Hey Kids Comics Wiki
Register
Im>Crazy runner
(Undid revision 585567550 by 193.171.250.130 (talk))
No edit summary
 
(45 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
[[File:Captain america.jpg|thumb]]
{{About|Steve Rogers|the subsequent incarnations of the character|Captain America (set index)}}
 
{{two other uses||the 2011 film|Captain America: The First Avenger|other uses|Captain America (disambiguation)}}
 
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
 
|character_name = Captain America
 
   
  +
==Background==
|image = CaptainAmerica109.jpg
 
  +
Captain America was an American comics character created by '''Joe Simon''' and '''Jack Kirby''' in 1941; scrawny '''Steve Rogers''' was determined to serve his country despite being repeatedly rejected by the Army, and volunteered for a top secret experiment which transformed him into the USA's first super soldier! He had a lengthy career during the Golden Age of American comic books. Resurrected by '''[[Stan Lee (Marvel Comics)|Stan Lee]]''' in the pages of the '''[[Avengers (Marvel UK)|Avengers]]''' in 1964 (having supposedly spent the intervening years frozen in an iceberg), he soon became a mainstay of the Marvel Comics universe battling foes such as the '''[[:wikipedia:Red Skull|Red Skull]]''', and was incorporated into the '''[[Marvel UK]]''' line initially as a member of the '''[[Avengers (Marvel UK)|Avengers]]''' before his solo exploits began to be reprinted in titles such as '''[[The Titans]]''' and '''[[Spider-Man Comics Weekly|Super Spider-Man]]'''. He has also teamed up with '''[[Captain Britain (Brian Braddock)]]'''.
|converted = y
 
|caption = ''Captain America'' #109 (Jan. 1969).<br>Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[Syd Shores]].
 
|alter_ego = Steven "Steve" Rogers
 
|publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
 
|debut = ''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March [[1941 in comics|1941]])
 
|creators = [[Joe Simon]]<br/>[[Jack Kirby]]
 
|alliances = [[All-Winners Squad]]<br/>[[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]<br/>[[Uncanny Avengers|Avengers Unity Squad]]<br/>[[Illuminati (comics)|Illuminati]]<br/>[[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]<br/>[[Landau, Luckman, and Lake]]<br>[[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]]<br/>[[Weapon Plus#Weapon I|Project: Rebirth]]<br/>[[Redeemers (comics)|Redeemers]]<br>[[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]<br/>[[Civil War (comics)|"Secret Avengers"]] (Civil War)<br/>[[Secret Avengers]]<br>[[Secret Defenders]]<br/>[[United States Army|U.S. Army]]
 
|aliases=[[Nomad (comics)|Nomad]], The Captain, Brett Hendrick, Roger Stevens, Weapon I, Spider-King
 
|partners=[[Bucky|Bucky (James Barnes)]]<br/>[[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]]<br/>[[Nomad (comics)#Jack Monroe|Nomad (Jack Monroe)]]<br/>[[Rick Jones (comics)|Bucky (Rick Jones)]]<br/>[[Free Spirit (comics)|Free Spirit]]<br/>[[Jack Flag]]<br/>[[Rikki Barnes|Bucky (Rikki Barnes)]]<br/>[[Demolition Man (comics)|Demolition Man]]<br/>[[Sharon Carter]]
 
|supports=<!--optional-->
 
|powers = *Peak of human physical conditioning
 
*Expert acrobat, [[Military tactics|tactician]], and marksman
 
*Master [[martial artist]] and shield fighter
 
*Excellent [[field marshal|field commander]]
 
*Wields his [[Captain America's shield|vibranium-steel alloy shield]] with hyperkinetic senses
 
|cat = super
 
|subcat = Marvel Comics
 
|hero = y
 
|sortkey = Captain America
 
}}
 
'''Captain America''' is an [[United States|American]] fictional character, a [[superhero]] who appears in [[comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character [[First appearance|first appeared]] in ''Captain America Comics'' #1 ([[cover-date]]d March 1941),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/1313/ ''Captain America Comics'' #1] at the Grand Comics Database</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.toonopedia.com/capamer.htm|title= Captain America|first= Don|last= Markstein|year= 2010|publisher= [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/mainframe.php|archivedate= April 9, 2012|deadurl= no|accessdate= April 9, 2012|quote= Captain America was the first successful character published by the company that would become Marvel Comics to debut in his own comic. ''Captain America Comics'' #1 was dated March, 1941.}}</ref><ref name=DanielsMarvel>{{Cite book|last=Daniels|first=Les|authorlink = Les Daniels|title= Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics |publisher= [[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]|year= 1991|page= 37|isbn= 978-0-8109-3821-2|quote= The cover of ''Captain America'' #1 which showed the new hero, dressed in red, white and blue, punching Adolf Hitler in the face. The date was March 1941.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Thomas|first = Roy|authorlink = Roy Thomas|coauthors = [[Peter Sanderson|Sanderson, Peter]]|title = The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel|publisher = [[Running Press]]|year = 2007|page = 21|isbn = 978-0-7624-2844-1|quote= ''Captain America Comics'' #1 went on sale around the end of 1940, with a March 1941 cover date.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Sanderson|first = Peter|authorlink = Peter Sanderson|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1940s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|page = 18|isbn =978-0-7566-4123-8|quote= In March [1941], Captain America made his patriotic debut.}}</ref> from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, [[Timely Comics]], and was created by [[Joe Simon]] and [[Jack Kirby]]. As of 2007, an estimated 210 million copies of "Captain America" comic books had been sold in 75 countries.<ref name="msnbc">{{Cite web | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17499797/|title= Death to 'America': Comic-book hero killed off|publisher= [[MSNBC]]|date= March 7, 2007|archiveurl=http://liveweb.archive.org/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17499797|archivedate=February 2, 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> For nearly all of the character's publication history, Captain America has been the [[alter ego]] of '''Steve Rogers''', a frail young man who was enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum, in order to aid the [[United States]] government's efforts to win [[World War II]]. Captain America wears a costume that bears an [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] motif, and is armed with an indestructible, boomerang-like [[Captain America's shield|shield]] that can both be thrown as a weapon and used to defend against others' weapons.<ref>"[[Bullpen Bulletins]]: Stan's Soapbox" in Marvel Comics [[cover-date]]d December 1999</ref>
 
   
  +
==Solo Title==
An intentionally patriotic creation who was often depicted fighting the [[Axis powers]] of World War II, Captain America was Timely Comics' most popular character during the 1940s wartime period. After the war ended, the character's popularity waned and the comic had been discontinued by 1950 aside from an ill-fated 1953 revival. Captain America was re-introduced by [[Marvel Comics]] during the [[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age of comics]], as an [[Missing in action|M.I.A]] soldier retrieved from an iceberg and awakened from [[suspended animation]] by the superhero team the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] in ''The Avengers'' #4 (March 1964). Since then, Captain America has often led the team, as well as starring in his own series.
 
  +
Captain America was a 32 page weekly title launched by ''''[[Marvel UK]]''' on 25 February 1981, featuring American Marvel reprints starring Captain America himself, plus Iron Man, the Defenders and Dazzler. From #21, it incorporated the short lived weekly '''[[Marvel Action]]''', with the Defenders being replaced by the '''[[:wikipedia:Fantastic Four|Fantastic Four]]''', and with #37 it incorporated '''[[Marvel Super Adventure]]''', and changed to a new format with a glossy cover rather than the original newsprint, and eight colour pages (including covers and centre pages). The centrefold was sometimes given over to a pull out poster. The title lasted 59 issues, to the 3rd of April 1982, and there was also a 52 page Captain America Summer Special issued in 1981. The first two issues included free gifts of superhero stickers, while issue 37 gave away a free '''[[:wikipedia:Captain Britain|Captain Britain]]''' mask. Marvel UK and '''[[Grandreams]]''' also issued a hardback '''[[Captain America Collectors Edition]]''' (in the same format as their usual annuals) in 1981, featuring reprints of classic Captain America stories drawn by artist Jim Steranko.
   
  +
A previous 28 page Captain America reprint title was published in 1954 by '''[[L. Miller & Son, Ltd.|L.Miller & Son]]''', though this seems to have only lasted one issue.
Steve Rogers was purportedly assassinated in ''Captain America'' vol. 5, #25 (March 2007), although he was later revealed to be alive. The comic-book series ''Captain America'' continued to be published,<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=104091|title=Marvel's Statement on ''Captain America'' #25|publisher= [[Newsarama]]| date= March 7, 2007|first= Matt|last= Brady|accessdate= March 7, 2007|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5vZHFKjf3|archivedate=January 7, 2011|deadurl= yes}}</ref> with Rogers' former sidekick, [[Bucky|James "Bucky" Barnes]], having taken up the mantle until Rogers eventually again assumed the role.
 
   
  +
<gallery spacing="small">
Captain America was the first Marvel Comics character adapted into another medium, with the release of the 1944 [[Serial (film)|movie serial]] ''[[Captain America (serial)|Captain America]].'' Since then, the character has been featured in several other films and television series, including [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]]' portrayal in ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]'', released on July 22, 2011, and ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', released on May 4, 2012. In 2011, Captain America was ranked sixth on [[IGN]]'s Top 100 Comic Book Heroes.
 
  +
CAUK7.jpg
 
  +
CAUK10.jpg
==Publication history==
 
  +
CAUK15.jpg
{{Further2|[[List of Captain America titles]]}}
 
  +
CAUK16.jpg
 
  +
Img183.jpg
===Golden Age===
 
  +
Captain America Collectors Ed.jpg|[[Captain America Collectors Edition]]
In 1940, writer [[Joe Simon]] conceived the idea for Captain America and made a sketch of the character in costume.<ref>1974 [[Comic Art Convention]] program, cover</ref> "I wrote the name 'Super American' at the bottom of the page," Simon said in his autobiography. <blockquote>"No, it didn't work. There were too many 'Supers' around. 'Captain America' had a good sound to it. There weren't a lot of captains in comics. It was as easy as that. The boy companion was simply named Bucky, after my friend Bucky Pierson, a star on our high school basketball team."<ref name=joesimonp50>{{Cite book |last= Simon|first= Joe|coauthors= Simon, Jim|title= The Comic Book Makers|publisher= Crestwood/II|year= 1990|page= 50|isbn= 978-1-887591-35-5}} Reissued by Vanguard Productions in 2003.</ref></blockquote>
 
  +
Bucky.gif|Bucky, the Captain's original partner.
 
