After a long cross-country trip from San Diego Comic-Con, the statue commemorating Captain America’s 75th anniversary was formally dedicated in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park last Wednesday. Hundreds packed the Children’s Corner of the park to celebrate a superhero that has resonated with people of all races, creeds, and identities. Fans came “from sea to shining sea,” with attendees coming from Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore, and even Australia. After a brief delay due to rain, emcee and co-host of the podcast The Marvel Minute, Lorraine Cink, kicked off the ceremony, calling Captain America “a symbol of “justice, freedom, and doing the right thing.”
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams said that the Captain was a “symbol of diversity,” before proclaiming it Captain America 75th Anniversary Day in the borough. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonzo discussed the contribution of the character’s creators, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, mentioning that the late Simon’s family was in the audience. Finally, Cap himself arrived to help cut the ribbon with Adams.
Afterward, fans were treated to activities like spin-art and coloring paper shields, while exclusive comic books were distributed, with Marvel artist Chris Sotomayor and the statue’s sculptor Dave Cortes on hand to sign the comics. Super-fans young and old were invited to take part in trivia contests, with winners taking home an exclusive Marvel Legends Captain America figure. D23 Members were allowed entry to a special access area and were also given pre-signed comic books, allowing them to avoid the lines.
Cosplayers also had a solid presence, with characters being represented from the Captain and Peggy Carter to nemesis The Red Skull and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury. Later in the evening, Brooklynites were treated to a free outdoor screening of Captain America: Civil War, preceded by a short video on the making of the statue.
Fans visiting Brooklyn can find the statue in Prospect Park for the next two weeks. The statue then makes its way to the plaza outside the Barclays Center in September, before heading to Sunset Park in early October.