Every universe requires a hero who is inherently good and optimistic about the future, and for Marvel, that person will always be Captain America. Over the years, several heroes have donned the mantle, and Captain America, one of Marvel’s most well-known characters, has appeared throughout the cosmos.
Being one of the first super soldiers, Captain America always possessed much more power than the typical person. However, as his fame increased, so did his limitations from a Captain America who flies and is faster than a speeding train to a Captain America who is not constrained by morals. These are the greatest versions of Captain America in the comics in the Multiverse.
30. David Rickford
First Appearance: Captain America #615.1 (2011)
When Steve Rogers quits being Captain America Rickford is trained to become the new Cap. After being given superpowers by the “Power Broker” (actually Nick Fury) he’s attacked by the villains Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.).
Rogers saves him from being turned into a new M.O.D.O.K., and they escape from A.I.M.’s destroyed ship. Rockford quits after Rogers threatens to have him arrested for reckless abandonment. This leads to Steve Rogers taking up the shield again, so that alone makes him worthy of this list.
29. Robert Russo
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America #178 (1974)
Bob Russo was a well-known third baseman in professional baseball. When Steve Rogers resigned, Russo announced to the media that he was retiring from baseball and taking over as Captain America. He injured his arm when he miscalculated his rooftop swing and crashed into a brick wall during his first attempt to stop a heist.
He blamed his failure on his lack of experience and how the old Captain America made his accomplishments seem so simple. After this debut, Russo reportedly gave up on replacing Steve Rogers. He’s a minor version of Rogers but a good reminder that it’s hard to be Cap.
28. Captain Mexica
First Appearance as Captain America: Marvel Zombies 3 #4 (2009)
From a world in which the Aztecs had never been conquered, Captain Mexica had somehow made his way to Earth-616, where the A.R.M.O.R. operatives had put him in stasis.
A Zombie Morbius started infecting A.R.M.O.R. operatives and turning them into zombies once it was discovered that he was mimicking his mainstream counterpart. During this procedure, Captain Mexica somehow broke out of stasis, contracted an infection, and started consuming A.R.M.O.R. agents. He assaulted Machine Man after he had had enough, and Machine Man chopped him in half, apparently killing him.
He’s the most horrifying version of Captain America in the history of the comics.
27. Scott Summers (Earth-81122)
First Appearance as Captain America: Ultimate X-Men/Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1
(2008)
In an alternate reality, Steve Rogers aged quickly and passed away after Reed Richards’ experiment to fix Thing’s ailment resulted in the accident that took away the powers of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Captain America. Scott assumed his role as the next Captain America after being left helpless.
To capture and murder Reed Richards, the X-Men created a vortex and traveled twenty years into the past. Phoenix deceived the crew by leading them to a group of Sentinels who attacked and killed Scott and Rogue. He’s one of the best examples of combining two Marvel heroes, but he’s not the last.
26. Frank Simpson (Ultimate)
First Appearance as Captain America: Ultimate Captain America #1 (2011)
In the central Marvel universe, Frank Simpson became the villain Nuke. However, in another reality, he’s a Vietnam vet given the Super Solider Serum to recreate Captain America. His handlers fail to fully recreate Captain America, leading to Frank’s gradual decline in sanity. He participates in dangerous battles and has his face tattooed with the American flag.
By 1972, Frank defected and was discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D., who concluded that Frank had spent years hiding, recreating the Super Soldier serum based on his blood and selling it to America’s rivals.
Captain America, Steve Rogers, and British S.A.S. investigate Frank, who murdered a test subject and tried to flee. Frank imprisoned Rogers and forced him to listen to his historical lectures on American international interventions. He resisted, and Frank eventually planned to execute him. Using snake venom in Frank’s eye, Steve defeated him before being taken into custody by S.H.I.E.L.D. One of the many murderous versions of Captain America.
25. Carl Zante
First Appearance as Captain America: Strange Tales #114 (1963)
Carl Zante first posed as a superhero named The Acrobat. He and Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, tried to rescue a teller trapped in a Glenville bank’s safe. After being tricked by the Acrobat, the Torch escaped with a million dollars in cash. Eventually, the rest of the Fantastic Four captured Zante.