  +
FalconOriginal.jpg|The Falcon, the Captain's partner in the 1970s.
Simon recalled in his autobiography that [[Timely Comics]] publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] gave him the go-ahead and directed that a Captain America solo comic book series be published as soon as possible. Needing to fill a full comic with primarily one character's stories, Simon did not believe that his regular creative partner, artist [[Jack Kirby]], could handle the workload alone:
 
  +
</gallery>
 
  +
[[Category:Marvel UK Publications]]
{{bquote|I didn't have a lot of objections to putting a crew on the first issue&nbsp;... There were two young artists from [[Connecticut]] that had made a strong impression on me. [[Al Avison]] and [[Al Gabriele]] often worked together and were quite successful in adapting their individual styles to each other. Actually, their work was not too far from [that of] Kirby's. If they worked on it, and if one inker tied the three styles together, I believed the final product would emerge as quite uniform. The two Als were eager to join in on the new ''Captain America'' book, but Jack Kirby was visibly upset. 'You're still number one, Jack,' I assured him. 'It's just a matter of a quick deadline for the first issue.'}}
 
  +
[[Category:Marvel UK]]
 
  +
[[Category:Superheroes]]
{{bquote|'I'll make the deadline,' Jack promised. 'I'll pencil it [all] myself and make the deadline.' I hadn't expected this kind of reaction&nbsp;... but I acceded to Kirby's wishes and, it turned out, was lucky that I did. There might have been two Als, but there was only one Jack Kirby.}}
 
  +
[[Category:Avengers Members]]
 
  +
[[Category:Reprints of American material]]
{{bquote|I wrote the first ''Captain America'' book with penciled lettering right on the drawing boards, with very rough sketches for figures and backgrounds. Kirby did his thing, building the muscular anatomy, adding ideas and pepping up the action as only he could. Then he tightened up the penciled drawings, adding detailed backgrounds, faces and figures.<ref name=joesimonp50 />}}
 
  +
[[Category:Characters]]
 
  +
[[Category:Good Characters]]
[[Image:1974ComicArtCon book.jpg|thumb|left|1974 [[Comic Art Convention]] program featuring Simon's original sketch of Captain America.]]
 
  +
[[Category:Living Characters]]
[[Al Liederman]] would ink that first issue, which was lettered by Simon and Kirby's regular letterer, Howard Ferguson.<ref>Simon, p. 51.</ref>
 
  +
[[Category:Marvel UK Characters]]
 
Simon said Captain America was a consciously political creation; he and Kirby were morally repulsed by the actions of [[Nazi Germany]] in the years leading up to the United States' involvement in [[World War II]] and felt war was inevitable: "The opponents to the war were all quite well organized. We wanted to have our say too."<ref name="Wright 36">{{Cite book |last= Wright| first= Bradford W.|title=Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America | publisher= [[Johns Hopkins University Press]]|year= 2001|isbn= 978-0-8018-7450-5|page= 36}}</ref>
 
 
''Captain America Comics'' #1 — [[cover-date]]d March 1941 and on sale December 20, 1940,<ref>{{cite book|last = Evanier|first = Mark|authorlink = Mark Evanier|title = Kirby: King of Comics|publisher = [[Abrams Books]]|year = 2008|page = 50|isbn = 978-0-8109-9447-8}}</ref> a year before the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], but a full year into World War II — showed the protagonist punching Nazi leader [[Adolf Hitler]] in the jaw; it sold nearly one million copies.<ref name="fromm">{{cite journal|last = Fromm|first = Keif|title = |magazine = [[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]]|volume = 3|issue = 49|pages = 4|publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date = June 2005}}</ref> While most readers responded favorably to the comic, some took objection. Simon noted, "When the first issue came out we got a lot of&nbsp;... threatening letters and hate mail. Some people really opposed what Cap stood for."<ref name="Wright 36"/> The threats, which included menacing groups of people loitering out on the street outside of the offices, proved so serious that police protection was posted with [[Mayor of New York City|New York Mayor]] [[Fiorello La Guardia]] personally contacting Simon and Kirby to give his support.<ref>{{cite book|last = Cronin|first = Brian|title = Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed|publisher = Plume|year = 2009|pages = 135–136|isbn = 978-0-452-29532-2}}</ref>
 
 
Though preceded as a "patriotically themed superhero" by [[Archie Comics|MLJ]]'s [[The Shield (Archie)|The Shield]], Captain America immediately became the most prominent and enduring of that wave of superheroes introduced in American comic books prior to and during World War II,<ref name="Sanderson18">Sanderson "1940s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 18: "Cap was not the first patriotically themed super hero, but he would become the most enduring. He was Timely's most popular hero with nearly a million copies of his comic sold per month."</ref> as evidenced by the unusual move at the time of premiering the character in his own title instead of an anthology title first. This popularity drew the attention and a complaint from MLJ that the character's triangular shield too closely resembled the chest symbol of their Shield character. In response, Goodman had Simon and Kirby create a distinctive round shield for issue 2, which went on to become an iconic element of the character.<ref>Cronin, p. 134</ref> With his sidekick [[Bucky]], Captain America faced [[Nazism|Nazis]], [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]], and other threats to wartime America and the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]. Stanley Lieber, now better known as [[Stan Lee]], contributed to the character in issue #3 in the filler text story "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge", which introduced the character's use of his shield as a returning throwing weapon.<ref name="AmazingMarvelUniverse">{{Cite book |last= Thomas|first= Roy|authorlink = Roy Thomas|title= Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe| publisher= Sterling Publishing|location= New York|year= 2006|page= 11|isbn= 978-1-4027-4225-5|quote= The line reads: "With the speed of thought, he sent his shield spinning through the air to the other end of the tent, where it smacked the knife out of Haines' hand!" It became a convention starting the following issue, in which the art in a Simon and Kirby comics story illustrates the following caption: "Captain America's speed of thought and action save Bucky's life — as he hurls his shield across the room.}}</ref> Captain America soon became Timely's most popular character and even had a fan-club called the "Sentinels of Liberty."<ref name="Wright 36"/>
 
 
Circulation figures remained close to a million copies per month after the debut issue, which outstripped even the circulation of news magazines such as ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' during the period.<ref name="Sanderson18" /><ref>Daniels, p. 37</ref> After the Simon and Kirby team moved to [[DC Comics]] in late 1941, having produced ''Captain America Comics'' through issue #10 (January 1942), [[Al Avison]] and [[Syd Shores]] became regular [[penciller]]s of the celebrated title, with one generally [[inker|inking]] over the other. The character was featured in ''[[All Winners Comics]]'' #1-19 (Summer 1941 – Fall 1946), ''[[Marvel Mystery Comics]]'' #80-84 and #86-92, ''[[USA Comics]]'' #6-17 (Dec. 1942 – Fall 1945), and ''[[All Select Comics]]'' #1-10 (Fall 1943 – Summer 1946).
 
 
In the post-war era, with the popularity of superheroes fading, Captain America led Timely's first superhero team, the [[All-Winners Squad]], in its two published adventures, in ''[[All Winners Comics]]'' #19 and #21 (Fall–Winter 1946; there was no issue #20). After Bucky was shot and wounded in a 1948 ''Captain America'' story, he was succeeded by Captain America's girlfriend, Betsy Ross, who became the superheroine [[Golden Girl]]. ''Captain America Comics'' ran until issue #73 (July 1949),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/237/ ''Captain America Comics''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> at which time the series was retitled ''Captain America's Weird Tales'' for two issues,<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/238/ ''Captain America's Weird Tales''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> with the finale being a horror/suspense anthology issue with no superheroes.
 
 
[[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas Comics]] attempted to revive its superhero titles when it reintroduced Captain America, along with the original Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, in ''Young Men'' #24 (Dec. 1953). Billed as "Captain America, Commie Smasher!"<!--note: This is a cover nickname on all his 1950s comics, and presented in all caps like "Daredevil, The Man Without Fear." And in any case, "Commie," short for "Communist," a proper noun, is always capped--> Captain America appeared during the next year in ''Young Men'' #24-28 and ''Men's Adventures'' #27-28, as well as in issues #76-78 of an eponymous title. Atlas' attempted superhero revival was a commercial failure,<ref>Wright, p. 123.</ref> and the character's title was canceled with ''Captain America'' #78 (Sept. 1954).
 
 
===Silver Age revival===
 
In the [[Human Torch]] story titled "Captain America" in Marvel Comics' ''[[Strange Tales]]'' #114 (Nov. 1963),<ref>[[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]] "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 95: "As the Human Torch had been instrumental in bringing back the Sub-Mariner in ''The Fantastic Four'' #4 (May 1962), it seemed only natural that he would help usher in Captain America."</ref> writer-editor [[Stan Lee]] and artist and co-plotter [[Jack Kirby]] depicted the brash young [[Fantastic Four]] member Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in an exhibition performance with Captain America, described as a legendary World War II and 1950s superhero who has returned after many years of apparent retirement. The 18-page story ends with this Captain America revealed as an impostor: it was actually the villain the [[Acrobat (comics)|Acrobat]], a former circus performer the Torch had defeated in ''Strange Tales'' #106, who broke two thieves out of jail, hoping to draw the police away while trying to rob the local bank. Afterward, Storm digs out an old comic book in which Captain America is shown to be Steve Rogers. A caption in the final panel says this story was a test to see if readers would like Captain America to return.
 
