Buzz
Thanks to the recent wave of hit superhero movies, Captain America is a household name. However, comic book enthusiasts know that there are many odd tales about this patriotic hero that will never make it to the big screen.
10. He Has No Idea What Drugs Are
For a character as old as Captain America, finding a new adversary is no easy task. To keep things fresh, writer Mark Gruenwald introduced a villain who, though unfamiliar to Cap, was deeply ingrained in American society: drugs.
When Captain America discovers that Fabian, the Avengers' handyman, is heavily under the influence of an unknown drug, he demands that Fabian seek treatment. Fabian, however, turns what could have been a mere joke into a major plot twist, accusing Captain America of hypocrisy since his own powers are a result of the super-soldier serum, a drug in its own right.
While it's a stretch to compare a government-funded program designed to win a crucial war with illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine, Captain America eventually finds himself caught in a strange storyline where he becomes addicted to a substance known as 'Ice.' The drug turns him into an aggressive and obnoxious character, and he eventually descends into madness, taunting a villain by repeating 'bock bock bock bock' for an entire panel.
In the end, Captain America is saved when the Avengers perform a full blood transfusion, removing the super-serum from his body. Though they offer to give him back his powers, Captain America refuses, saying, 'If I can’t just say no, who can?' It's a shocking moment, risking the lives of billions because he believes all drugs are the same. However, he doesn’t remain powerless for long.
9. He Has the Ability to Lift Thor’s Hammer
Casual Marvel fans who are only familiar with The Avengers and its related films might assume that Chris Hemsworth's impressive physique is required to lift the legendary hammer Mjolnir. However, any dedicated Thor fan will quickly clarify that physical strength isn't the key. The hammer's inscription reads, 'Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.' This means several Marvel characters (and even Superman and Wonder Woman) have had their turn wielding the mighty hammer.
During an attack from Seth's followers, Thor finds himself separated from Mjolnir. Although Captain America attempts to return the hammer to him, he is soon overpowered by enemies who threaten to crush him. In a surprising turn of events, Cap grabs Mjolnir and effortlessly defeats the attackers. Thor praises the Captain for his pure heart and noble spirit, qualities that allowed him to wield the hammer. The two share a moment of camaraderie as the sun sets before going their separate ways.
8. He Once Battled Wolverine While Under the Curse of a Werewolf
While the notion of superheroes transforming into werewolves may seem outlandish, it’s far from the most bizarre event in the Marvel universe, which is home to all kinds of creatures. In one such instance, Captain America fights the self-proclaimed 'Queen of the Werewolves,' Nightshade, who injects him with a new serum that turns him into a werewolf.
Despite his transformation, Cap remains fundamentally himself. He manages to break free from Nightshade's grasp, battling her minions before stumbling upon the most common plot twists in Marvel lore: Wolverine inexplicably appears, immediately in a berserker rage, which conveniently sets the stage for him to clash with the good guys. After Wolverine wounds Capwolf’s shoulder, Captain America taps into his newfound animalistic fury, slashing Wolverine’s eyes and then literally hurling him from the skirmish.
7. He Took Down Countless Communists In The ’50s
Captain America is often defined by the enemies he faces. As an embodiment of the American ideal, his adversaries reflect the changing tides of history. The most iconic among them are the Nazis, with whom he clashed during World War II, and his constant foe, the Red Skull. However, post-WWII, before the version of Captain America we know today, he spent a significant time being used as propaganda during Joseph McCarthy’s Communist witch hunts. At this time, he adopted the title of 'Commie Smasher,' confronting Communist spies with his fists or, on occasion, weapons like gasoline.
This bizarre witch hunt era only lasted for a year but created a lasting issue for Marvel as McCarthyism waned in the ’70s. To resolve it, they retconned the Captain America of the ’50s as not being Steve Rogers, but a deranged American professor obsessed with superheroes. He underwent plastic surgery to resemble Cap and recruited a similarly deranged young man who resembled Bucky Barnes. These two somehow acquired Super Soldier Serum, though they lacked the necessary 'vita rays' to stabilize them. The official Marvel explanation is that they were hallucinating all the Communists they encountered, with the real Captain America remaining untouched by the hysteria of the Red Scare.
6. He’s Been Around Longer Than Marvel Itself
Captain America has become one of the most recognizable faces of Marvel Comics, celebrated as the 'First Avenger' and regarded as the moral compass of the Marvel Universe. The twist, however, is that Marvel didn’t actually create him. Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the latter of whom went on to co-create other iconic heroes like the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, and the X-Men alongside Stan Lee, were the true creators of Cap.