Later, the Acrobat, disguised as Captain America, stopped a robbery at an antique auto show. This was during the time Steve Rogers was frozen in ice. Zante secretly released his accomplices to rob a Glenville bank, escaping on his floating sky platform. The Human Torch arrested them again. But he’s one of the more inept impersonators of Captain America.
24. Roscoe Simons
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America #181 (1975)
Roscoe Simons was another guy who tried to replace Steve Rogers after he quit. A Cap fan, he pursued his fantasy of becoming Captain America. He sought training in gymnastics from Sam Wilson, who initially tried to dissuade him.
However, Roscoe insisted on becoming Captain America, and the Falcon began training him. Despite fears, Roscoe was killed by the Red Skull, involved in a money laundering scheme. The Skull killed Roscoe when he discovered that the Captain America opposing him was Roscoe, a message to Rogers that any other person in the costume would face the same fate. Roscoe’s sacrifice inspired Steve Rogers to reclaim the mantle of Captain America despite his anger and disillusionment with the government.
So this guy’s sacrifice got Cap to pick up the shield again. That’s a noteworthy achievement.
23. Steve “Stevil” Rogers (Secret Empire)
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 (2016)
It’s among Marvel’s most contentious decisions in a long time. It happened when the cosmic-powered Kobik returned Steve Rogers to his boyhood. Nobody knew Kobik had changed Steve’s viewpoint due to the Red Skull’s influence. Steve now felt he had been a HYDRA agent for his whole life. This backfired on the Skull as Steve took him out to seize control of HYDRA himself. Steve played the nice guy as he plotted to have HYDRA eventually take over the nation.
It was unexpected to see the Sentinel of Liberty in a dictatorship. Even though many heroes opposed him, Steve believed he was correct. He even wore a variant of his iconic costume in wild green armor. After realizing her error, Kobik lets the unadulterated Steve return and defeat his adversary. Although Steve deserves praise for his brilliant manipulation of everyone, it isn’t easy to justify his actions.
22. Steven Rogers (Revolutionary War)
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America #194 (1975)
Captain America’s origins can be traced back to another Steve Rogers (coincidentally), who fought for the colonies during the War of Independence. He was killed during one of the final battles of the Revolutionary War, years before the U.S. government officially created the Captain America identity. Despite the question of Captain America’s canonical existence during the Revolutionary War in Marvel’s timeline, an ancestor named Steven Rogers has appeared in the comics as his era’s Captain America. His outfit and makeshift shield fit the period perfectly.
Considering when this guy is around, he’s almost certainly a slave owner. So, he’s not the best example of the symbol of America (or maybe he is). What makes it awkward is that modern Steve Rogers’ best friend is a black man. He’s still a cool guy, though.
21. Danielle Cage (Earth-15061)
First Appearance as Captain America: Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 (2015)
Many have carried the Captain America mantle, but Danielle Cage was one of the most unexpected. Danielle was the daughter of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, and it seems that she inherited both of their strengths. This indicates that she possessed a ridiculous array of superpowers, such as increased strength, speed, durability, psychic resistance, flight, and accelerated healing. Danielle is, therefore, among the most adaptable individuals on this list.
She has more powers than anyone else here, even though they aren’t as strong as others. Because of Danielle’s extraordinary abilities, Doctor Doom called upon her to assist in the battle against All-Father Ultron, who was undoubtedly a formidable foe. Danielle’s inclusion says volumes if Doom was calling forth the finest.
20. Captain Americat
First Appearance as Captain America: Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham #1 (1983)
In Spider-Ham’s alternate Marvel universe, everyone is an animal. Captain Americat (Steve Mouser) fights alongside the Sca-vengers. He occasionally collaborates with Spider-Ham as a journalist and superhero. In Spider-Ham Comics, he appears more frequently than any other hero.
By the way, this Captain Hamerica is a different Captain Americat from the one who appears in the Ultimate Civil War Spider-Ham Comic.
19. Shannon Carter
First Appearance as Captain America: A-Next #4 (1998)
Shannon Carter, the cousin of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter, grew up idolizing Captain America and was a tour guide for the Avengers Mansion. She designed a costume, created disc weapons, and underwent extensive physical training.
