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Raising a Geek: Part Three- Captain America

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*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.

Scout Cap
The Cap action figure is in that princess backpack!

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!

_JDP4497
This photo and the lead photo are by Justin Davidson Photography.  Book him here.

So, it is no surprise that my first opportunity to cosplay, I called Cap and was off and running.

Cap poodle

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

 

Author:

Kim Henderson McAndrew, author of the book "In Plain Sight: Using Everyday Cosplay To Express Your Inner Superhero". She loves nerdy fashion, everyday cosplay in particular. Her main fandoms are Marvel, Star Wars and Disney.

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