[2860 ms] {{Other uses}}
{{About|Steve Rogers|the subsequent versions of the character|List of incarnations of Captain America}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| image          = CaptainAmerica109.jpg
| converted      = y
| caption        = ''Captain America'' #109 (January 1969).<br />Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[Syd Shores]].
| alt            = Captain America bursting through a page of newspaper
| alter_ego      = Steven "Steve" Rogers
| publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut          = ''[[#Golden Age|Captain America Comics]]'' #1 (March 1941) 
| creators       = [[Joe Simon]]<br>[[Jack Kirby]]
| alliances      = {{Plain list | 
* [[All-Winners Squad]]
* [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]
* [[Uncanny Avengers|Avengers Unity Division]]
* [[Hydra (comics)|Hydra]]
* [[Illuminati (comics)|Illuminati]]
* [[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]
* [[Landau, Luckman, and Lake]]
* [[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]]
* [[Weapon Plus#Weapon I|Project: Rebirth]]
* [[Redeemers (comics)|Redeemers]]
* [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]
* [[Civil War (comics)|Secret Avengers]] (Civil War)
* [[Secret Avengers]]
* [[Secret Defenders]]
* [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]
}}
| aliases=[[Nomad (comics)|Nomad]], The Captain
| partners= {{Plain list | 
* [[Bucky|Bucky (James Barnes)]]
* [[Peggy Carter]]
* [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]] 
* [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]]
* [[Rick Jones (comics)|Bucky (Rick Jones)]]
* [[Jack Monroe (comics)|Nomad (Jack Monroe)]]
* [[Free Spirit (comics)|Free Spirit]] 
* [[Jack Flag]] 
* [[Demolition Man (comics)|Demolition Man]] 
* [[Rikki Barnes|Bucky (Rikki Barnes)]]
* [[Sharon Carter]]
}}
| supports       = <!--optional-->
| powers         =
*Enhanced physical attributes
*Skilled in armed and unarmed combat
*Expert tactician, strategist, and field commander
*Wields [[Captain America's shield|vibranium-steel alloy shield]]
| cat            = super
| subcat         = Marvel Comics
| hero           = y
| sortkey        = Captain America
}}

'''Captain America''' is a [[character (fiction)|fictional character]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Created by [[cartoonists]] [[Joe Simon]] and [[Jack Kirby]], the character [[First appearance|first appeared]] in ''[[#Golden Age|Captain America Comics]]'' #1 ([[cover date]]d March 1941) from [[Timely Comics]], a predecessor of Marvel Comics. Captain America was designed as a [[American patriotism|patriotic]] [[supersoldier]] who often fought the [[Axis powers]] of [[World War II]] and was Timely Comics' most popular character during the wartime period. The popularity of superheroes waned following the war and the ''Captain America'' comic book was discontinued in 1950, with a short-lived revival in 1953. Since Marvel Comics revived the character in 1964, Captain America has remained in publication.

The character wears a costume bearing an [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] [[motif (visual arts)|motif]], and he utilizes a [[Captain America's shield|nearly indestructible shield which he throws as a projectile]]. Captain America is the [[alter ego]] of '''Steve Rogers''', a frail young man enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum to aid the [[United States]] government's efforts in World War II. Near the end of the war, he was trapped in ice and survived in [[Cryopreservation|suspended animation]] until he was revived in the present day. Although Captain America often struggles to maintain his ideals as a man out of his time with its modern realities, he remains a highly respected figure in his community which includes becoming the long-time leader of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]].

Captain America was the first Marvel Comics character to appear in media outside comics with the release of the 1944 [[Serial (film)|movie serial]], ''[[Captain America (serial)|Captain America]]''. Since then, the character has been featured in [[Captain America in other media|other films and television series]]. In the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU), the character is portrayed by [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]] in ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]'', ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', ''[[Captain America: The Winter Soldier]]'', ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'', ''[[Captain America: Civil War]]'', ''[[Spider-Man: Homecoming]]'', and the upcoming ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018) and its [[Untitled Avengers film|untitled sequel]] (2019).

Captain America is ranked sixth on [[IGN]]'s "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time" in 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/6|title=IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes|date= 2011|publisher=IGN|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150630173526/http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/6|archivedate= June 30, 2015|deadurl= no|accessdate= July 9, 2015}}</ref> second in their list of "The Top 50 Avengers" in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ign.com/top/avengers/2|date= April 30, 2012 |title= The Top 50 Avengers|publisher=IGN|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20151129171205/http://www.ign.com/top/avengers/2|archivedate= November 29, 2015|deadurl= no|accessdate=July 28, 2015}}</ref> and second in their "Top 25 best Marvel superheroes" list in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2014/09/10/top-25-best-marvel-superheroes|title=Top 25 Best Marvel Superheroes|first1= Joshua|last1= Yehl|first2= Jeff|last2= Lake|date= September 10, 2014|publisher= IGN|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141031191046/http://m.ign.com/articles/2014/09/10/top-25-best-marvel-superheroes|archivedate= October 31, 2014|deadurl= no|accessdate= October 19, 2015}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Publication history==
{{further information|List of Captain America titles}}

===Creation===
In 1940, writer [[Joe Simon]] conceived the idea for Captain America and made a sketch of the character in costume.<ref>1974 [[Comic Art Convention]] program, cover</ref> "I wrote the name 'Super American' at the bottom of the page," Simon said in his autobiography, and then decided: 
{{quote|No, it didn't work. There were too many "Supers" around. "Captain America" had a good sound to it. There weren't a lot of captains in comics. It was as easy as that. The boy companion was simply named Bucky, after my friend Bucky Pierson, a star on our high school basketball team.<ref name=joesimonp50>{{Cite book |last= Simon|first= Joe|author2=Simon, Jim|title= The Comic Book Makers|publisher= Crestwood/II|year= 1990|page= 50|isbn= 978-1-887591-35-5}} Reissued by Vanguard Productions in 2003.</ref>}}

Simon recalled in his autobiography that [[Timely Comics]] publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]] gave him the go-ahead and directed that a Captain America solo comic book series be published as soon as possible. Needing to fill a full comic with primarily one character's stories, Simon did not believe that his regular creative partner, artist [[Jack Kirby]], could handle the workload alone:

{{quote|I didn't have a lot of objections to putting a crew on the first issue&nbsp;... There were two young artists from [[Connecticut]] that had made a strong impression on me. [[Al Avison]] and [[Al Gabriele]] often worked together and were quite successful in adapting their individual styles to each other. Actually, their work was not too far from [that of] Kirby's. If they worked on it, and if one inker tied the three styles together, I believed the final product would emerge as quite uniform. The two Als were eager to join in on the new ''Captain America'' book, but Jack Kirby was visibly upset. "You're still number one, Jack," I assured him. "It's just a matter of a quick deadline for the first issue."

"I'll make the deadline," Jack promised. "I'll pencil it [all] myself and make the deadline." I hadn't expected this kind of reaction&nbsp;... but I acceded to Kirby's wishes and, it turned out, was lucky that I did. There might have been two Als, but there was only one Jack Kirby ... I wrote the first ''Captain America'' book with penciled lettering right on the drawing boards, with very rough sketches for figures and backgrounds. Kirby did his thing, building the muscular anatomy, adding ideas and pepping up the action as only he could. Then he tightened up the penciled drawings, adding detailed backgrounds, faces and figures.<ref name=joesimonp50 />}}

[[File:1974ComicArtCon book.jpg|thumb|1974 [[Comic Art Convention]] program featuring Simon's original sketch of Captain America.]]
Al Liederman would ink that first issue, which was lettered by Simon and Kirby's regular letterer, Howard Ferguson.<ref>Simon, p. 51.</ref>

Simon said Captain America was a consciously political creation; he and Kirby were morally repulsed by the actions of [[Nazi Germany]] in the years leading up to the United States' involvement in [[World War II]] and felt war was inevitable: "The opponents to the war were all quite well organized. We wanted to have our say too."<ref name="Wright 36">{{Cite book |last= Wright| first= Bradford W.|title=Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America | publisher= [[Johns Hopkins University Press]]|year= 2001|location= Baltimore, Maryland|isbn= 978-0-8018-7450-5|page= 36}}</ref>

===Golden Age<!--'Captain America Comics' and 'Captain America's Weird Tales' redirect here-->===
'''''Captain America Comics'''''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> #1 — [[cover-date]]d March 1941<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/1313/ ''Captain America Comics'' #1] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> and on sale December 20, 1940,<ref>{{cite book|last = Evanier|first = Mark|authorlink = Mark Evanier|title = Kirby: King of Comics|publisher = [[Abrams Books]]|year = 2008|location= New York, New York|page = 50|isbn = 978-0-8109-9447-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Thomas|first= Roy|authorlink= Roy Thomas|last2=Sanderson|first2=Peter|authorlink2=Peter Sanderson|title= The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel|publisher= [[Running Press]]|year= 2007|location= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|page= 21|ISBN= 978-0-7624-2844-1|quote= ''Captain America Comics'' #1 went on sale around the end of 1940, with a March 1941 cover date.}}</ref> a year before the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], but a full year into World War II — showed the protagonist punching Nazi leader [[Adolf Hitler]]; it sold nearly one million copies.<ref name="fromm">{{cite journal|last= Fromm|first= Keif|title= The Privacy Act Of Carl Burgos|journal= [[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]]|volume= 3|issue= 49|page= 4|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date= June 2005|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> While most readers responded favorably to the comic, some took objection. Simon noted, "When the first issue came out we got a lot of&nbsp;... threatening letters and hate mail. Some people really opposed what Cap stood for."<ref name="Wright 36"/> The threats, which included menacing groups of people loitering out on the street outside of the offices, proved so serious that police protection was posted with [[Mayor of New York City|New York Mayor]] [[Fiorello La Guardia]] personally contacting Simon and Kirby to give his support.<ref>{{cite book|last = Cronin|first = Brian|title = Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed|publisher = [[Plume (publisher)|Plume]]|year = 2009|location= New York, New York|pages = 135–136|isbn = 978-0-452-29532-2}}</ref>

Though preceded as a "patriotically themed superhero" by [[Archie Comics|MLJ]]'s [[The Shield (Archie)|The Shield]], Captain America immediately became the most prominent and enduring of that wave of superheroes introduced in American comic books prior to and during World War II,<ref name="Sanderson18">{{cite book|last = Sanderson|first = Peter|authorlink = Peter Sanderson|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1940s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 18|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= Cap was not the first patriotically themed super hero, but he would become the most enduring. He was Timely's most popular hero with nearly a million copies of his comic sold per month.}}</ref> as evidenced by the unusual move at the time of premiering the character in his own title instead of an anthology title first. This popularity drew the attention and a complaint from MLJ that the character's triangular shield too closely resembled the chest symbol of their Shield character. In response, Goodman had Simon and Kirby create a distinctive round shield for issue 2, which went on to become an iconic element of the character.<ref>Cronin, p. 134</ref> With his sidekick [[Bucky]], Captain America faced [[Nazism|Nazis]], [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]], and other threats to wartime America and the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]. Stanley Lieber, now better known as [[Stan Lee]], contributed to the character in issue #3 in the filler text story "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge", which introduced the character's use of his shield as a returning throwing weapon.<ref name="AmazingMarvelUniverse">{{Cite book |last= Thomas|first= Roy|authorlink = Roy Thomas|title= Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe| publisher= [[Sterling Publishing]]|location= New York, New York|year= 2006|page= 11|isbn= 978-1-4027-4225-5|quote= The line reads: "With the speed of thought, he sent his shield spinning through the air to the other end of the tent, where it smacked the knife out of Haines' hand!" It became a convention starting the following issue, in which the art in a Simon and Kirby comics story illustrates the following caption: "Captain America's speed of thought and action save Bucky's life — as he hurls his shield across the room.}}</ref> Captain America soon became Timely's most popular character and even had a fan-club called the "Sentinels of Liberty".<ref name="Wright 36"/>

Circulation figures remained close to a million copies per month after the debut issue, which outstripped even the circulation of news magazines such as ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' during the period.<ref name="Sanderson18" /><ref>{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|authorlink = Les Daniels|title = Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics|publisher = [[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]|year = 1991|location= New York, New York|page = 37|isbn = 9780810938212}}</ref> After the Simon and Kirby team moved to [[DC Comics]] in late 1941, having produced ''Captain America Comics'' through issue #10 (January 1942), [[Al Avison]] and [[Syd Shores]] became regular [[penciller]]s of the celebrated title, with one generally [[inker|inking]] over the other. The character was featured in ''[[All Winners Comics]]'' #1–19 (Summer 1941 – Fall 1946), ''[[Marvel Mystery Comics]]'' #80–84 and #86–92, ''[[USA Comics]]'' #6–17 (Dec. 1942 – Fall 1945), and ''[[All Select Comics]]'' #1–10 (Fall 1943 – Summer 1946).

