Post by goldenfist on Feb 7, 2008 1:34:44 GMT -5
I read this from newsarama.com so I thought I should copy the
letters and put them in forum.
Steve Rogers
The big guy. The original. The Coca-Cola Classic to countless iterations of New Coke. Steve Rogers started out as a scrawny art student; he was in fact deemed unfit to enlist at the dawn of World War II. Recruited for “Operation: Rebirth”, Rogers ingests a Super-Soldier Serum (boosted with some Vita-Rays); this transformed the frail young man in a strong and agile warrior. Given a costume, a triangular shield and yes, a gun, Rogers becomes Captain America.
His initial assignment placed him undercover in the military, where he met James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes. Naturally inquisitive, Bucky learned Steve’s other identity, and eventually became his sidekick. As revealed in Captain America #255, Cap received his more familiar indestructible shield after teaming with Bucky (its also when he gave up carrying his gun). Together (and also with the Invaders) the two undertake many missions in the war, operating virtually exclusively in the European theater. As a result, Captain America became a symbol of America to the country, a hero of and inspiration to countless American soldiers, and a legend among American culture.
Unfortunately, the two heroes fell during a battle with Baron Zemo in 1945. Cap is retrieved from ice and revived by the Avengers many years later (Avengers #4 in 1964); and Bucky…well, his final fate was revealed only recently.
Isaiah Bradley
After the Super Soldier Serum successfully made young, scrawny Steve Rogers into Captain America, every country, including the U.S., was desperate to repeat the process. Unfortunately, the Serum died with its creator. An altered version was tested on hundreds of black soldiers, with only five of them surviving the process. One of them, Isaiah Bradley, took a spare Captain America costume and tried to take down a Nazi concentration camp on his own. He managed to assassinate a rival scientist creating his own Super Soldier Serum, Dr. Koch, was captured, subsequently rescued, and then court-martialed and imprisoned for his efforts. Eventually, he was pardoned by President Eisenhower, but not before the government used his DNA to create yet another super-soldier, Josiah X, as seen in The Crew. While he was a hero to the black community throughout the ‘60s through the ‘80s, Isaiah’s health deteriorated in his later years as a direct result of the ad hoc treatments that were used to mimic the Super Soldier Serum.
Josiah’s nephew eventually became the current Patriot, Elijah Bradley. After initially using MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone) to emulate the Super Soldier Serum, Patriot received a blood transfusion from his grandfather, Isaiah, and gained the same slightly heightened “super-soldier” abilities of the first African-American Captain America.
Looking at things chronologically, Isaiah was active as “Captain America” at the same time as Steve Rogers during World War II, but was imprisoned through the remainder of the 40s and '50s, and released in 1960.
William Naslund
In a story initially related in What If? #4 (original series) that has been grandfathered into continuity, William Naslund, the costumed hero known as Spirit of ’76, takes over as Captain America - and his membership in the post-Invaders group, the All-Winners Squad. Naslund took up the mantle at the behest of President Truman, who feared the loss of American morale if the country learned of Cap’s earlier demise, so he decided that the identity would go on, complete with a “Bucky” with Yankees batboy Fred Davis taking that role.
Later, an android kills Naslund during a plot to kill young Congressman Jack Kennedy.
Chronologically, Naslund only served as Captain America for a little over a year – he was killed in 1946, and succeeded by…
Jeff Mace
Known as the Patriot from the Liberty Legion, Mace found the dying Naslund and donned the Captain America outfit to complete the rescue of JFK. Mace revealed the truth to the All-Winners, and he stayed on as Cap (with Davis as “Bucky”). Davis is eventually injured and forced out of his role. Some time before 1953, Mace married fellow crime fighter Golden Girl (FBI Agent Betty Ross), whom he had trained as his second partner. Mace passes died from cancer years later.
For those keeping track, Mace would have been the Captain America in Captain America #58-#75 (Sept. 1946 - Feb. 1950), and any appearances during that time.
’50s Cap (became Grand Director) w/Jack Monroe as Bucky
In the 1950s, Steve Rogers, Captain America was shown in comics fighting Communist Russia and the (now) Communist Red Skrull. He even had Bucky in tow. Again, this caused some obvious continuity issues.
To resolve these (and to give Marvel a couple of extra characters to play with), it was revealed that this “Steve Rogers” was in fact someone who merely idolized the original – his real name has never been revealed. This “Steve,” along with his new “Bucky,” Jack Monroe, both took a near perfect version of the Super Soldier Serum. However, they weren’t exposed to the proper radiation (Vita-rays of the original) to stabilize the Serum. This discrepancy led to the two having psychotic episodes because of this, and attack civilians they think are communists. The FBI grabbed them and put them both in suspended animation in 1955.
