Alternate versions of Captain America
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In addition to his mainstream incarnations, Captain America has also been depicted in other fictional universes.
[edit] Modern continuity
- Steve Rogers - The scrawny Army reject was given the Super-Soldier serum, becoming the first and only complete success for Project:Rebirth, and the first and most well-known to be called Captain America.
- Spirit of '76 - After Steven Rogers went MIA and was presumed dead, William Naslund, on appointment by U.S. President Harry S. Truman became the next Captain America.[1] Editorially the story was considered as canon to repair Marvel's conflicting accounts of Captain America in 1950s and 1960s.[2]
- Patriot - Following the death of William Naslund, Jeffrey Mace assumes the identity of Captain America.
- Grand Director - After the retirement of Jeffrey Mace, an unnamed college professor assumes the identity of Steven Rogers and in response to the threat of a Communist Red Skull, the identity of Captain America.[3]. The character along with his Bucky would battle communism throughout the 1950s.
- Bob Russo, "Scar" Turpin and Roscoe,[4] wore the star-spangled costume, while Steven Rogers assumed a mantle as Nomad.
- John Walker- After Steven Rogers was stripped of his role as Captain America by the U.S. Government, John Walker, formerly the Super-Patriot, was appointed the new Captain America.[5].
- Sam Wilson - The former partner of Steve Rogers briefly assumed the mantle of Captain America early in his career.[6]
- James Buchanan Barnes - Following the death of Steven Rogers, James Buchanan Barnes, former sidekick to the original Captain America, assumes the mantle of his mentor.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] 1602
The Marvel 1602 limited series presents an alternate history, Earth-311, in which a Captain America from the 20th century is transported to the year 1602, where he assumes the identity of "Rojhaz", a white (and presumed Welsh) Native American. His arrival causes numerous alterations in reality, causing analogues of various Marvel Universe characters to appear in the 17th century instead. Rogers refuses to return to the future because he wants to nurture a new United States free of prejudice from its very beginnings, but the 1602 version of Nick Fury forces him to return, accompanying him on the journey.
[edit] Captain Colonies
A member of the Captain Britain Corps, Captain Colonies (Stephen Rogers)[7] appears in Excalibur vol. 1 #44.
[edit] Bullet Points
The five issue limited series Bullet Points, written by J. Michael Straczynski and illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards, tells of an alternate reality in which Doctor Erskine is killed the day before implementing the Captain America program. Steve Rogers, still frail, volunteers for the 'Iron Man' program, which bonds him to a robotic weapons-suit. He uses this to achieve victories against the Nazis on many fronts. He is eventually killed by Peter Parker, who is the Hulk of the reality.
[edit] Earth X
In the 1999 Earth X series, in a post-apocalyptic alternate present, Captain America is a war-worn hero, with a shaven head, a ragged United States flag for a top and an A-shaped scar on his face, but still holding on to his shield. In the Universe X: Cap one-shot comic, he sacrificed himself to save the reborn Captain Mar-Vell. He later transformed into an angel of sorts, blue skin, a white star on his chest, an "A" shape on his face, a U.S. flag draped around him, and a blade of light from his right arm.
[edit] Elseworlds
Captain America and his sidekick Bucky star in Batman and Captain America, a title that appeared in the DC Comics Elseworlds series. The story is set in an alternate World War II, with Captain America and Bucky meeting Batman and Robin in the course of a mission and working together as a result. The two heroes' principal arch-villains the Red Skull and The Joker also work together, in a Nazi plot to steal the American Fat Man atomic bomb, though when the Joker realizes that the Skull is actually a Nazi he double-crosses him and causes the atomic bomb to be detonated off-target, killing the two villains. In an epilogue set approximately twenty years later Dick Grayson, who is now the new Batman, with retired Bruce Wayne's son Bruce Jr. as Robin, discovers Captain America frozen in an iceberg in the ocean several decades after the war. When thawed out by Batman and Robin, Captain America, though aggrieved by the death of Bucky in their final adventure (the same as in the main Marvel storyline), decides to again fight in the name of justice.