 
Captain America was then formally reintroduced in ''[[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]]'' #4 (March 1964),<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 99: "'Captain America lives again!' announced the cover of ''The Avengers'' #4. A mere [four] months after his imposter had appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #114, the real Cap was back."</ref> which explained that in the final days of World War II, he had fallen from an experimental [[unmanned aerial vehicle|drone plane]] into the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]] and spent decades frozen in a block of ice in a state of [[suspended animation]]. The hero found a new generation of readers as leader of that superhero team. Following the success of other Marvel characters introduced during the 1960s, Captain America was recast as a hero "haunted by past memories, and trying to adapt to 1960s society."<ref>Wright, p. 215.</ref>
 
 
After then guest-starring in the feature "[[Iron Man]]" in ''[[Tales of Suspense]]'' #58 (Oct. 1964), Captain America gained his own solo feature in that "split book," beginning the following issue.<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 103</ref> Issue #63 (March 1965), which retold Captain America's origin, through issue #71 (Nov. 1965) was a period feature set during World War II and co-starred Captain America's Golden Age sidekick, Bucky. Kirby drew all but two of the stories in ''Tales of Suspense,'' which became ''Captain America'' with #100 (April 1968);<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 128: "Hailing 1968 as the beginning of the 'Second Age of Marvel Comics,' and with more titles to play with, editor Stan Lee discarded his split books and gave more characters their own titles: ''Tales of Suspense'' #99 was followed by ''Captain America'' #100."</ref> [[Gil Kane]] and [[John Romita, Sr.]], each filled in once. Several stories were finished by penciller-inker [[George Tuska]] over Kirby layouts, with one finished by Romita Sr. and another by penciller [[Dick Ayers]] and inker [[John Tartaglione]]. Kirby's regular inkers on the series were [[Frank Giacoia]] (as "Frank Ray") and [[Joe Sinnott]], though [[Don Heck]] and Golden Age Captain America artist [[Syd Shores]] inked one story each. The new title ''Captain America'' continued to feature artwork by Kirby, as well as a short run by [[Jim Steranko]], and work by many of the industry's top artists and writers. It was called ''Captain America and the Falcon'' from #134 (Feb. 1971) to #222 (June 1978)<ref name="Olshevsky">{{cite journal|last = Olshevsky|first = George|authorlink = George Olshevsky|title = Heroes From ''Tales of Suspense'', Book One: Captain America|magazine = The Marvel Comics Index|issue = 8A|pages = 64 and 93|publisher = G&T Enterprises|date = December 1979}}</ref> although the Falcon's name was not on the cover for issues #193, 200, and 216. The 1972–1975 run on the title by writer [[Steve Englehart]] and artist [[Sal Buscema]] saw the series become one of Marvel's top-sellers.<ref>{{cite book|last = Amash|first = Jim|title = Sal Buscema: Comics' Fast & Furious Artist|publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|year = 2010|page = 46|isbn = 978-1-60549-021-2|quote= When Steve and I [Sal Buscema] got on the book&nbsp;... if I remember correctly, the book hit #5 in sales. It really shot up the charts.}}</ref> In 2010, [[Comics Bulletin]] ranked Englehart and Buscema's run on ''Captain America'' fourth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/447/top-10-1970s-marvels/|title= Top 10 1970s Marvels|first= Jason|last= Sacks|date= September 6, 2010|publisher= [[Comics Bulletin]]|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6IbkCDdAA|archivedate= August 3, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= August 3, 2013}}</ref> Kirby returned to the series as writer and penciler with issue #193 (Jan. 1975)<ref>Evanier, p. 185</ref> and remained through #214 (Oct. 1977).
 
 
This series — considered ''Captain America'' volume one by comics researchers and historians,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer2.htm#S35 | title= ''Captain America'' (1968–1996) |publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and [http://www.comics.org/series/1860/ ''Captain America''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> following the 1940s ''Captain America Comics'' and its 1950s numbering continuation of ''Tales of Suspense'' — ended with #454 (Aug. 1996).
 
 
===After the Silver Age===
 
This series was almost immediately followed by the 13-issue ''Captain America'' vol. 2 (Nov. 1996 – Nov. 1997, part of the "[[Heroes Reborn]]" crossover),<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer4.htm#S380 | title= ''Captain America'' (II) (1996–1997)| publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and [http://www.comics.org/series/5542/ ''Captain America'' vol. 2] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> the 50-issue ''Captain America'' vol. 3 (Jan. 1998 – Feb. 2002),<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer5.htm#S460 | title=''Captain America'' (III) (1998–2002) | publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and [http://www.comics.org/series/6023/ ''Captain America'' vol. 3] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> the 32-issue ''Captain America'' vol. 4 (June 2002 – Dec. 2004),<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer6.htm#S3485 | title=''Captain America'' (IV) (2002–2004) | publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and [http://www.comics.org/series/9818/ ''Captain America'' vol. 4] at the grand Comics Database</ref> and ''Captain America'' vol. 5 (Jan. 2005 – Aug. 2011).<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer7.htm#S4744 | title= ''Captain America'' (V) (2005–2007) | publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and [http://www.comics.org/series/12466/ ''Captain America'' vol. 5] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> Beginning with the 600th overall issue (Aug. 2009), ''Captain America'' resumed its original numbering, as if the series numbering had continued uninterrupted after #454.
 
 
As part of the aftermath of Marvel Comics' company-crossover storyline "[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]",<!--the CROSSOVER STORY ARC is in quote marks; the actual one comic book SERIES titled is in italics--> Steve Rogers was ostensibly killed in ''Captain America'' vol. 5, #25 (March 2007). Series writer [[Ed Brubaker]] remarked, <blockquote>"What I found is that all the really hard-core left-wing fans want Cap to be standing out on and giving speeches on the street corner against the [[George W. Bush]] administration, and all the really right-wing fans all want him to be over in the streets of [[Baghdad]], punching out [[Saddam Hussein]]."<ref name="nydt">{{Cite web | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/culture/2007/03/07/2007-03-07_captain_america_killed.html |title= Captain America killed!|first= Ethan|last= Sacks| publisher= ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''|date= March 9, 2007|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBO3VYly|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= April 26, 2013}}</ref></blockquote> The character's co-creator, [[Joe Simon]], remarked, "It's a hell of a time for him to go. We really need him now."<ref name="nydt"/> Artist [[Alex Ross]] designed a slightly revised Captain America costume that former sidekick Bucky Barnes began to wear as the new Captain America in vol. 5, #34 (March 2008).<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://marvel.com/news/story/1640/captain_america_lives|title= Captain America Lives|first= Ryan|last= Penagos|date= November 13, 2007|publisher= Marvel Comics|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBOeubrY|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= April 26, 2013}}</ref>
 
 
The storyline of Rogers' return began in issue #600.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060915-Cap-Reborn.html|title= Updated: Captain America Speculation Over|first= Matt|last= Brady|date= June 15, 2009|publisher= Newsarama|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBOzgz3Y|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/captain-america-steve-rogers-coming-back-life-years-marvel-comics-killed-article-1.376815|title= Captain America, a.k.a. Steve Rogers is coming back to life two years after Marvel Comics killed him|first= Ethan|last= Sacks|date= June 16, 2009|publisher= Daily News|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBPMXjGS|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= December 28, 2010}}</ref> Rogers, who was not dead but caroming through time, returned to the present day in the six-issue miniseries ''[[Captain America: Reborn]]'' (Sept. 2009 – March 2010).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/15/captain.america/index.html|title= Captain America, thought dead, comes back to life|first= Chris|last= Kokenes|date= June 15, 2009|publisher= [[CNN]]|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBPnE1XI|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= April 28, 2010}}</ref>
 
 
After Rogers' return, Barnes, at Rogers' insistence, continued as Captain America, beginning in the [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] comic ''Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?'' (Feb. 2010). While Bucky Barnes continued adventuring in the pages of ''Captain America'', Steve Rogers received his own miniseries (''Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier'') as well as taking on the leadership position in a new ''Secret Avengers'' ongoing series.
 
 
Spinoff series included ''Captain America Sentinel of Liberty'' (Sept. 1998 – Aug. 1999) and ''[[Captain America and the Falcon]]'' (May 2004 – June 2005). The 1940s Captain America appeared alongside the 1940s [[Human Torch (android)|Human Torch]] and [[Sub-Mariner]] in the 12-issue [[miniseries]] ''Avengers/Invaders''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.marvel.com/news/-1.1385|title= Wizard World Chicago 2007: Alex Ross Returns to Marvel|first= Ryan|last= Penagos|date= August 11, 2007|publisher= Marvel Comics|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070929133026/http://www.marvel.com/news/-1.1385|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= yes|accessdate= April 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11195|title= Ross' Return = ''Avengers/Invaders''|first= Jonah|last= Weiland|date= August 14, 2007|publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBQjDkCY|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= January 14, 2009}}</ref> The 2007 [[limited series|mini-series]] ''Captain America: The Chosen'', written by [[David Morrell]] and penciled by Mitchell Breitweiser, depicts a dying Steve Rogers' final minutes, at [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] headquarters, as his spirit guides James Newman, a young American Marine fighting in [[Afghanistan]]. ''The Chosen'' is not part of the main Marvel Universe continuity.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=116612|title= David Morrell Talks Captain America: The Chosen|first= Matt|last= Brady|date= June 14, 2007|publisher= Newsarama|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071009221318/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=116612|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= yes|accessdate= January 14, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11191|title= The Four Virtues: Morrell Talks ''Captain America: The Chosen''|first= Dave|last= Richards|date= August 13, 2007|publisher= Comic Book Resources|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBRfyN6G|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= January 14, 2009}}</ref>
 
 
The character, first as agent Steve Rogers and later after resuming his identity as Captain America, appeared as a regular character throughout the 2010–2013 ''Avengers'' series, from issue #1 (July 2010) through its final issue #34 (January 2013). The character appeared as agent Steve Rogers as a regular character in the 2010–2013 ''Secret Avengers'' series, from issue #1 (July 2010) through issue #21 (March 2012); the character made guest appearances as Captain America in issues #21.1, #22-23, #35, and the final issue of the series #37 (March 2013).
 
 
Marvel stated in May 2011 that Rogers, following the public death of Bucky Barnes in the ''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]'' miniseries, would resume his Captain America identity in a sixth volume of ''Captain America'', by writer Ed Brubaker and artist [[Steve McNiven]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/05/30/captain-america-brubaker-mcniven-preview|title= Steve Rogers Returns to Duty with Brubaker & McNiven in ''Captain America'' #1|first= Andy|last= Khouri|date= May 30, 2011|publisher= ComicsAlliance.com|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6GBSJxxHy|archivedate= April 26, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= June 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/59241/ ''Captain America'' vol. 6] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> The ''Captain America'' title continued from issue #620 featuring team up stories with Bucky (#620-#628),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/59240/ ''Captain America and Bucky''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> Hawkeye (#629-#632),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/64742/ ''Captain America and Hawkeye''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> Iron Man (#633-635),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/66557/ ''Captain America and Iron Man''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> Namor (#635.1),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/68207/ ''Captain America and Namor''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> and Black Widow (#636-#640),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/68401/ ''Captain America and Black Widow''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> and the title ended its print run with issue #640.
 
