Captain America facts for kids

Captain America at cosplay

Captain America is a famous superhero character from Marvel Comics. He was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in a comic book in March 1941. Captain America was designed as a patriotic "supersoldier" who fought against the Axis powers during World War II. He was very popular during the war.

After the war, superhero comics became less popular, and Captain America's comic stopped for a while. But Marvel Comics brought him back in 1964, and he has been a popular hero ever since!

Captain America wears a costume that looks like the American flag. He carries a super strong shield that he can throw at his enemies. The character is usually known as Steve Rogers. He was a weak young man who became super strong and perfect thanks to a special serum. This helped the United States government in World War II.

Near the end of the war, Steve Rogers got trapped in ice. He survived by being frozen until he was found and woken up in modern times. Even though he sometimes finds it hard to understand the modern world, he is a very respected hero. He even became the leader of the Avengers superhero team for a long time.

Captain America was the first Marvel Comics character to appear outside of comics. He had his own movie series in 1944. More recently, Chris Evans has played him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies like Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers.

Experts have ranked Captain America as one of the top comic book heroes and Avengers of all time!

Captain America's Special Powers and Skills

Captain America doesn't have "superhuman" powers like flying or super speed. But thanks to the Super-Soldier Serum and a special "Vita-Ray" treatment, his body became as perfect as a human body can be. This means his strength, speed, quickness, and healing are all at their very best. The serum stays in his body, so it never wears off.

Even though he isn't superhumanly strong, Captain America is one of the few people who has been able to lift Thor's hammer, Mjolnir! This shows how worthy he is.

Expert Leader and Fighter

Steve Rogers is an amazing leader and planner in battles. His teammates often listen to his commands. Even Thor has said he would follow Captain America anywhere! Rogers is very quick and has sharp senses.

He has learned many fighting styles, like judo, karate, jujitsu, boxing, and kickboxing. He combines them into his own unique way of fighting. He is also incredibly skilled at throwing his shield. He can hit many targets with one throw or even make it bounce back to hit an enemy from behind. Other skilled fighters in the Marvel Universe see him as one of the best hand-to-hand fighters.

Captain America knows a lot about the U.S. military and secret government operations. He is an expert in battle plans, survival, acrobatics, and even piloting. He also understands the world of spies, thanks to his work with S.H.I.E.L.D..

The Super-Soldier Serum Explained

The Super-Soldier Serum makes all of Captain America's body functions work perfectly. It stops his muscles from getting tired quickly, giving him amazing endurance. This is why he can do incredible things, like lift very heavy weights or run a mile in just over a minute. The serum also helped him survive being frozen for many years. He is also very good at resisting hypnosis or gases that might confuse others.

The secret to making the Super-Soldier Serum was lost when its creator, Dr. Abraham Erskine, died. Many people have tried to make it again over the years, but they have always failed. Sometimes, these attempts have even created dangerous villains instead.

Captain America's Gear

Captain America has used different shields over time. His most famous shield is a round, nearly unbreakable shield. It's made from a special metal called vibranium mixed with steel. This shield was accidentally created by a scientist named Dr. Myron MacLain during World War II. The special metal could never be made again.

Captain America often uses his shield as a weapon he can throw. He first used his famous bouncing shield throw in a comic in May 1941. This shield is so important that in some future stories, other heroes like Cable carry it as a symbol.

When he doesn't have his main shield, Captain America sometimes uses other shields. These can be made of steel or even energy. He can throw these energy shields too, and they can cut through metal.

Captain America's uniform is made of fire-resistant material. He also wears lightweight, bulletproof armor underneath for extra protection. His mask used to be separate, but he changed it to connect to his uniform. This helped protect his neck and kept his identity a secret. As an Avenger, he has a special card that works as a communication device.

Captain America also has a special motorcycle and a battle van. The van can change colors to hide and can even launch his motorcycle from its back!

Images for kids

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  1974 Comic Art Convention program featuring Simon's original sketch of Captain America

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  Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941). Cover art by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

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  Promotional art for Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #1 (Sept. 2010) by Carlos Pacheco and Tim Townsend.

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  Avengers #4 (March 1964). Cover art by Jack Kirby and George Roussos.

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  Captain America #109 (January 1969). Cover art by Jack Kirby and Syd Shores.

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  Captain America and Bucky's debuts, in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941 Timely Comics). Art by Jack Kirby.

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  Captain America #180 (Dec. 1974). Captain America becomes "Nomad". Cover art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia.

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  Captain America #350 (February 1989). Rogers as "the Captain" vs. John Walker as Captain America. Cover art by Kieron Dwyer and Al Milgrom.

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  Steve Rogers' physical transformation, from a reprint of Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941). Art and story by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

See also

In Spanish: Capitán América para niños