The Many Faces of Captain America
(Steve Rogers’ identity Crisis)
by Phil Perich for the True Believers Blog
I have been racking my brain trying to come up with a topic for this week’s blog. It came to me last night while I was recording a Captain America: Civil War review podcast with my Marvel and DC cohosts Charlie Esser (@CharlieEsser) and Lilith Hellfire (@LilithHellfire). The topic of Steve Rogers’ time as Nomad was brought up briefly and I started thinking of the times Steve Rogers changed his heroic identity. Here is a list of some of the ones that always stick out in my mind.
- Nomad—First Appearance: Captain America #180 (December 1974)
At one point in his career, Steve Rogers lost faith in the US government after a high ranking official was revealed to be the leader of the terrorist group the Secret Empire. Although his identity is never revealed, the Empire leader is strongly hinted at being then President Richard Nixon. Foregoing all things that tied him to the US, Steve took on the identity of Nomad, the man without a country. After four issues, Steve returns to his old identity to battle the Red Skull when he realizes he can stand for the ideals of America without blindly following the government.
2. President Cap—First Appearance: Captain America #250 (June 1980)
After Captain America stops a group of terrorists from blowing up the convention of an independent political party called The New Populist Party, their chairman attempts to convince Cap to be their candidate for President of the United States. Cap says he will think about it. His friends in his civilian life think Cap should run and the Avengers are split down the middle. Cap eventually calls a press conference and tells the American people his job is to preserve the American Dream and as President he would have to uphold the status quo of the country. Since the two ideas are at odds, he declines to run.
3. The Captain—First Appearance: Captain America #337 (January 1988)
When Steve Rogers once again has an issue with the American Government, he abandons his Captain America identity once again. After the government body known as the Commission tries to force him to operate under their direction, Steve takes on another new identity and costume, this time calling himself simply The Captain and wearing a black version of his Captain America costume. Months later it is revealed that the whole Commission affair is a plot by the Red Skull and Steve returns to his former identity while his replacement as Cap, John Walker, takes the black suit and becomes the hero known as the US Agent.
I hope this was informative to all you new and old Captain America fans. If you want more Cap history, let me know (I didn't even get to the part when Cap is transformed into a werewolf!). You can talk to me any of the following ways:
@Nightwingpdp on Twitter
You can hear me discussing all things Marvel every week with my cohost Charlie Esser (@CharlieEsser) on our podcasts All New Marvel Roundup (@marvel_roundup) and Superconnectivity, both part of the Nuff Said podcast on Southgate Media Group. I also write another blog, Legends of DC. You can find all my podcasts, blogs, and those of others at www.southgatemediagroup.com or www.philperich.wordpress.com.
Until next time…Nuff Said!