Publishing history-wise, this Captain America would have been in Young Men in 1953 and Captain America Comics #76-#78 in 1954 when the series carried “Captain America…Commie Smasher!” above its title. This Cap’s history was first revealed in Captain America #153-#156 in 1972.
Continuity-wise, years after being placed in suspended animation, both “Cap” and the Jack Monroe “Bucky” were revived and used against the returned, Steve Rogers Captain America. The ‘50s “Cap” completed his arc by becoming a villain, taking the name of Grand Director and aligning himself with Dr. Faustus. The Grand Director ultimately killed himself in shame after a defeat by Rogers. The revelation of another Captain America deeply affected Rogers and echoed within his mind to the day he died.
As for Jack Monroe…well, more on him coming up…
Bob Russo, “Scar” Turpin, Roscoe
In Captain America #176, Steve Rogers gave up the identity of Cap, due to disagreement with the way the government ran things which led to disillusionment with his country. Needing the continuity of Cap as a symbol, the government sought to replace him, and three men tried to take his place. The first was Bob Russo. On his first patrol, Bob broke his arm, and retired the next day.
Ol’ Scar Turpin was inspired by Russo’s attempt, and decided he, too, would be Captain America. He was beaten down by six members of a gang, and, yup, quit the next day.
Roscoe made it farther than the men directly preceding him. He even managed to take down some thugs after training with The Falcon. Unfortunately, this caught the attention of the Red Skull. Skull beat the Falcon severely, and killed Roscoe for not being the “real” Captain America.
This story is remarkably similar to one that played out in the same book 80 or so issues earlier. Granted, it was still called Tales of Suspense then, but it did set the precedent for Steve Rogers quitting being Captain America. Also, it was during this period that Rogers took up the identity of Nomad – literally a man without a country. Rogers realized that Captain America could stand for the country, not the government, and took up the mantle once again. Jack Monroe later took the identity of Nomad (and had a wild and troubled ride through the Marvel Universe, until he was ultimately assassinated by the Winter Soldier).
John Walker (formerly Super Patriot, then USAgent)
When the Commission of Super-human Activities decided Steve Rogers wasn’t easily enough manipulated, they took the shield and uniform of Captain America away from him. In Captain America #334, a new Cap, with a new Bucky, came on the scene. John Walker, who formerly was known as Super Patriot, and Lemar Hoskins, donned the uniforms of the fabled heroes.
John had augmented strength, and Lemar received that as well, making this a fully super-powered Cap/Bucky team. John had his heart in the right place; he wanted to uphold the ideals of the original Captain America, but also was more willing than Steve Rogers to fall in line with the Commission on Super-human Activities (sound familiar, Civil War fans?). Walker seemed to always hit a little harder than Steve Rogers - not just because he had super strength, but because of the way he fought.
Walker became increasingly violent in his time as Cap, something which led him to take bloody revenge on The Watchdogs, a paramilitary group after his parents were killed. He also nearly killed two former partners, Right and Left Winger (no relation to the ‘80s hair band). The Government grew increasingly restless about keeping John in the role, and even had The Captain (Steve Rogers, below) clean up his mess against Flag Smasher, who, well, smashed Walker’s Flag, to put it bluntly.
Walker’s run as Captain America came to a close in Captain America #350. The Red Skull revealed himself as the manipulator behind all of Walker’s foes, and to now be living in a cloned body of Steve Rogers himself. A fight between Skull, Walker, and Rogers ensued. After it all, the Commission, and ultimately John Walker, decided that Steve Rogers should have the uniform and shield of Captain America once more. Walker eventually slightly modified Rogers “The Captain” uniform and became USAgent, fighting alongside the West Coast Avengers. After stints with The Jury and The Invaders, he now fights as the US representative of Canadian superteam Omega Flight.
Steve Rogers as The Captain
During the John Walker Cap era, Steve Rogers donned a new identity and a new costume, calling himself simply, The Captain. His new costume was a darker version of the original, with Black replacing the blue (and even some of the red) in the design. While the government no longer approved of his activities, Steve led an Avengers team, albeit a ragtag one, including two of the Fantastic Four. He also had adventures with his longtime friend, sometime partner The Falcon, along with Nomad and D-Man. The identity, ultimately, was short-lived, as he resumed the role of Captain America after a run in with John Walker and the Red Skull after a little over two years real-time of being The Captain.