 
Captain America is a regular character in ''[[Uncanny Avengers]]'' (2012), beginning with issue #1 as part of [[Marvel NOW!]]. ''Captain America'' vol. 7 was launched in November 2012 with a January 2013 cover date by writer [[Rick Remender]] and artist [[John Romita Jr]].<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/68655/ ''Captain America'' vol. 7] at the Grand Comics Database</ref>
 
 
===Legal status===
 
 
In 1966 Joe Simon sued the owners of Marvel Comics, asserting that he – not Marvel – was legally entitled to renew the copyright upon the expiration of the original 28-year term. The two parties settled out of court, with Simon agreeing to a statement that the character had been created under terms of employment by the publisher, and therefore it was [[work for hire]] owned by them.<ref name=philly>{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/TPLSummer03CaptainAmerica|publisher=The Philadelphia L|accessdate=6 August 2013|title=The Struggle for Captain America|last=Lovitz|first=Michael}}</ref>
 
 
In 1999, Simon filed to claim the copyright to Captain America under a provision of the [[Copyright Act of 1976]] which allowed the original creators of works that had been sold to corporations to reclaim them after the original 56-year copyright term (but not the longer term enacted by the new legislation) had expired. Marvel Entertainment challenged the claim, arguing that the settlement of Simon's 1966 suit made the character ineligible for termination of the copyright transfer. Simon and Marvel settled out of court in 2003, in a deal that paid Simon royalties for merchandising and licensing use of the character.<ref name=philly/><ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Simon, a Creator of Captain America, Fighting On |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/books/16gust.html?pagewanted=all|publisher=New York Times|first=George Gene|last=Gustines|accessdate=6 August 2013}}</ref>
 
 
==Fictional character biography==
 
{{plot|date =March 2011}}
 
 
===1940s===
 
[[Image:Captainamerica1.jpg|thumb|''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March 1941). Cover art by [[Joe Simon]] (inks and pencils) and [[Jack Kirby]] (pencils).|alt=The front page of the first Captain America comic depicts Captain America punching [[Adolf Hitler]] in the jaw. A Nazi soldier's bullet deflects from Captain America's shield, while Adolf Hitler falls onto a map of the [[United States of America]] and a document reading 'Sabotage plans for U.S.A.']]
 
Steven Rogers was born in the 1920s in the [[Lower East Side]] of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], to poor [[Irish people|Irish]] immigrants, Sarah and Joseph Rogers.<ref name="sentinel">{{cite comic| writer= [[Fabian Nicieza|Nicieza, Fabian]]|penciller= [[Kevin Maguire (artist)|Maguire, Kevin]]|inker= [[Josef Rubinstein|Rubinstein, Joe]]|story= First Flight of the Eagle|title= The Adventures of Captain America|issue= 1|date= September 1991}}</ref> Joseph Rogers died when Steve was only a child and his mother, Sarah, died of pneumonia while Steve was a teen. By early 1940, before America's entry into [[World War II]], Rogers is a tall but scrawny [[fine art]]s student specializing in illustration, and a comic book writer and artist.
 
 
Disturbed by the rise of the [[Third Reich]], Rogers attempts to enlist, only to be rejected due to his physically frail body. His resolution allows him to be noticed by U.S. Army General [[Chester Phillips]] and "Project: Rebirth." Rogers is used as a test subject for the [[Supersoldier|Super-Soldier]] project, receiving a special serum made by "Dr. Josef Reinstein",<ref name="captainamericacomics1">{{cite comic| writer= [[Joe Simon|Simon, Joe]]; [[Jack Kirby|Kirby, Jack]]|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Al Liederman|Liederman, Al]]|story= Case No. 1. Meet Captain America|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 1|date= March 1941}}</ref><ref name="modernorigin">{{cite comic| writer= [[Stan Lee|Lee, Stan]]|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Syd Shores|Shores, Syd]]|story= The Hero That Was!|title= Captain America|issue= 109|date= January 1969}}</ref> later [[Retroactive continuity|retroactively changed]] to a code name for the scientist [[Abraham Erskine]].<ref name="stern origin">{{cite comic| writer= [[Roger Stern|Stern, Roger]]|penciller= [[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|inker= Rubinstein, Joe|story= The Living Legend|title= Captain America|issue= 255|date= March 1981}}</ref> The name "Erskine" was first used in a Captain America novel ''The Great Gold Steal'' by Ted White published by Bantam Books in 1968.
 
 
The serum is a success, and transforms the frail Steve Rogers into a perfect specimen—a nearly perfect human being with peak strength, agility, stamina, and intelligence. The success of the program leaves Erskine wondering about replicating the experiment on other human beings.<ref name="modernorigin"/> The process itself has been inconsistently detailed: while in the original material Steve Rogers is shown receiving injections of the Super-Serum, when the origin was retold in the 1960s, the [[Comic Code Authority]] had already put a veto over graphic description of drug intake and abuse, and thus the Super-Serum was retconned into an oral formula.<ref name="tos origin">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Frank Giacoia|Giacoia, Frank]]|story= The Origin of Captain America!|title= [[Tales of Suspense]]|issue= 63|date= March 1965}}</ref> Later accounts hint at a combination of oral and intravenous treatments with a strenuous training regimen, culminating in the Vita-Ray exposure.
 
 
Erskine refused to write down every crucial element of the treatment, leaving behind a flawed, imperfect knowledge of the needed steps. Thus, when the Nazi [[secret agent|spy]] [[Heinz Kruger]] killed him, Erskine's method of creating new Super-Soldiers died as well. Captain America, in his first act after his transformation, avenges Erskine. In the 1941 origin story and in ''Tales of Suspense'' #63, Kruger dies when running into machinery but is not killed by Rogers; in the ''Captain America'' #109 and #255 revisions, Rogers causes the spy's death by punching him into machinery.<ref name="modernorigin"/>
 
 
Unable to create new Super-Soldiers, and willing to hide the Project Rebirth fiasco, the American government casts the now-powerful Rogers as a patriotic superhero, able to counter the menace of the [[Red Skull]] as a [[counter-intelligence]] agent. As such, he's supplied with a patriotic uniform designed by Rogers himself,<ref name="sentinel"/>) a bulletproof shield, a personal [[side arm]], and the codename Captain America, while posing as a clumsy [[infantry]] private at Camp Lehigh in Virginia. He forms a friendship with the camp's teenage [[mascot]], James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes.<ref name="captainamericacomics1"/>
 
 
Eventually Barnes learns of Rogers' [[secret identity|dual identity]] and offers to keep the secret if he can become Captain America's [[sidekick]], being trained himself to act as the perfect partner. During their adventures, [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] presents Captain America with [[Captain America's shield|a new shield]], forged from an alloy of [[steel]] and [[vibranium]], fused by an unknown catalyst, so effective that it replaces his own firearm.<ref name="stern origin"/> Throughout World War II, Captain America and Bucky fight the Nazi menace both on their own and as members of the superhero team the [[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]] as seen in the 1970s comic of the same name.<ref name="invaders">{{cite comic| writer= [[Roy Thomas|Thomas, Roy]]|penciller= [[Frank Robbins|Robbins, Frank]]|inker= [[Vince Colletta|Colletta, Vince]]|story= A Captain Called America|title= [[Invaders (comics)|Giant-Size Invaders]]|issue= 1|date= June 1975}}</ref> Captain America battles a number of criminal menaces on American soil, including a wide variety of costumed villains: the Wax Man,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= The Wax Statue That Struck Death|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 2|date= April 1941}}</ref> the Hangman,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= The Strange Case of Captain America and The Hangman: Who Killed Doctor Vordoff|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 6|date= September 1941}}</ref> the Fang,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= Meet the Fang, Arch-Fiend of the Orient|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 6|date= September 1941}}</ref> the Black Talon,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Otto Binder|Binder, Otto]]|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Shores, Syd|story= The Case of the Black Talon|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 9|date= December 1941}}</ref> and the White Death,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= The White Death|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 9|date= December 1941}}</ref> among others.
 
 
In late April 1945, during the closing days of World War II, Captain America and Bucky try to stop the villainous [[Baron Heinrich Zemo|Baron Zemo]] from destroying an experimental drone plane. Zemo launches the plane with an armed explosive on it with Rogers and Barnes in hot pursuit. The pair reach the plane just before take off. When Bucky tries to defuse the bomb, it explodes in mid-air. The young man is believed killed. Rogers is hurled into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. Neither is found, and both are presumed dead. It is later revealed that neither character actually died.<ref name="theavengers4"/>
 
 
===Late 1940s to 1950s===
 
Captain America continued to appear in comics for the next few years changing from World War II-era hero fighting against the Nazis to confronting the United States' newest enemy, [[Communism]]. The revival of the character in the mid-1950s was short-lived, and events during that time period are later [[Retroactive continuity|retconned]] to show that multiple people operated using the code name to explain the changes in the character. These post World War II successors are listed as [[Spirit of '76 (Marvel Comics)|William Naslund]] and [[Jeffrey Mace]].
 
 
The last of these other official Captains, William Burnside,<ref name="cap602">{{cite comic| writer= [[Ed Brubaker|Brubaker, Ed]]|penciller= [[Luke Ross|Ross, Luke]]|inker= [[Jackson Guice|Guice, Butch]]; Ross, Luke|story= Two Americas Part 1|title= Captain America|issue= 602|date= March 2010}}</ref> was a history graduate enamored with the Captain America mythos, going so far to have his appearance surgically altered to resemble Rogers and legally change his name to "Steve Rogers", becoming the new "1950s Captain America".<ref name="CA153">{{cite comic| writer= [[Steve Englehart|Englehart, Steve]]|penciller= [[Sal Buscema|Buscema, Sal]]|inker= [[Jim Mooney|Mooney, Jim]]|story= Captain America--Hero Or Hoax?|title= Captain America|issue= 153|date= September 1972}}</ref> He self-administered to himself and his pupil [[Nomad (comics)#Jack Monroe|James "Jack" Monroe]] a flawed, incomplete copy of the Super-Serum, which made no mention about the necessary Vita-Ray portion of the treatment. As a result, while Burnside and Monroe became the new Captain America and Bucky, they became violently paranoid, often raving about innocent people being communist sympathizers during the height of the [[Red Scare]] of the 1950s. Their insanity forced the U.S. government to place both of them in indefinite cryogenic storage until they could be cured of their mental illness.<ref name="CA156">{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= [[Frank McLaughlin (comics)|McLaughlin, Frank]]|story= One Into Two Won't Go!|title= Captain America|issue= 156|date= December 1972}}</ref> Monroe would later be cured and assume the Nomad identity.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[J. M. DeMatteis|DeMatteis, J. M.]]|penciller= [[Mike Zeck|Zeck, Mike]]|inker= [[John Beatty (illustrator)|Beatty, John]]|story= Before the Fall!|title= Captain America|issue= 281|date= May 1983}}</ref>
 
 
===1960s to 1970s===
 
[[Image:CaptainAmericaV1-180.jpg|thumb|left|''Captain America'' #180 (Dec. 1974). Captain America becomes "Nomad". Cover art by [[Gil Kane]] and [[Frank Giacoia]].]]
 
