Captain America - Every National Hero In Marvel Comics Explained
Did you really think the USA was the only country to create super soldiers?
Marvel Comics is an American company, so it's no surprise that the United States was the first country to be find itself reflected in a superhero motif.
Captain America was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941, as a rallying cry for the US to enter the Second World War, but Captain America isn't the only hero with patriotic sensibilities. Over the years, a number of heroes with pride in their home turf have popped up, ready to represent their nation and protect it from potential threats.
Now, with the MCU's Steve Rogers' retirement at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, there's room to explore other heroes who so boldly emblazoned their home country's flag on their chests. Black Widow will bring us Red Guardian, and a certain USA gent is set to debut in the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Just last month, Marvel also announced new team The Union, a group of four heroes each representing a different country within the United Kingdom.
It's a pretty good time to be a Marvel national hero, so it might be useful to brush up on the smorgasbord we have to pick from in time for Marvel's upcoming efforts.
10. Major Mapleleaf
Louis Sadler Sr. first took up the mantle of Major Mapleleaf during World War 2 after being empowered by an undisclosed process. He fought with the Allied superhero group the Invaders, but he is perhaps best known for his role in fellow Canadian hero Northstar’s “coming out.”
When Sadler Sr.’s eldest son passed away from AIDS-related illnesses, he was incensed by the homophobic public reaction to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Mapleleaf embarked on a rampage shortly after, only to be stopped by Northstar, who came out as gay in the same storyline.
The second Major Mapleleaf was the former’s second-born, Louis Sadler Jr. This incarnation didn’t really have any powers to speak of, but his horse Thunder was apparently gifted with flight and invulnerability - probably a nice nod to his time as part of the Canadian Mounties. Louis Jr was certainly not his father's favourite; he became the victim of frequent abuse at the hands of his father, who couldn't get over his wife's death in childbirth.
Despite a psychologically scarring upbringing, Sadler Jr. still went on to be a valued member of the Canadian team Alpha Flight. He was first enlisted as part of its new line-up, sent to rescue the original team. The new recruits worked well as a team, and stayed together to serve as Canada's premier super-powered task force.