[edit] House of M
In the altered world of the House of M, Steve Rogers lived through World War II and the years afterward, not frozen in suspended animation. Rogers became an astronaut and was the first man to walk on the moon in 1956. As a result of not going into suspended animation, Rogers is said as being nearly 100 years old during the House of M, by Emma Frost, and thus his Earth-616 memories are not reactivated, unlike the other heroes. This spared him from a severe mental shock.
[edit] Last Avengers Story
Appalled at the American government after the "Villain Massacre", Captain America left his life as a superhero and ran for President instead. His presidency was a large success, but he was shockingly shot and seemingly killed in his third term, causing the other heroes to lose faith. However, Cap was not dead, but placed in suspended animation in a secret location until the technology to heal him could be developed. With a sophisticated series of computer monitors, Captain America watched his friends win their final battle and recorded it for historical purposes.[citation needed]
[edit] Marvel Mangaverse
In the Marvel Mangaverse reality, the original Captain America is decapitated and killed by Doctor Doom, but Carol Danvers assumes the identity. This is done mostly out of a desire of self-defense, but she is encouraged to keep it for the forseeable future by Sharon Carter. The original Mangaverse Captain America is both the leader of the Avengers and the President of the United States. His costume gives him the power to generate and manipulate energy shields.
[edit] Marvel Zombies
In the 2005-2006 miniseries Marvel Zombies, and the follow-up 2007 Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness, Captain America is known as Colonel America, and he has served as President of the United States. He is among the superheroes turned into zombies and uses his knowledge to raid secret government bunkers for people to eat. He is seemingly killed by a zombie Red Skull, who scoops his brains out shortly before he is destroyed by Spider-Man. However, as formerly solicited Marvel Zombies 2; he appears on the solicited cover to the first issue.[8] As his intellect was partly retained in the remaining portion of his brain, he was transplanted into Black Panther's son's dead body. The transplant is successful, but the resulting brain damage turns Colonel America into a battle crazed zombie, manageable but unable to focus on anything that's not related to war and battle.[9]
In Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness, a reference is made to the Ultimate Captain's famous line, "Do you think this letter on my head stands for France?", wherein the Zombified Colonel saluted, pointing to his 'A', and called out "Bon Appetit!" to a fleeing Spider-Man.
[edit] MC2
In the alternate reality MC2 universe, Captain America leads the original Avengers on a mission to yet another alternate reality, which claims the majority of the team. He stays behind to aid the rebels in that reality, thus adding to the list of the dead / missing in action. The next iteration of MC2 Avengers aids him in A-Next #10-11, at the end of which he gives American Dream the shield that had belonged to that universe's Captain America. Captain America and Thunderstrike return to their home universe to aid in the fight against Seth in Spider-Girl #59.
In the 2005 limited series Last Hero Standing, the MC2 Captain America is fatally injured leading a group of young heroes in battle against the Norse god Loki. Thor uses his power to transform Captain America into a new star. In the sequel, Last Planet Standing, Galactus states that this new star is the key to his escaping his world-devouring hunger.
[edit] Mutant X
In the Mutant X universe, a mutant succeeds Rogers as Captain America, joining Havok's team of superheroes, "The Six", in order to protect mutants from a deranged Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. He has powerful energy manipulating abilities which manifest when America is threatened. He is killed by the Beyonder.
[edit] Spider-Ham
In the Spider-Ham comic books, the funny animal version of Captain America is Steve Mouser, an anthropomorphic cat who works for the Daily Beagle and is also secretly Captain Americat.[10]
[edit] Truth: Red, White & Black
In the 2003 limited series Truth: Red White and Black, black soldiers act as test subjects for the WWII Super Soldier program of 1942. Most of the subjects die, or become deformed with the exception of one, Isaiah Bradley. Isaiah substitutes for Captain America on an assignment, discovering Jewish concentration camp detainees subjected to experiments.
In Captain America vol. 4, #28, an Isaiah Bradley from an alternate Earth became Captain America and never married. Later, he is elected president and serves two terms. He travels back in time, accidentally crossing to Earth-616, and bringing the mainstream Captain America and Rebecca Quan forward into his own time to prevent his daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Barnes, from traveling to Earth-616.[11]
[edit] Ultimate Captain America
The Ultimate Marvel Universe version of Captain America was created by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch based on the original character. He makes his first appearance in Ultimates #1.
