10 Fascinating facts About Captain America From Marvel That You Might Not Know

Marvel's Captain America, the protagonist of the film Captain America: The First Avenger, is one of the most iconic superheroes in the Marvel universe and has a rich history that predates even the comics. In both the comics and the MCU, Captain America is depicted as the quintessential American hero. While Marvel Comics readers may be more familiar with the character, the MCU's portrayal of Captain America tries to remain faithful to the source material. Chris Evans, an American actor, perfectly embodies Steve Rogers, and the MCU has attempted to have more similarities than differences with the comics. To provide more insight into the character, here are ten lesser-known facts about Marvel's Captain America.

1. Captain America Wasn’t Always The First Avenger

For those who have only experienced Marvel superheroes through the MCU's live-action films, it may come as a surprise to learn that the first Avenger was not actually Captain America. The source of this confusion can be traced back to the first Captain America movie, titled Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), which suggests that he was the first Avenger in Marvel Comics. However, in the comics, The Avengers #1 was released in September 1963, featuring Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp as the original team members. They were known as "Earth's Mightiest Heroes." Captain America was not introduced until issue #4, after being discovered trapped in ice, and only joined the team after being revived.

2. The First Man On The Moon

The House of M Marvel Comics storyline contains a fact that isn't present in the MCU and is only known to fans of Marvel Comics. In this storyline, Captain America becomes the first man to set foot on the moon. The House of M publication was written and illustrated by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel and was released from June to November 2005. In this alternate reality, the Scarlet Witch creates a world where mutants rule and Steve Rogers' life is altered as well. Instead of being frozen in ice, Rogers marries Peggy Carter and becomes an astronaut for NASA. In collaboration with mutants, they create a spaceship and Rogers is sent to the moon, making him the first man to set foot on it over a decade before the actual event in 1969. This could potentially be a storyline for the animated anthology series What If...? on Disney+.

3. Has A Patriotic Birthday

Steve Rogers' role as Captain America is not just about his superpowers, but also about his symbolic significance in American culture. Rogers embodies the ideals of patriotism and hope, and his fate seems to be tied to his birth on July 4th, the American Independence Day. He fights against villains like Hitler and otherworldly beings, representing the values of American patriotism and bravery.

4. Captain America’s Shield Once Looked Very Different

The circular shield that Captain America wields in the MCU and later Marvel Comics first appeared in issue #2 of Captain America Comics in 1941. Initially, in the first issue, Captain America used a heater-style shield made of steel. The circular shield, made of Vibranium, became the iconic weapon of choice for the superhero. However, the reason for this change wasn't due to any storyline but because of a copyright issue. The heater-style shield was similar to the one used in Archie Comics, prompting complaints and leading to the introduction of the circular shield.

5. Steve Rogers Had Other Plans Before Becoming A Superhero

Steve Rogers had interests and talents outside of his role as a hero. In Marvel Comics, he won the Art of the Future contest due to his impressive artistic abilities. The First Avenger, the first Captain America movie in the MCU, also showcased his talent for drawing. In one scene, Rogers is seen sitting alone during his war tour, sketching himself as a performing monkey in his notebook. Although his artistic abilities may not be useful in stopping catastrophic threats like Thanos, they show that Captain America is a relatable and human character.

6. Chris Evans Was Not The First Live-Action Captain America

The first live-action movie featuring Captain America was released in 1944, long before the MCU's introduction of the superhero in 2011. Dick Purcell played the titular character in the black-and-white film. Another live-action adaptation of the superhero was released in 1979, with Reb Brown taking on the role of Captain America. Two more movies, Captain America II: Death Too Soon and Captain America, were released in 1979 and 1990, respectively, before the release of Chris Evans' Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. Reb Brown played the role of Captain America again in 1979, and Matt Salinger portrayed the character in 1990.

7. Captain America Was Once A Werewolf

For a superhero who has battled gods, aliens, and monsters, transforming into a werewolf may not seem so daunting. In the Marvel Comics series "Captain America: Man & Wolf" (issues #402-408), Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, is injected with a wolf serum while searching for Colonel John Jameson. Upon becoming a werewolf, Rogers becomes known as Capwolf and even defeats Wolverine in battle. He eventually becomes the leader of a team of werewolves until a cure is discovered.

8. He Is Older Than Marvel

Captain America, a Marvel superhero, was actually created by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics. This means that Captain America existed before the creation of Marvel Comics, based on the timeline of the character's creation.

9. He Was Almost Called Super American

When Captain America was created, most superheroes had names with the prefix "Super" in them. While the creators initially considered naming him "Super American," they ultimately decided to give him the name "Captain America" to distinguish him from other heroes and create a unique identity for the character.

10. Steve Rogers Once Abandoned His Captain America Identity

Marvel Comics readers were introduced to Captain America's alter ego, Nomad, in issue #180 of the Captain America comic book in December 1974. The character was created by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema. Steve Rogers, the Sentinel of Liberty, becomes disillusioned when he discovers that a high-ranking member of the U.S. government is the leader of a terrorist group. He temporarily abandons his Captain America persona and adopts the identity of Nomad.