Like many young people, especially LGBTQA kids, Aaron Fischer grew up searching for signs that he belonged in this world. In the five part The United States of Captain America, Christopher Cantwell and a variety of writers and artists explore how Captain America inspires and is perceived in the Marvel Universe by members of different communities who in turn symbolize their real world counterparts. In this first issue Cantwell is joined by Dale Eaglesham, Josh Trujillo and Jan Bazaldua to introduce Fischer.
To set the stage, an unknown assailaint dressed as Captain America breaks into Steve Roger’s home in Brooklyn and steals his shield. Captain America and Falcon follow the thief’s trail to a train bridge. Their pursuit is stopped when the thief creates a train collision as a diversionary tactic. While rescuing passengers in the immediate aftermath a confused Captain America spots another figure whose smoke shrouded silhouette resembles the thief and mistakes him for the intruder.
The figure turns out to be someone all together different: 19 year old Aaron Fischer who rides the rails who, as he tells Cap and Falcon, left home because “Dad tried to beat the ‘me’ outta me…” Fischer mentions having a boyfriend named Adrian but the relationship ended while they were in Missouri. When Rogers asks Fischer why he’s dressed like him Fischer’s answer is one to which the superhero can relate: he wants to protect other homeless people from being abused and attacked.
Fischer alludes to a loose, underground network of people who share the ideals of the World War II hero to make their communities safer. The statement intrigues Cap and Falcon though the search for leads on his Cap’s stolen shield take precedence and will shortly reveal it’s all part of a plot by the Hate Monger to destabilize American society. A minor appearance in issue #4 reveals Fischer has been trying to contact as many of these “Captains” as possible as part of Rogers’ efforts to stop the Hate Monger. Christopher Cantwell wraps up the series with the “Captain Network” having just defeated the Hate Monger’s plans to divide further the country with a national broadcast. Fischer’s final appearance to date ends with him using the broadcast to address the public extolling the beauty of our differences instead of fearing others who don’t look and act like us.
Josh Trujillo, Jan Bazaldua, and Matt Milla flesh out Fischer’s life in issue one’s backup story titled “Tracks.” It opens after Fischer has left home because of his father’s abusive actions and he’s now living in a tent encampment in a large city on the West Coast; possibly Los Angeles based on visual clues. Following tips about unhoused kids disappearing leads Fischer to the construction site of a new stadium being built by the shady Roxxon Corporation. Roxxon and the mayor are secretly in league to clear out tent cities so the entire area can be gentrified. Fischer becomes another abductee who finds himself in Roxxon “corporate housing.” In reality, it’s a makeshift barbed wired encampment in the desert and under watch by armed guards. The situation is degrading, certainly a crime, and it’s also the scene where Aaron meets Adrian who will become his boyfriend. Fischer rises to this make or break moment by organizing Adrian and other hostages to lead a night time attack on the guards and escape in the dark.
What the above appearances reveal of Fischer’s character show him to be deeply compassionate, courageous, determined, and resourceful. Fischer has a friendly and out going demeanor but is also comfortable being alone and self reliant. While the script alludes to solo heroic adventures Fischer works well as part of a team. Fischer also knows the songs from Hamilton.
Fischer is a street fighter and relies on a shield which he scavenged from found objects while being held prisoner in the Roxxon “camp.”
Aaron’s first appearance is in The United States of Captain America #1 in which he talks about his relationship with Adrian. Adrian’s only appearance is in issue one.
Created by Christopher Cantwell, Josh Trujillo, Dale Eaglesham, and Jan Bazaldua. Art by Jan Bazaldua and Matt Milla from the Tracks story in The United States of Captain America #1.
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