Captain America's Not Alone

Today I had another nerdy question pop into my head: "Did Marvel make any other superheroes like Captain America, but for other countries?" The answer is, of course. There's a lot of different, super soldiers, if you will, for several different countries. Let's begin:

We all know Captain America. Great guy, good with kids.

But just across the Atlantic is Captain Britain!

He's like Captain America, only he's British. And he has his Captain Britain Corps, which includes a bunch of other heroes, like Captain Empire, Captain England, Captain U.K., and Captain Wales.

Now, don't get Captain Britain and Captain England mixed up, because they're completely different...

Captain England

Also in Europe, there are several more super soldiers, like...

Captain France

Captain Spain

Captain Italy

Captain Germany

Captain Russia

He's actually a bad guy (definitely stereotypical) and

 his shield is made from human bodies, apparently.

Then just in 2009, Marvel made The Super Hero Squad Show, a dumb cartoon kids show with all the Marvel heroes, but they have those big heads, hands, and feet, and itty bitty bodies. In one episode, Wolverine joins Captain America and his All-Captains Squad, where Wolverine becomes Captain Canada (you, know, because he's from Canada and all).

Here we have the ugly-looking Wolverine, dressed as Captain Canada.

Also in the show, we meet Captain Britain (who we already met), Captain Australia, Captain Brazil, and my personal favorite: Captain Liechtenstein!

Captain Liechtenstein!

I wonder what the creators were seriously thinking: 

"Okay guys, we already have Captain Britain, Captain Australia, and Captain Brazil. What's one more country we can make Captain Hero of?"

"Japan?

"No."

"India? 

"No." 

"Switzerland?"

"No." 

"Greece?"

"No." 

"How about LIECHTENSTEIN!"

"YES! I like it!"

Anyway. Almost done. Marvel has also made comics called Marvel Zombies, where Marvel heroes come back as zombies (I know, great, right?). Anyway, in one or two Marvel Zombies comics, we meet Captain Mexica, a Mexican zombie, who apparently is from the Aztecs in Mexico.

Captain Mexica

Here he is eating somebody's guts. Yummy.

Now I don't know if he really is a comic book character, or just a spoof, but here's Captain Mexico, a normal super soldier guy like Captain America. Only, his shield is a sombrero.

Captain Mexico!

And last, but not least, we have the most controversial hero yet, Captain Confederacy!

Captain Confederacy

I'm not even sure if it's Marvel or not, but Captain Confederacy live in an alternate historical world with no-longer existing places, like the Confederate States of America, the Empire of Mexico, the Independent Republic of Texas, Deseret (now Utah), the United Republic of California, and other weird places.

And that's about it.

The Blackhawk Museum

Susannah and I decided to go to the Blackhawk Museum in Danville.

It is associated with the Smithsonian Institution.

If you are a car fanatic, this is a place to go. It's full of cars.

1953 Cadillac Series 62

1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V

1932 Hispano-Suiza Model J-12

Although it's French made, the company is originated in Spain and Switzerland (an intersting mix)

Hence the little Spanish-Swiss emblem on the front.

1929 Minerva Type AM "Clear Vision"

The interesting thing about this car is that it's the only one in the museum made in Belgium.

1933 Packard 1004 Sport Phaeton

There's a windshield in the backseats! Wouldn't that make it tricky getting back there?

1925 Renault Model 45

It has wooden wheels!

1956 Ferrari 625 Le Mans Spyder 

1977 Porsche 935

Great paint job. 

 1963 Maserati 5000GT Frua

Susannah loved this one.

 1961 Jaguar XK-E Factory Semi-Lightweight Race Car

With a spare tire in the "boot".

1939 Frazer Nash/BMW

Looks like an albino spider.

 1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4

This is the only type of this car ever made.

So I had to get a picture with it. 

 1963 Ford Thunderbird "Italien" Concept Car

This was the show car for the 1964 Worlds Fair in New York.

 1963 Iso Grifo A3/L Prototype

Neat back window, even though you can't see out of it.

1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spyder 

A very smiley car.

1950 Ferrari 195 Touring Sport Berlinetta

A blue Ferarri? Interesting...

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 "Daytona" Berlinetta 

Now on to the second floor...

Me in Car Heaven 

1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen

Way to start it all, Germany.

The third floor...

1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III

This car was 1st in Class at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

1926 Daimler Model 45 HP Salon Cabriolet 

This car was used in hunting expeditions in British India.

Complete with boa constrictor horns... 

...and a fancy seat on the side for the servants to ride in.

1930 Ruxton Five Passenger Sedan

Nice paint job.

1906 Cadillac Model M

1933 Pierce-Arrow V-12 Silver Arrow Sedan

This car was shown at the 1933 Worlds Fair in Chicago.

1924 Hispano-Suiza Targa Florio Speedster

Yes, it's made of wood. Weird...

1953 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5

1955 Nardi Blue Ray 1

Equipped with two windshields and a manual sliding window. 

1937 Mercedes-Benz Model 540-K Special Roadster

1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Boattail

Hence the name, "Boattail".

1954 Dodge Firearrow II

1937 Cadillac V-16 Series 37-90 Hartmann Cabriolet

This car was owned by a wealthy playboy living in Switzerland.

It was also my favorite.

1930 Bucciali TAV 8, Roadster

Made by two French brothers, Angelo and Paul-Albert Bucciali, who worked in aviation.

The stork on the side comes from the Groupe des Cigognes, the aviation squadron Paul-Albert flew in in World War I.

1934 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Town Car
This car was own by the Dorrance family who owned Campbell Soup Co.

And last but not least, the car in the front of the museum:

1955 Pegaso Tipo Z-102B 2.8-litre

Made in Spain.