![book cover]](/english/news/images/captain-america-symbolism-cover.jpg)
Associate Professor Jason Olsen recently published his book Mark Gruenwald and the Star Spangled Symbolism of Captain America, 1985-1995.
From 1985 to 1995, Mark Gruenwald was the head writer for Captain America. He wrote some of the most essential stories in Captain America's history and guided the comic through an eventful period of both world history and comic book history. Jason’s book dissects the influence of the world at large on Gruenwald's stories and the subsequent influence of Gruenwald's work on the world of comics. The book's ten chapters discuss a wide range of topics including the generational tensions inherent in a comic about a G.I. Generation hero, written by a baby boomer, for an audience of Gen Xers; the enduring threat of the Red Skull and the never-ending aura of World War II; the rising popularity of vigilante characters during the '90s; and how Captain America fits into the war on drugs and its "just say no" mentality. Set against the declining American patriotism of the 1980s and 1990s, this book places special emphasis on the symbolism of the most American of superheroes.
Jason says, “I read these comics when I was a kid and they mattered a lot to me back then, but when I revisited them as an adult, I realized how full of [complex] commentary about the 1980s and 1990s these comics were and [how they] speak to our needs and concerns of today. Gruenwald gives us a Cap that deals with the pressure of expectations, suffers from depression, yet always finds a way to do the right thing.”
In his review of Jason’s book, comic critic Dan Newland says, "For long-time fans of Captain America, this is a real treat. Jason Olsen has taken a beloved Cap run, brought its ideas and stories to life, and then pulled back the curtain to show us the context and ideas behind the adventures. Star Spangled Symbolism is a well-written and thoughtful reflection on Mark Gruenwald and his most famous work, presented in an approachable style."
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