In the Ultimate universe, Steve Rogers is a frail volunteer who undergoes months of steroid treatment, surgery, and the Super-Soldier formula to become Captain America. Bucky is a childhood friend who follows him on his missions as a photographer rather than as a costumed sidekick. Rogers' last mission as Captain America sends him to a Nazi stronghold on the coast of Iceland to stop a prototype hydrogen bomb created using alien technology. He causes the rocket carrying the bomb to explode and falls into the freezing Arctic Ocean. Rogers falls into a state of suspended animation until Tony Stark's deep sea exploration team pulls him out of the water 57 years later. Bucky survives the war, and, thinking that Rogers had been killed in action, marries Rogers' fiancée Gail.[12]
The Ultimate universe Captain America is more politically and morally conservative than his mainstream Marvel universe counterpart and is more prone to violent solutions, frequently using small arms and explosives. His costume is mostly the same, except that his mask lacks the traditional wings on the side of his head and that it has a chinstrap. His shoulders sport American star emblems, and his gloves and boots are laced. The mask was modified into a helmet as of Ultimates 2.
Rogers becomes one of the first members and field commander of the superhuman team the Ultimates, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s answer to posthuman terrorism. He tries to adjust to life in the 21st century, although he longs for older times and values, spending much time with Bucky and Gail (now senior citizens) and going to WWII veterans' reunions. Rogers wears a kevlar uniform and carries a shield of pure adamantium. He also dates Janet van Dyne, the Wasp, the estranged wife of former team member Henry Pym.[13]
A year later, it appears that Captain America repeatedly betrays the team, and S.H.I.E.L.D. places him in custody. The Black Widow is revealed as the traitor, aiding a coalition of countries invading America. When these invaders, who call themselves The Liberators appear to have defeated all American superheroes and effectively America itself, the Wasp frees him from his cell and they join the other few heroes as a resistance. After a pitched one-on-one battle with the Liberators' leader, Rogers kills him with his own weapon.[14]
Rogers is also a very highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant. In addition, his strength and recuperative abilities are remarkable, he has been shown biceps-curling 545 lb.[15] In the Ultimate Universe, Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk as a result of his experiments to recreate the Super-Soldier serum. Despite the Hulk being one of the strongest characters in the Ultimate Universe, Rogers takes on the Hulk in hand-to-hand combat, knocking him down momentarily. Rogers also defeats Henry Pym in melee combat while Pym is in his almost 60-foot tall Giant Man form, in retaliation for Pym having beaten the Wasp during a domestic dispute.[16] In Ultimates #6, he states that several broken bones and a dislocated shoulder are "nothing that shouldn't fix itself up in a day or two". Scientists in the Ultimate universe attribute his military genius to the enhancing effects of the super-soldier serum. He defeats the Schizoid Man by defeating him and his copies faster than he could multiply. During ultimate War he successfully takes down Wolverine. During Ultimate Six he fights and beats the Green Goblin in combat.
The Ultimate Six, and several heroes and villains, are the results of trying to recreate or replace the original formula.
[edit] Weapon X: Days of Future Now
In this reality, Cap, like most other non-mutant superheroes, has retired to the moon. Magneto hatches a plan to recruit these lost heroes in a large show of solidarity against the Sentinels and Weapon X. However, Magneto's true intention is to sacrifice the lives of the human heroes, thereby shocking the country into action against anti-mutant sentiment.
[edit] What If...?
A What If (comics), Was published starring Captain America, featuring a continuum where Captain America was made during the American Civil War. His name is still Steve Rogers.
Captain America is a corporal attached to a Northern force called the Redlegs, and led by Colonel Buck Barnes, called Bucky by his troops. Captain America's first mission was supposed to be against soldiers, but he was led against civilians, and refused to harm them. He hid in a barn, and got stabbed in the leg by Southern children with a pitch fork, but still refused to harm them. Bucky ordered him to execute the Southerners and he refused, trying to shoot Bucky unsuccessfully.