Shannon, known as the “American Dream,” joined the team and demonstrated her Captain America colors, earning the alternate Captain’s shield for saving the original Avengers from a dark parallel reality. She’s appeared in over 50 comics since 2008 and is one of the more popular female versions of Cap
18. Kiyoshi Morales
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America Corps #1 (2011)
As someone was removing Captain Americas from the Multiverse, the Contemplator called forth Commander A, the genetically altered Captain America of a separate Earth future, and four other Captain Americas from various eras. All realities would have been destroyed by an entropic wave that this would have started. When Commander A and the other Captain Americas were dispatched to America in the twenty-first century, when the excises occurred, they resisted them and confronted the Americommand.
He’s one of many Captain Americas who aren’t Caucasians. He’s of Latino, African American, Japanese, and Native American descent. Plus, he makes the plasma shield work.
17. Captain Ape-Merica
First Appearance as Captain America: Marvel Apes (2008)
Captain America, a gorilla in Earth-8101, lived a life akin to his human counterpart in Earth-616 until his world’s Baron Blood assaulted him and trapped him in an iceberg. Gibbon, Wolverine, and Speedball brought Captain America back to life years later in the current period, and he assisted them in fending off the vampire Namor. They then set out to stop Baron Blood, who had assumed the identity and form of Captain America.
It’s one of the stranger versions of the star-spangled Avenger.
16. William Burnside
First Appearance: Captain America #153 (1972)
Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema’s Captain America #153 introduced William Burnside, one of the more obscure Captain Americas. Although the character first appeared in Young Men #24 nearly two decades prior, he didn’t assume the role of the fourth Captain America until 1972.
Burnside’s Captain America was developed out of a crazy obsession with Steve Rogers, which makes his portrayal unique and unconventional. As a result, he was given a modified form of the super-soldier serum and even had his appearance changed to resemble Roger’s. He was already psychotic, but the serum’s subsequent adverse effects made him even more so.
15. Josiah Al Hajj Saddiq
First Appearance as Captain America: Crew #1 (2003)
Christopher Priest and Joe Bennett created Josiah X. He’s Isaiah and Faith Bradley’s genetically modified child. The government used a surrogate mother and Isaiah’s supersoldier blood to engineer a new Super Soldier. Josiah’s mother escaped from the government, leaving him at an orphanage. Later, he enlisted in the Vietnam War and was successful. But was later court-martialed for insubordination against a racist superior officer.
Josiah lived as a mercenary before discovering the Islamic faith. He became a Muslim minister and opened a mosque in Brooklyn. After Rhodey’s sister’s death, he joined Rhodey’s “Crew” to fight crime.
Besides his ties to Isiah Bradley (more about him later), his past as a Muslim minister also makes him unique.
14. Roberta Mendez (Earth-23291)
First Appearance: Secret Wars 2099 #1 (2015)
Corporations rule America in the setting of Marvel’s 2099 series. According to the plot, Cap had been brought back to life and was attempting to retake America. This turned out to be a pretty sinister impostor. It was revealed in the Spider-Man 2099 book that Roberta Mendez was a fantastic heroine and had taken over as Captain America. But because Roberta’s Alchamex masters had given her a split personality, she was unaware of the activities of her costumed ego.
For some wild adventures, this Roberta ventured into the past of the main Marvel realm. The future technology helped her in her fights, and she was a fantastic athlete with the same power and reflexes as the ordinary Cap. Despite being crippled by her dual nature, Roberta managed to combine the two aspects to become a real heroine for the future.
13. William Naslund
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #49 (1945)
According to the comics, when Marvel Comics brought Captain America back to life in 1964, he had been absent from action and frozen in ice since 1945. It was later established that this difference with his postwar comic-book appearances was due to the mantle being taken on by replacement heroes.
President Truman worked to preserve the Captain America myth after Bucky and the original Captain America appeared to have been dead in the spring of 1945. He chose William to be the new Captain America. William was paired with Fred Davis, the batsman for the New York Yankees, who was filling in for Bucky. Truman summoned the Invaders after their appointment to inform the original Captain America and Bucky of their “deaths” and present them to their successors. Bucky, Fred as the new Captain America, and William battled valiantly with the Invaders.
His time as the Star-Spangled Avenger was brief but memorable.
