Captain America: From World War II to Comic Book Icon
Few comic book heroes have matched Captain America’s staying power, from boosting morale during World War II to commanding millions at auction today.
Captain America is a hero who personifies the most idealistic version of the American spirit. He was among the first patriotic-themed comic book superheroes who believe in doing the right thing no matter the cost; he is unflinchingly brave and willing to do whatever it takes to protect those in danger. Given a serum that turns him into a peak physical specimen, Captain America uses the newfound strength to do what he’d always wanted: help people. He is a dependable character that parents can trust to entertain their children, and a comfort to adult comic readers who want to believe in the quintessential good guy from a bygone age.
Captain America (often referred to as Cap) shares similarities with fellow do-gooder Superman, but unlike the Man of Steel, Cap is not nearly invincible. The character began as Steve Rogers, a young man who wanted to serve in the US Army but was rejected due to his scrawny frame. His determination to serve the US did not go unnoticed, and he was chosen to be the first test subject for a project to create the perfect soldier. The Super Soldier Serum transformed his small body into a large, muscular one and gave him exceptional combat skills. Since he is not bulletproof like his Kryptonian counterpart, the military gave him an almost indestructible shield.
Cap was introduced in Captain America Comics #1 (cover-dated March 1941) during the Golden Age of comics. The period from 1938 to 1956 established the modern style of comic book storytelling and introduced the concept of superheroes. It also coincided with World War II, which heavily influenced the creation of Captain America.
Comic luminaries Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created Captain America for Marvel’s predecessor, Timely Comics. Simon was a writer and the first editor of Timely who created or co-created many important characters for that publisher and for National Comics Publications, the first incarnation of DC Comics. Kirby was an artist who partnered with Simon on many Golden Age projects and would later co-create Marvel icons like the X-Men, Fantastic Four, the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, and others.
Timely publisher Martin Goodman tasked Simon with creating a patriotic superhero. The editor began by choosing a nemesis, rationalizing that most successful superheroes had an equally formidable main foe. Instead of creating a new character, Simon decided to pit the hero against a real-life villain, Adolf Hitler. This departure from the established method of creating a villain with superpowers, genius-level intelligence, or other advanced skills/weaponry grounded Captain America’s stories in a way that competitors did not. His next move was to bring in artist Jack Kirby to help flesh out his concept for Cap and give him an equally patriotic costume that would grab the attention of comic readers.
This took place before the US had entered the war; however, Goodman, Simon, and Kirby were all anti-Nazi and wanted their red, white, and blue hero to be as well. While other superheroes appeared in some war stories when they weren’t fighting power-hungry (and zany) villains in the US, many of Captain America’s early issues took place during the war or focused on fighting the Axis powers. He was a soldier on the front lines, shoulder to shoulder with the infantry or helping military leaders execute important missions. When he wasn’t fighting Hitler, Cap and his teen sidekick Bucky Barnes often went up against Red Skull, a Nazi agent and one of Hitler’s protégés who constantly attempts to sabotage US military plans or completely dismantle the government. Cap prevented attacks, thwarted battle plans, stopped experiments, and helped those affected by the war.
Captain America is an early example of how pop culture impacts society. When the US was engaged in the turmoil of World War II and worried families sent their sons off to fight, Captain America was a source of comfort and inspiration. Children who read comics starring Captain America and Bucky imagined that he was in real battles, fighting for the Allied powers. They were confident that the US would be safe because a hero that symbolized American grit was serving alongside our brave boys.
The US government sent copies of Captain America Comics to the young men fighting in the war to entertain them and boost morale. Reading stories about a hero defeating the foes they were facing bolstered the soldiers' courage. Considering how many US soldiers were barely adults, the comics were also a balm to those who dreamed of an end to the conflict and a return to safety.
The popularity of Golden Age superhero comics began to dwindle in the postwar period of the late 1940s into the early ‘50s. In the aftermath of the war, science fiction, horror, Westerns, crime, and romance comics began outpacing their superhero counterparts. Timely’s successor, Atlas Comics, attempted to recreate the wartime comic success by featuring Captain America and Bucky in the Korean War. Unlike World War II, there were plenty of US citizens who opposed America’s involvement in Korea, and those issues of Captain America Comics did not breathe new life into the book. Many of the superhero titles were canceled during that period, including Captain America Comics, which ended with issue 78 in September 1954.
Captain America returned to comics in early 1964 as a member of the newly formed team, the Avengers. He was the same ol’ American hero, only now he led his team into battle against villains like Loki and Kang the Conqueror rather than against military leaders from other nations.
“When Cap was revived in the 1960s, Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and a number of other writers really placed a heavy emphasis on Cap’s wartime experiences and on him being a man out of time,” Gemstone Publishing President J.C. Vaughn said. “He was a patriot, a soldier from a simpler time thrust into a more socially complex era. We’ve seen this same theme played out with the character in the Marvel movies. His grit, determination, and moral character lend him a clarity that sometimes flies in the face of modern situations. This makes him simultaneously refreshing and challenging.”
In the comic book collecting hobby, Captain America’s debut is among the most highly sought books by collectors with deep pockets. His first appearance is listed as the seventh most valuable Golden Age comic in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #55. It is one of a select group of comic books that have sold for over $1 million. Captain America Comics #1 graded 9.4/Near Mint by third-party grader CGC, sold for $3.1 million by Heritage Auctions in April 2022.
“I think people are drawn to the ideals embodied by Captain America. He begins his journey as an everyman who, after receiving an experimental super-soldier serum, gains the strength to stand alongside gods and literal giants. Having been in near-continuous publication since 1941, the character has inspired generations of fans and collectors,” Heritage Auctions Vice President, Comics Aaron White said. “Many feel a sense of nostalgia for Captain America, whether from comics from the 1960s and 1970s or from his appearances across various forms of media, notably Chris Evans’s portrayal in the Marvel films. That fandom attracts collectors to the character’s early appearances and the relative scarcity of early issues of the titles means there’s a lot of competition.”
Comics of the Golden Age told straightforward stories about good versus evil, with clearly defined protagonists and unrepentant villains. This structure helped Cap’s stories, but his fighting spirit and his determination to stop the horror of World War II made him such an iconic character. As comics have changed with the times, superheroes have become more complicated and cynical. Meanwhile, Captain America has remained a selfless, incorruptible hero who hopes for a better future. It is an optimistic attitude and set of expectations he has maintained for 85 years.
All images by and courtesy of Heritage Auctions / HA.com.
Explore the links below for more Captain America.