In the post-war era, with the popularity of superheroes fading, Captain America led Timely's first superhero team, the [[All-Winners Squad]], in its two published adventures, in ''[[All Winners Comics]]'' #19 and #21 (Fall–Winter 1946; there was no issue #20). After Bucky was shot and wounded in a 1948 ''Captain America'' story, he was succeeded by Captain America's girlfriend, Betsy Ross, who became the superheroine [[Golden Girl]]. ''Captain America Comics'' ran until issue #73 (July 1949),<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 237|title= Captain America Comics}}</ref> at which time the series was retitled '''''Captain America's Weird Tales'''''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> for two issues,<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 238|title= Captain America's Weird Tales}}</ref> with the finale being a horror/suspense anthology issue with no superheroes.

[[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas Comics]] attempted to revive its superhero titles when it reintroduced Captain America, along with the original Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, in ''Young Men'' #24 (Dec. 1953). Billed as "Captain America, Commie Smasher!"<!--note: This is a cover nickname on all his 1950s comics, and presented in all caps like "Daredevil, The Man Without Fear". And in any case, "Commie," short for "Communist," a proper noun, is always capped--> Captain America appeared during the next year in ''Young Men'' #24–28 and ''Men's Adventures'' #27–28, as well as in issues #76–78 of an eponymous title. Atlas' attempted superhero revival was a commercial failure,<ref>Wright, p. 123.</ref> and the character's title was canceled with ''Captain America'' #78 (Sept. 1954).

===Silver and Bronze Age===
[[File:Avengers (1964) March poster 4.jpg|thumb|right|''Avengers'' #4 (March 1964). Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[George Roussos]].]]
In the [[Human Torch]] story titled "Captain America" in Marvel Comics' ''[[Strange Tales]]'' #114 (Nov. 1963),<ref>[[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]] "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 95: "As the Human Torch had been instrumental in bringing back the Sub-Mariner in ''The Fantastic Four'' #4 (May 1962), it seemed only natural that he would help usher in Captain America."</ref> writer-editor [[Stan Lee]] and artist and co-plotter [[Jack Kirby]] depicted the brash young [[Fantastic Four]] member Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in an exhibition performance with Captain America, described as a legendary World War II and 1950s superhero who has returned after many years of apparent retirement. The 18-page story ends with this Captain America revealed as an impostor: it was actually the villain the [[Acrobat (comics)|Acrobat]], a former circus performer the Torch had defeated in ''Strange Tales'' #106, who broke two thieves out of jail, hoping to draw the police away while trying to rob the local bank. Afterward, Storm digs out an old comic book in which Captain America is shown to be Steve Rogers. A caption in the final panel says this story was a test to see if readers would like Captain America to return. According to Lee, fan response to the tryout was very enthusiastic.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Thomas|first= Roy|date= August 2011|title= Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Interview!|journal= [[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]]|issue= 104| page= 9|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref>

Captain America was then formally reintroduced in ''[[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]]'' #4 (March 1964),<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 99: "'Captain America lives again!' announced the cover of ''The Avengers'' #4. A mere [four] months after his imposter had appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #114, the real Cap was back."</ref> which explained that in the final days of World War II, he had fallen from an experimental [[unmanned aerial vehicle|drone plane]] into the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]] and spent decades frozen in a block of ice in a state of [[suspended animation]]. The hero found a new generation of readers as leader of that superhero team. Following the success of other Marvel characters introduced during the 1960s, Captain America was recast as a hero "haunted by past memories, and trying to adapt to 1960s society".<ref>Wright, p. 215.</ref>

After then guest-starring in the feature "[[Iron Man]]" in ''[[Tales of Suspense]]'' #58 (Oct. 1964), Captain America gained his own solo feature in that "split book", beginning the following issue.<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 103</ref> Issue #63 (March 1965), which retold Captain America's origin, through issue #71 (Nov. 1965) was a period feature set during World War II and co-starred Captain America's Golden Age sidekick, Bucky. Kirby drew all but two of the stories in ''Tales of Suspense,'' which became ''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' with #100 (April 1968);<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 128: "Hailing 1968 as the beginning of the 'Second Age of Marvel Comics,' and with more titles to play with, editor Stan Lee discarded his split books and gave more characters their own titles: ''Tales of Suspense'' #99 was followed by ''Captain America'' #100."</ref> [[Gil Kane]] and [[John Romita Sr.]], each filled in once. Several stories were finished by penciller-inker [[George Tuska]] over Kirby layouts, with one finished by Romita Sr. and another by penciller [[Dick Ayers]] and inker [[John Tartaglione]]. Kirby's regular inkers on the series were [[Frank Giacoia]] (as "Frank Ray") and [[Joe Sinnott]], though [[Don Heck]] and Golden Age Captain America artist [[Syd Shores]] inked one story each.

This series — considered ''Captain America'' volume one by comics researchers and historians,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer2.htm#S35 | title= ''Captain America'' (1968–1996) |publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and {{gcdb series|id= 1860|title= Captain America}}</ref> following the 1940s ''Captain America Comics'' and its 1950s numbering continuation of ''Tales of Suspense'' — ended with #454 (Aug. 1996).

This series was almost immediately followed by the 13-issue ''Captain America'' vol. 2 (Nov. 1996 – Nov. 1997, part of the "[[Heroes Reborn (comics)|Heroes Reborn]]" crossover),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer5.htm#S380| title= ''Captain America'' (II) (1996–1997)| publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and {{gcdb series|id= 5542|title= Captain America ''vol. 2'}}</ref> the 50-issue ''Captain America'' vol. 3 (Jan. 1998 – Feb. 2002),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer5.htm#S460 | title=''Captain America'' (III) (1998–2002) | publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and {{gcdb series|id= 6023|title= Captain America ''vol. 3'}}</ref> the 32-issue ''Captain America'' vol. 4 (June 2002 – Dec. 2004),<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer9.htm#S3485| title=''Captain America'' (IV) (2002–2004) | publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and {{gcdb series|id= 9818|title= Captain America ''vol. 4'}}</ref> and ''Captain America'' vol. 5 (Jan. 2005 – Aug. 2011).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/capamer7.htm#S4744 | title= ''Captain America'' (V) (2005–2007) | publisher=The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators}} and {{gcdb series|id= 12466|title= Captain America ''vol. 5'}}</ref> Beginning with the 600th overall issue (Aug. 2009), ''Captain America'' resumed its original numbering, as if the series numbering had continued uninterrupted after #454.

===Modern Age===
As part of the aftermath of Marvel Comics' company-crossover storyline "[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]",<!--the CROSSOVER STORY ARC is in quote marks; the actual one comic book SERIES titled is in italics--> Steve Rogers was ostensibly killed in ''Captain America'' vol. 5, #25 (March 2007).

The storyline of Rogers' return began in issue #600.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060915-Cap-Reborn.html |title=Updated: Captain America Speculation Over |first=Matt |last=Brady |date=June 15, 2009 |publisher=Newsarama |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6GBOzgz3Y?url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060915-Cap-Reborn.html |archivedate=April 27, 2013 |deadurl=no |accessdate=December 28, 2010 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/captain-america-steve-rogers-coming-back-life-years-marvel-comics-killed-article-1.376815 |title=Captain America, a.k.a. Steve Rogers is coming back to life two years after Marvel Comics killed him |first=Ethan |last=Sacks |date=June 16, 2009 |work=[[New York Daily News]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6GBPMXjGS?url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/captain-america-steve-rogers-coming-back-life-years-marvel-comics-killed-article-1.376815 |archivedate=April 27, 2013 |deadurl=no |accessdate=December 28, 2010 |df= }}</ref> Rogers, who was not dead but caroming through time, returned to the present day in the six-issue miniseries ''[[Captain America: Reborn]]'' (Sept. 2009 – March 2010).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/15/captain.america/index.html |title=Captain America, thought dead, comes back to life |first=Chris |last=Kokenes |date=June 15, 2009 |publisher=CNN |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6GBPnE1XI?url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/15/captain.america/index.html |archivedate=April 27, 2013 |deadurl=no |accessdate=April 28, 2010 |df= }}</ref>

After Rogers' return, Barnes, at Rogers' insistence, continued as Captain America, beginning in the [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] comic ''Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?'' (Feb. 2010). While Bucky Barnes continued adventuring in the pages of ''Captain America'', Steve Rogers received his own miniseries (''Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier'') as well as taking on the leadership position in a new ''Secret Avengers'' ongoing series.

Spinoff series included ''Captain America Sentinel of Liberty'' (Sept. 1998 – Aug. 1999) and ''[[Captain America and the Falcon]]'' (May 2004 – June 2005). The 1940s Captain America appeared alongside the 1940s [[Human Torch (android)|Human Torch]] and [[Sub-Mariner]] in the 12-issue [[miniseries]] ''Avengers/Invaders''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/comics/1385/wizard_world_chicago_2007_alex_ross_returns_to_marvel |title=Wizard World Chicago 2007: Alex Ross Returns to Marvel |first=Ryan |last=Penagos |date=August 11, 2007 |publisher=Marvel Comics |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6lnd8Gd7W?url=http://marvel.com/news/comics/1385/wizard_world_chicago_2007_alex_ross_returns_to_marvel |archivedate=November 5, 2016 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11195|title= Ross' Return = ''Avengers/Invaders''|first= Jonah|last= Weiland|date= August 14, 2007|publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6GBQjDkCY?url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11195|archivedate= April 27, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= January 14, 2009|df= }}</ref> The 2007 [[Limited series (comics)|mini-series]] ''Captain America: The Chosen'', written by [[David Morrell]] and penciled by Mitchell Breitweiser, depicts a dying Steve Rogers' final minutes, at [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] headquarters, as his spirit guides James Newman, a young American Marine fighting in [[Afghanistan]]. ''The Chosen'' is not part of the main Marvel Universe continuity.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=116612|title= David Morrell Talks Captain America: The Chosen|first= Matt|last= Brady|date= June 14, 2007|publisher= Newsarama|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071009221318/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=116612|archivedate=October 9, 2007 |deadurl= yes|accessdate= January 14, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11191|title= The Four Virtues: Morrell Talks ''Captain America: The Chosen''|first= Dave|last= Richards|date= August 13, 2007|publisher= Comic Book Resources|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6GBRfyN6G?url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11191|archivedate= April 27, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= January 14, 2009|df= }}</ref>

