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"History OF CAPTAIN AMERICA's Costume's.. If You Haven't Done It Already...:)"
Who is CAPTAIN AMERICA?
The person closely associated to the mantle of CAPTAIN AMERICA is Steve Rogers. Steve Rogers, a sickly young man who enlisted as a serviceman then volunteered to be the subject of, and was the first success of, an experimental Super-Soldier Serum developed by the US Army
Comicbook history: CAPTAIN AMERICA is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in CAPTAIN AMERICA Comics #1 (March 1941), from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
What are his abilities?
Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.
Artificially Enhanced Physiology: Rogers had no superhuman powers, although as a result of the Super-Soldier serum, he was transformed from a frail young man into a "perfect" specimen of human development and conditioning. Rogers was as intelligent, strong, fast, agile, and durable as it was possible for a human being to be without being considered superhuman.
Peak Human Strength: Rogers' physical strength was enhanced to the very peak of human potential. As a result, Rogers was as physically strong as a human being can be. CAPTAIN AMERICA had been seen bench pressing 500 kg (1,100 lbs).
Peak Human Speed: He could run at speeds of up to approximately 30 miles per hour, and had on occasion run a mile in little over a minute (almost 60 mph) when under duress.
Peak Human Stamina: His body eliminated the excessive build-up of fatigue-producing poisons in his muscles, granting him exceptional endurance. He could exert himself at peak capacity for several hours without rest before showing any signs of fatigue.
Peak Human Agility: Rogers' agility was superior to that of typical Olympic athletes.
Peak Human Reflexes: Rogers' reflexes were superior to that of typical Olympic athletes. Like most of his powers, his reflexes bordered on superhuman levels as he had dodged a bullet fired at point blank range claiming that he "could see faster than it."
Peak Human Durability: Rogers' ability to withstand injury was superior to those of ordinary humans.
Peak Human Metabolism: His enhanced metabolism, bloodstream, and immune system allowed him to heal from injuries or diseases faster than most humans. CAPTAIN AMERICA was still subject to all conventional human ailments, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, though his immunity to most diseases was quite extraordinary. Rogers had stated he cannot become drunk and has never been sick after receiving the Super-Soldier serum.
Peak Human Mental Process: Rogers' mental performance had been greatly enhanced, allowing his mind to operate in the most efficient and rapid manner possible. One manifestation of this was his tactical genius; the ability to quickly process multiple information streams and rapidly respond to changing tactical situations. Rogers also possessed a near-edictic memory, meaning that he never forgot anything and had perfect recall. This enabled him to remember any military tactic and apply it to any situation.
Peak Human Perception: Rogers had exceptionally keen eyesight and hearing.
Master Martial Artist: Having trained with such luminaries as William Essart Fairbairn and Rex Applegate, CAPTAIN AMERICA had mastered multiple martial arts including demonstrated ability in pressure-point fighting. He combined these disciplines with his acrobatic/gymnastic talents to create his own unique hand-to-hand style of combat. He engaged in a daily regimen of rigorous exercise. He had many years of combat experience battling a vast multitude of villains from Nazis in WWII to terrorist organizations or criminal enterprises. These experiences allowed Rogers to maintain his abilities in peak condition, and often defeated opponents whose size, strength, or other powers greatly exceeded his own.
Master Shield Fighter: CAPTAIN AMERICA's years of training and experience with his unique shield, as well as its physical properties, allowed him to accomplish amazing feats with the item. Aside from bashing foes and blocking incoming attacks, Cap was able to throw it with nearly perfect aim. He was able to hit multiple targets with the same throw by means of ricochet, and could even achieve a boomerang-like return effect, allowing him to strike enemies from behind or retrieve the shield without objects to ricochet from.
Master Tactician and Strategist: CAPTAIN AMERICA was an accomplished strategist. He was able to formulate battle strategies and his brilliant tactical sense allowed him to alter any strategy to fit the changing need of the situation.
Master Acrobat: Rogers' years of training and experience made him an expert in the field of acrobatics and gymnastics as well as a stunning aerialist. Rogers was also extremely well versed in many other physical skill-sets.
Indomitable Will: Rogers was a very strong-willed person. He was able to overcome most forms of temptation including physical, mental, and sexual. He was capable of resisting all forms of mind control.
Professional Sketch Artist: Rogers had great artistic skill which he developed from childhood. He often worked as a freelance illustrator and sketch artist even loaning his skills to the NYPD for a time. He enjoyed drawing and did so with his free time.
Expert Marksman: He could throw most projectile weaponry with great aim and was well-versed in the use of firearms, though he preferred not to use them.
Weapons Proficiency: He did not typically utilize weapons other than his shield, but in desperate times or situations where he and teammates were outnumbered, he would wield additional weapons to ensure victory. These additional weapons have included firearms, bludgeons, and staffs, as well as swords.
Multi-lingual: He was fluent in French, Russian, German, Japanese and possibly other languages.
Expert Pilot: He was a phenomenal pilot and was versed in many Military, SHIELD, and Avengers aircraft.
What are the changes he underwent?
1. First appearance
In 1940, writer Joe Simon conceived the idea for CAPTAIN AMERICA and made a sketch of the character in costume. He wrote the name 'Super American' at the bottom of the page but thought that it did not work. There were already too many 'Supers' around. 'CAPTAIN AMERICA' had a good sound to it. There were not a lot of captains in comics back then.
2. All Winner
After the war the popularity of superheroes is starting to fade, during this time CAPTAIN AMERICA led Timely/Marvel's first superhero team, the All-Winners Squad. From his first appearance and up to this moment there were some several adjustments done to the costume of CAPTAIN AMERICA as well as the design of his now famous Shield.