 
Years later, the superhero team the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] discovers Steve Rogers' body in the North Atlantic, the Captain's uniform under his soldier's fatigues and still carrying his shield. After he revives, they piece together that Rogers had been preserved in a block of ice since 1945, surviving in such a state only because of his enhancements from Operation: Rebirth. The block had begun to melt after the [[Namor|Sub-Mariner]], enraged that an [[Inuit]] tribe is worshiping the frozen figure, throws it into the ocean.<ref name="theavengers4">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[George Roussos|Roussos, George]]|story= Captain America Joins&nbsp;... The Avengers!|title= The [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]|issue= 4|date= March 1964}}</ref> Rogers accepts membership in the Avengers, and although long out of his time, his considerable experience both in individual combat service and his time with the Invaders makes him a valuable asset to the team. He quickly assumes leadership,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Dick Ayers|Ayers, Dick]]|story= The Old Order Changeth|title= The Avengers|issue= 16|date= May 1965}}</ref> and has typically returned to that position throughout the team's history.
 
 
Captain America is plagued by guilt for having been unable to prevent Bucky's death. Although he takes the young [[Rick Jones (comics)|Rick Jones]] (who closely resembles Bucky) under his tutelage, he refuses for some time to allow Jones to take up the Bucky identity, not wishing to be responsible for another youth's death. Insisting that his hero finally move on from that loss, Jones eventually convinces Rogers to let him don the Bucky costume,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= [[Jim Steranko|Steranko, Jim]]|inker= [[Joe Sinnott|Sinnott, Joe]]|story= No Longer Alone!|title= Captain America|issue= 110|date= February 1969}}</ref> but this partnership lasts only a short time; a disguised [[Red Skull]], impersonating Rogers with the help of the [[Cosmic Cube]], drives Jones away.
 
 
Rogers reunites with his old war comrade [[Nick Fury]], who is similarly well-preserved due to the "Infinity Formula." As a result, Rogers regularly undertakes missions for the security agency [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] for which Fury is public director.<ref name="tos78">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Giacoia, Frank|story= Them!|title= Tales of Suspense|issue= 78|date= June 1966}}</ref> Through Fury, Rogers befriends [[Sharon Carter]], a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby,, Jack; Ayers, Dick|inker= [[John Tartaglione|Tartaglione, John]]|story= 30 Minutes to Live!|title= Tales of Suspense|issue= 75|date= March 1966}}</ref> with whom he eventually begins a romantic relationship.
 
 
Rogers later meets and trains Sam Wilson, who becomes the superhero the [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= [[Gene Colan|Colan, Gene]]|inker= Sinnott, Joe|story= The Coming of&nbsp;... the Falcon!|title= Captain America|issue= 117|date= September 1969}}</ref> the first [[African-American]] superhero in mainstream comic books.<ref>Brothers, David. [http://marvel.com/news/story/15240/a_marvel_black_history_lesson_pt_1#ixzz1QFnuw5Yi "A Marvel Black History Lesson Pt. 1"], [[Marvel Comics|Marvel.com]], February 18, 2011. [http://www.webcitation.org/5zhBRA0i5 WebCitation archive]. Quoting Marvel Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort: "The Falcon was the very first African-American super hero, as opposed to The Black Panther, who preceded him, but wasn't American."</ref><ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 137: "The Black Panther may have broken the mold as Marvel's first black super hero, but he was from Africa. The Falcon, however, was the first black American super hero. Introduced by Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, Sam 'Snap' Wilson was a former community volunteer."</ref><!--Black Panther is African, not African-American; Falcon predates Luke Cage and John Stewart Green Lantern. See [[List of African-American firsts]]. Lion Man debuted in 1947 in All-Negro Comics, but this book did not have national distribution and cannot be considered "mainstream"--> The characters established an enduring friendship and adventuring partnership, sharing the series title for some time as ''Captain America and the Falcon''.<ref name="Olshevsky" /> The two later encounter the revived but still insane [[Grand Director|1950s Captain America]].<ref name="CA153" /><ref name="CA156" /><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= [[John Verpoorten|Verpoorten, John]]; [[Tony Mortellaro|Mortellaro, Tony]]|story= The Falcon Fights Alone|title= Captain America|issue= 154|date= October 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= McLaughlin, Frank|story= The Incredible Origin of the Other Captain America|title= Captain America|issue= 155|date= November 1972}}</ref><ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 156: "In his first story line as ''Captain America and the Falcon'' writer, Steve Englehart revealed that an unnamed teacher had rediscovered the 'Super-Soldier serum' in the 1950s and he and a student used it to turn themselves into new versions of Captain America and Bucky."</ref> Although Rogers and the Falcon defeat the faux Rogers and Jack Monroe, Rogers becomes deeply disturbed that he could have suffered his counterpart's fate. During this period, Rogers temporarily gains super strength.<ref name="CA159">{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= Verpoorten, John|story= Turning Point|title= Captain America|issue= 159|date= March 1972}}</ref>
 
 
The series dealt with the [[Marvel Universe]]'s version of the [[Watergate scandal]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.steveenglehart.com/Comics/Captain%20America%20169-176.html|title= Captain America|first= Steve|last= Englehart|date= no date|publisher= SteveEnglehart.com|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6G2O0yw4k|archivedate= April 21, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= April 21, 2013|quote= America was moving from the overarching Vietnam War toward the specific crimes of Watergate.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Englehart|first = Steve|coauthors = Buscema, Sal|title = Captain America and the Falcon: Secret Empire|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2005|page = 160|isbn = 978-0-7851-1836-7}}</ref><ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 164: "Inspired by the real life Watergate scandals,, writer Steve Englehart devised a story line about a conspiracy within the U.S. government."</ref> making Rogers so uncertain about his role that he abandons his Captain America identity in favor of one called [[Nomad (comics)|Nomad]],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 167: "Shocked by learning the identity of Number One of the Secret Empire, Steve Rogers abandoned his Captain America role and adopted a new costumed identity, Nomad."</ref> emphasizing the word's meaning as "man without a country". During this time, several men unsuccessfully assume the Captain America identity.<ref>{{cite book|last = Englehart|first = Steve|coauthors = Buscema, Sal; Robbins, Frank|title = Captain America and the Falcon: Nomad|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2007|page = 192|isbn = 978-0-7851-2197-8}}</ref> Rogers eventually re-assumes it after coming to consider that the identity could be a symbol of American ideals and not its government; it's a personal conviction epitomized when he later confronted a corrupt Army officer attempting to manipulate him by appealing to his loyalty, "I'm loyal to nothing, General&nbsp;... except the [American] Dream." Jack Monroe, cured of his mental instability, later takes up the Nomad alias.<ref name="CA282">{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.|penciller= Zeck, Mike|inker= Beatty, John|story= On Your Belly You Shall Crawl, and Dust Shall You Eat!|title= Captain America|issue= 282|date= June 1983}}</ref> Sharon Carter is believed to have been killed while under the mind control of [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Dr. Faustus]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Chris Claremont|Claremont, Chris]]; [[Roger McKenzie (comics)|McKenzie, Roger]]|penciller= Buscema, Sal; [[Don Perlin|Perlin, Don]]|inker= Perlin, Don|story= From the Ashes&nbsp;... |title= Captain America|issue= 237|date= September 1979}}</ref>
 
 
===1980s to 1990s===
 
[[Image:Captain America 350.jpg||thumb|''Captain America'' #350 (Feb. 1989). Rogers as "the Captain" vs. John Walker as Captain America. Cover art by [[Kieron Dwyer]] and [[Al Milgrom]].]]
 
The 1980s included a run by writer [[Roger Stern]] and artist [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]. Stern had Steve Rogers consider a run for President of the United States in ''Captain America'' #250 (June 1980),<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Roger Stern|Stern, Roger]]|penciller= [[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|inker= [[Josef Rubinstein|Rubinstein, Joe]]|story= Cap For President!|title= Captain America|issue= 250|date= October 1980}}</ref> an idea originally developed by [[Roger McKenzie (comics)|Roger McKenzie]] and [[Don Perlin]]. Stern, in his capacity as editor of the title, had originally rejected the idea but later changed his mind about the concept.<ref name="Cronin">{{cite web |url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/05/22/the-greatest-roger-stern-stories-ever-told/|title= The Greatest Roger Stern Stories Ever Told!|first= Brian|last= Cronin|date= May 10, 2010|publisher= Comic Book Resources |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/65bgBbbdw|archivedate= February 20, 2012 |deadurl= no|accessdate= February 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=1046|title= Looking Back:Stern & Byrne's Captain America|first= Matt|last= Brady|date= November 28, 2002|publisher= Newsarama|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090125131416/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=1046|archivedate= February 20, 2012|deadurl=yes|accessdate= February 20, 2012|quote= The story, according to Stern, actually began a year previous, when Roger McKenzie and Don Perlin were the creative team on Captain America, and Stern was an editor at Marvel. McKenzie and Perlin wanted Cap to run for office and win, setting up four years' worth of stories in and around Washington, D.C. and the duties of the president. While it could've made for a great pop-culture civics lesson, Stern 86'd the idea.}}</ref> McKenzie and Perlin received credit for the idea on the letters page at Stern's insistence.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.marvelmasterworks.com/features/int_stern_1006_2.html |title= The Roger Stern Interview: The Triumphs and Trials of the Writer|first= George|last= Khoury |date= |month= |year= |work= |publisher= Marvel Masterworks Resource Page|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/65bgjtJzz|archivedate= February 20, 2012|deadurl= no|accessdate= February 20, 2012|quote= I made sure that 1) Roger McK. and Don knew about it, and 2) they were credited with the idea on the letters page.}}</ref> Stern additionally introduced a new love interest, law student [[Bernie Rosenthal]], in ''Captain America'' #248 (Aug. 1980).<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 198: "Bernie Rosenthal was a professional glass-blower and former college activist, who was created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Byrne."</ref>
 
