Vancouver: Rising political tensions between Canada and the United States, especially under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, have brought renewed attention to one of Canada’s homegrown superheroes — Captain Canuck. Originally introduced in the 1970s, this patriotic character is now experiencing a cultural resurgence, tapping into Canadians’ growing desire to reaffirm their national identity.
“All of a sudden Canadians are looking to Captain Canuck as a symbol. And it’s basically, to them, Captain Canuck symbolizes independence,” said Richard Comely, 74, the co-creator of the superhero who first appeared in 1975.
Captain Canuck, whose real name is Tom Evans, is portrayed as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who acquires extraordinary strength following an alien encounter. Donning a red and white costume adorned with maple leaves, the character reflects the ideals of Canadian sovereignty and pride.
Comely originally conceived the character during a time when Canada lacked its own mainstream superhero, contrasting with the U.S. having Captain America. “I think there was an undercurrent, so to speak, in Canada in the ’70s. So I think Canadians were starting to feel like, you know, like they should acknowledge the fact that we had our own country, and we had our own culture and be proud of the fact that we were Canadians,” he said.
US President Donald Trump’s annexation threats and tariffs have breathed new life into a superhero from the 1970s — Captain Canuck, a Mountie with superhuman strength who defends Canada's sovereignty https://t.co/isx9L3RLfL pic.twitter.com/SSU7Ei89r3
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 9, 2025
Since its inception, over 4 million Captain Canuck-themed comic books, graphic novels, and books have been printed globally, according to Comely. The original series imagined a futuristic Canada as a leading world power, constantly under threat from hostile forces attempting to destabilize it.
“Of course, never, never in any of those stories was it America that was going to be taking over Canada,” Comely added.
In response to recent political rhetoric from President Trump — including comments about wanting Canada to become part of the United States — Comely designed the 50th anniversary cover of Captain Canuck to depict the superhero wagging a finger at the former U.S. leader.
“It’s got a lot of Canadians, you know, thinking about their identity as Canadians and feeling more united as Canadians. We feel like, okay, we’ve got to stand in opposition to these proposals,” he said.
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Captain Canuck’s journey through the comic book world has seen periods of both prominence and hiatus. After launching in the 1970s, Comely took a step back from the series to focus on raising his family. The character briefly returned in the 1990s with a fresh arc titled Captain Canuck Reborn.
In 2012, the superhero was revitalized through an exclusive licensing agreement with Chapterhouse Comics. Since then, Captain Canuck has regained his footing in Canadian pop culture, branching out with an animated web series and a growing collection of merchandise.
Amid the recent political tensions, Comely noted a surge in interest from Canadian brands seeking to collaborate with the superhero franchise. “So in a sense, we have Mr. Trump to thank for a bit of resurgence,” he said.