3. Commie Smasher
In the 1950s Marvel which is known then as Atlas Comics, attempted to revive its superhero titles. They reintroduced CAPTAIN AMERICA in Young Men #24 (Dec. 1953). Cap was billed as "CAPTAIN AMERICA, Commie Smasher!". During this time the colors on his costume is not yet standardized.
4. Avenger
About a decade of absence CAPTAIN AMERICA was then revived in The Avengers #4 (March 1964), which also shows him joining the team. This issue explained CAPTAIN AMERICA's final days of WWII, he had fallen from an experimental drone plane into the North Atlantic Ocean and spent decades frozen in a block of ice in a state of suspended animation. During this time we get the iconic CAPTAIN AMERICA look.
5. Nomad
After Marvel Universe's version of the Watergate scandal, Steve Rogers was uncertain about his role as CAPTAIN AMERICA, so he abandoned that identity and made a new one, Nomad.
6. The Captain
A troubled CAPTAIN AMERICA due to the corruptions he had encountered. Rogers decided to resign his CAPTAIN AMERICA identity again, and took the alias of "the Captain". He wore a costume with a similar silhoutte of his previous persona, but with a darker tone and a stylized flag design as an emblem on his chest.
7. Iron America
In an incident where Steve Rogers' body was beginning to deteriorate because of the removal of the super-soldier serum from his body, Tony Stark made a powered exoskeleton for CAPTAIN AMERICA.
8. Super Soldier
For the longest while Steve Rogers operated as CAPTAIN AMERICA, then Marvel Civil War happened and after all the chaos, we find a dead CAPTAIN AMERICA (which in comicbook land means his trapped somewhere else just waiting for the time to return). He did return, seeing that there's somebody competent holding on the title of CAPTAIN AMERICA, he decided to just use his name Steve Rogers : Super Soldier. He now holds the position of the head of the nation's security. He wears a more functional suit, sort of a mix of S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform with some of the CAPTAIN AMERICA flair to it.
Who has portrayed the CAPTAIN AMERICA in Comic Book Movies?
1. Dick Purcell (1944)
seen in:
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944) a Republic serial film loosely based on the comic book character. The serial sees CAPTAIN AMERICA, really District Attorney Grant Gardner, trying to thwart the plans of The Scarab, really museum curator Dr. Cyrus Maldor - especially regarding his attempts to acquire the "Dynamic Vibrator" and "Electronic Firebolt", devices that could be used as super-weapons.
2. Reb Brown (1979)
seen in:
Captain America (1979) TV Movie by CBS. The character differs significantly from the comics in both his origin and his operations. For instance, Steve Rogers is a character in contemporary times whose father was a 1940s government agent. The very patriotic attitude of Steve's father earned him the nickname Captain America, and his father is spoken of as having been murdered. Rogers, a former Marine now making what little living he makes as an artist, was inspired by this story to sketch a super-hero. After receiving potentially fatal injuries in an accident, he was administered an experimental chemical called the FLAG—Full Latent Ability Gain—formula (at one point referred to as a "super-steroid") which not only saves his life but also enhances his body with heightened strength and reflexes. These new abilities lead Dr. Simon Mills (Len Birman), the research biochemist and intelligence official who had told Rogers about his father, to recruit him and give Steve a costume based on his drawing. As Captain America, he also makes significant use of a specialized reconstruction of the van he has been driving, out the rear of which can be launched a modified motorcycle. Its functions include a rocket thrust for a fast start out of the van, a jet boost for increased speed, a setting to allow the bike to be ridden with less noise for stealthier movement and a hang glider structure which can allow the bike to glide to the ground with some forward momentum, although it must be jettisoned upon landing. The bike has a round windshield, described as being made of "Jet-Age plastics," with concentric circles that alternate between red and transparent around a centered star, blue in color. He is able to detach this, and he uses it as his shield when he goes on foot. At the end of the first movie, Rogers briefly appears in a redesigned costume—more accurately a uniform—that bears a stronger resemblance to the uniform Captain America is seen wearing in the comics, and he wears this uniform in the sequel.
CAPTAIN AMERICA II: Death Too Soon. When Simon Mills is looking for a missing scientist, he believes that a revolutionary knows as Miguel has him. And that he is using him to get his formula for something that can accelerate the aging process. So he sends Steve Rogers aka CAPTAIN AMERICA to find him. His only lead is a chemical that the scientist needs for his formula. Steve follows it to small town. It's then that Steve notices some weird things going on.Some men tell Steve to leave town. It's also then that Miguel threatens to spray the chemical on a major city unless his demands are met. Which the President will not agree to.
3. Matt Salinger (1990)
seen in:
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) superhero film. The film took several liberties with the comic's storyline, it features Steve Rogers becoming CAPTAIN AMERICA during World War II to battle the Red Skull, being frozen in ice, and subsequently being revived to save the President of the United States from a crime family that dislikes his environmentalist polices.
4. Chris Evans (2011)
will be seen in:
2011 CAPTAIN AMERICA : First Avenger and 2012 AVENGERS.
sources: http://marvel.wikia.com/Steven_Rogers_(Earth-616) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America_in_other_media : :http://www.angelfire.com/comics/benriely/caparmor.html : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078938/plotsummary
"I'm loyal to nothing...except the Dream." --CAPTAIN AMERICA
This is the 4th article in my Know Your CBM Character series. Any requests and suggestions for an article for this series write it down in the comment section BELOW.
Note: Any error in the article above, if any, just blame it on my age, humanity and ignorance. Just be sure to check the comment section for the corrections, any error I made will surely be pointed out and corrected by much bigger geeks (because there will always be a bigger geek out there). -This has been PollMaster inviting you to the geekside.