 
Writer [[J. M. DeMatteis]] revealed the true face and full origin of the [[Red Skull]] in ''Captain America'' #298-300, and had Captain America take on Jack Monroe, Nomad, as a partner for a time.<ref name="CA282"/> It is around this time that the heroes gathered by the [[Beyonder]] elect Rogers as leader during their stay on Battleworld in the 1984 miniseries ''[[Secret Wars]]''. [[Homophobia]] was dealt with as Steve Rogers runs into a childhood friend named [[Arnold Roth (Captain America)|Arnold Roth]] who is gay.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.|penciller= Zeck, Mike|inker= Beatty, John; Colletta, Vince; Villamonte, Ricardo|story= Someone Who Cares|title= Captain America|issue= 270|date= June 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Witt|first = Lynn|coauthors = Thomas, Sherry; Marcus, Eric|title = Out in All Directions: Almanac of Gay and Lesbian America|publisher = Warner Bookd|year = 1995|pages = |isbn = 978-0-446-51822-2}}</ref>
 
 
[[Mark Gruenwald]] became the writer of the series with issue #307 (July 1985) and wrote 137 issues for 10 consecutive years from until #443 (Sept. 1995),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?ind_pub_notes=&letters=&color=&series=Captain+America&binding=&feature=&issue_notes=&synopsis=&colors=&keywords=&isbn=&tracking_notes=&job_number=&issues=&paper_stock=&issue_reprinted=None&dimensions=&title=&is_comics=None&format=&brand=&series_notes=&indicia_publisher=&pub_name=&is_indexed=None&notes=&story_editing=&start_date=&pub_notes=&inks=&issue_title=&end_date=&variant_name=&price=&barcode=&issue_date=&volume=&pages=&characters=&genre=&issue_pages=&order2=&order3=&order1=date&pencils=&target=sequence&publishing_format=&reprint_notes=&brand_notes=&is_surrogate=None&issue_count=&series_year_began=&method=icontains&script=Mark+Gruenwald&issue_editing=&logic=False&indicia_frequency=&story_reprinted=None&page=1 Mark Gruenwald's run on ''Captain America''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> the most issues by any single author in the character's history. Gruenwald created several new foes, including Crossbones and the Serpent Society. Other Gruenwald characters included [[Diamondback (comics)|Diamondback]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Mark Gruenwald|Gruenwald, Mark]]|penciller= [[Paul Neary|Neary, Paul]]|inker= [[Dennis Janke|Janke, Dennis]]|story= Serpents of the World Unite|title= Captain America|issue= 310|date= October 1985}}</ref> [[U.S. Agent|Super Patriot]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Beatty John|story= Super-Patriot Is Here|title= Captain America|issue= 323|date= November 1986}}</ref> and [[Demolition Man (comics)|Demolition Man]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= The Hard Way!|title= Captain America|issue= 328|date= April 1987}}</ref> Gruenwald explored numerous political and social themes as well, such as extreme idealism when Captain America fights the anti-nationalist terrorist [[Flag-Smasher]];<ref name="flagsmasher">{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Deface the Nation|title= Captain America|issue= 312|date= December 1985}}</ref> and [[vigilante|vigilantism]] when he hunts the murderous [[Scourge of the Underworld]].<ref name="Scourge">{{cite book|last = Gruenwald|first = Mark|coauthors = Neary, Paul|title = Captain America: Scourge of the Underworld|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2011|page = 296|isbn = 978-0-7851-4962-0}}</ref>
 
 
Rogers receives a large back-pay reimbursement dating back to his disappearance at the end of World War II, and a [[Commission on Superhuman Activities|government commission]] orders him to work directly for the U.S. government. Already troubled by the corruption he had encountered with the [[Nuke (Marvel Comics)|Nuke]] incident in [[New York City]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Frank Miller (comics)|Miller, Frank]]|penciller= [[David Mazzucchelli|Mazzucchelli, David]]|inker= Mazzucchelli, David|story= Armageddon|title= [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics)|Daredevil]]|issue= 233|date= August 1986}}</ref> Rogers chooses instead to resign his identity,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= [[Tom Morgan (comics)|Morgan, Tom]]|inker= [[Bob McLeod (comics)|McLeod, Bob]]|story= The Choice|title= Captain America|issue= 332|date= August 1987}}</ref><ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 231: "This issue [#332] began a nineteen-part story arc called 'Captain America No More!'"</ref> and then takes the alias of "the Captain".<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Morgan, Tom|inker= Hunt, Dave|story= The Long Road Back|title= Captain America|issue= 337|date= January 1988}}</ref> A replacement Captain America, John Walker, struggles to emulate Rogers' ideals until pressure from hidden enemies helps to drive Walker insane. Rogers returns to the Captain America identity<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= [[Kieron Dwyer|Dwyer, Kieron]]|inker= [[Al Milgrom|Milgrom, Al]]|story= Seeing Red|title= Captain America|issue= 350|date= February 1989}}</ref> while a recovered Walker becomes the [[U.S. Agent]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Dwyer, Kieron|inker= Milgrom, Al|story= Reawakening|title= Captain America|issue= 354|date= June 1989}}</ref>
 
 
Sometime afterward, Rogers avoids the explosion of a [[methamphetamine]] lab, but the drug triggers a chemical reaction in the Super-Soldier serum in his system. To combat the reaction, Rogers has the serum removed from his body, and trains constantly to maintain his physical condition.<ref name="CA378">{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= [[Ron Lim|Lim, Ron]]|inker= [[Danny Bulanadi|Bulanadi,, Danny]]|story= Grand Stand Play!|title= Captain America|issue= 378|date= October 1990}}</ref> A [[Retroactive continuity|retcon]] later establishes that the serum was not a drug ''per se'', which would have metabolized out of his system, but in fact a virus-like organism that effected a biochemical and genetic change. This additionally explained how nemesis the [[Red Skull]], who at the time inhabited a body [[cloning|cloned]] from Rogers' cells, has the formula in his body.
 
 
Because of his altered biochemistry, Rogers' body begins to deteriorate, and for a time he must wear a powered [[exoskeleton]] and is eventually placed again in suspended animation. During this time, he is given a transfusion of blood from the [[Red Skull]], which cures his condition and stabilizes the Super-Soldier virus in his system. Captain America returns both to crime fighting and the Avengers.<ref>{{cite book|last = Gruenwald|first = Mark|coauthors = [[Dave Hoover|Hoover, Dave]]|title = Captain America: Fighting Chance - Denial|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2009|page = 160|isbn = 978-0-7851-3738-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Gruenwald|first = Mark|coauthors = Hoover, Dave|title = Captain America: Fighting Chance - Acceptance|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2009|page = 168|isbn = 978-0-7851-3739-9}}</ref>
 
 
Following Gruenwald's departure from the series, Mark Waid took over and resurrected Sharon Carter as Cap's love interest. The title was then relaunched under Rob Liefeld as Cap became part of the [[Heroes Reborn]] universe for 13 issues<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 280: "Steve Rogers earned a fresh start in the Heroes Reborn universe by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Rob Liefeld."</ref> before another relaunch restored Waid to the title <ref>Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 288: "Writer Mark Waid began what many fans atill consider to be the ultimate run on the ''Captain America'' title with this series penciled by Ron Garney."</ref> in an arc that saw Cap lose his shield for a time using an energy based shield as a temporary replacement. Following Waid's run, Dan Jurgens took over and introduced new foe [[Protocide]], a failed recipient of the Super Soldier serum prior to the experiment that successfully created Rogers.
 
 
===2000s===
 
In the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]], Rogers reveals his identity to the world and establishes a residence in the [[Red Hook, Brooklyn|Red Hook]] neighborhood of [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]], as seen in ''Captain America'' vol. 4, #1-7 (June 2002 – Feb. 2003).<ref>Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 312: "The darker Marvel Knights line of books accepted Steve Rogers under their umbrella as writer John Ney Rieber and artist John Cassaday restarted the series with a new first issue."</ref> Following the disbandment of the Avengers in the "[[Avengers Disassembled]]" story arc, Rogers, now employed by [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], discovers Bucky is alive, having been saved and deployed by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] as the [[Bucky#Winter Soldier|Winter Soldier]]. Rogers resumes his on-again, off-again relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent [[Sharon Carter]].
 
 
In the 2006–2007 company-wide story arc "[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]",<!--the STORY ARC is in quote marks; the actual one comic-book SERIES title is in italics--> and its anchoring, seven-issue miniseries, ''Civil War'' (July 2006 - Jan. 2007), Rogers opposes the new mandatory [[Registration Acts (comics)#2006 Superhuman Registration Act|federal registration of super-powered beings]], and leads the underground anti-registration movement. He adopts the alias "Brett Hendrick", a [[Shopping mall|mall]] [[security guard]]. After significant rancor and danger to the public as the two sides clash, Captain America voluntarily surrenders and orders the Anti-Registration forces to stand down.
 
[[Image:capdeath.PNG|thumb|Steve Rogers' presumed death. Art by [[Steve Epting]].]]
 
In the story arc "[[The Death of Captain America]]", Rogers is indicted on criminal charges for his anti-registration efforts, and in ''Captain America'' vol. 5, #25 (April 2007) is shot outside a federal courthouse; taken to a hospital, he is pronounced dead.<ref>Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 335: "Surprising an unsuspecting fan base who thought the worst was over for Steve Rogers, Captain America's death captured worldwide media attention."</ref> The assassination, orchestrated by the Red Skull, involves [[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]] as a sniper and [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Dr. Faustus]], who poses as a [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] psychiatrist and gives Carter a hypnotic suggestion to surreptitiously shoot Rogers at close range during the chaos surrounding the sniper shot.
 
 
The miniseries ''[[Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America]]'' #1-5 (June–Aug. 2007) follows the stunned superhero community after the apparent assassination. Captain America is purportedly laid to rest in [[Arlington National Cemetery]], but Tony Stark (Iron Man) and others have actually returned Rogers' body to the [[Arctic]] where Rogers had been found years before, and whereupon Namor swore to guard him. In ''Captain America'' vol. 5, #30 (Sept. 2007), Stark receives a letter containing Rogers' request that Bucky become the next Captain America, which Bucky agrees to do four issues later. Adopting the original shield, he dons a new costume incorporating a pistol and a knife. The [[Norse god]] superhero [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] communicates with what appears to be Rogers' spirit on the first anniversary of Rogers' death, in ''Thor'' vol. 3, #11 (Oct. 2008).
 