During the "Two Americas" storyline that ran in issues #602-605, the series drew controversy for the similarity between protesters depicted in the comic and the [[Tea Party movement]]. Particularly drawing scorn was a panel of a protester holding sign that read "Tea Bag the Libs Before They Tea Bag You!"<ref>{{cite web|first=Kerry |last=Picket |url=http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2010/feb/10/marvel-admits-mistake-captain-america-comic/ |title=Marvel admits to 'mistake' in controversial Captain America comic |work=Watercooler |publisher=''[[The Washington Times]]'' |date=February 10, 2010 |accessdate= |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214003603/http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2010/feb/10/marvel-admits-mistake-captain-america-comic/ |archivedate=February 14, 2010 |df= }}</ref> Also drawing controversy were remarks made by the Falcon implying that the crowd is racist.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Itzkoff |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/stars-and-gripes-tea-party-protests-captain-america-comic/ |title=Stars and Gripes: Tea Party Protests Captain America Comic |work=Arts Beat |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' |date=February 10, 2010 |accessdate= }}</ref> In his column on [[Comic Book Resources]], Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief [[Joe Quesada]] apologized for the sign, claiming that it was mistake added by the letterer at the last minute.<ref>{{cite web |first=Joe |last=Quesada |authorlink=Joe Quesada |url=http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24784 |title=Political Controversy & The Heroic Age}}</ref>

The character, first as agent Steve Rogers and later after resuming his identity as Captain America, appeared as a regular character throughout the 2010–2013 ''Avengers'' series, from issue #1 (July 2010) through its final issue #34 (January 2013). The character appeared as agent Steve Rogers as a regular character in the 2010–2013 ''Secret Avengers'' series, from issue #1 (July 2010) through issue #21 (March 2012); the character made guest appearances as Captain America in issues #21.1, #22–23, #35, and the final issue of the series #37 (March 2013).

Marvel stated in May 2011 that Rogers, following the public death of Bucky Barnes in the ''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]'' miniseries, would resume his Captain America identity in a sixth volume of ''Captain America'', by writer [[Ed Brubaker]] and artist [[Steve McNiven]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/05/30/captain-america-brubaker-mcniven-preview |title=Steve Rogers Returns to Duty with Brubaker & McNiven in ''Captain America'' #1 |first=Andy |last=Khouri |date=May 30, 2011 |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|ComicsAlliance]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6GBSJxxHy?url=http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/05/30/captain-america-brubaker-mcniven-preview |archivedate=April 27, 2013 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=June 14, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 59241|title= Captain America ''vol. 6'}}</ref> The ''Captain America'' title continued from issue #620 featuring team up stories with Bucky (#620-#628),<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 59240|title= Captain America and Bucky}}</ref> Hawkeye (#629-#632),<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 64742|title= Captain America and Hawkeye}}</ref> Iron Man (#633–635),<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 66557|title= Captain America and Iron Man}}</ref> Namor (#635.1),<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 68207|title= Captain America and Namor}}</ref> and Black Widow (#636-#640),<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 68401|title= Captain America and Black Widow}}</ref> and the title ended its print run with issue #640.

Captain America is a regular character in ''[[Uncanny Avengers]]'' (2012), beginning with issue #1 as part of [[Marvel NOW!]]. ''Captain America'' vol. 7 was launched in November 2012 with a January 2013 cover date by writer [[Rick Remender]] and artist [[John Romita Jr.]].<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 68655|title= Captain America ''vol. 7'}}</ref>

On July 16, 2014 Marvel Comics announced that the mantle of Captain America would be passed on by Rogers (who in the most recent storyline has been turned into a 90-year-old man) to his long-time ally [[Falcon (comics)|The Falcon]], with the series being relaunched as ''All-New Captain America''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/new-captain-america-african-american-article-1.1869686|title= New Captain America will be African-American, as the Falcon takes over the star-spangled mantle in the comic books|first= Ethan|last= Sacks|date= July 17, 2014|work= New York Daily News|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141022031235/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/new-captain-america-african-american-article-1.1869686|archivedate= October 22, 2014|deadurl= no}}</ref>

Marvel announced that Rogers will become Captain America once again in the comic series ''Captain America: Steve Rogers''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/comics/25640/the_original_captain_america_returns |title=The Original Captain America Returns |publisher=Marvel Comics |last=Parkin |first=JK |date=January 19, 2016 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6ln3EwYck?url=http://marvel.com/news/comics/25640/the_original_captain_america_returns |archivedate=November 5, 2016 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> This new series follows the events of “[[Avengers: Standoff!]],” in which Captain America is restored to his youthful state following an encounter with the sentient Cosmic Cube, Kobik, and his past is drastically rewritten under the instructions of the Red Skull. Afterward, Captain America plots to set himself and Hydra in a position where they can conquer America in Marvel’s event “[[Secret Empire (comic book)|Secret Empire]].”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/30/how-does-steve-rogers-become-captain-america-again|title=How Does Steve Rogers Become Captain America Again?|last=Schedeen|first=Jesse|date=2016-03-30|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-18}}</ref>

==Legal status==
In 1966 Joe Simon sued the owners of Marvel Comics, asserting that he—not Marvel—was legally entitled to renew the [[copyright]] upon the expiration of the original 28-year term. The two parties settled out of court, with Simon agreeing to a statement that the character had been created under terms of employment by the publisher, and therefore it was [[work for hire]] owned by them.<ref name=philly>{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/TPLSummer03CaptainAmerica|work=The Philadelphia Lawyer| publisher= Philadelphia Bar Association |accessdate= August 6, 2013|title=The Struggle for Captain America|last=Lovitz|first=Michael | archivedate= December 2, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222355/http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/TPLSummer03CaptainAmerica | deadurl=no}}</ref>

In 1999, Simon filed to claim the copyright to Captain America under a provision of the [[Copyright Act of 1976]] which allowed the original creators of works that had been sold to corporations to reclaim them after the original 56-year copyright term (but not the longer term enacted by the new legislation) had expired. Marvel Entertainment challenged the claim, arguing that the settlement of Simon's 1966 suit made the character ineligible for termination of the copyright transfer. Simon and Marvel settled out of court in 2003, in a deal that paid Simon royalties for merchandising and licensing use of the character.<ref name=philly/><ref>{{cite news|title= Joe Simon, a Creator of Captain America, Fighting On|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/books/16gust.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|work= [[The New York Times]]|first= George Gene|last= Gustines|date= April 16, 2008|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6eFsUGRAR?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/books/16gust.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1|archivedate= January 3, 2016|deadurl= no|accessdate= August 6, 2013|df= }}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==

===20th century===
====1940s====
[[File:Captainamerica1.jpg|thumb|''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March 1941). Cover art by [[Joe Simon]] (inks and pencils) and [[Jack Kirby]] (pencils).|alt=The front page of the first Captain America comic depicts Captain America punching [[Adolf Hitler]] in the jaw. A Nazi soldier's bullet deflects from Captain America's shield, while Adolf Hitler falls onto a map of the [[United States|United States of America]] and a document reading 'Sabotage plans for U.S.A.']]
Steven Rogers was born in the [[Lower East Side]] of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], in 1920 to poor [[Irish people|Irish]] immigrants, Sarah and Joseph Rogers.<ref name="sentinel">{{cite comic| writer= [[Fabian Nicieza|Nicieza, Fabian]]|penciller= [[Kevin Maguire (artist)|Maguire, Kevin]]|inker= [[Josef Rubinstein|Rubinstein, Joe]]|story= First Flight of the Eagle|title= The Adventures of Captain America|issue= 1|date= September 1991}}</ref> Joseph died when Steve was a child, and Sarah died of pneumonia while Steve was a teen. By early 1940, before America's entry into [[World War II]], Rogers is a tall, scrawny [[fine art]]s student specializing in illustration and a comic book writer and artist.

Disturbed by the rise of the [[Third Reich]], Rogers attempts to enlist but is rejected due to his frail body. His resolution attracts the notice of U.S. Army General [[Chester Phillips]] and "Project: Rebirth". Rogers is used as a test subject for the [[Supersoldier|Super-Soldier]] project, receiving a special serum made by "Dr. Josef Reinstein",<ref name="captainamericacomics1">{{cite comic| writer= [[Joe Simon|Simon, Joe]]; [[Jack Kirby|Kirby, Jack]]|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Liederman, Al|story= Case No. 1. Meet Captain America|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 1|date= March 1941}}</ref><ref name="modernorigin">{{cite comic| writer= [[Stan Lee|Lee, Stan]]|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Syd Shores|Shores, Syd]]|story= The Hero That Was!|title= Captain America|issue= 109|date= January 1969}}</ref> later [[Retroactive continuity|retroactively changed]] to a code name for the scientist [[Abraham Erskine]].<ref name="stern origin">{{cite comic| writer= [[Roger Stern|Stern, Roger]]|penciller= [[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|inker= Rubinstein, Joe|story= The Living Legend|title= Captain America|issue= 255|date= March 1981}}</ref>

The serum is a success and transforms Steve Rogers into a nearly perfect human being with peak strength, agility, stamina, and intelligence. The success of the program leaves Erskine wondering about replicating the experiment on other human beings.<ref name="modernorigin"/> The process itself has been inconsistently detailed: While in the original material Rogers is shown receiving injections of the Super-Serum, when the origin was retold in the 1960s, the [[Comic Code Authority]] had already put a veto over graphic description of drug intake and abuse, and thus the Super-Serum was retconned into an oral formula.<ref name="tos origin">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Frank Giacoia|Giacoia, Frank]]|story= The Origin of Captain America!|title= [[Tales of Suspense]]|issue= 63|date= March 1965}}</ref> Later accounts hint at a combination of oral and intravenous treatments with a strenuous training regimen, culminating in the Vita-Ray exposure.

Erskine refused to write down every crucial element of the treatment, leaving behind a flawed, imperfect knowledge of the steps. Thus, when the Nazi [[secret agent|spy]] [[Heinz Kruger]] killed him, Erskine's method of creating new Super-Soldiers died. Captain America, in his first act after his transformation, avenges Erskine. In the 1941 origin story and in ''Tales of Suspense'' #63, Kruger dies when running into machinery but is not killed by Rogers; in the ''Captain America'' #109 and #255 revisions, Rogers causes the spy's death by punching him into machinery.<ref name="modernorigin"/>

Unable to create new Super-Soldiers and willing to hide the Project Rebirth fiasco, the American government casts Rogers as a patriotic superhero, able to counter the menace of the [[Red Skull]] as a [[counter-intelligence]] agent. He is supplied with a patriotic uniform of his own design,<ref name="sentinel"/> a bulletproof shield, a personal [[side arm]], and the codename Captain America, while posing as a clumsy [[infantry]] private at Camp Lehigh in Virginia. He forms a friendship with the camp's teenage [[mascot]], James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes.<ref name="captainamericacomics1"/>

Barnes learns of Rogers' [[secret identity|dual identity]] and offers to keep the secret if he can become Captain America's [[sidekick]]. During their adventures, [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] presents Captain America with [[Captain America's shield|a new shield]], forged from an alloy of [[steel]] and [[vibranium]], fused by an unknown catalyst, so effective that it replaces his own firearm.<ref name="stern origin"/> Throughout World War II, Captain America and Bucky fight the Nazi menace both on their own and as members of the superhero team the [[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]] as seen in the 1970s comic of the same name.<ref name="invaders">{{cite comic| writer= [[Roy Thomas|Thomas, Roy]]|penciller= [[Frank Robbins|Robbins, Frank]]|inker= [[Vince Colletta|Colletta, Vince]]|story= A Captain Called America|title= [[Invaders (comics)|Giant-Size Invaders]]|issue= 1|date= June 1975}}</ref> Captain America fights in numerous battles in World War II, primarily as a member of 1st Battalion, [[26th Infantry Regiment]] "Blue Spaders".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.army.mil/article/142301/|title= From 'Blue Spader' to Avenger: Marvel superhero Captain America served with the 'Big Red One'|first= J. Parker|last= Roberts|date= February 5, 2015|publisher= [[United States Army]]|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20151117064208/http://www.army.mil/article/142301/|archivedate= November 17, 2015|deadurl= no|quote= Steve Rogers, known to fans worldwide as Captain America, served with the 1st Infantry Division's 26th Infantry Regiment, also known as the 'Blue Spaders,' during World War II, as shown in ''Mythos: Captain America,'' a 2008 comic written by Paul Jenkins with art by Paolo Rivera.}}</ref> Captain America battles a number of criminal menaces on American soil, including a wide variety of costumed villains: the Wax Man,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= The Wax Statue That Struck Death|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 2|date= April 1941}}</ref> the Hangman,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= The Strange Case of Captain America and The Hangman: Who Killed Doctor Vordoff|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 6|date= September 1941}}</ref> the Fang,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= Meet the Fang, Arch-Fiend of the Orient|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 6|date= September 1941}}</ref> the Black Talon,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Otto Binder|Binder, Otto]]|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Shores, Syd|story= The Case of the Black Talon|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 9|date= December 1941}}</ref> and the White Death,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simon, Joe; Kirby, Jack|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Simon, Joe|story= The White Death|title= Captain America Comics|issue= 9|date= December 1941}}</ref> among others.

