. JHSPCA is the place to bring these voices together, so all supporters of this brilliant casting suggestion have a place to go and be heard daily. Remember, you are not alone.

Come back every day and participate. Link to us on your blog, Facebook, your Twitter feed. Tell a friend or teacher or minister about us. Jon Hamm and the fates of “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers” may very well depend on it.

Free Comic Book Day

In less than two weeks, Free Comic Book Day arrives! Free Comic Book Day is the day when specialty comic book shops across the globe offer free select comic books to anyone who visits their stores. It’s been a wildly successful program that introduces new kids of all ages to comic books of both mainstream and independent parts of the industry.

Captain America, as well as a plethora of other Marvel Comics characters, will be showing up in the 2009 issue of Free Comic Book Day’s “The Avengers.” Below is the cover and small snippet of Cap’s appearance.

We here at JHSPCA encourage you and your loved ones to visit a comic shop near you on Free Comic Book Day to find out about this art form. Not sure if your local store will be participating? Check out the official site to see if your favorite shop will have a free comic comic just for you! No official word from Jon Hamm about FCBD, but we’re confident he would back a program that promotes literacy and art among the citizenry.