Cap-Wolf
Alright, slightly silly, but still…Cap palled around and teamed up with John Jameson, son of J. Jonah Jameson for some time. John operated as Cap’s personal pilot, bringing him to missions on his mostly solo adventures. At one point, after the Avengers returned from Operation Galactic Storm, John disappeared, and hadn’t contacted Cap in quite some time. Steve teamed up with Dr. Druid, a Dr. Strange wannabe, and tracked suspicious werewolf activity to a small town; in fact, the whole town had been turned to werewolves. Knowing John’s secret, that he has also been known as Man-wolf, Cap followed this lead.
After run-ins with Moonhunter, Dredmund, and Nightshade (and even a special guest appearance by Wolverine!), Cap was captured. Using a special formula devised by the magic using Dredmund, Nightshade turned Captain America into a werewolf. A Cap-Wolf, if you will. With the help of Wolfsbane of X-Factor fame (guest stars galore!), Jack Russel, another wolfen character, Cable, Wolvie, and John Jameson, Cap-Wolf managed to defeat the nefarious Dredmund, who had since become Starwolf. At the end of it all, Cap and all the townspeople were cured of their lycanthropy, and John resigned as Cap’s pilot.
Others
Sam Wilson
Sam’s main superhero identity is that of The Falcon, Cap’s on again off again partner. In the mini-series Sentinel of Liberty, Sam donned the Captain America costume briefly; he later went back to his Falcon costume.
Clint Barton
After the Super-hero Civil War, and his return from death, Iron Man offered Clint the role of Captain America. He went out on patrol one time, and through an encounter with the new Hawkeye of the Young Avengers realized he didn’t yet feel worthy of the Captain America name, shield and all that goes with it. Deep inside, however, he hopes to be in that role some day, as was revealed to him by Dr. Strange.
And as for the Cap assuming the role in Captain America #34? Spoilers ahead:
As readers of issue #33 know, Captain America’s original partner, Bucky Barnes (retrieved from the same icey seas by Russian agents shortly after being thrown from Baron Zemo’s exploding rocket and brainwashed into being the Winter Soldier who was active throughout the Cold War) has returned to the side of the angels, and has agreed to take up the mantle of his predecessor and former partner following his death. Bucky has conditions though – he is answerable to no higher authority, and wears a modified version of the Captain America costume, complete with a pistol and a knife.
How long will this version of Cap last? Time will tell.
letters and put them in forum.
Steve Rogers
The big guy. The original. The Coca-Cola Classic to countless iterations of New Coke. Steve Rogers started out as a scrawny art student; he was in fact deemed unfit to enlist at the dawn of World War II. Recruited for “Operation: Rebirth”, Rogers ingests a Super-Soldier Serum (boosted with some Vita-Rays); this transformed the frail young man in a strong and agile warrior. Given a costume, a triangular shield and yes, a gun, Rogers becomes Captain America.
His initial assignment placed him undercover in the military, where he met James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes. Naturally inquisitive, Bucky learned Steve’s other identity, and eventually became his sidekick. As revealed in Captain America #255, Cap received his more familiar indestructible shield after teaming with Bucky (its also when he gave up carrying his gun). Together (and also with the Invaders) the two undertake many missions in the war, operating virtually exclusively in the European theater. As a result, Captain America became a symbol of America to the country, a hero of and inspiration to countless American soldiers, and a legend among American culture.
Unfortunately, the two heroes fell during a battle with Baron Zemo in 1945. Cap is retrieved from ice and revived by the Avengers many years later (Avengers #4 in 1964); and Bucky…well, his final fate was revealed only recently.
Isaiah Bradley
After the Super Soldier Serum successfully made young, scrawny Steve Rogers into Captain America, every country, including the U.S., was desperate to repeat the process. Unfortunately, the Serum died with its creator. An altered version was tested on hundreds of black soldiers, with only five of them surviving the process. One of them, Isaiah Bradley, took a spare Captain America costume and tried to take down a Nazi concentration camp on his own. He managed to assassinate a rival scientist creating his own Super Soldier Serum, Dr. Koch, was captured, subsequently rescued, and then court-martialed and imprisoned for his efforts. Eventually, he was pardoned by President Eisenhower, but not before the government used his DNA to create yet another super-soldier, Josiah X, as seen in The Crew. While he was a hero to the black community throughout the ‘60s through the ‘80s, Isaiah’s health deteriorated in his later years as a direct result of the ad hoc treatments that were used to mimic the Super Soldier Serum.
