Superhero Origins: Captain America
Chosen as the first human test subject to receive super-soldier serum, Rogers was given a super-hero persona and a uniform modeled after the American flag, based on his own illustrations. Vowing to serve as both a counter-propaganda force, and counter-intelligence agent, he was reborn as Captain America. In this role, he would stand as a red, white and blue symbol of freedom, armed with nothing but an indestructible disc-shaped shield. Facing off against Red Skull, the head of Germany’s terrorist operations, he would be accompanied by a fellow soldier who became his loyal sidekick Bucky. Join WatchMojo.com as we explore the origins of the iconic superhero Captain America.
COMMUNITY
Download this VideoVIDEO SCRIPT
Influenced by real-world politics, Captain America is unique from most of his superhero counterparts. Welcome to Watchmojo.com, and today we will explore how a sickly young man was enhanced to the peak of human perfection to help the United States win their war effort.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in the original Captain America Comics (1941) and was expanded on in Tales of Suspense #63 (1964).
Steve Rogers was born on July 4th, 1922 in the lower East Side of Manhattan. The frail son of Irish immigrants, he grew up in the great depression. Sadly, his father had died when he was only a child, and his mother passed away due to contracting pneumonia when he was only a teenager.
In the years that followed he went on to study fine arts, specializing in illustration. It was his horror of the Nazis’ deeds in Europe, and atrocities committed by the Japanese Empire that convinced Rogers to join the army.
Rejected due to his frailty and sickness, his passionate pleas to be given a chance to fight for his country compelled General Chester Philips to offer him a unique opportunity. Rogers was picked to take part in a top-secret experiment called ‘Operation Rebirth’, designed to create physically superior soldiers for the American Military.
Chosen as the first human test subject by Dr. Joseph Reinstein to receive the super-soldier serum, he was exposed to “Vita-Rays,” activating the chemicals that had been put into his system.
While he was in the transformation process, a covert Nazi spy revealed his true identity and killed the scientist, knowing that Dr. Reinstein had committed crucial portions of the formula to memory.
Rogers killed the spy with his newfound strength, but it was too late, the Nazi’s had achieved their goal of preventing the U.S military from producing any more super soldiers.
As the only super human, Rogers was given a super-hero persona and a uniform modelled after the American flag, based on his own illustrations.
Vowing to serve as both a counter-propaganda force, and counter-intelligence agent, Rogers was reborn as Captain America.
In this role, he would stand as a red, white and blue symbol of freedom, armed with nothing but a gun and kite-shaped bulletproof shield. Later, President Roosevelt replaced both with an indestructible disc-shaped shield. Miraculously, it could be hurled at foes, yet would always return to his hands.
Facing off against Red Skull, the head of Germany’s terrorist operations, he was accompanied by James Barnes, a soldier who happened upon Rogers' tent as he was changing to his masked identity. Sworn to secrecy, Barnes underwent an intensive training program under Captain America and became his sidekick Bucky.
Together, they fought the fascist forces and became the two most honored names in adventuredom.
TRIVIA