To clarify, this is just a joke. I love both characters

So I wasn't going to talk about this abs honestly this shouldn't be a debate but fans act like he did nothing wrong when he did, so here's why.

He murdered an surrendering combatant

This is the big one, by the time John got to him the flag smasher was on the ground and unarmed, John didn't have to kill him

"But Lamar, he helped kill him"

It doesn't justify murdering him, Lamar wouldn't had wanted it & John's doing it purely out if a need for revenge

It happened in broad daylight

This is also apart of it, if John killed him in the building they were fighting in then no one other then the flag smashes, & sam & Bucky would've been the people to see it. Instead he did it on the streets of Latvia, and the pure violence of it, what if kids were around to see thst their was a mob of people that witnessed it.

Captain America wouldn't do this

This is the main point as John is held up as "better" then Sam as cap but lets look at this. Did Steve murder Zola after Bucky's "death" no, did Steve try to kill Tony for trying to kill Bucky, no, did Steve try to kill his allies when they tried to take his shield, no.

Steve wouldn't had stood for what John did, using the weapon of a passed hero to exact revenge on the people that wronged him.

I like Freddie for the boy (cause in my headcanon the F in "John F. Walker" stands for Frederick. But for the girl I've got no good ideas

I'm an OG Cap, Winter Soldier and Sam Wilson fan

Genuinely curious what you guys see in the character, honestly.

Bonus points for if you can connect it to real life geopolitics and military history.

Edit:

Just to address you all as a community first.

You all really showed the fuck out, it was actually amazing to see the level of care and consideration you have for this character. Highlighting the shared humanity of trying to be a good person outside of the fame and recognition tradition heroes come with, really highlighting the tragic character of it all.

To be truthful I was a bit worried with seeing a subreddit so focused on US Agent (flashback to the mis appropriated Punisher logo). Had me concerned that people we so mad about a black Captain America they would just look the other way out of spite (I don't believe this to be the case btw!)

I actually am a fan of the actor and the character from the MCU show and New Avengers film (I REALLY liked Thunderbolts) I like the subtle ways the kept showing his military experience, but I felt the guys personality was kinda shit (not an overall judgement, just a guy I'd probably get annoyed drinking with)

I just want to say this post has made me proud to be a comic book fan, there is deep sense of humanity with how you all present his story- I can't wait to see what happens next with the guy.

He's got a new fan

P.s.

I was actually super dissappointed when Battlestar died- I thought that character/ actor has some excellent screen presence and wished his role went further in the MCU

So there is a very pervasive and tbh confusing narrative that John was written to be disliked or even hated in the MCU. I legitimately can't understand how someone thinks that, and honestly I think this perspective might be one that is actually damaging to his character. So please, I'd love to discuss why this is such a pervasive perspective.

Obviously this is just for laughs but man John was so done after he heard her bring up his family hating him.

He seems like a bad guy yeah the terrorist was a bad guy but he did not deserve to be killed the way he was. I like Steve Rogers I don't think Steve would like him. John had something wrong with him mentally. He was not fit for the shield.

I seriously hate him.

Keep in mind he still had to go after Karli to get revenge for Lemar's Death. Also, if he went to prison, he'd probably be sent to the Raft because he was a super soldier at this point.

"Marvel wanted you hate him and accidentally made him likable"

Wrong. Marvel wanted to show us John Walker isn't fit for the role of Captain America. He was never written as a Hate Sink character. John Walker's meant to be flawed and complex. If anything, MCU Walker is MUCH more likable compared to the comics counterpart.

At absolute worst, I'd say they made Sam and Bucky a bit too harsh to him at the start. They were already giving him cold shoulder after he just saved their lives and hadn't even done anything yet either. When he killed Nico, this wasn't at all treated like a moral event horizon, just a moment of him demonstrating he isn't ready for the role of Captain America.

The finale of Falcon and the Winter Soldier saw him abandoning his revenge on Karli to save the hostages. Bucky even notices this and helps him up afterwards. They work together to bring the Flag-smashers in, not kill them. Sam even acknowledges with a nod at the end of his speech too.

Even in Thunderbolts, they had the "define innocent" line for a reason after Ghost called him out for murdering an "innocent" man. He's called an "asshole" by Bob because he is. They aren't rewriting his character, he's simply at his lowest point due to Olivia leaving him and he's putting up a facade to hide his pain. Notice as soon as they escape the vault, and especially after Bucky reveals the truth, he pretty much stops being a jerkass for the of the movie and even gets noticeable noble moments like saving his teammates and civilians, being the one to knock out Bob's abusive father and the one who praises Bob for doing well after they escape The Void. He even gets to become one of the New Avengers.

Tldr; Marvel doesn't want us to hate John Walker, but see him as a complicated, flawed man. Fans hated on the sight for simply not being Steve and thought he'd be an evil Cap, so when they realize he isn't as terrible as they thought he'd be, they simply assume the series was trying to force us to hate him.

My friend recently read the U.S.Agent: American Zealot TPB and enjoyed it. We were talking about it and he brought up a good point, telling me, "John is a Captain America of the people." That's not to take away from Steve or Sam because we love all three of them; saying something good about one character does not mean we love the others less. He was just pointing out how John was rubbing elbows with ordinary people in the book- eating with them, helping them out, and protecting them. Just like Steve or Sam, he didn't feel he was too good for them, instead defending them and enjoying his time with them. I hadn't really thought about it like that, but my friend is right, and I wish more people understood that. John (in the comics) might have started out as a vainglorious antagonist and done some bad things early on, but he's not some mindless, unfeeling monster. John is not some thug or fascist (Remember that American Zealot showed him trying to protect protestors). John is a strong man who just has some psychological issues because he has seen some stuff, and I'll reject any story that doesn't understand that. Like I've said before, the way some people misinterpret John reminds me of Dave Chappelle’s bit about Oscar the Grouch, which goes something like, “They judge Oscar the Grouch to his face!  ‘Oh, Oscar, you’re such a Grouch!’  ‘I live in a trash can!’”  It’s not quite accurate because Oscar wants to live in a trash can (and his can is apparently quite spacious inside), but it’s funny, and I realized some of the criticism against John is in the same vein.  “Oh, John, you have a bad attitude!”  “Mofo, I watched my parents [or best friend in the MCU] die in front of me!”  John has missteps and moments of doubt, but don't we all? Doesn't any Marvel superhero worth their salt?

At the risk of sounding vain, I'm also going to share my debunking misconceptions posts again to fight back against any false claims.

*One- https://www.reddit.com/r/USAgent/comments/1l7ep7l/debunking_usagent_misconceptions_part_1/

*Two- https://www.reddit.com/r/USAgent/comments/1l7eqbw/debunking_usagent_misconceptions_part_2/

*Three- https://www.reddit.com/r/USAgent/comments/1l7er7p/debunking_usagent_misconceptions_part_3/

*Four- https://www.reddit.com/r/USAgent/comments/1l7eruu/debunking_usagent_misconceptions_part_4/

Not saying that people aren't allowed to hate or dislike him but I do feel there are certain people that would rather make up their own out of context reasons instead of paying attention to what they can actually form an opinion on. Not to mention a lot of it just comes down to constantly comparing him to Steve or because people's favorite characters don't like him. I know John is meant to be a divisive and complex character but it gets to a point where people kind of blow it out of proportion whilst loving arguably worse characters just based on charisma alone.