Josiah’s nephew eventually became the current Patriot, Elijah Bradley. After initially using MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone) to emulate the Super Soldier Serum, Patriot received a blood transfusion from his grandfather, Isaiah, and gained the same slightly heightened “super-soldier” abilities of the first African-American Captain America.
Looking at things chronologically, Isaiah was active as “Captain America” at the same time as Steve Rogers during World War II, but was imprisoned through the remainder of the 40s and '50s, and released in 1960.
William Naslund
In a story initially related in What If? #4 (original series) that has been grandfathered into continuity, William Naslund, the costumed hero known as Spirit of ’76, takes over as Captain America - and his membership in the post-Invaders group, the All-Winners Squad. Naslund took up the mantle at the behest of President Truman, who feared the loss of American morale if the country learned of Cap’s earlier demise, so he decided that the identity would go on, complete with a “Bucky” with Yankees batboy Fred Davis taking that role.
Later, an android kills Naslund during a plot to kill young Congressman Jack Kennedy.
Chronologically, Naslund only served as Captain America for a little over a year – he was killed in 1946, and succeeded by…
Jeff Mace
Known as the Patriot from the Liberty Legion, Mace found the dying Naslund and donned the Captain America outfit to complete the rescue of JFK. Mace revealed the truth to the All-Winners, and he stayed on as Cap (with Davis as “Bucky”). Davis is eventually injured and forced out of his role. Some time before 1953, Mace married fellow crime fighter Golden Girl (FBI Agent Betty Ross), whom he had trained as his second partner. Mace passes died from cancer years later.
For those keeping track, Mace would have been the Captain America in Captain America #58-#75 (Sept. 1946 - Feb. 1950), and any appearances during that time.
’50s Cap (became Grand Director) w/Jack Monroe as Bucky
In the 1950s, Steve Rogers, Captain America was shown in comics fighting Communist Russia and the (now) Communist Red Skrull. He even had Bucky in tow. Again, this caused some obvious continuity issues.
To resolve these (and to give Marvel a couple of extra characters to play with), it was revealed that this “Steve Rogers” was in fact someone who merely idolized the original – his real name has never been revealed. This “Steve,” along with his new “Bucky,” Jack Monroe, both took a near perfect version of the Super Soldier Serum. However, they weren’t exposed to the proper radiation (Vita-rays of the original) to stabilize the Serum. This discrepancy led to the two having psychotic episodes because of this, and attack civilians they think are communists. The FBI grabbed them and put them both in suspended animation in 1955.
Publishing history-wise, this Captain America would have been in Young Men in 1953 and Captain America Comics #76-#78 in 1954 when the series carried “Captain America…Commie Smasher!” above its title. This Cap’s history was first revealed in Captain America #153-#156 in 1972.
Continuity-wise, years after being placed in suspended animation, both “Cap” and the Jack Monroe “Bucky” were revived and used against the returned, Steve Rogers Captain America. The ‘50s “Cap” completed his arc by becoming a villain, taking the name of Grand Director and aligning himself with Dr. Faustus. The Grand Director ultimately killed himself in shame after a defeat by Rogers. The revelation of another Captain America deeply affected Rogers and echoed within his mind to the day he died.
As for Jack Monroe…well, more on him coming up…
Bob Russo, “Scar” Turpin, Roscoe
In Captain America #176, Steve Rogers gave up the identity of Cap, due to disagreement with the way the government ran things which led to disillusionment with his country. Needing the continuity of Cap as a symbol, the government sought to replace him, and three men tried to take his place. The first was Bob Russo. On his first patrol, Bob broke his arm, and retired the next day.
Ol’ Scar Turpin was inspired by Russo’s attempt, and decided he, too, would be Captain America. He was beaten down by six members of a gang, and, yup, quit the next day.
Roscoe made it farther than the men directly preceding him. He even managed to take down some thugs after training with The Falcon. Unfortunately, this caught the attention of the Red Skull. Skull beat the Falcon severely, and killed Roscoe for not being the “real” Captain America.
This story is remarkably similar to one that played out in the same book 80 or so issues earlier. Granted, it was still called Tales of Suspense then, but it did set the precedent for Steve Rogers quitting being Captain America. Also, it was during this period that Rogers took up the identity of Nomad – literally a man without a country. Rogers realized that Captain America could stand for the country, not the government, and took up the mantle once again. Jack Monroe later took the identity of Nomad (and had a wild and troubled ride through the Marvel Universe, until he was ultimately assassinated by the Winter Soldier).
