10 Worst Things Captain America Has Done
Decapitation? Looking back at those times when Captain America wasn't quite as heroic as we thought.
With an origin that goes all the way back to 1941, heroes don’t
get any more heroic than Captain America.
Introduced as a propaganda tool during World War II, Cap instantly made an impression by punching Adolf Hitler square in the face during his very first appearance for Timely Comics. And with that, the tone was set for Steve Rogers to be a symbol of hope, strength, and of simply doing the right thing.
DC Comics may have Superman as their squeaky-clean poster boy, but Marvel Comics – which Timely would eventually become in 1961 – has long since had the Sentinel of Liberty as their golden goose of positivity and optimism.
At times, like so many others, Captain America has seen some lulls in popularity, but the whole Winter Soldier saga of 2005 saw the Cap comics given a giant shot in the arm; a shot in the arm that has only been further boosted by Chris Evans’ phenomenal portrayal of Steve Rogers in the big-screen MCU.
Throughout the decades, however, readers have at times been shocked by some of the chilling acts committed by Captain America; proving that even the most heroic of heroes may not always be what they seem.
10. Retiring After A Rejected Wedding Proposal – Tales Of Suspense #95
Nobody was brutally killed. Nobody was severely injured. Nobody was exposed as a sinister double-agent. No, this entry doesn’t involve any of those things; it just focusses on Captain America acting like a complete and utter stroppy teenager.
This was all back in 1967’s Tales of Suspense #95, with Steve Rogers deciding to ask Agent 13 on a date. Whether it was his 1920s thought process or his brain hadn’t quite thawed out yet, Cap got down on one knee and asked Agent 13 to marry him. On their very first date!
Like any sane person, Agent 13 would reject Rogers’ proposal. Well and truly throwing his toys out of the pram, Steve Rogers made the petulant decision to retire as Captain America as a result of Agent 13 refusing his over-eager advances.
This did nothing but make The Sentinel of Liberty look like a creepy old man, whilst simultaneously giving Agent 13 a bucket-load of guilt as she blamed herself for one of the world’s greatest heroes hanging up his shield. And remember, this was before Agent 13 revealed herself to be Sharon Carter, the niece of one Peggy Carter.