A new book published on February 17, 2026, explores the mythological and historical origins of Marvel's Captain America as America's first antifascist superhero. Author Peter Meineck draws parallels between the character and ancient Greek heroes while detailing its creation amid World War II tensions. The work highlights the bold anti-Nazi stance taken by the character's Jewish creators in a divided America.
Captain America, introduced in December 1940 by Timely Comics—the predecessor to Marvel—was created by Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg) and Joe Simon (Hymie Simon), sons of Jewish immigrants from Europe. The character emerged as Adolf Hitler's forces swept through Europe, with Britain at war for 17 months and the U.S. still isolationist. Kirby and Simon aimed to galvanize American youth against the Nazi regime, as evidenced by the debut cover of Captain America Comics #1, where Steve Rogers punches Hitler in the face amid a map of America and sabotage plans.
The book 'Tony Stark, Odysseus, and the Myths Behind Marvel: Ancient Heroes in the Modern World' by Peter Meineck connects Captain America to Greek heroic archetypes. Meineck notes that the term 'hero' derives from the Greek 'hērōs,' meaning 'protector,' and compares Steve Rogers to figures like Herakles, a troubled son of Zeus known for labors and rage, and the defender-type 'Alexandros,' meaning 'protector of others.' Unlike flawed heroes such as Oedipus, Captain America embodies ethical constancy, transforming from a puny Brooklyn boy rejected by the army into a supersoldier via a serum.
Creation carried risks: the Timely office received death threats from Nazi sympathizers, prompting New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia to provide police protection to Kirby and Simon. In early 1941, amid the America First Committee's 800,000 members including Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh, the comic's anti-fascist content was provocative. Kirby later reflected, 'I feel that my characters all have some part of my character. I feel that they are in me in some way.'
Meineck traces Captain America's evolution into the Marvel Cinematic Universe leader of the Avengers, citing scenes like in 'The Avengers' (2012), where he shields a presumed Holocaust survivor from Loki, saying, 'I've seen this kind of thing before in Germany.' In 'Captain America: Winter Soldier' (2014), Rogers rejects surveillance programs, stealing his vintage costume to fight Hydra's infiltration, embodying resistance to modern threats like AI-driven control. The book underscores Marvel's roots in responding to real-world events, with early characters like Namor battling Nazis before U.S. entry into the war.
