NEW YORK, July 5 (UPI) — Marvel is celebrating 75 years of Captain America by creating a bronze statue that will be placed in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York.
The 13-foot tall commemorative piece will be first unveiled during the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con set for July 20-24. Afterwards it will travel cross country until it reaches Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for a dedication ceremony on Aug. 10.
“For the past 75 years, Captain America has inspired generations of fans serving as the ultimate global icon for freedom, strength and doing the right thing,” senior vice president of licensing for Marvel Paul Gitter said to USA Today.
The statue will feature the quote “I’m just a kid from Brooklyn” spoken by actor Chris Evans in 2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger.” The super solider will be shown raising his iconic shield into the air, standing heroically.
Captain America was first created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon in 1941 and has remained popular throughout the years as a member of the Avengers and as a featured hero in Marvel’s lucrative cinematic universe.
“We hope that when fans see the statue, they will think back to a favorite comic book, treasured action figure or even be transported back to a special time and place in their lives where Captain America’s values played influence,” Gitter continued.
The statue and 75 year celebration comes after a controversial revelation in Marvel’s recently released first issue of “Captain America: Steve Rogers,” in which the iconic hero was revealed to be a secret agent of Hydra, an evil organization he has spent his life fighting.