Bucky was about to kill Steve Rogers, but Rogers was saved by an eagle, who was shown watching the massacre earlier. Steve managed to get the children onto the colonel's horse, but got shot by Bucky before being dragged off by two runaway horses. While unconscious, Steve Rogers had a dream of We-pi-ahk the Eagle-Chief, he woke up to a black man, Private Wilson, in a Northern uniform, and was brought back to an Indian reserve. Steve Rogers seems to have given up on life after the massacre he saw, professing that "After what I saw today, I... I don't even care which side wins. Blue, Gray... It's all the same. We're all going to Hell by the time this is over." The doctor said he'd be dead by morning.
Wilson starts a ceremony with Steve because he was the man that We-pi-ahk led him to find, the one that would bring union to all people. During the ceremony Bucky comes to the reserve, and demands "the traitor," referring to Steve Rogers. The ceremony was to make Steve Rogers "as you are on the inside, so shall you become on the outside." Bucky kicked in the door at that moment, and saw We-pi-ahk as well, and became as he was on the inside as well. He now has nothing but a skull for a head.
Bucky ordered his men to open fire and kill everyone in the camp. Wilson rushed at Bucky, exclaiming him a murderer, and was shot quickly by Bucky. It is hinted that all the Indians were massacred. A streaking light blew away a group of Redlegs, from an unknown source. There appeared Steve Rogers as Captain America. He had no shirt, only tattered pants and boots, and an Indian headdress, but later he would be shown in union uniform plus headdress and shield. His shield had a rough eagle design on it, the eagle was white, the background that the eagle was on was black, and the border was gold. It has long feathers hanging down from it.
Bucky attempted to shoot him, but his bullets were deflected by Captain America using his shield. Captain America said he felt no animosity towards Bucky, only pity. When he threw his shield to stop Bucky, it turned into a golden eagle spirit. While it did not seem to act upon its own will, it did fly back and perch on Captain America's arm, before turning back into the shield.
As a side effect of Captain America's involvement, the Civil War ended earlier than in our history, and Lincoln was never assassinated. He helped the South rebuild after the war, and suppressed the rise of the K.K.K. As a representative of the Indian people, he was able to prevent the Indian wars of 1870. Sadly, Buck Barnes, the White Skull was not done, and reformed a group even more dangerous than the K.K.K. The descendants of both would continue fighting each other up to the present in this alternate universe.
[edit] Super-Soldier
- Amalgam Comics, an imprint created by a cooperative effort of both DC Comics and Marvel Comics which focused on a hybrid of the Marvel and DC universes, featured Super-Soldier, a character presented as a combination of Captain America and Superman. The character dresses in a costume closely resembling the common Captain America costume, but with exposed hair and a shield resembling Superman's 'S' insignia. In this reality, the Super-soldier serum is derived from the DNA of a Kyptonian corpse and is activated with solar radiation, and is used on Clark Kent. Super-Soldier's powers more closely resemble those of Superman, and are actually superhuman.
[edit] Non-Marvel
- NOW Comics had a Captain America inspired character called The Yankee Commando meet the original, 1940s Green Hornet and Kato in the mini-series The Sting of the Green Hornet.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ What If #4 (Aug. 1977)
- ^ Captain America Annual #6, Captain America vol. 1 #285 (Sept. 1983)
- ^ ^ Captain America vol. 1 #155
- ^ Captain America #176-#183 (Aug. 1974 - March 1975)
- ^ Captain America #333
- ^ Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8-9 (April - May, 1999)
- ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z vol. #2 (May 2008)
- ^ Marvel.com: Marvel Zombies 2 #1
- ^ Marvel Zombies 2 #3 (2007)
- ^ Information about Captain Americat at Marvel.com.
- ^ Isaiah Bradley
- ^ Ultimates #1-#3, Mar.-May 2002.
- ^ Ultimates 2 #1, Feb. 2005
- ^ Ultimates 2 #7 onwards, Jul. 2005-present.
- ^ Ultimates 2 #4
- ^ Ultimates #9, April 2003
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