The Wellington Comic Lover's Guide to... Captain America

By Gus

The star-spangled man with a plan... to help you read his adventures! It’s the Wellington Comic Lover’s Guide to Captain America!

[Video via the Marvel Entertainment Youtube channel]

Who is Captain America?

As America entered the Second World War, the scrawny but determined recruit Steve Rogers is selected for a top-secret experiment and is transformed into the perfect super-soldier. Rogers fought valiantly for the Allies until plunging into the Arctic Ocean on a mission, disappearing from history. Frozen in hibernation until being discovered by the Avengers in the modern day, Rogers returned to don his red-white-and-blue costume and mighty shield to defend the United States and the world as Captain America.

Recently, Cap’s ally Sam Wilson, the high-flying hero The Falcon, took over for Steve as Captain America, and now the two share the role.

The First Avenger -

Originally appearing in the 1940s, Captain America was revived as a member of The Avengers in their fourth issue. Since then, he has led the team through thick and thin, from the team’s dwindling to four members (The Avengers: Four) to their peak as a world-spanning army against the time-travelling Kang the Conqueror (The Kang Dynasty).

In his own series, Cap fought fascist villains like the Red Skull and Hydra, as well as patriotic extremists like Super-Patriot and the Americop (Fighting Chance: Denial).

Early Captain America adventures

Civil War

In response to a demand for superhero accountability, a Superhuman Registration Act passes that requires superhumans to register with the American government. Captain America opposes the Act, leading to a superhero Civil War between him and the Act’s main proponent, Iron Man. Shortly after surrendering, Cap was assassinated, leading to a search for a new Captain.

Bucky Barnes, Captain America

James Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes was Captain America’s sidekick during World War II, tasked with covert missions that Cap couldn’t be seen doing as a representative of America. Bucky seemingly died in the war, but was secretly recovered and turned into a brainwashed assassin by Russian agents. Dubbed ‘The Winter Soldier’, Bucky returned in the present day to menace the Captain, before becoming Cap’s ally again. After Steve was assassinated at the end of Civil War, Bucky replaced him for a time.

Return of Captain America

Steve Rogers eventually returned to life and took back his old shield and mantle, facing off against old foes like Hydra and the Serpent Society.

Marvel NOW!

The Marvel NOW! Captain America series had Captain America exiled to the mysterious Dimension Z, combat the rogue super-soldier Nuke, and eventually lose his powers, aging into an old man in the process. At this point, Sam Wilson took up the shield as an All-New Captain America.

Two Captains

Two Captain America series were then published simultaneously, one following Steve and one following Sam. Steve Rogers seemingly returned to health and full power but had actually been brainwashed by Hydra and was secretly planning a takeover of America. Meanwhile, Sam Wilson became a Captain for the common man, taking on police brutality and mass surveillance alongside allies like detective Misty Knight, the masked vigilante Rage, and a new human-bird hybrid Falcon.

Captain America: Sam Wilson

Captain America: Steve Rogers

Secret Empire

The culmination of these two Captain America series was Secret Empire, where the Hydra-brainwashed Steve lead a coup against the United States and took over as its ruler. Most heroes were forced underground and became a resistance, while others believed Steve was sincere in his goals and joined his side.

Steve then goes soul-searching across America and tries to make amends for his actions as a HYDRA agent, encountering a new militia movement called Rampart.

Steve Rogers, Captain of Nothing

Lauded writer for The Atlantic and Black Panther Ta-Nehesi Coates began writing Captain America next, where he sets Steve Rogers up against the mysterious Power Elite, a secret trust determined to restore America to greatness after Hydra’s takeover.

United States of Captain America

Cap’s iconic shield goes missing, leading Steve and Sam on a cross-country tour to find it. Along the way, they meet new heroes who have been inspired to become a Captain for their own communities, forming a Captains Network. Introduced here are the train-hopping Captain America of the Railways, a Campus Captain who defends the less-privileged in her university, and an indigenous Captain America of the Kickapoo Tribe.

Cold War

The Captain America series splits in two again and then culminates in the Cold War crossover. In Sentinel of Liberty, Steve fights a new terrorist cell called The Outer Circle, while in Symbol of Truth, Sam faces off against the Wakandan rogue agent White Wolf.

Stand -

With Sam representing Captain America on the Avengers, Steve spends his time aiding other Marvel heroes including Spider-Man and super-detective Misty Knight, before encountering the new villain, the Emissary.

Captain America’s Teams

Steve Rogers has lead just about every version of the Avengers, including the clandestine Secret Avengers and the mutant-allied Uncanny Avengers.

Steve Rogers in the Avengers

Avengers vs. X-Men is also available in Te Reo Maori as Te pakanga a Ngāti Rānaki me Te Ranga-Tipua. Steve Rogers is called Kapene Amerika, while the Falcon is Karearea.

Sam Wilson in the Avengers

Sam Wilson joined the Avengers soon after taking up the shield, and is on the current team, which operates out of an abandoned floating alien city.

The Invaders

The Invaders were Captain America’s team during World War II, which included Bucky, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the android Human Torch. Since all members survived to the modern day, they occasionally reunite to fight against militant-minded threats.

More Captain America series

Captain America's Allies -

Captain America has inspired his share of patriotic heroes in the Marvel Universe. Here is a list of their adventures:

Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier

Since recovering in the modern day, Bucky continues operating as the Winter Solider, working alongside other heroes like Black Widow, Hawkeye, The Wasp, and the most recent version of the Thunderbolts.

The Falcon

Before he was Captain America, Sam Wilson was the Falcon, a hero with specially made wings allowing him to fly, and the ability to command and see through the eyes of birds.

Sam’s trusty pet falcon Redwing is also a member of the Pet Avengers.

U.S.Agent

John Walker is an army veteran with a more conservative view on patriotism than Steve, and he even briefly replaced him as Captain America. Now going by U.S.Agent, John’s allegiances will waver, but his faith in his country never will.

Patriot

Elijah Bradley is the grandson of Isaiah Bradley, a Black soldier who was the first to receive the Super-Soldier Serum before Steve Rogers. While Elijah didn’t inherit his grandfather’s powers, he upholds his family’s legacy as the star-spangled hero Patriot, leading the original Young Avengers before retiring. However, a mysterious double of Patriot appears in the most recent Young Avengers series as an antagonist.

Later on, a new Patriot, Rayshaun Lucas, appeared during Secret Empire, and became the sidekick to the Falcon.

Captain Britain

Across the pond, the aristocrat Brian Braddock was chosen by the wizard Merlyn to become the United Kingdom’s magical defender, Captain Britain. Brian would later pass his role to his twin sister Betsy, formerly the mutant hero Psylocke.

For more adventures of Betsy Braddock as Captain Britain, check out the Excalibur series, listed in our Krakoa era X-Men blog.

The Britannia Project, an entire team of heroes representing the United Kingdom’s territories, would assemble during the King in Black crossover.

Red Guardian

Russia's answer to Captain America is Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian. He is a member of Russia's super-team the Winter Guard, and recently worked alongside Bucky and U.S.Agent on the Thunderbolts.

Captain Carter

In a world where Steve Rogers was assassinated before he could take the Super Soldier serum, Peggy Carter became Captain America instead. Carter fought on the American homefront alongside her sidekick, Sgt. Rebecca ‘Becky’ Barnes, before they both joined the multiverse-hopping Exiles.