[[Image:Steve Rogers Super Soldier.jpg|thumb|left|Promotional art for ''Steve Rogers: Super Soldier'' #1 (Sept. 2010) by [[Carlos Pacheco]] and [[Tim Townsend]].]]
 
''[[Captain America: Reborn]]'' #1 (Aug. 2009) reveals that Rogers did not die, and that the gun Sharon Carter had been hypnotized to use had actually caused Rogers to phase in and out of space and time, appearing at events in his lifetime and fighting battles. The Skull returns Rogers to the present, where he takes control of Rogers' mind and body. Rogers eventually regains control, and with help from his allies, defeats the Skull in the fourth and final issues of this miniseries. In the subsequent [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] comic ''Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?'', Rogers formally grants Bucky his Captain America shield and asks his former sidekick to continue as Captain America. The American President grants Rogers a full [[pardon]] for his anti-registration actions.
 
 
===2010s===
 
Following the company-wide "[[Dark Reign (comics)|Dark Reign]]" and "[[Siege (comics)|Siege]]" story arcs, the Steve Rogers character became part of the "[[Heroic Age (comics)|Heroic Age]]" arc.<ref>{{Cite web |first= Dave|last= Richards| url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26287|title= Storming Heaven: ''Siege'' #4|publisher= Comic Book Resources| date= May 18, 2010|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6G3dJw2mQ|archivedate= April 21, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= September 26, 2010}}</ref> The U.S. president appoints Rogers, in his civilian identity, as head of the nation's security, replacing [[Norman Osborn]]. The [[Superhuman Registration Act]] is repealed and Rogers reestablishes the [[superhero]] team the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]], spearheaded by Iron Man, Thor and Bucky as Captain America. In the [[miniseries]] ''Steve Rogers: Super Soldier'', he encounters Jacob Erskine, the grandson of Professor Abraham Erskine and the son of Tyler Paxton, one of Rogers' fellow volunteers in the Super-Soldier program. Shortly afterward, Rogers becomes leader of the [[Secret Avengers]], a [[black-op]]s superhero team.
 
 
During the ''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]'' storyline, Steve Rogers is present when the threat of the Serpent is known.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Matt Fraction|Fraction, Matt]]|penciller= [[Stuart Immonen|Immonen, Stuart]]|inker= Immonen, Stuart|story= The Serpent|title= [[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]|issue= 1|date= June 2011}}</ref> Following the apparent death of Bucky at the hands of [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Sin]] (in the form of [[Skadi]]), Steve Rogers ends up changing into his Captain America uniform.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= [[Wade Von Grawbadger|Von Grawbadger, Wade]]|story= Fear Itself 4: Worlds on Fire|title= Fear Itself|issue= 4|date= September 2011}}</ref> When the Avengers and the New Avengers are fighting Skadi, the Serpent ends up joining the battle and breaks Captain America's shield with his bare hands.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= Von Grawbadger, Wade|story= Fear Itself 5: Brawl|title= Fear Itself|issue= 5|date= October 2011}}</ref> Captain America and the Avengers teams end up forming a militia for a last stand against the forces of the Serpent.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= Von Grawbadger, Wade|story= Fear Itself 6: Blood-Tied & Doomed|title= Fear Itself|issue= 6|date= November 2011}}</ref> When it comes to the final battle, Captain America uses Thor's hammer to fight Skadi until Thor manages to kill the Serpent. In the aftermath of the battle, Iron Man presents him with his reforged shield, now stronger for its uru-infused enhancements despite the scar it bears.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= Von Grawbadger, Wade; [[Dexter Vines|Vines, Dexter]]|story= Fear Itself 7: Thor's Day|title= Fear Itself|issue= 7|date= December 2011}}</ref> It is then revealed that Captain America, Nick Fury, and Black Widow are the only ones who know that Bucky actually survived the fight with Skadi as Bucky resumes his identity as Winter Soldier.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= Guice, Butch|inker= Guice, Butch|story= Bucky Barnes was the best brother-in-arms any&nbsp;... |title= Fear Itself: Captain America|issue= 7.1|date= January 2012}}</ref>
 
 
In the ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' story arc, Captain America attempts to apprehend [[Hope Summers (comics)|Hope Summers]] of the [[X-Men]]. She is the targeted vessel for the [[Phoenix Force (comics)|Phoenix Force]], a destructive cosmic entity. Captain America believes that this Phoenix Force is too dangerous to entrust in one person and seeks to prevent Hope from having it. [[Cyclops (comics)|Cyclops]] and the X-Men believe that the Phoenix Force will save their race, and oppose Captain America's wishes.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Jason Aaron|Aaron, Jason]]; [[Brian Michael Bendis|Bendis, Brian Michael]]; Brubaker, Ed; [[Jonathan Hickman|Hickman, Jonathan]]; Fraction, Matt|penciller= [[John Romita, Jr.|Romita, Jr., John]]|inker= [[Scott Hanna|Hanna, Scott]]|story= Round 1|title= [[Avengers vs. X-Men]]|issue= 1|date= June 2012}}</ref> The result is a series of battles that eventually take both teams to the blue area of the moon.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Aaron, Jason; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; Hickman, Jonathan; Fraction, Matt|penciller= Romita, Jr., John|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= Round 4 |title= Avengers vs. X-Men|issue= 4|date= July 2012}}</ref> The Phoenix Force eventually possesses the five X-Men present, leaving the Avengers at an extreme disadvantage.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Aaron, Jason; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; Hickman, Jonathan; Fraction, Matt|penciller= Romita, Jr., John|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= Round 5|title= Avengers vs. X-Men|issue= 5|date= August 2012}}</ref> The ''Phoenix Five'', who become corrupted by the power of the Phoenix, are eventually defeated and scattered, with Cyclops imprisoned for turning the world into a police state and murdering [[Professor X|Charles Xavier]] after being pushed too far, only for him to note that, in the end, he was proven right about the Phoenix's intentions.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Aaron, Jason; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; Hickman, Jonathan; Fraction, Matt|penciller= [[Adam Kubert|Kubert, Adam]]|inker= [[John Dell|Dell, John]]; [[Mark Morales (comics)|Morales, Mark]]; Kubert, Adam|story= Round 12|title= Avengers vs. X-Men|issue= 12|date= December 2012}}</ref> From there, Captain America proceeds to assemble the [[Uncanny Avengers|Avengers Unity Squad]], a new team of Avengers composed of both classic Avengers and X-Men.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Rick Remender|Remender, Rick]]|penciller= [[John Cassaday|Cassaday, John]]|inker= Cassaday, John|story= New Union|title= [[Uncanny Avengers]]|issue= 1|date= December 2012}}</ref>
 
 
==Powers and abilities==
 
[[Image:CAtransformation.png|thumb|Steve Rogers' physical transformation, from a reprint of ''Captain America Comics'' #1 (May 1941). Art by [[Joe Simon]] and [[Jack Kirby]].]]
 
 
Captain America has no superhuman powers, but through the Super-Soldier Serum and "Vita-Ray" treatment, he is transformed and his strength, endurance, agility, speed, reflexes, durability, and healing are at the zenith of natural human potential. Rogers' body regularly replenishes the super-soldier serum; it does not wear off.<ref name="CA378" />
 
 
The formula enhances all of his metabolic functions and prevents the build-up of [[lactic acid|fatigue poisons]] in his muscles, giving him endurance far in excess of an ordinary human being. This accounts for many of his extraordinary feats, including bench pressing 1200 pounds (545&nbsp;kg) and running a mile (1.6&nbsp;km) in 73 seconds (49&nbsp;mph/78 kph).<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= [[Javier Pulido|Pulido, Javier]]; [[Marcos Martín|Martín, Marcos]]; [[Mike Perkins|Perkins, Mike]]|inker= Pulido, Javier; Martín, Marcos; Perkins, Mike|story= Secrets of Iron & Fire|title= Captain America 65th Anniversary Special|issue= 1|date= May 2006}}</ref> Furthermore, his enhancements are the reason why he was able to survive being frozen in suspended animation for decades. He is highly resistant to hypnosis or gases that could limit his focus.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Kurt Busiek|Busiek, Kurt]]|penciller= [[George Pérez|Pérez, George]]|inker= Pérez, George|story= Book Four: The Brave and the Bold|title= [[JLA/Avengers|Avengers/JLA]]|issue= 4|date= March 2005}}</ref> The secrets of creating a super-soldier were lost with the death of its creator, Dr. Abraham Erskine.<ref name="tos origin" /> In the ensuing decades there have been numerous attempts to recreate Erskine's treatment, only to have them end in failure. Even worse, the attempts have instead often created psychopathic supervillains of which Captain America's [[Grand Director|1950s imitator]] and [[Nuke (Marvel Comics)|Nuke]] are the most notorious examples.
 
 
Rogers' battle experience and training make him an expert [[Military tactics|tactician]] and an excellent field commander, with his teammates frequently deferring to his orders in battle. Thor has stated that Rogers is one of the very few humans he will take orders from and follow "through the gates of Hades".<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Jim Shooter|Shooter,, Jim]]|penciller= Zeck, Mike|inker= Beatty, John|story= The War Begins|title= [[Secret Wars|Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars]]|issue= 1|date= May 1984}}</ref> Rogers' reflexes and senses are extraordinarily keen. He has blended [[judo]], [[Boxing|western boxing]], [[kickboxing]], and gymnastics into his own unique fighting style and is a master of multiple martial arts. Years of practice with his near-indestructible shield make him able to aim and throw it with almost unerring accuracy. His skill with his shield is such that he can attack multiple targets in succession with a single throw or even cause a [[boomerang]]-like return from a throw to attack an enemy from behind. In canon, he is regarded by other skilled fighters as one of the best [[hand-to-hand combat]]ants in the Marvel Universe, limited only by his human physique.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Mike Carlin|Carlin, Mike]]|penciller= Neary,, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= And Other Strangers|title= Captain America|issue= 302|date= February 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Lim, Ron|inker= Bulandi, Danny|story= The Devil You Know|title= Captain America|issue= 375|date= Late August 1990}}</ref> Although the super-soldier serum is an important part of his strength, Rogers has shown himself still sufficiently capable against stronger opponents, even when the serum has been deactivated reverting him to his pre-Captain America physique.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= [[Dale Eaglesham|Eaglesham, Dale]]|inker= Eaglesham, Dale|story= For a lot of my childhood&nbsp;... |title= Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier|issue= 3|date= November 2010}}</ref>
 
 
Rogers has vast [[U.S. military]] knowledge and is often shown to be familiar with ongoing, classified Defense Department operations. He is an expert in combat strategy, survival, acrobatics, military strategy, piloting, and demolitions. Despite his high profile as one of the world's most popular and recognizable superheroes, Rogers has a broad understanding of the espionage community, largely through his ongoing relationship with [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] He is a talented artist, and has worked on the ''Captain America'' comic book published in the Marvel universe. Other career fields include commercial arts, teaching high school history, and law enforcement.
 
