PROFILE: Captain America
When Captain America throws his mighty shield, All those who chose to oppose his shield must yield. If he's led to a fight and a duel is due, Then the red and the white and the blue'll come through. When Captain America throws his mighty shield.
Today, I thought we'd talk about our country's greatest hero - Captain America!
Captain America started his illustrious career in the comic books in 1941 by Marvel legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Published under Timely Comics (which would eventually become Marvel Comics), Captain America was created as a true patriot who battled the Axis forces during World War II. And he quickly became the comic book company's most popular hero throughout the war.
Captain America is Steve Rogers, a sickly young man who becomes part of a government experiment to be given a Super Serum. Rogers evolves into a super strong being, but the inventor of the serum is shot and is lost to the world after that. Donning an indestructible shield and a red, white and blue uniform, Captain America fought for the interests of the United States of America.
Sadly, by the 1950s, the popularity of superheroes waned and Captain America was cancelled, although they did try to revive him a couple of times as a "Commie Smasher."
It wasn't until 1964 in Avengers #4 that Captain America would make his triumphant return. The comic explained that, at the end of World War II, Captain America had fallen in a drone plane in the middle of the North Atlantic and was frozen in a block of ice until the Avengers found him.
Cap has been an active member and often leader of the Avengers since and is featured in his own comic book today.
In terms of other media, Captain America had a hard time taking off. In 1966, Captain America had his own cartoon shorts as part of The Marvel Super Heroes. In 1979, he was featured in two made for television movies that really didn't highlight who Captain America really was.
But, it wasn't until Marvel Studios released Captain America: The First Avenger did the super patriot really become a household name. In Captain America: The First Avenger, we see Captain America's origin story which is told fairly faithfully from his days as a frail young man wanted to serve who was given the Super Serum to turn him into the hero he is today. It follows his career during World War II up until the time when he has to crash the ship into the North Atlantic Ocean, trapping him into a block of ice to eventually be rescued by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Marvel's Avengers we see Captain America become part of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s super team. During an alien invasion, Cap steps up as the natural leader he is to defeat the enemy.
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, things get darker for our hero. It turns out that Cap's best friend Bucky Barnes is still alive and had been brainwashed into becoming an assassin by Hydra. How does Captain America fight the guy he'd go to the end of the line with?
In Captain America: Civil War, we see Captain America struggling against a world wanting to take control of the Avengers while, at the same time, protecting his best friend who is being sought for a bombing of the United Nations. The Avengers are split down the middle of government regulation or not with Iron Man taking the pro side. In the end, Captain America decides to take things into his own hands and becomes a fugitive.
Avengers: Infinity War sees the return of Captain America after doing things in stealth with Black Widow and the Falcon. By this time, an invasion of the type we've never seen before by the mad Titan Thanos and his forces. Captain America goes to Wakanda remove the mind stone from the Vision to protect it from Thanos. It is here that a great battle takes place before Thanos gets all the Infinity Stones, snaps his fingers and eradicates half the life in the universe.
In Avengers: Endgame, we see Captain America doing what he can do in a post-snap world, including leading support groups. When Ant-Man returns from the Quantum Realm, they find hope in the thought that they can use the Quantum Realm to travel through time to obtain the Infinity Stones and bring life back to the universe. After a long, strenuous battle with Thanos's forces, the heroes ultimately win. Captain America goes to return the Infinity Stones, but does not return. It turns out he stayed in the 1940s to be with Peggy Carter. He appears as an old man who's lived his life and retired his shield which he gives to Sam Wilson, the Falcon.
Captain America will be an enduring hero that people will love forever.