A Special Star-Spangled Superhero Smash Independence Day Special!—Audio Issue #9: Captain America

Original Air Date

July 4th, 2023

Part 1 Begins

Hero Song (3:43)

“Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
This song does recognize the heroic efforts of our soldiers in armed conflict
But it also helps us to remember that those who are lost in battle often leave loved ones behind
So it’s our patriotic duty to support our troops but also to question whether any war is necessary
And it’s the perfect song to kick of today’s Special Star-Spangled Superhero Smash episode for Independence Day!

Superhero Smash (0:30)

Featuring the best in “Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore”
Focusing on current superhero movies and popular culture events
I’m your host, Dr. Gian Pagnucci, a.k.a. The New Professor X
Playing great music about superheroes as well as music that is featured in superhero movies and shows
Also talking about comic book history and heroism
But no matter what cool stuff I discuss on the show, you don’t have to worry because this is a NO SPOILERS show!

Audio Episode Theme: Captain America (2:00)

Captain America
- Painting of Captain America holding the flag by Alex Ross
Today is Steve Roger’s birthday and also America’s birthday!

Special Radio Guest Star

Brian Sateriale
IUP English Literature & Criticism Doctoral Student
Studying the MCU

Instrumental Theme Music (1:06)

“Captain America” by Alan Silvestri from Captain America: The First Avenger
Cap of course was played by Chris Evans in the MCU films

Collector’s Item Classic Comic Book (3:00)

Cap first appeared in Captain America Comics #1
Publication Date: Dec. 20, 1940
Publisher: Timely Comics
- Timely Comics changed its name to Atlas Comics in 1951 and then became Marvel Comics
- Martin Goodman was the publisher
- He had several comics publishing companies all operating out of the same offices
- As early as May 1944 he used Marvel Comics on Marvel Mystery Comics #55
- Goodman formally adopted the name Marvel Comics in 1961
Writer: Joe Simon
Artist: Jack Kirby
Captain America #1 went on sale in December 1940, a year before the bombing of Pearl Harbor
With Cap punching Hitler on the cover, the comic sold almost one million copies
Value on eBay today: Someone is selling the cover only for $60,000
In 2022, a copy sold for $3.1 million
The end of the Golden Age of Comics for Timely Comics came with the cancellation of Captain America Comics in February 1950 with issue #75
The last 2 issues (#74 and #75) were titled Captain America’s Weird Tales and issue #75 did not even have Cap in the comic
Atlas restarted the title in 1954, but it only lasted 3 issues due to public anti-Korean War sentiment
It took Cap a lot of work to get his own comic book back
Cap kept having to jump from title to title
Cap finally came back for good in Avengers #4
He also appeared in Tales of Suspense #59-99 along with Iron Man
Cap finally got his own comic book back in April 1968, with issue #100; the numbering was picked up from Tales of Suspense and was linked back to his original title’s numbering

Captain America Song 1 (2:53)

“Star Spangled Man” by the Star Spangled Singers
Again from Captain America: The First Avenger
Cap is traveling the country in a vaudeville style show selling war bonds
The song recalls the Golden Age in which Cap first appeared

Show ID: Superhero Smash (2:00)

WIUP FM 90.1
Alternative music for the MCU, the DCU, and our U too!
Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
Or email Professor X using the address superherosmash2023@gmail.com
Lots of great shows coming up
I would love to get your input
Cap expert Brian Sateriale is coming up, right after the break

PSA 1 (:30)

Freedom of the Press

Part 1 Ends (@15 minutes)

Part 2 Begins

Special Guest Star: Brian Sateriale (5:00)

We have a special guest today, Brian Sateriale
Brain loves Captain America and will be writing about the character in his dissertation
Brain is a doctoral student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the Graduate Studies in Literature and Criticism Program
Brian, welcome to the show
Tell us why you love the character of Captain America so much

Secret Origin Story (3:00)