 
Although he lacks superhuman strength, Captain America is one of the few mortal beings who has been deemed worthy enough to wield Thor's hammer [[Mjolnir (comics)|Mjolnir]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]]|penciller= [[Ron Frenz|Frenz, Ron]]|inker= [[Brett Breeding|Breeding, Brett]]|story= The Hero and the Hammer|title= [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]|issue= 390|date= April 1988}}</ref>
 
 
===Weapons and equipment===
 
{{Further2|[[Captain America's shield]]}}
 
 
Captain America uses several shields throughout his history, the most prevalent of which is a nigh-indestructible disc-shaped shield made from an experimental [[alloy]] of steel and the fictional [[vibranium]].<ref name="CA303">{{cite comic| writer= [[Mike Carlin|Carlin, Mike]]|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Double Dare|title= Captain America|issue= 303|date= March 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Carlin, Mike|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Undercover of the Night|title= Captain America|issue= 304|date= April 1985}}</ref> The shield was cast by American metallurgist [[Dr. Myron MacLain]], who was contracted by the U.S. government, from orders of [[President]] [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]], to create an impenetrable substance to use for tanks during World War II.<ref name="CA303" /> This alloy was created by accident and never duplicated, although efforts to reverse-engineer it resulted in the discovery of [[adamantium]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Thomas, Roy|penciller= [[Barry Windsor-Smith|Smith,, Barry]]|inker= Shores, Syd|story= Betrayal|title= The [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]|issue= 66|date= July 1969}}</ref>
 
 
Captain America often uses his shield as an offensive throwing weapon. The first instance of Captain America's trademark ricocheting shield-toss occurs in [[Stan Lee]]'s first comics writing, the two-page text story "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge" in ''Captain America Comics'' #3 (May 1941).<ref name="AmazingMarvelUniverse" /> The legacy of the shield among other comics characters includes the time-traveling mutant superhero [[Cable (comics)|Cable]] telling Captain America that his shield still exists in one of the possible futures; Cable carries it into battle and brandishes it as a symbol.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Nicieza, Fabian|penciller= Medina, Lan|inker= Tadeo, Ed|story= Living Legends|title= [[Cable & Deadpool]]|issue= 25|date= April 2006}}</ref>
 
 
When without his trademark shield, Captain America sometimes uses other shields made from less durable metals such as steel,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Mark Waid|Waid, Mark]]|penciller= [[Ron Garney|Garney, Ron]]|inker= [[Bob Wiacek|Wiacek, Bob]]|story= Museum Piece|title= Captain America|volume= 3|issue= 3|date= March 1998}}</ref> or even a photonic energy shield designed to mimic a vibranium matrix.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Waid, Mark|penciller= [[Andy Kubert|Kubert, Andy]]|inker= [[Jesse Delperdang|Delperdang, Jesse]]|story= American Nightmare, Chapter One: The Bite of Madness!|title= Captain America|volume= 3|issue= 9|date= September 1998}}</ref> Rogers, having relinquished his regular shield to Barnes, carried a variant of the energy shield which can be used with either arm, and used to either block attacks or as an improvised offensive weapon able to cut through metal with relative ease.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= Eaglesham, Dale|inker= Eaglesham, Dale|story= In 1940, the first Professor Erskine created what became&nbsp;... |title= Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier|issue= 4|date= December 2010}}</ref> Much like his vibranium shield, the energy shield can be thrown, including ricocheting off multiple surfaces and returning to his hand.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= McCann, Jim|penciller= Diaz, Paco; [[Nick Dragotta|Dragotta, Nick]]|inker= Diaz, Paco; Dragotta, Nick|story= Off-Target!|title= Hawkeye: Blindspot|issue= 2|date= May 2011}}</ref>
 
 
Captain America's uniform is made of a fire-retardant material, and he wears a lightweight, bulletproof "duralumin" [[Mail (armour)|scale armor]] beneath his uniform for added protection.<ref name="stern origin"/> Originally, Rogers' mask was a separate piece of material, but an early engagement had it dislodged, thus almost exposing his identity. To prevent a recurrence of the situation, Rogers modified the mask with connecting material to his uniform, an added benefit of which was extending his armor to cover his previously exposed neck. As a member of the Avengers, Rogers has an Avengers priority card, which serves as a communications device.
 
 
Captain America has used a custom specialized motorcycle, modified by the [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] weapons laboratory, as well as a custom-built battle van, constructed by the [[Wakanda (comics)|Wakanda]] Design Group with the ability to change its color for disguise purposes (red, white and blue), and fitted to store and conceal the custom motorcycle in its rear section with a frame that allows Rogers to launch from the vehicle riding it.
 
 
==Enemies==
 
{{Main|List of Captain America enemies}}
 
Captain America has faced numerous foes in over 70 years of published adventures. Many of his recurring foes embody ideals contrary to the American values Captain America is shown to strive for and believe. Some examples of these opposing values are Nazism ([[Red Skull]], [[Baron Zemo]]), [[Neo-Nazism]] ([[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]], [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Doctor Faustus]]), technocratic fascism ([[Advanced Idea Mechanics|AIM]], [[Arnim Zola]]), Communism ([[Aleksander Lukin]]), anarchism ([[Flag Smasher]]), and international and domestic terrorism ([[HYDRA]]).
 
 
==Other versions==
 
{{Main|Alternative versions of Captain America}}
 
 
==In other media==
 
{{Main|Captain America in other media}}
 
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist|3}}
 
 
==External links==
 
{{commons category}}
 
{{wikiquote}}
 
{{Portal|Superhero fiction|United States|Comics}}
 
 
* {{Cite web | last=Gladstone | first=Brooke | url=http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/03/09/07 | title= Death to America | publisher=Transcript and streaming audio; [[Ed Brubaker]] and [[Joe Simon]] interviewed|work=[[On the Media]]|date=March 9, 2007 | accessdate=July 27, 2007|archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20110615000000*/http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/03/09/07|archivedate=May 10, 2009 |deadurl=no}}
 
* {{Cite web | last=Powell | first=Matt | url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/003800596.cfm | work=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | date=March 7, 2007 | title=Captain America Remembered | accessdate=July 27, 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070309130111/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/003800596.cfm|archivedate=March 9, 2007}}
 
* [http://www.captainamericalibrary.com/ Captain America Library] (fan site). [http://web.archive.org/web/20110708115149/http://www.captainamericalibrary.com/superhero-library/captain-america/captain-america-home-page.aspx Archived] from the original on July 8, 2011.
 
{{marvelwiki}}
 
* {{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=208|title=Captain America (Steve Rogers)}}
 
* [http://comicbookimagesgallery.com/tags/captain%20america Captain America cover gallery]
 
 
{{Captain America}}
 
{{Avengers}}
 
{{Invaders}}
 
{{S.H.I.E.L.D.}}
 
{{Secret Avengers}}
 
{{Uncanny Avengers}}
 
{{Weapon Plus}}
 
{{Howling Commandos}}
 
{{GoldenAge}}
 
{{Jack Kirby}}
 
 
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1941]]
 
[[Category:Captain America| ]]
 
[[Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby]]
 
[[Category:Characters created by Joe Simon]]
 
[[Category:Comics adapted into films]]
 
[[Category:Fictional characters from New York City]]
 
[[Category:Fictional cryonically preserved characters]]
 
[[Category:Fictional American people of Irish descent]]
 
[[Category:Fictional artists]]
 
[[Category:Fictional secret agents and spies]]
 
[[Category:Fictional special forces personnel]]
 
[[Category:Fictional super soldiers]]
 
[[Category:Fictional World War II veterans]]
 
[[Category:Film characters]]
 
[[Category:Golden Age superheroes]]
 
[[Category:Marvel Cinematic Universe characters]]
 
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing]]
 
[[Category:Marvel Comics martial artists]]
 
[[Category:Marvel Comics mutates]]
 
[[Category:Marvel Comics titles]]
 
[[Category:National personifications in comic books]]
 
[[Category:Timely Comics characters]]
 
[[Category:United States-themed superheroes]]
 
 
{{Link FA|hu}}
 

Latest revision as of 13:13, 26 May 2018

File:Captain america.jpg

Background

Captain America was an American comics character created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941; scrawny Steve Rogers was determined to serve his country despite being repeatedly rejected by the Army, and volunteered for a top secret experiment which transformed him into the USA's first super soldier! He had a lengthy career during the Golden Age of American comic books. Resurrected by Stan Lee in the pages of the Avengers in 1964 (having supposedly spent the intervening years frozen in an iceberg), he soon became a mainstay of the Marvel Comics universe battling foes such as the Red Skull, and was incorporated into the Marvel UK line initially as a member of the Avengers before his solo exploits began to be reprinted in titles such as The Titans and Super Spider-Man. He has also teamed up with Captain Britain (Brian Braddock).

Solo Title

Captain America was a 32 page weekly title launched by 'Marvel UK on 25 February 1981, featuring American Marvel reprints starring Captain America himself, plus Iron Man, the Defenders and Dazzler. From #21, it incorporated the short lived weekly Marvel Action, with the Defenders being replaced by the Fantastic Four, and with #37 it incorporated Marvel Super Adventure, and changed to a new format with a glossy cover rather than the original newsprint, and eight colour pages (including covers and centre pages). The centrefold was sometimes given over to a pull out poster. The title lasted 59 issues, to the 3rd of April 1982, and there was also a 52 page Captain America Summer Special issued in 1981. The first two issues included free gifts of superhero stickers, while issue 37 gave away a free Captain Britain mask. Marvel UK and Grandreams also issued a hardback Captain America Collectors Edition (in the same format as their usual annuals) in 1981, featuring reprints of classic Captain America stories drawn by artist Jim Steranko.

A previous 28 page Captain America reprint title was published in 1954 by L.Miller & Son, though this seems to have only lasted one issue.