12. Clark Kent (Amalgam)
Marvel and DC collaborated to create the entertaining Amalgam Universe in 1996. It was a well-liked event that featured several one-shots combining characters from both sides. Patriotic superheroes Superman and Captain America were among the “no-brainer” pairings.
In the comic, Clark Kent is a weak and skinny soldier. So, the government injects alien DNA from a downed Kryptonian ship into him. To combat the Axis, he adopts the persona of a Super Soldier. After being frozen at the war’s end, he is resurrected to attempt to serve his country again.
11. Samantha Wilson
First Appearance as Captain America: Spider-Gwen #1 (2015)
In the 2014 Spiderverse event, Spider-Man met the Spider-champions of several realms. One had Gwen Stacy dressed as Spider-Woman, and her stylish costume immediately won over admirers. Due to her popularity, the character was given a comic book title, which delves into a distinct Marvel realm. Samantha Wilson was a talented engineer who was regrettably constrained by the discriminatory attitudes of her era.
Agents from Hydra ambushed her while she was working on the Super Soldier program. Samantha went through becoming Captain America after Steve Rogers suffered serious injuries. In an attempt to aid the planet, she was also frozen and subsequently resurrected. In addition to HYDRA, she battled and defeated the criminal organization SILK, which benefited the globe.
10. Carol Danvers (Mangaverse)
First Appearance: New Mangaverse #3 (2006)
Carol Danvers, a pilot in Japan, was attacked by Sunfire and his allies after sweeping Mount Fuji. She was electrocuted and later discovered she had developed superpowers. She hid in the Hand’s base, where Elektra tried to kill her. Dressed as Captain America, she saves Spider-Man from execution and helps the captured heroes defeat the Hand and its operatives.
Carol Danvers in the Mangaverse lacks the cosmic superpowers that have come to be so strongly linked with her character, in contrast to her Earth-616 counterpart. She possesses the extraordinary strength and invulnerability that most Captain America variations possess. But Carol does have the famous shield of Captain America.
But there’s another time Danvers becomes Cap.An alternate version appears in the Venomized Rocket Raccoon universe, where the Kree offers a bounty on her. The story is short so it’s barely worth mentioning.
9. Clint Barton
First Appearance as Captain America: Fallen Son: The Death Of Captain America #3 (2007)
Iron Man felt guilty about his breakup with his old friend after Steve Rogers appeared to have died after the Civil War incident. Therefore, in Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #3 by Jeph Loeb and John Romita Jr., he decided to replace the Sentinel of Liberty himself.
Due in significant part to his proficiency with the shield and Hawkeye’s connection to Steve Rogers, Iron Man selected the recently resurrected Clint Barton/Hawkeye to assume the position of Captain America. Hawkeye rejected the offer, and the costume and shield were returned because he had to turn on Iron Man and free two Young Avengers during his one mission as Captain America.
Even though he only appeared in one issue, his reverence for Rogers stands alone.
8. Francine “Frank” Castle
First Appearance as Captain America: Punisher War Journal #9 (2007)
Frank Castle first appeared as the villain, The Punisher, in Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1973. In an alternate reality Steve Rogers seemed to have died, Castle stole Captain America’s old cowl and transformed it into a hybridized outfit. This was one of the most unexpected outcomes of the Civil War.
Even though it was only temporary, Frank Castle’s adoption of the classic Sentinel of Liberty outfit remained memorable until the Punisher gave over the Captain America position to Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers’ longtime sidekick and best friend.
But this isn’t his only time as Cap. In What If? Age of Ultron #4 by Joe Keatinge, Piotr Kowalski, and Neil Edwards is a Vietnam vet who gets injected with super-soldier serum and becomes Captain America. He eventually retires but inspires a woman named Ava to become the new Captain. That inspiration is what makes Captain America a true hero.
7. Steve Rogers (Ultimate)
First Appearance as Captain America: Ultimates #1 (2002)
The specialty of Marvel’s “Ultimate” line was giving the iconic Marvel characters a fresh perspective. Although Steve Rogers from this universe was essentially the same as the one from Earth-616, he could project an even greater sense of super-soldierness. He had little trouble leading small armies of men alone and could be extremely tough in battle.
His 1940s principles could also make him a little more jingoistic. This is demonstrated in the well-known scene where he laughs at an extraterrestrial, saying, “Surrender? Do you believe that this “A” represents France?
