CAPTAIN AMERICA
Marvel’s original super soldier is still a patriotic icon for today. When World War II began, Steve Rogers wanted to serve his country, but he wasn’t “man” enough to pass the physical, so he volunteered for a dangerous program to make the ideal soldier. It worked and America was blessed with a hero who had vision, ideals, and the drive to always fight for what is right. A symbol of truth, justice and the American Way, Captain America has protected and served our country through some of its darkest days. The concept has never felt dated, because every new writer has brought something grand to the heroic ideal of Captain America. A Golden Age hero of yesteryear and his modern day adventures of today’s Captain America are just as relevant now as back then!
US AGENT
Johnny Walker has never been given a fair shake. He has been, and forever will be, in the shadow of Steve Rogers. For a time, John was actually Captain America, after Steve quit…and Walker always wanted to live up to the legacy, but was never able to. It was hard to give up when Steve Rogers decided to return, but Walker ultimately gained more respect for the one true Captain America, and donned a new identity…the US Agent.
His darker costume reflects his darker out look on the world. If Captain America is the hope of the American people, US Agent is their bottled up rage.
Currently serving on the Canadian super team Omega Flight, Johnny Walker is still trying to find a way out of that long shadow that Captain America casts…and even though he’s always going to be second best, he still makes one of the tops of the list.
FIGHTING AMERICAN
Fighting American was originally created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, the original creators of Captain America. Their Fighting American was a blistering satire that had FA, and his sidekick speedboy, fighting the likes of Poison Ivan, and Hotsky Trotski, all part of the Red Menace, and led by the villainous Round Robin. The book was a remarkable classic commentary on the culture of the times.
In the 80s the character was licensed by DC Comics to be their answer to Captain America – it did not succeed.
In the 90s Rob Liefield, having recently been kicked off Marvel’s Captain America, decided to license Fighting American, and make him an even more blatant rip-off of Captain America, diminishing the character’s reputation and value.
Still, the original take on the character from creators Kirby and Simon was a unique take on a genre they made famous, and that Fighting American will live on forever.
UNCLE SAM
The original “Spirit” of America, the DC Comics version of Uncle Sam is a “unique” take on the Patriotic superhero.
The character is very much like The Spectre, except attached to a host that is a dying Patriot. The spirit has taken form throughout America’s history, taking the Uncle Sam form in the 1800s and keeping it to this day.
He is the leader of the Freedom Fighters, and a formidable opponent to any who would stand in the way of freedom for all.
THE SHIELD
Five different characters have worn the costume and taken the name of the The Shield. He makes his way onto this list because he is the only Patriotic hero topre -date Captain America. The Shield is the first hero to wear the red, white and blue into battle, and incorporate the flag into his costume design.
The original Shield was Joe Higgins, the son of a slain scientist who was working on a formula to give people super strength. Joe cracked the code, gave himself a dose, and became The Shield.
The character has appeared in a variety of outlets over the years, almost constantly being reinvented. While there are no current Shield comics being published…it is only matter of time before he returns.
LIBERTY BELLE
The All-Star Squadron and Libby Lawrence, a.k.a. Liberty Belle. I think she was one of the smartest, craftiest, noble and heroic heroes from the World War II era. Reading Libby’s adventures in the pages of All-Star Squadron gave me a great handle on this Olympic level athlete turned superhero. No matter what the threat, Liberty Belle didn’t back down or turn away. She was willing to face anything or anyone to keep the world safe. It was fellow members of the All-Star Squadron who saw her leadership capabilities and chose to make her their leader. She was never afraid to face impossible odds and always soldiered on. She put her life on the line, but never considered it a sacrifice. She thought it was an honor to serve her country in this manner.
SUPERPATRIOT
Superpatriot was once Johnny Armstrong. Johnny was a soldier in World War 2, and was captured by the Germans, and used as a guinea pig for scientific experiments. The experiments gave him super human powers, and allowed him to destroy the base where the Germans had been keeping him, preventing them from building an army of super soldiers.
Free from his German slavery, Johnny donned a patriotic suit and became the super hero known as Superpatriot.
He continued to fight the good fight into the 1990s. His superpowers also slowed down his aging, but by the 90s, Johnny was looking older rather than younger. Time was catching up to him, and when a renegade band of super villains decided to endSuperpatriot’s career, they brutalized him, severing his limbs and destroying much of his face.
On the brink of death, Johhny Armstrong was taken to the Cyberdata corporation, where he was fitted with cybernetic limbs. His body was enhanced, and Superpatriot was reborn. Now a gun wielding living weapon, Superpatriot continues to fight the good fight to this day…
AMERICAN MAID
American Maid is superhero from the animated series, The Tick. Voiced by Kay Lenz, she is largely a parody of both Captain America and Wonder Woman.
American Maid is quite noble in character, and unlike most of the "good" characters featured in the series, she is actually relatively effective as a superhero. Having no superpowers, she relies on her Olympic-level trained acrobatic skills. Her only weapons are her stiletto high-heels and her tiara, both of which she can fling with great accuracy and effectiveness and which can boomerang back to her. But she is also adept at improvising everyday items such as chairs and plates in taking down enemies. American Maid has made many more appearances on the series than any other female character. She is often heard yelling the recurring line, "You'll never get away with this, [current villain]!"
She's great at cleaning up crime! ; D
AMERICAN DREAM
The niece of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter, Shannon Carter grew up idolizing Captain America. She was hired by Edwin Jarvis as a tour guide for the Avengers Headquarters, at that time functioning only as a museum. When the new Avengers team was formed, she was determined to join. She wears a costume based on Captain America's and carries on her arms disc weapons resembling miniature versions of his shield. Her strength and agility are honed by intensive physical training. After joining the team as the American Dream, Shannon soon proved herself to be an effective Avenger, and when the team saved the original Avengers from a dark parallel world, Captain America himself judged her worthy to wield the shield of the alternate Captain. She also proved to be an important character in defeating Galactus in the Last Planet Standing limited series. She along with Stinger and Spider-Girl took down Galactus from the inside. They survived the imminent explosion by shrinking to microscopic size.
Carter is the leader of the "Dream Team" comprising herself, Bluestreak, Crimson Curse and Freebooter. All members of the Dream Team became members of the new Avengers team in A-Next #4. American Dream is also an ally of Spider-Girl, Earth Sentry, Blacklight, Coal Tiger, Argo and Captain America.
I know there's many more, find them and tell us!
Happy 4th of July guys! ; )