Captain America was born, on July 4th, as scrawny Steve Rogers
During World War II, he wanted to serve his country, but the army rejected him because he was a “98 pound weakling”
Fortunately, Steve was spotted by Professor Abraham Erskine
Erskine brought Steve into Project Rebirth
Injecting Steve with Super Soldier Serum, Steve’s body transformed into Captain America
Unfortunately, a nazi spy tried to sabotage the experiment
The spy shot and killed Erskine before Cap could capture him
Cap goes on to fight nazis and his arch nemesis, the Red Skull
The skull loads a bomb onto a plane and sends it rocketing toward Manhattan
Cap forces the plane to crash into the Atlantic Ocean, but he disappears in the process
His body freezes and Cap goes into suspended animation
When Steve finally is revived by the Avengers, he is a man out of time
Cap has missed so much, and in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he meets Sam Wilson who tells him about a great Marvin Gaye album, Trouble Man, that pretty much covers the best of what he missed
In the comics, Cap met Sam Wilson, the Falcon and his pet bird Redwing in Captain America #117 in September 1969
Trouble Man was released only 2 years later, in 1972

Captain America Song 2 (3:49)

“Trouble Man” by Marvin Gaye

Station ID: WIUP FM 90.1 (1:00)

Alternative music for Indiana County and beyond
Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
Or email Professor X using the address superherosmash2023@gmail.com
I’m back with our special guest, English Doctoral Student Brian Sateriale

Special Guest Star: Brian Sateriale (5:00)

Brian, talk to us about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and how Cap was reimagined as a black superhero at last
Falcon played by Anthony Mackie and Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan

Captain America Song 3 (4:03)

“Guys Named Captain” by Kenny Chesney

Part 2 Ends (@37 minutes)

Part 3 Begins

Final Thoughts from Our Special Guest (5:00)

Brian, where do you see the MCU headed?
Where do you hope it goes?

Long Lost Hero: Nomad (2:00)

In Captain America #180, Steve becomes disillusioned with the U.S. government
He learns that a high ranking U.S. official (the comic hints that it is President Richard Nixon) is secretly a member of the villainous organization called the Secret Empire
In the film, this organization becomes Hydra and the corrupt official is Alexander Pierce (played by Robert Redford)
Steve abandons his Captain America costume and becomes a new superhero called Nomad
He starts out with a cape, but trips on it in one humorous scene, and we learn “that’s why Cap wasn’t born with a cape!”

Captain America Song 4 (2:48)

“Nomad” by Jeremy Renner
Yes, THAT Jeremy Renner A.K.A. Hawkeye from the Avengers!

Part 3 Ends (@47 minutes)

Part 4 Begins

Romantic Interlude (2:00)

Steve and Peggy
In Avengers: Endgame, Steve went back in time, after helping the Avengers defeat Thanos, to get the dance he had always wanted with Peggy Carter, his one true love

Romantic Melody (3:51)

“Whatcha Gonna Do (It’s Up to You)” from Agent Carter sung by Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter herself), Enver Gjokaj, and Hollywood Studio Symphony
A classic 50’s swing dance number

PSA (1:00)

Enjoy The Star Spangled Celebration 2023 all day today at Mack Park
This annual event of Independence Day Celebration features food vendors, craft & vendor show, kids zone, basket raffle, wine & beer garden, ALL DAY music entertainment, a corn hole tournament, a veterans salute and, of course, Fireworks tonight!!
A big Superhero Smash salute to all the active duty service men and women listening! Thank you for keeping us free and safe!

A Captain America Salute! (4:42)

“Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen, the Boss!

To Be Continued Next Issue (1:00)

Same Bat Time, same Bat Channel–The Sidekicks Save the Day!
I’ll also have another Special Radio Guest Star for that show, English Professor Sandy Eckard
Songs with Stephanie coming up at noon
Contact me, the new Professor X, via email: SuperheroSmash2023@gmail.com
And remember…
You don’t need superpowers to be a hero. The only thing it takes to be a hero is the courage to do what’s right when someone needs your help.

End Credits Song (2:03)

“The Avengers” by Alan Silvestri form The Avengers Soundtrack

Part 4 Ends (@60 minutes)