*This is a repost from earlier in the year, but to celebrate the opening of “Captain America: Civil War”, I thought this could use a revisit. Scout and I are firmly Team Cap!
Recently, I had a terrible cold and had to spend several days at home recovering and not spreading the joy of the cold around. I spent that time watching my favorite movies, which included Captain America for the most part. Around the same time, I finally commissioned a Captain America cosplay. During my first fitting, Lauren, of Castle Corsetry fame, asked me, “Why Captain America?” I hadn’t really thought about it before. Why is Cap my favorite super hero?
My geek life began with Star Wars when I was nine years old. That fandom was pretty much my chief fandom for a very long time. Comic book reading and collecting passed me by when I was a kid. I had friends that collected and read comics, but I never got on board with it. Most likely because the movies based on comic books didn’t capture my imagination until I was an adult. With the exception of the Arthurian legend, you pretty much have to give me a great movie to get me on board with a fandom. I don’t know why, but that’s just the way it is with me. Films really speak to me. I just love me some movies!
When the first Cap movie was in the process of being made, I thought, “Well, if it gets us to an Avengers movie, then let’s do this.” I was very unenthusiastic about it, to be perfectly honest. Scout was a preschooler at the time and had just started going to superhero movies in the theatres. She wanted to go and was able to sit through a movie at the time, so I would go see the movie first to make sure there wasn’t anything too much for her, then I would take her. Cap was an exception. Due to time, I didn’t have time to go see it without her first, so I read some online reviews that break movies down for parents to help them gauge if the movie will be OK for your kid or not. If you have a little one at home, go to commonsensemedia.org. Their reviews are great for gauging if your kid can handle a movie or not. Movie Mom is also a good choice.
So, off we go to see the first Cap movie. Scout and I loved it! I walked out and said, “Well, I have a favorite superhero now!” The heart and spirit of that movie sold me completely. I have a soft spot for WWII movies as well, since both of my grandfathers fought in that war. I tend to romanticize it because of the fashions and the music as well. I loved how Cap just plain doesn’t like bullies and fights the good fight. He’s too corny for some, but I just loved him immediately. Scout also loved it for different reasons. Her review through her five year old eyes was, “He was a little kid like me and nobody listened to him, but he got a chance to be big and strong. When he was big and strong he fought against bullies and was brave.” She asked to get a costume after the movie. She wore that Cap costume out! That was when she really started to cosplay hardcore. She cosplayed at movies and of course at cons. She got a Cap action figure that rode around in her school backpack from her first day of kindergarten on.
After that, we both became pretty much Cap obsessed. I have so many Cap leggings, dresses, toys, etc. that I should be embarrassed. But I’m not. I everyday cosplay Cap constantly. I just really love what he stands for. I absolutely get why he is such an enduring character in the Marvel universe. Cap was a gateway to comic reading as well. Now, let’s just say Scout and I have quite a pull list!
So, it is no surprise that my first opportunity to cosplay, I called Cap and was off and running.
Cap was the first character that Scout and I discovered together and grew up in our fandom with together. He has a lot of meaning to both of us. There are a lot of great lady superheroes and tough chick characters out there to enjoy as well, but don’t dismiss the guys just because they’re guys. I love that geeky universes are including us ladies more than ever before. I just see that as double the opportunities for a character to capture your imagination. The inclusiveness makes this time we find ourselves in the greatest time to be a geek, and the best possible time to raise a geek.
Scout and I are having the time of our lives, and we love sharing these times with you!
Love, Kim and Scout
