Captain America's Shield in the MC2

 

With the release of Captain America: Brave New World nearly upon us, I wanted to take a look at one of the most iconic items in all of superhero fiction: Captain America’s Shield. Naturally, while I like to provide context and a broad history within the Main Marvel Universe, I also try to add a bit of MC2-specific history, so this post will cover Captain America’s Shield in the MC2.

   While Captain America debuted in 1941’s Captain America Comics #1, he wielded a different shield, resembling what Wikipedia informs me is called a heater style shield. Due to complaints from a rival comic company, the shield’s shape was changed to the now-iconic round design beginning with Captain America Comics #2. As for the in-continuity origin of this shield, let us take a look at that next.

 

But first, to talk about this topic, we need to first take a quick look at Adamantium. ‘True Adamantium’ (as codified by the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol.1)  #15) first appeared in the Main Marvel Universe or Universe-616 in Avengers (vol. 1) #66 as the creation of a Dr. Myron Maclain who has invited various Avengers including Thor and Iron Man and Goliath (Clint Barton) aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to test their abilities against it in order to confirm it’s durability. Against his will, The Vision steals the Adamantium and uses it to rebuild his creator, Ultron, but that’s another story!

 

With Avengers (vol. 1) #66 taking place in the modern era, well after Captain America’s World War II exploits with his round shield, it raised the question of what the shield was made from. For example, the shield Captain America used in Avengers #34 was easily destroyed by the Living Laser in Avengers #35, In this case and other instances published around this time, we have the Avengers: Official Index to the Marvel Universe suggested explanation that these were substitute shields provided by Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Tales of Suspense #93 makes it overtly clear that Captain America’s Shield is virtually indestructible.

 

In Captain America #255 President Roosevelt gifts Steve Rogers his iconic shield, briefly mentioning ‘the metal in the shield has some incredible properties’ while bemoaning that its creation was a ‘metallurgical accident’ that cannot be duplicated.

 

Captain America’s profile in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 1) #2 identifies the shield as ‘constructed of a unique vibranium-adamantium alloy’ cast by the metallurgist Dr. Myron MacLain. The shield was ‘the result of a laboratory accident’ which led to many unsuccessful attempts to duplicate the process but resulted in the MacLain inventing Adamantium. The profile further notes ‘because of it’s vibranium-derived properties, is even stronger than pure adamantium.’

 

In addition to a detailed look at the shields design, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 1) #15 also features a profile covering Adamantium itself. The profile notes no one else ‘ever learned how to duplicate either the special adamantium compound used in the creation of the shield, which is known as Proto-Adamantium, or the process which fused the Proto-Adamantium with the Wakandan Vibranium.’ It is also mentioned that the United States Government shared the secrets of Adamantium’s composition with some allies while various criminals have stollen this information, either of which led to the bonding of Adamantium to the mutant Wolverine’s skeleton.

 

Shortly afterwards, in Captain America #303, a captive Myron MacLain himself recounts the details of the creation of Captain America’s Shield. Tasked with creating a super-strong metal to build tanks from, Myron was gifted a sample of Vibranium but failed in his efforts to bond it with a steel alloy he was developing. Weary, MacLain fell asleep while waiting for some metal to heat up and awoke to discover the metals had somehow bonded. Pouring the molten metal into a disc shamed mould, Myron learned he had produced the indestructible metal alloy he had hoped for but was never able to recreate the process, believing an ‘unknown factor’ had entered the experiment while he slept.

 

Myron MacLain’s own profile in the Avengers Assemble handbook works to further clarify the timeline discontinuity of Adamantium, by stating Myron’s research working to recreate the shield’s ‘Proto-Adamantium’ composition would later be used by Lord Dark Wind to device a process of bonding ‘True Adamantium’ to human tissue. This process was in turn stolen and used in the Weapon X program that captured and experimented on Wolverine (as referenced in, among other places Wolverine #-1). Only after many more years and the development of a molecular rearranger that could reshape Adamantium, did MacLain release his Adamantium to the wider world in the aforementioned Avengers #66. The profile further clarifies that the retroactively designation ‘Proto-Adamantium’ has led to ‘the inaccurate assumption by many that the metal was a Adamantium/Vibranium alloy.’ Honestly, this stuff is a convoluted mess, but the Handbook writers do amazing work making sense of it all!

 

While there is a wealth of trivia to talk about surrounding Captain America’s Shield, it is time to delve into the MC2 side of this post. We get our first glimpse of Captain America in the MC2 via a flashback to the last mission of the original Avengers in A-Next #7. It is Captain America who announces to the assemblage of Avengers the danger posed to all worlds by the alternate universe's Doom and his Universal Cube. It is here we learn that many of the Avengers died during their final mission, with Iron Man (among the few to return) declaring there were no other survivors.

