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(Golden Age Debut: Captain America Comics # 1) (Silver Age Debut: Avengers vol. 1, # 4) |
History Guy: Captain America (Golden Age Debut: Captain America Comics # 1)
(Silver Age Debut: Avengers vol. 1, # 4)
Comics History Copyright © 1998-2009 Roger A. Lee and History Guy Media; Last Modified: 07.24.09--This copyright notice covers the written text and written analysis and historical descriptions on this page.
Captain America- (Steve Rogers) --1st appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (1941). 1st Silver Age appearance: Avengers #4 (1964)
During World War Two, Steve Rogers attempted to volunteer for the military. Due to his weak physical condition, the military rejected him. However, Steve Rogers was selected to take part in a secret goverment experiment, which attempted to create a 'super-soldier.'
The experiment succeeded, turning Rogers into a muscular physical specimen with the athletic ability of a trained Olympic athlete. The government gave him a red, white, and blue costume, a star spangled shield, and code-named him "Captain America." Throughout World War Two, Captain America fought against the Axis, often side by side with ordinary soldiers. He also served alongside other heroes from several Allied nations, including the first Human Torch, the Torch's sidekick, Toro, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and others. Captain America's most important ally, and his best friend, was Bucky (Bucky Barnes), a young man who discovered Captain America's secret identity and convinced the Captain to let him become his sidekick. (It should be noted, that in the comic book business, i.e. the "real world," many heroes acquired sidekicks, the most famous probably being Robin, the Boy Wonder, who partnered with Batman.)
In modern Marvel Universe continuity, (often called 'canon'), the characters of Captain America and Bucky were supposedly killed near the end of World War Two while stopping a scheme by the first Baron Zemo to launch a missile at the U.S. According to canon, Captain America was thrown clear of the high-flying missile as it exploded, landing in the frozen waters of the north Atlantic. Due to the super-soldier formula in his blood, Captain America survived in frozen animation until discovered by the recently formed superhero group, the Avengers. (Avengers vol. 1, #4). The world had thought both Captain America and Bucky had died during that last war mission, and news of Captain America's survival and resurrection were greeted with wonder and acclamation. America still remembered him as one of her greatest heroes.
Captain America soon joined the Avengers, and quickly became the team's leader. The respect afforded him by other heroes cannot be underestimated. In team-ups (episodes when normally un-allied heroes and/or teams gather together to fight villains), Captain America is always the automatic tactical leader.
In March of 2007, Captain America was assassinated on the steps of a Federal Courthouse in New York City. See Comicshistory: The Death of Captain America for details and an obituary.
See also:
Captain America Vol. 5 # 25: Death of A Dream --Info and analysis on the 25th issue of Captain America, which features the shooting death of the Sentinel of Liberty.
Nicknames: Cap, The Sentinel of Liberty, Star-Spangled Avenger
"Captain America" and all fictional characters mentioned on this page are the property of Marvel Enterprises.
"The History Guy" is a Registered Trademark.
Lee, R. "Comicshistory: Captain America"
http://www.historyguy.com/comicshistory/captain_america.html
Family
Joseph Rogers --Father; deceased
Sarah Rogers --Mother; deceased
Sharon Carter --Off and on again lover, secret agent for S.H.I.E.L.D.
Associates, Colleagues, & Opponents
Friends & Allies
Enemies
Bucky
Human Torch I
Namor, The Sub-Mariner
The Invaders
The Avengers
The Fantastic Four
Thor
Nick Fury
Barons Zemo I & II
The Red Skull
Hydra
AIM
Links and Resources on Captain America
The Star-Spangled Site--Information resource for those who want to know more about one of Marvel Comics' earliest super-heroes.
O Captain! Our Captain!: Stan Lee and Marvel Comics’s Joe Quesada contemplate Captain America's surprising death.--By Samantha Henig, Newsweek, Updated: 7:03 a.m. PT March 9, 2007
Marvel Directory: Captain America--A directory of Marvel Universe heroes.
Captain America-Wikipedia article.
Michael Medved on Captain America on National Review Online--critical article by a nationally syndicated columnist.
Continuity Pages: Captain America :A study of Captain America, published by Marvel Comics. Written by Julian Darius.
Captain America: Superhero of the Military-Industrial Complex--By Nick Turse -political article about how the Pentagon is trying to create a real version of a Captain America-like super soldiers.
Comic Book Milestones-- A celebration of Captain America vol. 1, # 337.
Site Map--revision in progress