In addition to Bucky, Captain America was occasionally assisted by the [[Sentinels of Liberty]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dittmer|first=Jason|title= 'America is safe while its boys and girls believe in its creeds!': Captain America and American identity prior to World War 2|journal= [[Environment and Planning|Environment and Planning D: Society and Space]]|date=March 23, 2007|volume=25|pages=401–423|doi=10.1068/d1905}}</ref> Sentinels of Liberty was the title given to members of the ''Captain America Comics'' fan club who Captain America sometimes addressed as an aside, or as characters in the ''Captain America Comics'' stories.

In late April 1945, during the closing days of World War II, Captain America and Bucky try to stop the villainous [[Baron Heinrich Zemo|Baron Zemo]] from destroying an experimental drone plane. Zemo launches the plane with an armed explosive on it with Rogers and Barnes in hot pursuit. The pair reaches the plane just before take off. When Bucky tries to defuse the bomb, it explodes in mid-air. Rogers is hurled into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. Both are presumed dead, though it is later revealed that neither one died.<ref name="theavengers4"/>

====Late 1940s to 1950s====
Captain America appeared in comics for the next few years, changing from World War II-era hero fighting the Nazis to confronting the United States' newest enemy, [[Communism]]. The revival of the character in the mid-1950s was short-lived, and events during that time period are later [[Retroactive continuity|retconned]] to show that multiple people operated using the code name to explain the changes in the character. These post World War II successors are listed as [[Spirit of '76 (Marvel Comics)|William Naslund]] and [[Jeffrey Mace]].

The last of these other official Captains, William Burnside,<ref name="cap602">{{cite comic| writer= [[Ed Brubaker|Brubaker, Ed]]|penciller= [[Luke Ross|Ross, Luke]]|inker= [[Jackson Guice|Guice, Butch]]; Ross, Luke|story= Two Americas Part 1|title= Captain America|issue= 602|date= March 2010}}</ref> was a history graduate enamored with the Captain America mythos, having his appearance surgically altered to resemble Rogers and legally changing his name to "Steve Rogers", becoming the new "1950s Captain America".<ref name="CA153">{{cite comic| writer= [[Steve Englehart|Englehart, Steve]]|penciller= [[Sal Buscema|Buscema, Sal]]|inker= [[Jim Mooney|Mooney, Jim]]|story= Captain America—Hero Or Hoax?|title= Captain America|issue= 153|date= September 1972}}</ref> He self-administered to himself and his pupil [[Jack Monroe (comics)|James "Jack" Monroe]] a flawed, incomplete copy of the Super-Serum, which made no mention about the necessary Vita-Ray portion of the treatment. As a result, while Burnside and Monroe became the new Captain America and Bucky, they became violently paranoid, often raving about innocent people being communist sympathizers during the height of the [[Red Scare]] of the 1950s. Their insanity forced the U.S. government to place them in indefinite cryogenic storage until they could be cured of their mental illness.<ref name="CA156">{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= [[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|McLaughlin, Frank]]|story= One Into Two Won't Go!|title= Captain America|issue= 156|date= December 1972}}</ref> Monroe would later be cured and assume the Nomad identity.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[J. M. DeMatteis|DeMatteis, J. M.]]|penciller= [[Mike Zeck|Zeck, Mike]]|inker= [[John Beatty (illustrator)|Beatty, John]]|story= Before the Fall!|title= Captain America|issue= 281|date= May 1983}}</ref>

====1960s to 1970s====
Years later, the superhero team the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] discovers Steve Rogers' body in the North Atlantic. After he revives, they piece together that Rogers has been preserved in a block of ice since 1945, surviving because of his enhancements from Project: Rebirth. The block began to melt after the [[Namor|Sub-Mariner]], enraged that an [[Inuit]] tribe is worshipping the frozen figure, throws it into the ocean.<ref name="theavengers4">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[George Roussos|Roussos, George]]|story= Captain America Joins&nbsp;... The Avengers!|title= The [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]|issue= 4|date= March 1964}}</ref> Rogers accepts membership in the Avengers, and his experience in individual combat service and his time with the Invaders makes him a valuable asset. He quickly assumes leadership<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= [[Dick Ayers|Ayers, Dick]]|story= The Old Order Changeth|title= The Avengers|issue= 16|date= May 1965}}</ref> and has typically returned to that position throughout the team's history.

[[File:CaptainAmericaV1-180.jpg|thumb|left|''Captain America'' #180 (Dec. 1974). Captain America becomes "Nomad". Cover art by [[Gil Kane]] and [[Frank Giacoia]].]]
Captain America is plagued by guilt for having been unable to prevent Bucky's death. Although he takes the young [[Rick Jones (comics)|Rick Jones]] (who closely resembles Bucky) under his tutelage, he refuses for some time to allow Jones to take up the Bucky identity, not wishing to be responsible for another youth's death. Insisting that his hero move on from that loss, Jones convinces Rogers to let him don the Bucky costume,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= [[Jim Steranko|Steranko, Jim]]|inker= [[Joe Sinnott|Sinnott, Joe]]|story= No Longer Alone!|title= Captain America|issue= 110|date= February 1969}}</ref> but this partnership lasts only a short time; a disguised [[Red Skull]], impersonating Rogers with the help of the [[Cosmic Cube]], drives Jones away.

Rogers reunites with his old war comrade [[Nick Fury]], who is similarly well-preserved due to the "Infinity Formula". As a result, Rogers regularly undertakes missions for the security agency [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], for which Fury is public director.<ref name="tos78">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby, Jack|inker= Giacoia, Frank|story= Them!|title= Tales of Suspense|issue= 78|date= June 1966}}</ref> Through Fury, Rogers befriends [[Sharon Carter]], a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Kirby,, Jack; Ayers, Dick|inker= [[John Tartaglione|Tartaglione, John]]|story= 30 Minutes to Live!|title= Tales of Suspense|issue= 75|date= March 1966}}</ref> with whom he eventually begins a romantic relationship.

Rogers later meets and trains Sam Wilson, who becomes the superhero the [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= [[Gene Colan|Colan, Gene]]|inker= Sinnott, Joe|story= The Coming of&nbsp;... the Falcon!|title= Captain America|issue= 117|date= September 1969}}</ref> the first [[African-American]] superhero in mainstream comic books.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marvel.com/news/comics/15240/a_marvel_black_history_lesson_pt_1#ixzz1QFnuw5Yi |title=A Marvel Black History Lesson Pt. 1 |first=David |last=Brothers |date=February 18, 2011 |publisher=Marvel Comics |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zhBRA0i5?url=http://marvel.com/news/story/15240/a_marvel_black_history_lesson_pt_1 |archivedate=June 25, 2011 |deadurl=yes |quote=Quoting Marvel Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort: 'The Falcon was the very first African-American super hero, as opposed to The Black Panther, who preceded him, but wasn't American.' |df= }}</ref><ref>DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 137: "The Black Panther may have broken the mold as Marvel's first black super hero, but he was from Africa. The Falcon was the first black American super hero. Introduced by Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, Sam 'Snap' Wilson was a former community volunteer."</ref><!--Black Panther is African, not African-American; Falcon predates Luke Cage and John Stewart Green Lantern. See [[List of African-American firsts]]. Lion Man debuted in 1947 in All-Negro Comics, but this book did not have national distribution and cannot be considered "mainstream"--> The characters established an enduring friendship and adventuring partnership, sharing the series title for some time as ''Captain America and the Falcon''.<ref name="Olshevsky">{{cite journal|last = Olshevsky|first = George|title = Heroes From ''Tales of Suspense'', Book One: Captain America|magazine = The Marvel Comics Index|issue = 8A|pages = 64 and 93|publisher = G&T Enterprises|date = December 1979}}</ref> The two later encounter the revived but still insane [[Grand Director|1950s Captain America]].<ref name="CA153" /><ref name="CA156" /><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= [[John Verpoorten|Verpoorten, John]]; Mortellaro|story= The Falcon Fights Alone|title= Captain America|issue= 154|date= October 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= McLaughlin, Frank|story= The Incredible Origin of the Other Captain America|title= Captain America|issue= 155|date= November 1972}}</ref><ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 156: "In his first story line as ''Captain America and the Falcon'' writer, Steve Englehart revealed that an unnamed teacher had rediscovered the 'Super-Soldier serum' in the 1950s and he and a student used it to turn themselves into new versions of Captain America and Bucky."</ref> Although Rogers and the Falcon defeat the faux Rogers and Jack Monroe, Rogers becomes deeply disturbed that he could have suffered his counterpart's fate. During this period, Rogers temporarily gains super strength.<ref name="CA159">{{cite comic| writer= Englehart, Steve|penciller= Buscema, Sal|inker= Verpoorten, John|story= Turning Point|title= Captain America|issue= 159|date= March 1972}}</ref>

The series dealt with the [[Marvel Universe]]'s version of the [[Watergate scandal]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.steveenglehart.com/Comics/Captain%20America%20169-176.html |title=Captain America |first=Steve |last=Englehart |date=n.d. |publisher=SteveEnglehart.com |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6G2O0yw4k?url=http://www.steveenglehart.com/Comics/Captain%20America%20169-176.html |archivedate=April 21, 2013 |deadurl=no |accessdate=April 21, 2013 |quote=America was moving from the overarching Vietnam War toward the specific crimes of Watergate. |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Englehart|first = Steve|author2=Buscema, Sal|title = Captain America and the Falcon: Secret Empire|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2005|page = 160|isbn = 978-0-7851-1836-7}}</ref><ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 164: "Inspired by the real life Watergate scandals,, writer Steve Englehart devised a story line about a conspiracy within the U.S. government."</ref> making Rogers so uncertain about his role that he abandons his Captain America identity in favor of one called [[Nomad (comics)|Nomad]],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 167: "Shocked by learning the identity of Number One of the Secret Empire, Steve Rogers abandoned his Captain America role and adopted a new costumed identity, Nomad."</ref> emphasizing the word's meaning as "man without a country". During this time, several men unsuccessfully assume the Captain America identity.<ref>{{cite book|last = Englehart|first = Steve |author2=Buscema, Sal |author3=Robbins, Frank|title = Captain America and the Falcon: Nomad|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2007|page = 192|isbn = 978-0-7851-2197-8}}</ref> Rogers eventually re-assumes it after coming to consider that the identity could be a symbol of American ideals and not its government; it's a personal conviction epitomized when he later confronted a corrupt Army officer attempting to manipulate him by appealing to his loyalty, "I'm loyal to nothing, General&nbsp;... except the [American] Dream." Jack Monroe, cured of his mental instability, later takes up the Nomad alias.<ref name="CA282">{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.|penciller= Zeck, Mike|inker= Beatty, John|story= On Your Belly You Shall Crawl, and Dust Shall You Eat!|title= Captain America|issue= 282|date= June 1983}}</ref> Sharon Carter is believed to have been killed while under the mind control of [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Dr. Faustus]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Chris Claremont|Claremont, Chris]]; [[Roger McKenzie (comics)|McKenzie, Roger]]|penciller= Buscema, Sal; [[Don Perlin|Perlin, Don]]|inker= Perlin, Don|story= From the Ashes&nbsp;... |title= Captain America|issue= 237|date= September 1979}}</ref>

