Mister Stern:

I just finished re-reading the remarkable CAPTAIN AMERICA: WAR AND REMEMBERANCE trade, and it seemed to me that you dropped more than a few Northstar-style hints that the third Union Jack, Joey Chapman, was romantically involved with Kenneth Crichton, the nephew of Union Jack II. There were interrupted conversations and odd references to wrestling and Jacqueline Crichton's unexplained disapproval of Kenneth's friend (or, as you wrote, "...friend").

Joey Chapman, in recent issues of CAPTAIN AMERICA, seems to be a heterosexual.

Was I reading something into Joey's original appearances that wasn't there? Or did you intend all along for Union Jack III to be, one day, if the powers that be were to approve, a homosexual? And if so, how do you feel about the reversal of that intent in recent issues of CAP?

(I am not, by the way, attempting to start a shitstorm. I am very interested in the opinions of the creators of original characters when said characters exist within a "universe" that is not entirely under the control of said creators.)

I've been asked this before, but I never saw the connection myself.

I saw Ken and Joey having more of an early Lennon & McCartney friendship...they were buds who'd met in school. And Lady Jacqueline was expresssing an unfortunate bit of classism...which I figured that she would later be embarrassed by, once she realized what a worthy successor Joey was as Union Jack.

It never entered my mind that Joey might be gay.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

-- Uncle Rog

For what its worth, I read it both ways at different times. When I'd reread the collected stories, it seemed as you say. But when i read the story by itself, it seemed there was a relationship.

Thanks for the clarification, Roger. I think I was letting some of the Northstar "hints" bleed over to your Cap issues, since the same artist was involved.