Captain America is one of the first superheroes, dating all the way back to 1941. After gaining super strength, speed, and agility, Steve Rogers took up the identity of Captain America and joined the military's fight against the Nazis, as well as their off-shoot Hydra. This character has come a long way since then, but his morality has been the same since day one. Let's have a look at why this fictional character is such a great role model.
5. Confronting Thanos
To start off this list, we're going all the way back to 1991 for the six-issue Infinity Gauntlet series, which as many of us know will serve as a partial basis for the two-part Avengers: Infinity War movie in 2018. The scene we're observing takes place in issue four, when Earth's Mightiest Heroes are battling Thanos, an incredibly powered being from the planet of Titan.
To put this happening in perspective, let's backtrack a little bit. In the previous issue, all of Earth's superheroes (besides the ones that have already been killed) along with even a few supervillains have been transported across the galaxy to fight Thanos, who wields the Infinity Gauntlet. The Infinity Gauntlet is a glove which contains six all-powerful gems. This glove is the most powerful weapon in the universe.
By this point, the superheroes have given all they've got against the Mad Titan, with heroes like Thor, Spider-Man and Cyclops among the fallen. With so many big guns already put down, it surprises the reader to see one of the lesser-powered characters standing up to a villain who is like a god compared to everyone else, but stand up he does.
Captain America makes it clear that he intends to be that one man, as he punches Thanos in the face moments later. This scene shows that Cap will always stand up to evil, no matter how large the threat.
4. Civil War speech
Our next example comes from a fairly simple moment in the Civil War storyline, perhaps the biggest story Marvel Comics has ever published. Spider-Man has just made a huge jump in the ongoing war between heroes, and he goes to Captain America for advice. Being the straight shooter he is, Cap wastes no time to share his opinion.
In this brief monologue we see Cap discussing the notion of truth. As a citizen of the country he represents, you are required to stand firm in your beliefs, even if the whole world is against you.
3. The Winter Soldier speech
In this excerpt from the second stand-alone Captain America movie, our hero confronts the entire
C.I.A.-like structure of
S.H.I.E.L.D., revealing that the organization actually has a terrorist organization growing inside of it. S.H.I.E.L.D. was to launch
Project Insight that day, which was basically a weapon to stop threats to the world. However, Hydra--the terrorist organization inside S.H.I.E.L.D.--was going to use it as a weapon to take out anyone standing in the way of them and world domination. Here, ol' Steve Rogers shows just how far he'll go to protect our freedom.
2. Lifting Mjolnir
This is where Thor fans step in! As we all know, Thor's hammer Mjolnir has been blessed, and only those who are pure and worthy can pick it up and use Thor's power. Those found worthy have been few and far between, but Captain America has actually picked up the hammer twice! The first time was back in the 70s when Cap was fighting with his team the Avengers against Seth, the Egyptian god of death, while he most recently lifted in the Fear Itself storyline. Thor is not the only mighty Avenger!
1. Jumping On A Grenade
Our final example comes from before Steve Rogers actually received any of his powers. In this day in age, when comic book movies show superheroes fighting aliens and robots as the norm, it can be easy to forget how humble Cap's beginnings were. This takes us back to his first film:
Captain America: The First Avenger.
Back in the 1940s, the
U.S. Army was recruiting heavily for
World War II, but Steve was denied time after time due to his asthma and other body conditions. But wanting to prove himself, Steve kept trying. When
Dr. Abraham Erskine finally saw the potential in this young man, he was accepted and put through basic training. Steve's Colonel,
Chester Phillips, was displeased with this, and in an effort to show Erskine that Steve had no guts, took out a grenade and threw it amongst the group of army recruits. While everyone else scattered, Steve dove on top to save everyone else. Thankfully, the grenade was a dud.
Steve Rogers may be fictional, but he is a brave, selfless, and inspiring role model in a world where there is increasingly few. It's easy to see why he is such an iconic character!