====1980s to 1990s====
[[File:Captain America 350.jpg|thumb|''Captain America'' #350 (Feb. 1989). Rogers as "the Captain" vs. John Walker as Captain America. Cover art by [[Kieron Dwyer]] and [[Al Milgrom]].]]
The 1980s included a run by writer [[Roger Stern]] and artist [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]. Stern had Rogers consider a run for President of the United States in ''Captain America'' #250 (June 1980),<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Stern, Roger|penciller= Byrne, John|inker= Rubinstein, Joe|story= Cap For President!|title= Captain America|issue= 250|date= October 1980}}</ref> an idea originally developed by [[Roger McKenzie (comics)|Roger McKenzie]] and [[Don Perlin]]. Stern, in his capacity as editor of the title, originally rejected the idea but later changed his mind about the concept.<ref name="Cronin">{{cite web |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/05/22/the-greatest-roger-stern-stories-ever-told/ |title=The Greatest Roger Stern Stories Ever Told! |first=Brian |last=Cronin |date=May 10, 2010 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/65bgBbbdw?url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/05/22/the-greatest-roger-stern-stories-ever-told/ |archivedate=February 21, 2012 |deadurl=no |accessdate=February 20, 2012 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=1046|title= Looking Back:Stern & Byrne's Captain America|first= Matt|last= Brady|date= November 28, 2002|publisher= Newsarama|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090125131416/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=1046|archivedate=January 25, 2009 |deadurl=yes|accessdate= February 20, 2012|quote= The story, according to Stern, began a year previously, when Roger McKenzie and Don Perlin were the creative team on Captain America, and Stern was an editor at Marvel. McKenzie and Perlin wanted Cap to run for office and win, setting up four years' worth of stories in and around Washington, D.C. and the duties of the president. While it could've made for a great pop-culture civics lesson, Stern 86'd the idea.}}</ref> McKenzie and Perlin received credit for the idea on the letters page at Stern's insistence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marvelmasterworks.com/features/int_stern_1006_2.html |title=The Roger Stern Interview: The Triumphs and Trials of the Writer |first=George |last=Khoury |work= |publisher=Marvel Masterworks Resource Page |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/65bgjtJzz?url=http://www.marvelmasterworks.com/features/int_stern_1006_2.html |archivedate=February 21, 2012 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=February 20, 2012 |quote=I made sure that 1) Roger McK. and Don knew about it, and 2) they were credited with the idea on the letters page. |df= }}</ref> Stern additionally introduced a new love interest, law student [[Bernie Rosenthal]], in ''Captain America'' #248 (Aug. 1980).<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 198: "Bernie Rosenthal was a professional glass-blower and former college activist, who was created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Byrne."</ref>
 
Writer [[J. M. DeMatteis]] revealed the true face and full origin of the [[Red Skull]] in ''Captain America'' #298–300, and had Captain America take on Jack Monroe, Nomad, as a partner for a time.<ref name="CA282"/> Around this time, the heroes gathered by the [[Beyonder]] elect Rogers as leader during their stay on Battleworld in the 1984 miniseries ''[[Secret Wars]]''. [[Homophobia]] is dealt with as Rogers runs into a childhood friend named [[Arnold Roth (Captain America)|Arnold Roth]] who is gay.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.|penciller= Zeck, Mike|inker= Beatty, John; Colletta, Vince; Villamonte, Ricardo|story= Someone Who Cares|title= Captain America|issue= 270|date= June 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Witt|first = Lynn |author2=Thomas, Sherry |author3=Marcus, Eric|title = Out in All Directions: Almanac of Gay and Lesbian America|publisher = Warner Books|year = 1995|pages = |isbn = 978-0-446-51822-2}}</ref>

[[Mark Gruenwald]] became the writer of the series with issue #307 (July 1985) and wrote 137 issues for 10 consecutive years from until #443 (Sept. 1995),<ref>{{gcdb|type=writer|search= Mark+Gruenwald|title= Mark Gruenwald}}</ref> the most issues by any single author in the character's history. Gruenwald created several new foes, including Crossbones and the Serpent Society. Other Gruenwald characters included [[Diamondback (Rachel Leighton)|Diamondback]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Mark Gruenwald|Gruenwald, Mark]]|penciller= [[Paul Neary|Neary, Paul]]|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Serpents of the World Unite|title= Captain America|issue= 310|date= October 1985}}</ref> [[U.S. Agent|Super Patriot]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Beatty John|story= Super-Patriot Is Here|title= Captain America|issue= 323|date= November 1986}}</ref> and [[Demolition Man (comics)|Demolition Man]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= The Hard Way!|title= Captain America|issue= 328|date= April 1987}}</ref> Gruenwald explored numerous political and social themes as well, such as extreme idealism when Captain America fights the anti-nationalist terrorist [[Flag-Smasher]];<ref name="flagsmasher">{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Deface the Nation|title= Captain America|issue= 312|date= December 1985}}</ref> and [[vigilante|vigilantism]] when he hunts the murderous [[Scourge of the Underworld]].<ref name="Scourge">{{cite book|last = Gruenwald|first = Mark|author2=Neary, Paul|title = Captain America: Scourge of the Underworld|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2011|page = 296|isbn = 978-0-7851-4962-0}}</ref>

Rogers receives a large back-pay reimbursement dating back to his disappearance at the end of World War II, and a [[Commission on Superhuman Activities|government commission]] orders him to work directly for the U.S. government. Already troubled by the corruption he had encountered with the [[Nuke (Marvel Comics)|Nuke]] incident in [[New York City]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Frank Miller (comics)|Miller, Frank]]|penciller= [[David Mazzucchelli|Mazzucchelli, David]]|inker= Mazzucchelli, David|story= Armageddon|title= [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]|issue= 233|date= August 1986}}</ref> Rogers chooses instead to resign his identity,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= [[Tom Morgan (comics)|Morgan, Tom]]|inker= [[Bob McLeod (comics)|McLeod, Bob]]|story= The Choice|title= Captain America|issue= 332|date= August 1987}}</ref><ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 231: "This issue [#332] began a nineteen-part story arc called 'Captain America No More!'"</ref> and then takes the alias of "the Captain".<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Morgan, Tom|inker= Hunt, Dave|story= The Long Road Back|title= Captain America|issue= 337|date= January 1988}}</ref> A replacement Captain America, John Walker, struggles to emulate Rogers' ideals until pressure from hidden enemies helps to drive Walker insane. Rogers returns to the Captain America identity<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= [[Kieron Dwyer|Dwyer, Kieron]]|inker= [[Al Milgrom|Milgrom, Al]]|story= Seeing Red|title= Captain America|issue= 350|date= February 1989}}</ref> while a recovered Walker becomes the [[U.S. Agent]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Dwyer, Kieron|inker= Milgrom, Al|story= Reawakening|title= Captain America|issue= 354|date= June 1989}}</ref>

Sometime afterward, Rogers avoids the explosion of a [[methamphetamine]] lab, but the drug triggers a chemical reaction in the Super-Soldier serum in his system. To combat the reaction, Rogers has the serum removed from his body and trains constantly to maintain his physical condition.<ref name="CA378">{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= [[Ron Lim|Lim, Ron]]|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Grand Stand Play!|title= Captain America|issue= 378|date= October 1990}}</ref> A [[Retroactive continuity|retcon]] later establishes that the serum was not a drug ''per se'', which would have metabolized out of his system, but in fact a virus-like organism that effected a biochemical and genetic change. This additionally explained how nemesis the [[Red Skull]], who at the time inhabited a body [[cloning|cloned]] from Rogers' cells, has the formula in his body.

Because of his altered biochemistry, Rogers' body begins to deteriorate, and for a time he must wear a powered [[exoskeleton]] and is eventually placed again in suspended animation. During this time, he is given a transfusion of blood from the [[Red Skull]], which cures his condition and stabilizes the Super-Soldier virus in his system. Captain America returns to crime fighting and the Avengers.<ref>{{cite book|last = Gruenwald|first = Mark|author2=Hoover, Dave |authorlink2=Dave Hoover |title = Captain America: Fighting Chance – Denial|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2009|page = 160|isbn = 978-0-7851-3738-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Gruenwald|first = Mark|author2=Hoover, Dave|title = Captain America: Fighting Chance – Acceptance|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2009|page = 168|isbn = 978-0-7851-3739-9}}</ref>

Following Gruenwald's departure from the series, Mark Waid took over and resurrected Sharon Carter as Cap's love interest. The title was then relaunched under Rob Liefeld as Cap became part of the [[Heroes Reborn (comics)|Heroes Reborn]] universe for 13 issues<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 280: "Steve Rogers earned a fresh start in the Heroes Reborn universe by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Rob Liefeld."</ref> before another relaunch restored Waid to the title<ref>Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 288: "Writer Mark Waid began what many fans atill consider to be the ultimate run on the ''Captain America'' title with this series penciled by Ron Garney."</ref> in an arc that saw Cap lose his shield for a time using an energy based shield as a temporary replacement. Following Waid's run, Dan Jurgens took over and introduced new foe [[Protocide]], a failed recipient of the Super Soldier serum prior to the experiment that successfully created Rogers. Some time after this, Rogers' original shield was retrieved, but subtle damage sustained during the battle with the Beyonder resulted in it being shattered and a 'vibranium cancer' being triggered that would destroy all vibranium in the world, with Rogers nearly being forced to destroy the shield before a confrontation with the villain [[Klaw (Marvel Comics)|Klaw]] saw Klaw's attacks unwittingly repair the shield's fractured molecular bonds and negate the cancer.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Waid, Mark|penciller= Kubert, Andy|inker= Delperdang, Jesse|story= Sacrifice Play|title= Captain America|volume= 3|issue= 22|date= September 1999}}</ref>

===21st century===
====2000s====
In the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]], Rogers reveals his identity to the world and establishes a residence in the [[Red Hook, Brooklyn|Red Hook]] neighborhood of [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], as seen in ''Captain America'' vol. 4, #1–7 (June 2002 – Feb. 2003).<ref>Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 312: "The darker Marvel Knights line of books accepted Steve Rogers under their umbrella as writer John Ney Rieber and artist John Cassaday restarted the series with a new first issue."</ref> Following the disbandment of the Avengers in the "[[Avengers Disassembled]]" story arc, Rogers, now employed by [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], discovers Bucky is alive, having been saved and deployed by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] as the [[Winter Soldier (comics)|Winter Soldier]]. Rogers resumes his on-again, off-again relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent [[Sharon Carter]]. After a mass supervillain break-out of the [[Raft (comics)|Raft]], Rogers and Tony Stark assemble a [[New Avengers (comics)|new team of Avengers]] to hunt the escapees.

