2021 Has TWO Captain America Parodies Coming

Captain America has been one of the most popular superheroes in the world for nearly a decade now, but his patriotic image will soon be the subject of two separate parodies. Amazon Prime's hit series The Boys will introduce the new character Soldier Boy, while James Gunn's Suicide Squad reboot will introduce Peacemaker. Both characters possess ideologies that poke fun at Captain America's heroic idealism.

Obviously, the MCU's Captain America has hung up his shield, leaving a vacuum for a new Captain America. The new Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier will certainly advance Cap's legacy, but the exact status of the Captain America mantle remains unclear. Ta Nehisi-Coates, who is writing the current comics run of Captain America, has worked to complicate the character's image, interrogating what it means to fight crime while dressed up in American red, white, and blue. But even as Cap's image gets continually interrogated and deconstructed, the new parodies from The Boys and The Suicide Squad mark new territory.

Soldier Boy's backstory is mostly identical to Captain America's, while certainly tinged with The Boys' signature sense of humor. He has a strict code of honor and refuses to curse. Instead, he uses outdated phrases like "gee-whiz." Soldier Boy is perhaps a parody of the original incarnation of Captain America, who spent all his time fighting Nazis and espousing American propaganda. Peacemaker, the star of an upcoming HBO Max series who is set to debut in Gunn's movie, brings Captain America's idealism to its logical conclusion. The character, who will be played by John Cena, is so committed to world peace that he is willing to use extreme force to achieve that goal. Peacemaker's agenda is therefore ripe for comedic parody, as his peaceful ideology is constantly undermined by his violent tendencies. One could easily accuse Captain America of similar hypocrisy.

Captain America's commitment to truth and justice were previously confronted in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. That film contrasted Cap's unwavering faith in superheroes with Tony Stark's admission that heroes need to be regulated. The MCU never settled this essential debate, instead moving on to deal with a little looming threat named Thanos. However, fans have suggested that The Boys largely proves Steve Rogers right. Of course, the show deconstructs superheroes from all angles, and highlights not just the perils of regulation, but of celebrity. Stark's perspective in Civil War may be undermined by The Boys, but Rogers' desire to be a well-respected, even idolized, figure in American culture is similarly undermined by the show. With the introduction of Soldier Boy, it will be interesting to see how the show offers further commentary on Captain America's persona.

Peacemaker makes for a particularly interesting parody of Cap. Like Captain America, Peacemaker believes himself to be a hero; however, he is a member of the Suicide Squad and may not even be very well-liked surrounded by supervillains. Peacemaker clearly has positive intentions in The Suicide Squad, but his reckless actions cause more harm than good, which closely mirrors the Avengers' destruction of Sokovia at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. James Gunn has an opportunity to scathingly dissect the MCU from the outside with The Suicide Squad, and considering the director's track record, there's a good chance he takes it.

Captain America is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon. With that being said, the parodies of Cap in The Boys and The Suicide Squad present a unique opportunity to transform how fans think of America's most patriotic hero.

Next: MCU Phase 4: Every Hint Marvel's Civil War Is Still Raging