Captain America - Every National Hero In Marvel Comics Explained

In 1943, Madeline Joyce gained her powers as a result of tampering with a mysterious device during an electrical storm. She was actively seeking to get zapped in the hopes of manifesting superhuman abilities: one Professor Lawson had already gotten his in the same way. Unfortunately, Lawson believed Joyce had died by the process, which led to his guilt-ridden suicide. He wouldn't know that Madeline would wake up graced with flight and super-strength.

Madeline Joyce adopted the patriotic title and costume of Miss America, and fought alongside other nationally themed heroes in Liberty Legion and the Invaders. She married one of the heroes she fought alongside, Robert Frank a.k.a. the Whizzer, and had a radioactively charged mutant child Nuklo. Her second pregnancy would end with too many complications, resulting in the death of her child and herself.

The name would go unused until 2011, when America Chavez entered the scene. Chavez, unlike her predecessor, did not hail from any Marvel continuity: she came from the Utopia Parallel, which exists outside of the multiverse. When she escaped that reality and chose to settle within the multiverse, she adopted Miss America as her title to start superhero duties.

In addition to the original Miss America abilities of flight and immense strength, Chavez has super speed and the ability to punch holes in realities and travel between them. As a younger hero, she spent time with the Teen Brigade and the Young Avengers. She soon got an upgrade (since she is pretty powerful, after all), and can now be found doing her bit with the West Coast Avengers.

Excitingly, even though she isn't technically from Earth, America Chavez made the history books as the first LGBTQ+ Latinx superhero with her own ongoing series. Good on her.