[[File:capdeath.PNG|thumb|Steve Rogers' presumed death. Art by [[Steve Epting]].]]
In the 2006–2007 company-wide story arc "[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]", Rogers opposes the new mandatory [[Registration Acts (comics)#2006 Superhuman Registration Act|federal registration of super-powered beings]], and leads the underground anti-registration movement. After significant rancor and danger to the public as the two sides clash, Captain America voluntarily surrenders and orders the Anti-Registration forces to stand down, feeling that the fight has reached a point where the principle originally cited by the anti-registration forces has been lost.<ref>[[Millar, Mark]] (w), [[McNiven, Steve]] (p), [[Vines, Dexter]], et al. (i). "Civil War, Parts One - Seven", ''[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]'' #1 - 7 (July 2006 - January 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>

In the story arc "[[The Death of Captain America]]", Rogers is fatally shot by Sharon Carter, whose actions are manipulated by the villain [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Dr. Faustus]].<ref>''Captain America'' (vol. 5) #25 (April 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 335: "Surprising an unsuspecting fan base who thought the worst was over for Steve Rogers, Captain America's death captured worldwide media attention."</ref> The miniseries ''[[Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America]]'' #1–5 (June–Aug. 2007) examines the reaction of the stunned superhero community to Rogers' assassination, with each of the five issues focusing a different character's reaction. Bucky takes on the mantle of Captain America, per Rogers' [[wikt:antemortem|antemortem]] request.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 5, #30 (Sept. 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[J. Michael Straczynski|Straczynski, J. Michael]]|penciller= [[Olivier Coipel|Coipel, Olivier]]|inker= Morales, Mark; Miki, Danny; Lanning, Andy|story= Back to the Pit, Hogun!|title= Thor|volume= 3|issue= 11|date= November 2008}}</ref>

''[[Captain America: Reborn]]'' #1 (Aug. 2009) reveals that Rogers did not die, as the gun Sharon Carter had been hypnotized into firing at Rogers caused his consciousness to phase in and out of space and time, appearing at various points in his lifetime. Although Rogers manages to relay a message to the future by giving a time-delayed command to the [[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]] during the [[Kree-Skrull War]], the Skull returns Rogers to the present, where he takes control of Rogers' mind and body. Rogers eventually regains control, and, with help from his allies, defeats the Skull.<ref>''[[Captain America: Reborn]]'' #1 - 4 (2009). Marvel Comics.</ref> In the subsequent [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] comic ''Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?'', Rogers formally grants Bucky his Captain America shield and asks him to continue as Captain America. The President of the United States grants Rogers a full [[pardon]] for his anti-registration actions.

====2010s====
{{plot|date=August 2016}}
[[File:Steve Rogers Super Soldier.jpg|thumb|right|Promotional art for ''Steve Rogers: Super Soldier'' #1 (Sept. 2010) by [[Carlos Pacheco]] and Tim Townsend.]]
Following the company-wide "[[Dark Reign (comics)|Dark Reign]]" and "[[Siege (comics)|Siege]]" story arcs, the Steve Rogers character became part of the "[[Heroic Age (comics)|Heroic Age]]" arc.<ref>{{cite web|first= Dave|last= Richards|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26287|title= Storming Heaven: ''Siege'' #4|publisher= Comic Book Resources|date= May 18, 2010|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6G3dJw2mQ?url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26287|archivedate= April 22, 2013|deadurl= no|accessdate= September 26, 2010|df= }}</ref>

The President of the United States appoints Rogers, in his civilian identity, as "''America's top cop''" and head of the nation's security,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Brian Michael Bendis|Bendis, Brian Michael]]|penciller= [[Olivier Coipel|Coipel, Olivier]]|inker= Morales, Mark|story= The Siege of Asgard – The Fallen|title= [[Siege (comics)|Siege]]|issue= 4|date= June 2010}}</ref> replacing [[Norman Osborn]] as the tenth ''Executive Director of [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]''. The [[Superhuman Registration Act]] is repealed and Rogers re-establishes the [[superhero]] team the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]], spearheaded by Iron Man, Thor, and Bucky as Captain America.{{issue|date=January 2014}} In the [[miniseries]] ''Steve Rogers: Super Soldier'', he encounters Jacob Erskine, the grandson of Professor Abraham Erskine and the son of Tyler Paxton, one of Rogers' fellow volunteers in the Super-Soldier program.{{issue|date=January 2014}} Shortly afterward, Rogers becomes leader of the [[Secret Avengers]], a [[black-op]]s superhero team.{{issue|date=January 2014}}

During the ''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]'' storyline, Steve Rogers is present when the threat of the [[Serpent (comics)|Serpent]] is known.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Matt Fraction|Fraction, Matt]]|penciller= [[Stuart Immonen|Immonen, Stuart]]|inker= Immonen, Stuart|story= The Serpent|title= [[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]|issue= 1|date= June 2011}}</ref> Following the apparent death of Bucky at the hands of [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Sin]] (in the form of [[Skadi]]), Steve Rogers ends up changing into his Captain America uniform.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= [[Wade Von Grawbadger|Von Grawbadger, Wade]]|story= Fear Itself 4: Worlds on Fire|title= Fear Itself|issue= 4|date= September 2011}}</ref> When the Avengers and the New Avengers are fighting Skadi, the Serpent ends up joining the battle and breaks Captain America's shield with his bare hands.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= Von Grawbadger, Wade|story= Fear Itself 5: Brawl|title= Fear Itself|issue= 5|date= October 2011}}</ref> Captain America and the Avengers teams end up forming a militia for a last stand against the forces of the Serpent.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= Von Grawbadger, Wade|story= Fear Itself 6: Blood-Tied & Doomed|title= Fear Itself|issue= 6|date= November 2011}}</ref> When it comes to the final battle, Captain America uses Thor's hammer to fight Skadi until Thor manages to kill the Serpent. In the aftermath of the battle, Iron Man presents him with his reforged shield, now stronger for its uru-infused enhancements despite the scar it bears.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Fraction, Matt|penciller= Immonen, Stuart|inker= Von Grawbadger, Wade; [[Dexter Vines|Vines, Dexter]]|story= Fear Itself 7: Thor's Day|title= Fear Itself|issue= 7|date= December 2011}}</ref> It is then revealed that Captain America, Nick Fury, and Black Widow are the only ones who know that Bucky actually survived the fight with Skadi as Bucky resumes his identity as Winter Soldier.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= Guice, Butch|inker= Guice, Butch|story= Bucky Barnes was the best brother-in-arms any&nbsp;... |title= Fear Itself: Captain America|issue= 7.1|date= January 2012}}</ref>

In the ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' story arc, Captain America attempts to apprehend [[Hope Summers (comics)|Hope Summers]] of the [[X-Men]]. She is the targeted vessel for the [[Phoenix Force (comics)|Phoenix Force]], a destructive cosmic entity. Captain America believes that this Phoenix Force is too dangerous to entrust in one person and seeks to prevent Hope from having it. [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]] and the X-Men believe that the Phoenix Force will save their race, and oppose Captain America's wishes.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Jason Aaron|Aaron, Jason]]; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; [[Jonathan Hickman|Hickman, Jonathan]]; Fraction, Matt|penciller= [[John Romita Jr.|Romita Jr., John]]|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= Round 1|title= [[Avengers vs. X-Men]]|issue= 1|date= June 2012}}</ref> The result is a series of battles that eventually take both teams to the blue area of the moon.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Aaron, Jason; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; Hickman, Jonathan; Fraction, Matt|penciller= Romita Jr., John|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= Round 4 |title= Avengers vs. X-Men|issue= 4|date= July 2012}}</ref> The Phoenix Force eventually possesses the five X-Men present, leaving the Avengers at an extreme disadvantage.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Aaron, Jason; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; Hickman, Jonathan; Fraction, Matt|penciller= Romita Jr., John|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= Round 5|title= Avengers vs. X-Men|issue= 5|date= August 2012}}</ref> The ''Phoenix Five'', who become corrupted by the power of the Phoenix, are eventually defeated and scattered, with Cyclops imprisoned for turning the world into a police state and murdering [[Professor X|Charles Xavier]] after being pushed too far, only for him to note that, in the end, he was proven right about the Phoenix's intentions.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Aaron, Jason; Bendis, Brian Michael; Brubaker, Ed; Hickman, Jonathan; Fraction, Matt|penciller= [[Adam Kubert|Kubert, Adam]]|inker= Dell, John; Morales, Mark; Kubert, Adam|story= Round 12|title= Avengers vs. X-Men|issue= 12|date= December 2012}}</ref> From there, Captain America proceeds to assemble the [[Uncanny Avengers|Avengers Unity Squad]], a new team of Avengers composed of both classic Avengers and X-Men.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Rick Remender|Remender, Rick]]|penciller= [[John Cassaday|Cassaday, John]]|inker= Cassaday, John|story= New Union|title= [[Uncanny Avengers]]|issue= 1|date= December 2012}}</ref>

After Cyclops was incarcerated, and Steve accepted the Avengers should have done more to help mutants, and allowed the world to hate them, he started planning a new sub-team of Avengers in the hopes of unifying mutant and humankind alike. He chose [[Havok (comics)|Havok]] to lead his team and become the new face to represent mutants as [[Professor X]] and [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]] once were.{{issue|date=September 2014}}

Their first threat was the return of the [[Red Skull]]- more specifically, a clone of the Skull created in 1942 and kept in stasis in the event of the original's death- who usurped Professor X's body to provide himself with telepathic powers, which he would use to provoke citizens of New York into a mass assault against mutants, or anyone who could be one, and force the [[Scarlet Witch]] and [[Rogue (comics)|Rogue]] to allow themselves to be attacked. With the help of the S-Man Honest John, he managed to even manipulate [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]].{{issue|date=September 2014}}

The Red Skull's skills were still erratic, and could not completely control Captain America, an attack against him was enough of a distraction to lose control of Rogue and the Scarlet Witch. After being overpowered by the rest of the Uncanny Avengers, the Red Skull escapes, but promises to return. In the aftermath, both Rogue and the Scarlet Witch joined the team.{{issue|date=September 2014}}