Ultimate Captain America’s transformation from a realistic portrayal of a man out of time to an action-packed catharsis is a unique character development. This growth is rare in other media. While iconic characters can be tedious, Ultimate Captain America’s flaws make him a great Captain America.
6. Isaiah Bradley
First Appearance as Captain America: Truth: Red, White & Black #1 (2002)
The Truth miniseries, which debuted in 2001, significantly altered the Captain America mythology. Steve learns about Project Rebirth’s troubled past. Several African-American volunteers were used to test the Super-Soldier serum before it was perfected. They were employed because the army intended to test the serum before administering it to a “real” American, as several of them experienced horrifying adverse effects. The group’s lone real success was Isiah Bradley, endowed with superhuman strength and endurance.
In what turned out to be his last mission, he wore the uniform and shield of Captain America, for which he was later given a life sentence for “stealing.” After spending 17 years, during which time his health had started to decline due to the serum’s harmful effects, Bradley was finally granted a pardon and sworn to secrecy. The character is truly tragic and harkens back to real-life events like the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiments.
5. Jeffrey Mace
First Appearance as Captain America: Human Torch #4 (1941)
Jeffrey Mace is best known to Marvel Comics readers as the Patriot, his alternate hero persona. The name will also be familiar to any Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans as the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Jeffrey Mace always intends to embody the same moral principles as Steve Rogers, regardless of the heroic attire he chooses to wear.
After Steve Rogers’ absence from the post had to be explained retroactively, Mace became the third man to don the shield in Captain America Comics #59. Mace was compelled by his morals to step up and take Steve Rogers’ place. His character appeared in over one hundred issues and helped usher Cap into a new age.
4. John Walker
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America #333 (1987)
A prevalent theme in superhero comics is the character stepping down or being killed off for someone fresh to take over. Steve Rogers has experienced this frequently; one of the earliest instances was when John Walker was chosen to assume the position in the 1980s. He later became the Pepsi to Rogers’ Coke in the U.S. Agent when it didn’t work out.
John Walker’s time as Captain America was always difficult because he began his career as the Super-Patriot, a criminal. He posed significant difficulties for Steve Rogers as the government’s choice for Cap, and it appears he will do so for Steve’s successors in the MCU.
3. James “Bucky” Barnes
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America Comics #1 (1940)
One of the most significant figures in Steve Rogers’ life is Bucky Barnes, another longtime buddy. During World War II, they fought together at first, but Bucky was captured and turned into a vicious assassin by brainwashing. Although Bucky first returns as the vicious Winter Soldier, he recovers his memory and rises to hero status once more. The two would not be reunited for decades.
Tony Stark handed Bucky the role of Captain America during a period after Steve Rogers had been killed. His hand-to-hand fighting skills are ridiculous; he is far more proficient than Sam Wilson and even more so than Steve Rogers. But Bucky isn’t as versatile as Sam Wilson. He can’t fly, for example.
2. Sam Wilson
First Appearance as Captain America: Captain America #25 (2014)
Sam Wilson, a renowned social worker and super hero, combats violence and inequality in Harlem. He first appeared in Captain America #117 (1969) and was created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan. Wilson partnered with Steve Rogers and became a longtime friend and teammate fighting crime as Falcon.
During Rick Remender’s tenure as Captain America, Wilson assumed the role of the shield, and for the past seven years, he has been one of the more reliable iterations of the character. With his wings, telepathic connection to birds and unique perspective as a black man he’s the second best version of Captain Amnerica.
1. Steve Rogers
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (1940)
At first, Steve Rogers wasn’t very noteworthy. But after witnessing the Nazi threat to the world, he made the decision that he could no longer watch good men lose their lives in the struggle against evil. He enlisted in the army, resulting in Steve receiving the super soldier serum that turned an ordinary young guy from New York City into Captain America, a hero who would repeatedly save the world.
Rogers’ doesn’t have the flashy skills and equipment of Sam Wilson or the impressive combat prowess of Bucky Barnes. However, Steve Rogers has decades of experience as a soldier and a hero, which sets him apart from many others.
Captain America was one of Marvel’s founding heroes and remains one of its most significant characters thanks to his improved physical abilities and almost indestructible shield.
Which is your favorite version of Captain America? Let us know in the comments below!
