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It’s time to choose, or is it? Is it fair to have Bucky do such a great job and have Steve come right back?

Well, I hope you are all aware that Steve Rogers is on his way back. You know Steve Rogers, the original Captain America. He was shot dead about a year ago or so, but like all other slain heroes he is going to return.  Steve might be shocked to know there is another guy running around as Captain America, his old side-kick Bucky. Personally, I’m divided as who should be Captain America. A decision like this can’t be made on a coin-toss.

When Steve Rogers was killed people were waiting for his return. Readers did not want someone to take his place. A lot of readers assumed no one was fit to carry the shield like Steve Rogers had. The current writer of Captain America, Ed Brubaker, wrote a story were Steve Rogers approved of his side-kick, Bucky Barnes, to take the helm as Captain America. This made sense in the realm of the story, but readers everywhere felt it was too easy a choice and predictable. What readers got was completely different.

Bucky Barnes as Captain America had a brand new uniform and also carried a few weapons outside of the standard Captain America shield. This angered a lot of fans but they went along with it. Slowly, the fans were won over by Bucky as Captain America. He’s won over so many fans they are now concerned that he will lose the title of Captain America by default now that Steve Rogers is on his way back.

The decision of who gets to be Captain America is the newest example of a problem with comics. Do you try something new and stick with it or do you return back to the originals because it’s traditional. Do you make Steve Rogers Captain America because he’s the original or give it to Bucky Barnes since he’s new and got the okay from Steve? That’s oversimplifying the problem but does shine a light on the issue. Who do you pick to be Captain America and why do you pick that person? Do you pick them because that’s the way it’s always been or because of the history behind the character? Or do you go with something new to keep the character fresh? Like I said, this decision can’t be made on a coin-toss.