The first time we saw the Captain, he was punching out Hitler.

First appearance, 1941

Now, he's apparently deceased, laid low by a gutshot from a sniper.

Capt. America, in his final moments.

He'll no doubt be back — these things have a way of righting themselves in the comic world. Whether he's cloned, or someone else puts on the costume, or other heroes use a time-traveling device to go back and save him. But that's not the issue here.

Captain America has always been a sort of gauge for the mood of the American people. He fought Nazis in the 40s; was even more truth, justice and American way than Superman in the 50s; started to question his government in the 60s; and so on. What does it say about America, then, that in the 2000s, he has been put down like a rabid dog?

Think on that for the next few days, ace. Me, I'm off to Langerado. Three days of surrounding myself with 20,000 hippies. Should be a blast. Read all about it in next week's City Link.