 

However, when the new team of Avengers arrive in the alternate world, they discover the rumours of Captain America's demise were greatly exaggerated. Cap reveals he chose to stay behind and aid the rebel underground, allowing his teammates to add his name to the list of the dead to discourage any would-be rescuers (A-Next #10).

 

Captain America details the history of this alternate world (which the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 designates as Earth-9907) which was roughly identical to their own until World War II. Whereas on the Main Marvel Universe and MC2’s Earth the Red Skull was trapped in suspended animation within a hidden bunker until the modern era, on Earth-9907 he escaped and killed Adolph Hitler and led the Axis Powers to victory, killing Captain America and conquering the entire planet. Many years later, the Red Skull spared a young Victor Von Doom, making him his heir only to be murdered and replaced as ruler by him. Needing new worlds to conquer, Doom spent billions to produce a Universal Cube capable of opening portals to other realities which led to the original Avengers team becoming aware of this universal threat (A-Next #10).

 

The rebel base is attacked by Doom's Thunder Guard, forcing Cap to order the rebels and Avengers to retreat before he destroys the jump portal to cover their escape. When Steve tries to send the new and inexperienced Avengers team home to save them, believing they are not prepared for the upcoming battle, the heroes refuse, declaring they are staying (A-Next #10).

In A-Next #11, Captain America leads the Avengers in a mission to stop Dr Doom's use of his new Universal Cube. The team separates into groups and combat the various members of the Thunder Guard, with Cap, Thunderstrike and American Dream's aiming to destroy the Cube itself. When American Dream is pinned, Cap throws her the shield of his deceased counterpart, allowing her to free herself. In the end, Doom is defeated when Crimson Curse sacrifices herself to banish him. Following this, Thunderstrike elects to stay behind to aid Captain America with his efforts and to bond with that world's version of his father.

 

During Adam Chapman’s Comics Shenanigans Episode 748 co-creator and artist supreme Ron Frenz notes:

‘We miscommunicated a bit and if you look at the artwork on the sequence where Cap throws Shannon the shield, during the fight when her hair gets cut off…Cap’s Shield is on his right arm. And the case with the other shield that gets blasted was the alternate Captain America’s Shield, the one the Red Skull always kept, and Doom always kept as a trophy. So, Cap’s Shield is on his right arm. In panel four, his shield is still on his right arm, he picks up the alternate Cap’s Shield with his left hand. And then in panel six, he’s throwing with his right arm the shield. It’s confusing enough that my intention was that he was throwing American Dream *his* shield and that he was going to take up the alternate Cap’s Shield in his continued battle for freedom on *that* Cap’s world. But Tom, rightfully so I think, ultimately scripted it that Cap was throwing Shannon the alternate Cap’s Shield. Because at the end as they are saying goodbye he says, ‘keep the shield, I think this world’s Cap would want you to have it.’  A slight miscommunication.’

 

From this point forward, American Dream wields the Earth-9907 Captain America’s Shield, unless you would prefer to argue it is the MC2’s own Captain America’s Shield. Regardless, Captain America was returned to his own reality in Spider-Girl #58. After this, Captain America is seen collaborating with the new Avengers during the events of Last Hero Standing. Here we see just how much of a toll his many battles have taken on his body, and we learn that Steve's abilities are declining. When Loki kidnaps and places various heroes under his dark spell in a plot to bring about the end of the heroes, Captain America leads a team made up of Spider-Girl, Thunderstrike, Wild Thing and J2 to Asgard. There, they learn of Loki's plans and join with Thor to return to Earth to stop the evil god.

 

Having planned to retire after this last battle, Captain America is instead mortally wounded in combat with Loki when he breaks the Asgardian's spell, freeing the other heroes. As he lays dying, Thor intervenes, combining Asgardian life force with the spirit and power of Captain America's country channelled through Mjolnir to transform the heroes soul into a new star that will inspire generations to come (Last Hero Standing #1-#5). 

 

Unless I am mistaken, this Captain America’s Shield is not seen after this, though it is possible it was put on display in Avengers Mansion. Meanwhile, Shannon Carter continues to carry her shield as the next generation’s American Dream.

 

Special thanks to my dear friend Jesús Arias for his virtually indestructible help and patience, the Marvel Appendix  for always being an invaluable resource of obscure information and the various Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe. I am off to book tickets for Captain America: Brave New World!

 

Until I read an explanation for Dr. Myron MacLain’s extraordinary longevity, I remain

 

frogoat

 

What To Watch Before Captain America: Brave New World

With Marvel Studios latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Brave New World fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to take a quick break from my usual content and make a guide for anyone wanting to catch up or refresh before it hits theatres. Here’s What to Watch Before Captain America: Brave New World.

