10 Mind-Blowing Facts You Didn't Know About Captain America

Despite his popularity, Captain America wasn't the first star-spangled superhero to tackle the Nazis. That honour belongs to Joe Higgins, AKA The Shield. The Shield was created by MLJ (now known as Archie Comics) one year before Cap sprang onto the scene.

Now, just because the character is a patriotic superhero in tights who beats up Hitler's men doesn't necessarily mean Captain America is a rip-off of The Shield.

However, the pair have so many similarities, this theory cannot be ignored. Both characters became heroes after a serum endowed them with super-strength. In both stories, the scientist who created the concoction was killed immediately after by a Nazi. Both vigilantes wear costumes based on the American flag and battle criminals with a boy sidekick.

Even though Cap usually sports a circular shield, this defensive weapon was almost identical in shape and design to the emblem on The Shield's uniform. After the publishers accused Timely Publications of plagiarism, Cap's shield was redesigned as circular in the following issue.

Since Captain America was an instant hit though, it wasn't long before The Shield sank into obscurity, which is a shame since it's possible he inspired Cap in the first place.