On March 1941, comics legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby introduced the world to Captain America, their greatest creation and the most patriotic superhero of all time. Created for World War 2, Captain America made such an impact that he outlived the war he was made for.
In the decades since, Captain America went through many changes – and that’s not just counting Steve Rogers going from scrawny kid to the leader of the Marvel Comics universe. But while some things changed, other things stayed the same.
40 Captain America’s Movies & Shows Aren’t Bad Anymore
Like many Marvel heroes, Captain America was burdened by so-bad-they’re-good movies and shows prior to the MCU. These days, his movies are seen as some of the franchise’s best.
39 Captain America’s Shield Wasn’t Always Circular
Originally, Captain America’s star-spangled triangular shield looked exactly like The Shield’s costume (right). This was changed into a circular one in Issue 2, and this iconic redesign stuck ever since.
38 Captain America’s Uniform Became More Tactical
When he started, Captain America’s costume was the standard strongman costume. As the decades went by, his uniform gradually became more combat-ready while retaining the original’s colors and design.
37 The Super Soldier Serum’s Origins Kept Changing
The Super Soldier Serum’s benefits remain the same, though its specifics tend to change. Sometimes it’s an injection, other times it’s oral. At one point, it was retconned into an organism that affected its hosts in different ways, thus explaining Red Skull’s unique side-effects.
36 Captain America’s Power Levels Tend To Change
Depending on the writer, Captain America’s enhanced strength and endurance can increase or otherwise. Sometimes he’s a one-man army who can take on Thanos alone, other times he’s better as a team fighter.
35 Captain America Doesn’t Always Need The Serum
More than once, Captain America had the serum flushed out of his system. This didn’t stop him and in the ‘90s, he just trained harder than usual and even wore a Stark-made exoskeleton to compensate.
34 Captain America Can Age Now
The Super Soldier Serum kept Steve forever young for the longest time, but it wasn't permanent. In 2014, the serum lost its effectivity, and Steve aged 90 years in a matter of seconds.
33 Captain America Can Now Die
Before his post-Civil War assassination, Captain America dying was inconceivable. After dying to a sniper’s bullet, Steve eventually came back but only after spending some time in the afterlife.
32 Captain America’s Rogues Gallery Multiplied In Number & Stakes
Originally, Captain America fought wartime Nazis and superhumans. In later decades, this expanded in both scale and politics, with him facing embodiments of Nazism (Red Skull, Baron Zemo, etc.) and America’s worst impulses (Crossbones, Nuke, etc.).
31 Hydra Wasn’t The Only Evil Organization Captain America Opposed
As a Nazi off-shoot, Hydra has been synonymous to Captain America as his archenemies. But besides them, Captain America fought other evil groups like the cultish Serpent Society.
30 There Are Multiple Captain Americas In The Multiverse
Like every modern comic hero, Captain America has countless multiverse selves. Examples include his undead self in Marvel Zombies and his short-fused Ultimates version.
29 Captain America Earned DC Heroes’ Respect
Captain America is such a patriotic force of good that during DC/Marvel crossovers, he earned the respect of Superman, Batman and more (see: JLA/Avengers).
28 Captain America Wasn’t Always A Founding Avenger
Depending on the reboot, Captain America is sometimes a founder of the Avengers. The first time he joined them, though, he was first invited and made its leader after the fact.
27 Captain America Formed Different Iterations Of The Avengers
In big events, Captain America formed new versions of the Avengers. The arrival of his New Avengers, Secret Avengers, and others signaled the turn of the tide against a villain’s plan.
26 The Avengers Weren’t The Only Faction That Captain America Joined
The Avengers is Captain America’s most famous affiliation, but they’re far from the only one. Other groups he joined were the All-Winners Squad, the Invaders, Secret Defenders, and more.
25 Captain America's Icy Suspended Animation Entered Canon In 1964
If the ‘50s commie-smashing Captain America was a fake, the real one crashed and froze in the North Atlantic during the war. This first happened in 1964, and became his origin ever since.
24 Captain America Getting Thawed Out Changes Years
Depending on the reboot’s date, Captain America getting thawed out is prone to changing dates. The most notable ones are the original 1964 date and his Ultimates thawing, updated to 2002.
23 Captain America Became A Man Out Of Time Starting In 1964
Captain America being displaced from WW2 defined his entire character starting in the ‘60s. From then on, he was always conflicted about being a man from the past stuck in a strange future.
22 Captain America’s Memories Were Being Manipulated By The Cosmic Cube
Captain America’s recollection of WW2 and his last mission before freezing keep changing.
These inconsistencies were explained in Ed Brubaker’s run as being the Cosmic Cube’s doing, and Captain America uses it to restore The Winter Soldier's (aka Bucky) memories.
21 Captain America Lost Bucky For Decades
In 1948, Bucky was shot and killed in action. From then until his 2005 rebirth as The Winter Soldier, he stayed dead and only appeared in Captain America’s flashbacks to WW2.