Captain America made his first appearance in 1940, during a time when many Americans were eager to join World War II. The comic was an instant hit, selling nearly a million copies. However, this initial success had its drawbacks, as the comic’s popularity waned once the war ended. It wasn’t until The Avengers No. 4 that Captain America made his official Marvel debut, complete with the iconic backstory of being discovered frozen in ice.
5. He’s Still Torn About His Thoughts on France
Captain America has appeared in countless variations, each tied to a different dimension within the vast Marvel Universe. Among the most notable reimaginings are the storylines in the Ultimates comics, which provided a fresh, modern reboot of the Avengers, catering to a new generation of comic book fans.
These comics played a significant role in shaping the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they also introduced some peculiar character moments. A standout example occurs when the ruthless Nazi alien version of Cap is in battle and suggests surrender, only for the hero to respond with, 'Surrender? Surrender? You think this 'A' on my head stands for France?'
This line, serving as a satirical jab at America’s sentiments toward France, worked as commentary at the time. Yet, it also painted Captain America as less than sympathetic. When Ed Brubaker later revived the storyline with his Winter Soldier arc, the 'real' Captain America spoke highly of the bravery displayed by the French citizens who continued to fight, knowing their nation had surrendered and the threat of retaliation loomed over their families.
4. He Had Romantic Interests in the Entire Carter Family
Peggy Carter, a tough and determined fighter, is a character many casual moviegoers recognize, particularly for her romantic relationship with Captain America. She took center stage in Captain America: The First Avenger, and made a poignant appearance in the sequel, now an elderly woman battling Alzheimer’s disease. The follow-up film also introduced the charming Agent 13, a blonde S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who masquerades as Cap’s neighbor and later stands up against Hydra’s infiltration.
What isn’t immediately apparent to movie audiences is the familial link between Peggy Carter and Agent 13. In the comics, Agent 13 is actually Peggy's niece, Sharon, although she was earlier depicted as her younger sister. The change in their relationship was likely a result of the age gap between the two characters, but it’s probably also because Marvel realized how awkward it might seem to have Captain America romantically involved with two sisters.
3. He’s Surrounded By People Over 100 Years Old
The logic behind Captain America’s survival of World War II is easy to grasp in the context of comic book storytelling: he is frozen in icy waters and later revived decades later. However, what’s not as obvious is how many of Captain America’s World War II comrades managed to survive into the present day.
Take Nick Fury, for example. He is the same character who originally led the Howling Commandos in the comics, and he’s kept alive by regular injections of the infinity formula. Dum Dum Dugan shares this same fate, living well into the 21st century. Meanwhile, the Black Widow underwent mind and body modifications in Russia’s Red Room, which helped her defeat both Hitler and modern-day villains.
Bucky, of course, survives as the Winter Soldier, but in the comics, his survival is credited to a combination of his own plunge into ice-cold water and Russian suspended animation. This differs from the film adaptations, where it is seemingly only Arnim Zola’s genetic experiments that keep him alive. Arnim Zola, meanwhile, continues to live as a brain inside a walking computer monitor, and Red Skull has been cloned, had his consciousness transferred, and even endured his own time in suspended animation.
Each of these cases holds some logical explanation, but taken as a whole, it’s incredible to think that so many characters in the Captain America universe have been fighting the same battles since the early 1940s.
2. Red Skull Used Charles Xavier’s Brain
Red Skull has often been more compelling as a symbol than as a true villain for Captain America. As the face of death, he made for an excellent Nazi icon, but beyond a sharp intellect and quick reflexes, he doesn’t possess any real superpowers—unless you count the times he’s inhabited other bodies, like a Captain America clone or an android form built by Arnim Zola.
In the Uncanny Avengers comic, a Red Skull clone takes a gruesome turn in his quest for power. Believing that humanity can only prosper if mutants are eradicated, he digs up Charles Xavier’s body (Xavier was killed by a Dark Phoenix–possessed Cyclops) and proceeds to graft pieces of the mutant telepath’s brain onto his own. With his new abilities, Red Skull incites riots against mutants and even manages to overpower Captain America’s formidable will before being stopped by the Avengers.
1. He Spent Over Ten Years in a Different Dimension
After 75 years, it’s easy for a character to feel worn out. While some writers may keep the storylines engaging by adding new layers to the character’s past or introducing pivotal events that shift their perspective, Captain America’s core traits remain largely unchanged. As a symbol of American ideals, he must stay true to them without compromise.
Rather than altering Captain America’s essence, writer Rick Remender shifted the hero’s environment by sending him to Dimension Z, where time passes at an accelerated rate. Although he was only away from his world for a few minutes, Captain America experienced what felt like 12 years. During his time in this strange dimension, he raised a foster son named Ian, battled Red Skull’s ally Arnim Zola, and endured the heartbreaking loss of both Sharon Carter and the foster child.