John Walker (formerly Super Patriot, then USAgent)
When the Commission of Super-human Activities decided Steve Rogers wasn’t easily enough manipulated, they took the shield and uniform of Captain America away from him. In Captain America #334, a new Cap, with a new Bucky, came on the scene. John Walker, who formerly was known as Super Patriot, and Lemar Hoskins, donned the uniforms of the fabled heroes.
John had augmented strength, and Lemar received that as well, making this a fully super-powered Cap/Bucky team. John had his heart in the right place; he wanted to uphold the ideals of the original Captain America, but also was more willing than Steve Rogers to fall in line with the Commission on Super-human Activities (sound familiar, Civil War fans?). Walker seemed to always hit a little harder than Steve Rogers - not just because he had super strength, but because of the way he fought.
Walker became increasingly violent in his time as Cap, something which led him to take bloody revenge on The Watchdogs, a paramilitary group after his parents were killed. He also nearly killed two former partners, Right and Left Winger (no relation to the ‘80s hair band). The Government grew increasingly restless about keeping John in the role, and even had The Captain (Steve Rogers, below) clean up his mess against Flag Smasher, who, well, smashed Walker’s Flag, to put it bluntly.
Walker’s run as Captain America came to a close in Captain America #350. The Red Skull revealed himself as the manipulator behind all of Walker’s foes, and to now be living in a cloned body of Steve Rogers himself. A fight between Skull, Walker, and Rogers ensued. After it all, the Commission, and ultimately John Walker, decided that Steve Rogers should have the uniform and shield of Captain America once more. Walker eventually slightly modified Rogers “The Captain” uniform and became USAgent, fighting alongside the West Coast Avengers. After stints with The Jury and The Invaders, he now fights as the US representative of Canadian superteam Omega Flight.
Steve Rogers as The Captain
During the John Walker Cap era, Steve Rogers donned a new identity and a new costume, calling himself simply, The Captain. His new costume was a darker version of the original, with Black replacing the blue (and even some of the red) in the design. While the government no longer approved of his activities, Steve led an Avengers team, albeit a ragtag one, including two of the Fantastic Four. He also had adventures with his longtime friend, sometime partner The Falcon, along with Nomad and D-Man. The identity, ultimately, was short-lived, as he resumed the role of Captain America after a run in with John Walker and the Red Skull after a little over two years real-time of being The Captain.
Cap-Wolf
Alright, slightly silly, but still…Cap palled around and teamed up with John Jameson, son of J. Jonah Jameson for some time. John operated as Cap’s personal pilot, bringing him to missions on his mostly solo adventures. At one point, after the Avengers returned from Operation Galactic Storm, John disappeared, and hadn’t contacted Cap in quite some time. Steve teamed up with Dr. Druid, a Dr. Strange wannabe, and tracked suspicious werewolf activity to a small town; in fact, the whole town had been turned to werewolves. Knowing John’s secret, that he has also been known as Man-wolf, Cap followed this lead.
After run-ins with Moonhunter, Dredmund, and Nightshade (and even a special guest appearance by Wolverine!), Cap was captured. Using a special formula devised by the magic using Dredmund, Nightshade turned Captain America into a werewolf. A Cap-Wolf, if you will. With the help of Wolfsbane of X-Factor fame (guest stars galore!), Jack Russel, another wolfen character, Cable, Wolvie, and John Jameson, Cap-Wolf managed to defeat the nefarious Dredmund, who had since become Starwolf. At the end of it all, Cap and all the townspeople were cured of their lycanthropy, and John resigned as Cap’s pilot.
Others
Sam Wilson
Sam’s main superhero identity is that of The Falcon, Cap’s on again off again partner. In the mini-series Sentinel of Liberty, Sam donned the Captain America costume briefly; he later went back to his Falcon costume.
Clint Barton
After the Super-hero Civil War, and his return from death, Iron Man offered Clint the role of Captain America. He went out on patrol one time, and through an encounter with the new Hawkeye of the Young Avengers realized he didn’t yet feel worthy of the Captain America name, shield and all that goes with it. Deep inside, however, he hopes to be in that role some day, as was revealed to him by Dr. Strange.
And as for the Cap assuming the role in Captain America #34? Spoilers ahead:
As readers of issue #33 know, Captain America’s original partner, Bucky Barnes (retrieved from the same icey seas by Russian agents shortly after being thrown from Baron Zemo’s exploding rocket and brainwashed into being the Winter Soldier who was active throughout the Cold War) has returned to the side of the angels, and has agreed to take up the mantle of his predecessor and former partner following his death. Bucky has conditions though – he is answerable to no higher authority, and wears a modified version of the Captain America costume, complete with a pistol and a knife.
How long will this version of Cap last? Time will tell.
