While there are numerous Canadian heroes in Captain America has represented the United States. There have been several candidates from different publishers, across several decades, but none of them has lasted the test of time or become as beloved and popular as Steve Rogers. With so many worthy candidates and a rise in superhero media, it's time for Canada to finally decide which hero its citizens want to represent them.
Several heroes are Canadian and have been popular throughout history, particularly in Marvel Comics. These have Captain Canuck, Johnny Canuck, and Major Mapleleaf.
Captain Newfoundland & Captain Canada
Captain Newfoundland debuted as a newspaper comic in the January 5-11, 1980 issue of the Sunday Herald, which is now known as The Newfoundland Herald or simply, The Herald. He was created by the team of Geoff Stirling, his son Scott Stirling, and Marvel/DC artist Danny Bulanadi. Geoff Stirling had founded the Sunday Herald, as well as other media outlets for both radio and television. Captain Newfoundland and Captain Canada have both appeared in a graphic novel, which featured cover art by Boris Vallejo (known for his fantasy art as well as the iconic posters for the films Barbarella and National Lampoon's Vacation). It also included the brief appearance of NHL All-Star Wayne Gretzky.
Captain Canada ultimately disappeared from the comic medium (and the appearances he did have are hard to come by). He was predominantly used as a media icon by NTV (Newfoundland Television) during the 1990s. He also starred in a made for television movie titled, Captain Newfoundland and the Tip of Atlantis. Captain Canada was intended to be Canada's premier superhero, but he just couldn't garner the same national attention as Captain America.
Captain Canuck
Captain Canuck is a superhero within Canadian comics. He debuted in 1975 within Captain Canuck #1 from Comely Comix. He was created by Richard Comely and Ron Leishman. Captain Canuck has had three different alter egos: Tom Evans, Darren Oak, and David Semple. Tom Evans is the first and current mantle wearer. Captain Canuck arguably has some of the most comic appearances of each of these heroes and has seen quite a bit of success. His adventures have just recently seen some consistency in their publication, marking him as a frontrunner for the position of Canada's Captain America. This is especially true since he appeared on Canadian postage stamps alongside Superman and other Canadian comic heroes, like Johnny Canuck.
He has gone from Comely Comix to its imprint, Semple Comics. Afterwards his adventures were published by Comedy Comics/Hot Hail Comics, finally having a home with Chapterhouse Comics, who has since revitalized the character. Captain Canuck had only fourteen issues release sporadically from 1975 to 1981. He briefly had a four-issue series in 2004, as well as the Captain Canuck: Legacy series in 2006, which was supposed to run for four issues yet wasn't fully realized. The hero was brought back in 2015 and has finally seen some regular success with a forty-issue series from 2015-2016 and several additional series, including Captain Canuck Season 5 in 2020. He's arguably the most popular of each of these heroes and has the most hope of having a long-lasting history should he continue to have regular adventures in the future.
Johnny Canuck
Johnny Canuck began life as a political cartoon and he eventually moved into the comic realm as a hero. He is the oldest of each hero mentioned here since he first appeared in 1869, though his comic debut wouldn't come until 1942. Like Steve Rogers, he was a World War II hero, coming face to face with Hitler. He was frequently depicted in pilot's attire. After World War II ended, the character would lose popularity though he appeared in the same Canadian stamp series as Captain Canuck. He briefly appeared again in comics in 2010, but hasn't been able to make a full return within that medium.
This Canadian hero was reborn in a new iteration within the world of sports, becoming involved with the Vancouver Canucks NHL team as a logo design. After a Quebec hockey team's lumberjack character was dubbed "Johnny Canuck," the name was given new purpose after the reimagined logo was trademarked. This amalgamation of the character's name and new lumberjack look appeared as a shoulder logo in 2008 for the Vancouver Canucks. Just last year he became the official logo for the team's AHL , the Abbotsford Canucks. His return to comics is incredibly unlikely, despite the potential he once may have had.
Major Mapleleaf
Major Mapleaf is a mantle that has been 2004 within Alpha Flight #1.
Unfortunately, the second Major Mapleleaf would not last long in the role either. He was killed in New Avengers #16 by Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, Morry Hollowell, and Richard Starkings, just two years after his debut. Marvel has created some of the most popular comic heroes, including Captain America, but they have failed - and rapidly killed - heroes who could have been Canadian counterparts to Captain America. Neither iteration of Major Mapleleaf lasted past fifteen issues and the character, unlike many others, has not been resurrected since.
Who Will Be Canada's True Captain America?
Canada has had numerous comic heroes standing on guard over the years. These have included the superheroes mentioned above, as well as others, such as Fleur de Lys and Nelvana of the Northern Lights (Canada's first Canadian superheroine). Captain Canuck appears to be the forerunner for the position of Canada's official hero since he has the most consistent appearances, a lengthy history, and is genuinely a Canadian comic. If Canada hopes to have its own true version of Captain America, ing Captain Canuck and his allies would certainly be the best course of action.