 

It’s a good place to start off with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, only the second ever entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one film that gets too often dismissed or forgotten. The MCU’s introduction to Bruce Banner’s (here played by Edward Norton) incarnation of the Hulk. Important characters also include Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, Bruce’s former lover and confidant, as well as her father military man Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, played by the late William Hurt. Thunderbolt Ross uses a version of the Super Soldier Serum on Emil Blonsky in an effort to counter the Hulk, with disastrous results. Notably, Bruce has a secret contact which turns out to be Samuel Stern, a scientist who makes use of Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood to further transform Blonsky in The Abomination and is also himself inadvertently infected…a plot thread which hasn’t been touched upon on-screen until now.   

 

Skipping past 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger as it doesn’t feature any of the current film’s major players, we jump straight to Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). This movie introduces the audience to Anthony Mackie in the role of Sam Wilson and marks his first appearance as the winged hero The Falcon. Sam aids Steve Rogers aka Captain America and Natasha Romanoff aka The Black Widow against Steve’s brainwashed friend Bucky now known as the titular Winter Soldier in a global conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

Optional: 2015 saw Avengers: Age of Ultron in which Sam Wilson briefly meets up with Steve, only reappearing at the film’s end where he is recruited to the new Avengers roster. Also in 2015, the first Ant-Man movie features Scott Lang as the fledgling Ant-Man sneaking into the Avengers Compound to steal a MacGuffin only to be confronted by The Falcon. The two briefly battle but ultimately Scott gets away. This does however set up…

 

Captain America: Civil War (2016) pits Steve Roger’s Captain America against Tony Stark’s Iron Man when the Avengers are forced to choose sides following the implementation of the Sokovia Accords. The movie also saw the return of William Hurt as Thunderbolt Ross after 8 years, now promoted to the Secretary of State. With Bucky framed for a bombing, Sam helps Steve to recruit like-minded allies (including Ant-Man) to hold off Tony’s own team. Sam’s pick proves extremely helpful in the conflict but ultimately, they are all arrested. Fortunately, the film ends with Steve breaking them out, leading them to go on the run as fugitives…

 

Released in 2018, Avengers: Infinity War was the culmination of ten years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Thanos’ forces on Earth seeking the Infinity Stones, Sam and the rest of the fugitive team reform the Avengers to defend The Vision in the Battle of Wakanda. Despite their best efforts, Thanos arrives and claims the last of the Infinity Stones before using them to erase half of the population of the Universe including Sam Wilson…

 

While the majority of Avengers: Endgame (2019) doesn’t feature The Falcon, it does have one of his most memorable scenes. After the erased population is restored 5 years later, a weary Steve Rogers stands alone against Thanos and his assembled army but just when all seems lost he hears Sam say ‘on your left’ as the returned heroes emerge from various portals and assemble for the Battle of Earth. Afterwards, a now aged Rogers passes on the shield to Sam.

 

Optional: The events of the Black Widow movie released in 2021 take place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, revealing more details on Natasha Romanoff’s early life and her surrogate family. William Hurt makes his last performance as Thaddeus Ross prior to his passing, pursuing Romanoff before she successfully dismantles the illusive Red Room’s Black Widow Program, apparently prompting him to give her a chance to escape. Reports indicate that actress Shira Haas will portray Ruth Bat-Seraph - known in the comics as Sabra – in Captain America: Brave New World, but to avoid controversy she will be established as a former Black Widow rather than an Israeli superhero.

 

As only the second Disney+ live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier covers a lot of ground in it’s six episodes. We learn more about Sam’s family life and his conflicted feelings about taking up the mantle of Captain America. He and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky have to put their differences aside to stop the Flag Smashers, while working to stop the new government-sponsored Captain America, John Walker (Wyatt Russell) when he goes too far. The series also introduces Joaquin Torres, a member of the Air Force who relishes working alongside The Falcon and is gifted a set of his old wings. When Bucky and Sam free Zemo from prison to aid them, the also wind up on the wrong side of Wakanda’s special forces, the Dora Milaje. After some soul-searching and a meeting with Isaiah Bradley, a tortured escapee of a Super Soldier Serum test who became Captain America during the Korean War only to be locked away for his service, Sam accepts the Captain America title and saves the day.

 

Optional: Strictly speaking, I don’t believe there will be any returning characters from the 2021 movie The Eternals featuring in Captain America: Brave New World. However, that film’s climax does centre around a gigantic Celestial emerging from the planet only to be transmuted, effectively becoming a massive ‘Celestial Island’. This new island will play a major role in the upcoming film.

 

That should be all the essential viewing you need to fully enjoy Captain America: Brave New World next month. I’m looking forward to seeing Harrison Ford take up William Hurt’s role as Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross and seeing how this mosaic of Marvel Cinematic Universe plot-threads will be woven together.

 

Until I get to tell Tom Holland I have my own movie, I remain

 

frogoat