A Brief History Of All The Men To Ever Suit Up As Captain America

 Captain America I – Steve Rogers

The original and greatest Cap should need no introduction, but just in case: Rogers was a young man who longed to serve his country after it got drawn into World War II but was unable to do so thanks to his physical shortcomings. That changed once he was subjected to the Super Solider Serum and some stabilizing vita-rays, instantly elevating him to peak levels of human strength, endurance and athleticism decades before the idea of “performance-enhancing drugs” was a thing.

Once the government came up with the Captain America identity, Rogers and his partner James “Bucky” Barnes took the fight directly to the Nazis overseas, using his legendary indestructible shield as both a defensive and offensive weapon. He teamed with Namor, the Sub-Mariner, the original android Human Torch and other wartime heroes as the Invaders and also somehow managed to find time to fight crime at home as well. But one of his most famous battles came during the latter stages of the war, when he tried to capture the fleeing Baron Zemo. The villain’s experimental plane exploded, seemingly killing Barnes (though he survived) and plunging Rogers into an icy suspended animation.

Rogers was found and revived decades later by the founding members of the Avengers, and he went on to have one of the most legendary careers of any super hero. He’s led the Avengers on numerous occasions, served as field leader for all kinds of hero team-ups thanks to his keen tactical mind and unparalleled leadership skills, and even proved worthy of lifting Thor’s hammer during an emergency situation. His hand-to-hand combat skills are almost unmatched, and his skill with his shield can help tip the scales in his favor during times when he finds himself outclassed or vastly outnumbered.

Though he’s lost his powers multiple times, been turned into a werewolf, shot with a special gun that flung him backward through time and even given up the title of Captain America several times due to disagreements with the government, Rogers always manages to return to the role he’s made so famous. Smart money says that will always be true.