Live-Action Version of Rob Liefeld's Captain America is the Most Disturbing Thing You Will See

3 days ago 11

Patrik Walker is an Emmy Award–winning writer who covers all things Comics & Superheroes. His work can also be found at the Dallas Cowboys, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports, among other outlets. One of the most respected names in his field, he is also a diehard enthusiast of all things comics, anime, gaming and movies — thriving in spaces where discussions involving those or similar topics reign supreme.

Nightmare fuel has just landed and since we were forced to see it, it's your turn. Take a break for a moment from arguing about whether you believe Captain America: Brave New World is a worthy entrant into the MCU or a cinematic superhero project that's no less worthy of a dumpster than Madame Web, regardless of what side of that track you're on, and look at what someone just did to Captain America.

Rob Liefeld, a prominent writer and creator of comic books responsible for characters Cable (co-created) and Deadpool (co-created), is heavily criticized for having eccentric proportions of his characters' bodies, none more so than the Captain America from Liefield's Heroes Reborn storyline (1996). And anyone wondering — for whatever ghoulish reason — what an actor would have to become to portray the live-action version of that variant just, unfortunately, got their wish.

Above is a fan-created live-action mock of what Cap would look like in today's MCU and, goodness gracious, that is downright horrific. It is borderline material for a horror movie, and would fit in well should the City of Derry ever require the Avenger's services to deal with the Pennywise threat.

"Sent to me. Shared with you all." - Liefield

Gee thanks, Rob. The good news is there is no need for Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios to ever, ever ever ever, need to be this exaggeratory in their design of Steve Rogers to get the point across regarding his aura and strength. Could you imagine Chris Evans wearing a muscle shirt to mimic this while running alongside Black Panther in Avengers: Infinity War to go to war with the Children of Thanos? (Ew, gross.)

It would be comedically terrible, as you'd expect, because there is no reason Captain America should look like there's a V12 engine in his chest.

Get It Off of Your Chest, Captain America

A little more than three decades ago, Liefeld was brought in by Marvel Comics for his abilities to re-envision Captain America, but also several other series at the time they felt needed an injection of creativity to spark sales. His handiwork not only includes the aforementioned Heroes Reborn but also The Avengers — initially agreeing to 12 issues of each series — as well as The New Mutants and X-Force, the latter spawning Deadpool with co-creator Fabian Nicieza.

There was no spark in sales, however, but rather in controversy alone over the style in which the beloved Captain America was depicted, and it led to Marvel severing ties with Liefeld midway through the agreement, and that was pretty much that. And now, roughly 30 years later, Liefeld is having a last laugh at the experience, and at the expense of everyone's lunch, which is probably about to make a return trip thanks to that live-action image now trapped in our minds. Thank God for Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie and common sense from Marvel Studios.