During a battle with an enemy called the Iron Nail, the Super-Soldier Serum within Rogers's body was neutralized, causing him to age rapidly to match his chronological age of over 90 years.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Remender, Rick|penciller= Klein, Nic|inker= Klein, Nic|story= Super-Soldier No More|title= Captain America|volume= 7|issue= 21|date= August 2014}}</ref> No longer able to take part in field missions but retaining his sharp mind, Rogers decided to take on a role as mission coordinator, organizing the Avengers' plans of attack from the mansion, while appointing Sam Wilson as his official "replacement" as Captain America.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Remender, Rick|penciller= [[Carlos Pacheco|Pacheco, Carlos]]; [[Stuart Immonen|Immonen, Stuart]]|inker= Taibo, Mariano; [[Wade Von Grawbadger|Von Grawbadger, Wade]]|story= I remember the first time I met Sam Wilson...|title= Captain America|volume= 7|issue= 25|date= December 2014}}</ref> When various Avengers and X-Men were inverted into villains and several villains inverted into heroism due to a miscast spell by the [[Scarlet Witch]] and [[Doctor Doom]],<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Remender, Rick|penciller= [[Leinil Francis Yu|Yu, Leinil Francis]]|inker= [[Gerry Alanguilan|Alanguilan, Gerry]]|story= The Red Supremacy: Chapter 3|title= [[AXIS (comics)|Avengers & X-Men: AXIS]]|issue= 3|date= December 2014}}</ref> Rogers not only coordinated the efforts of Spider-Man and the inverted villains, now called the "Astonishing Avengers",<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Remender, Rick|penciller= Yu, Leinil Francis|inker= Alanguilan, Gerry; Yu, Leinil Francis|story= Inversion: Chapter 1|title= Avengers & X-Men: AXIS|issue= 4|date= January 2015}}</ref> but also donned his old armor to battle the inverted Falcon,<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Remender, Rick|penciller= Yu, Leinil Francis|inker= Alanguilan, Gerry; Paz, Jason; Yu, Leinil Francis|story= New World Disorder: Chapter 2|title= Avengers & X-Men: AXIS|issue= 8|date= February 2015}}</ref> until the heroes and villains could be returned to normal with the aid of the White Skull (the inverted Red Skull).<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Remender, Rick|penciller= [[Jim Cheung|Cheung, Jim]]; [[Terry Dodson|Dodson, Terry]]; Yu, Leinil Francis; Kubert, Adam|inker= Morales, Mark; Meikis, Dave; Ortega, Guillermo; Roslan, Mark; [[Rachel Dodson|Dodson, Rachel]]; Cheung, Jim; Yu, Leinil Francis; Kubert, Adam|story= New World Disorder: Chapter 3|title= Avengers & X-Men: AXIS|issue= 9|date= February 2015}}</ref>

During the "[[Time Runs Out]]" storyline, Steve Rogers wears armor when he confronts Iron Man. The ensuing fight between the two old friends led Steve Rogers to force Iron Man to admit that he had lied to him and all of their allies, when he had known about the incursions between alternate Earths all along, but Iron Man also confessed that he wouldn't change a thing. The final incursion started and Earth-1610 started approaching Earth-616 while Iron Man and Steve Rogers kept fighting. Earth-1610's S.H.I.E.L.D. launched a full invasion to destroy Earth-616, where Tony Stark and Steve Rogers were crushed by a Helicarrier.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Hickman, Jonathan|penciller= [[Stefano Caselli|Caselli, Stefano]]; [[Kev Walker|Walker, Kev]]|inker= Caselli, Stefano; Walker, Kev|story= One Was Life. One Was Death|title= Avengers|volume= 5|issue= 44 |date= June 2015}}</ref>

As part of the ''[[All-New, All-Different Marvel]]'', Steve Rogers became the new Chief of Civilian Oversight for S.H.I.E.L.D.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Nick Spencer|Spencer, Nick]]|penciller= [[Daniel Acuña|Acuña, Daniel]]|inker= Acuña, Daniel|title= Captain America: Sam Wilson|issue= 2|date= December 2015}}</ref> He returned to the Uncanny Avengers where the team is now using the Schaefer Theater as their headquarters.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Gerry Duggan (writer)|Duggan, Gerry]]|penciller= [[Ryan Stegman|Stegman, Ryan]]|inker= Stegman, Ryan|story= An Imperfect Union|title= Uncanny Avengers|volume= 3 |issue= 1|date= December 2015}}</ref>

Steve Rogers later has an encounter with an alternate [[Old Man Logan|Logan from Earth-807128]]. After defeating Logan and bringing him to Alberta, Canada, Rogers tried to "reassure" Logan that this was not "his" past by showing him the adamantium-frozen body of Earth-616's Logan. This site reminds Logan of the need to enjoy being alive rather than brooding over the ghosts of his past. Although he told Steve Rogers what he had experienced in his timeline, Logan declined Steve's offer of help.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Jeff Lemire|Lemire, Jeff]]|penciller= Sorrentino, Andrea|inker= Sorrentino, Andrea|story= Berserker: Part Four|title= Old Man Logan|volume= 2|issue= 4|date= June 2016}}</ref>

=====Hydra agent=====
{{plot|date=January 2018}}
During the 2016 "[[Avengers: Standoff!]]" storyline, Steve Rogers learns from Rick Jones that S.H.I.E.L.D. has established Pleasant Hill, a gated community where they use Kobik to transform villains into ordinary citizens. When Rogers is brought to Pleasant Hill, he confronts Maria Hill about the Kobik project. Their argument is interrupted when Baron Helmut Zemo and Fixer restore the inmates to normal.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Saiz, Jesus|inker= Saiz, Jesus|title= [[Avengers: Standoff!]]: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha|issue= 1|date= May 2016}}</ref> After Hill is injured, Rogers convinces Zemo to let Hill get medical attention. Rogers is then escorted to Dr. [[Erik Selvig]]'s clinic by Father Patrick. Selvig tells Rogers that Kobik is at the Pleasant Hill Bowling Alley. During an attempt to reason with Kobik, Rogers is attacked by Crossbones. Before Rogers can be killed, Kobik uses her abilities to restore him back to his prime. Declaring that "It's good to be back," Steve defeats Crossbones as Captain America and the Winter Soldier catch up with him.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Acuña, Daniel|inker= Acuña, Daniel|story= Standoff|title= Captain America: Sam Wilson|issue= 7|date= May 2016}}</ref> They resume their search for Kobik, and discover that Baron Zemo had Fixer invent a device that would make Kobik subservient to them. Rogers rallies the heroes so that they can take the fight to Zemo.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= [[Paul Renaud|Renaud, Paul]]|inker= Renaud, Paul|title= Captain America: Sam Wilson|issue= 8|date= June 2016}}</ref> In the aftermath of the incident, Steve and Sam plan to keep what happened at Pleasant Hill under wraps for the time being.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Acuña, Daniel|inker= Acuña, Daniel|title= Avengers: Standoff!: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega]]|issue= 1|date= June 2016}}</ref>

In ''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' #1 (July 2016), the final panel apparently revealed that Rogers has been a [[Hydra (comics)|Hydra]] double-agent since his early youth.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Saiz, Jesus|inker= Saiz, Jesus|title= Captain America: Steve Rogers|issue= 1|date= July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first= Eliana|last= Dockterman|url= http://time.com/4347224/captain-america-hydra-agent-marvel-tom-brevoort/|title= Captain America Is a Hydra Agent: Marvel Editor Explains|work= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date= May 25, 2016|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161010050418/http://time.com/4347224/captain-america-hydra-agent-marvel-tom-brevoort/|archivedate= October 10, 2016|deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/25/captain-america-villain-hydra-nick-spencer-tom-brevoort?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter|title= Marvel's Nick Spencer, Tom Brevoort talk making Captain America a Hydra plant|first= Christian|last= Holub|date= May 25, 2016|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161105105650/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/25/captain-america-villain-hydra-nick-spencer-tom-brevoort?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter|archivedate= November 5, 2016|deadurl= no}}</ref> This is subsequently revealed to be the result of Kobik's restoration of Rogers' youth, as she had been taught by the Red Skull that Hydra was good for the world, and having the mind of a four-year old child, Kobik changed reality so that Rogers would be the greatest man he could be: believing Hydra to be good, Kobik permanently altered his memories so that Rogers believed that he had always been a member of Hydra.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Saiz, Jesus|inker= Saiz, Jesus|title= Captain America: Steve Rogers|issue= 2|date= August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/29904-how-steve-rogers-became-a-hydra-agent-spoilers.html|title=How Steve Rogers Became a Hydra Agent – Spoilers |first= George|last= Marston|publisher=Newsarama|date= June 28, 2016|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160806221228/http://www.newsarama.com/29904-how-steve-rogers-became-a-hydra-agent-spoilers.html|archivedate= August 6, 2016|deadurl= no}}</ref> Some of Rogers' original heroic attributes remain intact, such as covering the death of another Hydra member within S.H.I.E.L.D., [[Erik Selvig]], as well as knowing of [[Jack Flag]]'s tragic life and his immortality, which is why Steve pushes him from Zemo's airplane (resulting in coma, not death). Additionally, it is revealed that Rogers' abusive father, Joseph, was actually killed by Hydra, and that Hydra deceived him into thinking Joseph died of a heart attack.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Saiz, Jesus|inker= Saiz, Jesus|title= Captain America: Steve Rogers|issue= 3|date= September 2016}}</ref> It is also revealed that Rogers witnessed his mother, Sarah, being killed by Sinclair's Hydra goons and kidnapped him, which is the reason why Steve held a grudge towards Hydra's evilness and plans to kill the Red Skull's clone and restore Hydra's lost honor.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Pina, Javier; Sepulveda, Miguel Angel|inker= Pina, Javier; Sepulveda, Miguel Angel|title= Captain America: Steve Rogers|issue= 4|date= October 2016}}</ref> As part of his long-term plans, Steve further compromised Sam Wilson's current image as 'the' Captain America by using his greater familiarity with the shield to deliberately put Wilson in a position where he would be unable to use the shield to save a senator from [[Flag-Smasher]], with the final goal of demoralizing Sam to the point where he will return the shield to Rogers of his own free will, not wanting to kill Wilson and risk creating a martyr.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Renaud, Paul|inker= Renaud, Paul|story= Take Back the Shield Part 1|title= Captain America: Sam Wilson|issue= 14|date= December 2016}}</ref>

During the 2016 "[[Civil War II]]" storyline, with the discovery of new Inhuman [[Ulysses (comics)#Ulysses Cain|Ulysses]] – who has the ability to "predict" the future by calculating complex patterns – Rogers has set out to prevent Ulysses from learning of his true plans and allegiance. Rogers does this by "forcing" certain predictions on him, such as anonymously providing Bruce Banner with new gamma research to provoke a vision that would drive the Avengers to kill Banner, although this plan has apparently backfired with a recent vision showing the new [[Spider-Man (Miles Morales)|Spider-Man]] standing over the dead Steve Rogers.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Pina, Javier|inker= Pina, Javier|title= Captain America: Steve Rogers|issue= 5|date= November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic|writer= Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller= Marquez, David|inker= Marquez, David|title= [[Civil War II]]|issue= 5|date= November 2016}}</ref> Despite this revelation, Rogers presents himself as the voice of reason by allowing Spider-Man to flee with Thor. This inspires doubt in Tony Stark for his current stance by suggesting that he is just acting against Danvers because he does not like being top dog.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Spencer, Nick|penciller= Pina, Javier|inker= Pina, Javier|title= Captain America: Steve Rogers|issue= 6|date= December 2016}}</ref> He then goes to [[Washington, D.C.]], the location seen in Ulysses' vision, to talk to Spider-Man, who was trying to understand the vision like he was. When Captain Marvel attempts to arrest Spider-Man, Tony, wearing the War Machine armor, confronts her and the two begin to fight.<ref>''Civil War II'' #7. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Later, Rogers goes to Sokovia and joins forces with Black Widow to liberate freedom fighters from a prison so they can reclaim their country. After that, he goes to his base where Doctor Selvig expresses concern of his plan to kill the Red Skull. He then reveals that he has Baron Zemo in a cell, planning to recruit him.<ref>''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' #7. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In the 2017 "[[Secret Empire (comics)|Secret Empire]]" storyline, Rogers, as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D, uses a subsequent alien invasion and a mass supervillain assault in order to neutralize the superheroes that might oppose him,<ref>''Secret Empire'' #0. Marvel Comics.</ref> and seeks the Cosmic Cube to bring about a reality in which Hydra won World War II.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> When Rick smuggles information about the Cube's rewriting of Rogers' reality to the remaining free Avengers, a disheveled, bearded man in a torn World War II army uniform appears who introduces himself as Steve Rogers.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> As the Avengers and Hydra search for fragments of the shattered Cube, it is revealed that this amnesic Steve Rogers is actually a manifestation of Rogers existing within the Cube itself, created by Kobik's memories of Rogers before he was converted to Hydra, as she comes to recognize that her decision to 'rewrite' Rogers as an agent of Hydra was wrong.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #9</ref> Although Hydra Rogers is able to mostly reassemble the Cosmic Cube, Sam Wilson and Bucky are able to use a fragment of the cube to restore the 'memory' of pre-Hydra Rogers in the Cube to corporeal existence, allowing him to defeat his Hydra self, subsequently using the Cube to undo most of the damage caused by Hydra manipulating reality even if the physical damage remains.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #10</ref>

==Abilities==
[[File:CAtransformation.png|thumb|Steve Rogers' physical transformation, from a reprint of ''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March 1941). Art and story by [[Joe Simon]] and [[Jack Kirby]].]]