20 Captain America Had Other Sidekicks Besides Bucky
After his death, Bucky was promptly replaced by Betsy Ross, the Golden Girl. After her, Free Spirit (left), Jack Flag (right), Nomad, Rick Jones, and others fought beside Captain America.
19 Captain America & Falcon Became An Inseparable Team
Captain America’s most famous post-Bucky sidekick is Sam Wilson, the Falcon. Sam is Marvel’s first African-American hero and Captain America’s longest-running sidekick. He eventually became the next Captain America.
18 Captain America’s Love Interest Wasn’t Always Peggy Carter
Today, Captain America is known for his love for Peggy Carter. Before the MCU popularized this pairing, Steve was in love with different women such as Bernice Rosenthal, Connie Ferrari (left), and Sharon Carter (right).
17 Steve Rogers Wasn’t A Public Figure Before 2002
Like every superhero before him, Captain America had a secret identity. This changed in 2002, when he revealed his name and face to show that he’s only human to a grieving post-September 11 America.
16 Steve Rogers Wasn’t Always Captain America
At one point, Steve abandoned the Captain America name. Following the Watergate scandal and disillusionment, Steve switched to being Nomad, the “man without a country.” He also adopted “The Captain” after he left a deeply corrupt US Army.
15 Steve Rogers Wasn’t The Only Captain America
When Steve was missing, the name of Captain America lived on. William Naslund (The Spirit Of ’76), Jeffery Mace (The Patriot) and Bucky all filled in his shoes for a while. The upcoming United Sates Of Captain America series will showcase even more new Captains.
14 Captain America Grew More Diverse Over Time
In a major step forward for representation, a few different Black men inherited Captain’s shield.
Sam and the Bradleys (Isaiah and Elijah) became Captain America, fighting for and against the America they know best.
13 The Role Of Captain America Was No Longer Limited To One Gender
Similarly, some of Marvel’s heroines got the chance to be their universe’s moral center. Danielle Cage, Misty Knight, and Peggy Carter (left to right) won’t be the last women to wield the star-spangled shield.
12 Steve Rogers’ Successors Weren’t Always Heroic
Captain America’s mantle didn’t always make it to heroic hands. William Burnside (the "commie smashing" Neo-Nazi; left) and John Walker (an unhinged patriot; right) took up the shield, but embodied America’s worst traits and tainted its legacy.
11 Captain America Became A Hydra Sleeper Agent In 2016
Captain America’s biggest modern controversy was being “Captain Hydra,” a Hydra plant who infiltrated SHIELD. This led to Secret Empire, where he was ousted as a fake by the real Steve.
10 Captain America Is No Longer Limited To Military Stories
Captain America’s original comics were then-topical WW2 missions. He still takes on military missions, but he also embarks on fantastical epics and contemporary conspiracy thrillers.
9 Captain America Isn’t Confined To World War 2 Anymore
Captain America was a product of his time, with WW2 being his primary setting. Today, WW2 informs his backstory while he struggles to live in a modern world.
8 Captain America Isn’t A Propaganda Character Anymore
Captain America was originally made for propaganda purposes but in the decades since, he outgrew this. Today, he’s a fully-developed hero who sometimes acknowledges his now-politically incorrect beginnings.
7 Captain America Had An Intensely Patriotic Phase In The ‘50s
In an ill-fated attempt to reboot him for the post-war decade, Captain America was recast as a “commie smasher.” This was poorly received and later retconned for his ‘60s revival.
6 Captain America Openly Defied The American Government
During his earliest issues, Captain America going against orders seemed unthinkable. These days, he frequently disobeys commands he knows to be unethical and immoral.
5 Captain America Got Arrested More Than Once
Because of the previous point, Captain America went to prison more than once. He’d break out to set thing right, but he still ended up in a position unthinkable in his Golden Age days.
4 Captain America Became The Marvel Universe’s Moral Compass
Where Captain America was a great soldier in WW2, he’s now the walking symbol of people’s best values and potentials. Heroes and villains alike look up to his example.
3 Captain America Embodies The American Dream, Not Its Reality
Captain America always symbolized America’s ideals, but this became more evident in the ‘70s and onwards. During America’s moral post-Vietnam crises, Captain America made it clear that he fights for what American can and should be, not what it currently is.
2 Joe Simon Regained Legal Claim Over Captain America In 2003
Due to Marvel’s work-for-hire clauses, Simon and Kirby were shut out from claiming credit and royalties for creating Captain America. Simon sued Marvel in 1966 and 1999, and settled out of court in 2003. Since then, Simon was credited in Captain America media and paid royalties.
1 Jack Kirby Was Credited As Captain America’s Co-Creator In 2014
When Disney acquired Marvel and announced plans for Captain America media, Kirby’s estate demanded royalties and recognition for his work. Though Marvel won, they settled out of court. Since then, Kirby was credited across MCU titles and his family got an undisclosed sum.