Captain America has no superhuman powers, but through the Super-Soldier Serum and "Vita-Ray" treatment, he is transformed and his strength, endurance, agility, speed, reflexes, durability, and healing are at the zenith of natural human potential. Rogers' body regularly replenishes the super-soldier serum; it does not wear off.<ref name="CA378" />

Although he lacks superhuman strength, Captain America is one of the few mortal beings who has been deemed worthy enough to wield Thor's hammer [[Mjolnir (comics)|Mjolnir]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]]|penciller= [[Ron Frenz|Frenz, Ron]]|inker= [[Brett Breeding|Breeding, Brett]]|story= The Hero and the Hammer|title= [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]|issue= 390|date= April 1988}}</ref>

===Tactician and field commander===
Rogers' battle experience and training make him an expert [[Military tactics|tactician]] and an excellent field commander, with his teammates frequently deferring to his orders in battle. Thor has stated that Rogers is one of the very few humans he will take orders from and follow "through the gates of Hades".<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Jim Shooter|Shooter, Jim]]|penciller= Zeck, Mike|inker= Beatty, John|story= The War Begins|title= [[Secret Wars|Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars]]|issue= 1|date= May 1984}}</ref> Rogers' reflexes and senses are extraordinarily keen. He has blended [[Boxing]],<ref>''The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' vol 1 #2 (February 1983)</ref> [[Judo]],<ref name=CaptainAmericaMartialArts>''The Avengers'' vol 1 #5 (May 1964)</ref> [[Karate]],<ref name=CaptainAmericaMartialArts /> [[Jujutsu]], [[Kickboxing]], and gymnastics into his own unique fighting style and is a master of multiple martial arts. Years of practice with his near-indestructible shield make him able to aim and throw it with almost unerring accuracy. His skill with his shield is such that he can attack multiple targets in succession with a single throw or even cause a [[boomerang]]-like return from a throw to attack an enemy from behind. In canon, he is regarded by other skilled fighters as one of the best [[hand-to-hand combat]]ants in the Marvel Universe, limited only by his human physique.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Mike Carlin|Carlin, Mike]]|penciller= Neary,, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= And Other Strangers|title= Captain America|issue= 302|date= February 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Lim, Ron|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= The Devil You Know|title= Captain America|issue= 375|date= Late August 1990}}</ref> Although the super-soldier serum is an important part of his strength, Rogers has shown himself still sufficiently capable against stronger opponents, even when the serum has been deactivated reverting him to his pre-Captain America physique.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= [[Dale Eaglesham|Eaglesham, Dale]]|inker= Eaglesham, Dale|story= For a lot of my childhood&nbsp;... |title= Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier|issue= 3|date= November 2010}}</ref>

Rogers has vast [[U.S. military]] knowledge and is often shown to be familiar with ongoing, classified Defense Department operations. He is an expert in combat strategy, survival, acrobatics, [[parkour]], military strategy, piloting, and demolitions. Despite his high profile as one of the world's most popular and recognizable superheroes, Rogers has a broad understanding of the espionage community, largely through his ongoing relationship with [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]

===Super-Soldier Serum===
The formula enhances all of his metabolic functions and prevents the build-up of [[lactic acid|fatigue poisons]] in his muscles, giving him endurance far in excess of an ordinary human being. This accounts for many of his extraordinary feats, including bench pressing {{convert|1200|lb|kg}} and running a mile (1.6&nbsp;km) in 73 seconds (49&nbsp;mph/78 kph, nearly twice the maximum speed achieved by the best human sprinters).<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= [[Javier Pulido|Pulido, Javier]]; [[Marcos Martín|Martín, Marcos]]; [[Mike Perkins|Perkins, Mike]]|inker= Pulido, Javier; Martín, Marcos; Perkins, Mike|story= Secrets of Iron & Fire|title= Captain America 65th Anniversary Special|issue= 1|date= May 2006}}</ref> Furthermore, his enhancements are the reason why he was able to survive being frozen in suspended animation for decades. He is highly resistant to hypnosis or gases that could limit his focus.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Kurt Busiek|Busiek, Kurt]]|penciller= [[George Pérez|Pérez, George]]|inker= Pérez, George|story= Book Four: The Brave and the Bold|title= [[JLA/Avengers|Avengers/JLA]]|issue= 4|date= March 2005}}</ref> The secrets of creating a super-soldier were lost with the death of its creator, [[Dr. Abraham Erskine]].<ref name="tos origin" /> In the ensuing decades there have been numerous attempts to recreate Erskine's treatment, only to have them end in failure. Even worse, the attempts have instead often created psychopathic supervillains of which Captain America's [[Grand Director|1950s imitator]] and [[Nuke (Marvel Comics)|Nuke]] are the most notorious examples.

===Weapons and equipment===
{{further information|Captain America's shield}}
[[File:Captain America's shield.svg|thumb|Captain America's shield]]
Captain America has used multiple shields throughout his history, the most prevalent of which is a nigh-indestructible disc-shaped shield made from an experimental [[alloy]] of steel and the fictional [[vibranium]].<ref name="CA303">{{cite comic| writer= [[Mike Carlin|Carlin, Mike]]|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Double Dare|title= Captain America|issue= 303|date= March 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Carlin, Mike|penciller= Neary, Paul|inker= Janke, Dennis|story= Undercover of the Night|title= Captain America|issue= 304|date= April 1985}}</ref> The shield was cast by American metallurgist [[Dr. Myron MacLain]], who was contracted by the U.S. government, from orders of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], to create an impenetrable substance to use for tanks during World War II.<ref name="CA303" /> This alloy was created by accident and never duplicated, although efforts to reverse-engineer it resulted in the discovery of [[adamantium]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Thomas, Roy|penciller= [[Barry Windsor-Smith|Smith, Barry]]|inker= Shores, Syd|story= Betrayal|title= The [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]|issue= 66|date= July 1969}}</ref>

Captain America often uses his shield as an offensive throwing weapon. The first instance of Captain America's trademark ricocheting shield-toss occurs in [[Stan Lee]]'s first comics writing, the two-page text story "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge" in ''Captain America Comics'' #3 (May 1941).<ref name="AmazingMarvelUniverse" /> The legacy of the shield among other comics characters includes the time-traveling mutant superhero [[Cable (comics)|Cable]] telling Captain America that his shield still exists in one of the possible futures; Cable carries it into battle and brandishes it as a symbol.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Nicieza, Fabian|penciller= Medina, Lan|inker= Tadeo, Ed|story= Living Legends|title= [[Cable & Deadpool]]|issue= 25|date= April 2006}}</ref>

When without his trademark shield, Captain America sometimes uses other shields made from less durable metals such as steel,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Mark Waid|Waid, Mark]]|penciller= [[Ron Garney|Garney, Ron]]|inker= [[Bob Wiacek|Wiacek, Bob]]|story= Museum Piece|title= Captain America|volume= 3|issue= 3|date= March 1998}}</ref> or even a photonic energy shield designed to mimic a vibranium matrix.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Waid, Mark|penciller= [[Andy Kubert|Kubert, Andy]]|inker= Delperdang, Jesse|story= American Nightmare, Chapter One: The Bite of Madness!|title= Captain America|volume= 3|issue= 9|date= September 1998}}</ref> Rogers, having relinquished his regular shield to Barnes, carried a variant of the energy shield which can be used with either arm, and used to either block attacks or as an improvised offensive weapon able to cut through metal with relative ease.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brubaker, Ed|penciller= Eaglesham, Dale|inker= Eaglesham, Dale|story= In 1940, the first Professor Erskine created what became&nbsp;... |title= Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier|issue= 4|date= December 2010}}</ref> Much like his Vibranium shield, the energy shield can be thrown, including ricocheting off multiple surfaces and returning to his hand.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= McCann, Jim|penciller= Diaz, Paco; Dragotta, Nick|inker= Diaz, Paco; Dragotta, Nick|story= Off-Target!|title= Hawkeye: Blindspot|issue= 2|date= May 2011}}</ref>

Captain America's uniform is made of a fire-retardant material, and he wears a lightweight, bulletproof [[duralumin]] [[Mail (armour)|scale armor]] beneath his uniform for added protection.<ref name="stern origin"/> Originally, Rogers' mask was a separate piece of material, but an early engagement had it dislodged, thus almost exposing his identity. To prevent a recurrence of the situation, Rogers modified the mask with connecting material to his uniform, an added benefit of which was extending his armor to cover his previously exposed neck. As a member of the Avengers, Rogers has an Avengers priority card, which serves as a communications device.

Captain America has used a custom specialized motorcycle, modified by the [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] weapons laboratory, as well as a custom-built battle van, constructed by the [[Wakanda (comics)|Wakanda]] Design Group with the ability to change its color for disguise purposes (red, white and blue), and fitted to store and conceal the custom motorcycle in its rear section with a frame that allows Rogers to launch from the vehicle riding it.

==Antagonists==
{{Main article|List of Captain America enemies}}
Captain America has faced numerous foes in over 70 years of published adventures. Many of his recurring foes embody ideologies contrary to the American values that Captain America is shown to strive for and believes in. Some examples of these opposing values are Nazism ([[Red Skull]], [[Baron Zemo]]), [[Neo-Nazism]] ([[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]], [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Doctor Faustus]]), technocratic fascism ([[Advanced Idea Mechanics|AIM]], [[Arnim Zola]]), Communism ([[Aleksander Lukin]]), anarchism ([[Flag Smasher]]) and international and domestic terrorism ([[Hydra (Marvel Comics)|Hydra]]).

==Other versions==
{{Main article|Alternative versions of Captain America}}

==In other media==
{{Main article|Captain America in other media}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{Portal|Superhero fiction|United States|Comics}}

*{{cite web | last=Gladstone | first=Brooke | url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/129271-death-to-america/#transcript | title= Death to America | publisher=Transcript and streaming audio; [[Ed Brubaker]] and [[Joe Simon]] interviewed|work=[[On the Media]]|date=March 9, 2007 | accessdate=July 27, 2007}}
*{{cite web | last=Powell | first=Matt | url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/003800596.cfm | work=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | date=March 7, 2007 | title=Captain America Remembered | accessdate=July 27, 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309130111/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/003800596.cfm|archivedate=March 9, 2007}}
*[http://www.captainamericalibrary.com/ Captain America Library] (fan site). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708115149/http://www.captainamericalibrary.com/superhero-library/captain-america/captain-america-home-page.aspx Archived] from the original on July 8, 2011.
*{{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=208|title=Captain America (Steve Rogers)}}
*[http://comicbookimagesgallery.com/tags/captain%20america Captain America cover gallery]
*{{cite web |url= http://www.toonopedia.com/capamer.htm|title= Captain America|first= Don|last= Markstein|year= 2010|publisher= [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]|accessdate= April 9, 2012}}
{{marvelwiki}}

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