WWII Icon and Super Soldier Steve Rogers aka Captain America can be celebrated as one of the most influential avengers members, but its actual impact on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is questionable. While the original founding Avengers remain credited time and time again for their efforts to save the world, the revelations about the team’s true history render Captain America’s influence almost insignificant.
2010 issue from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist John Romita Jr. avengers #2 contains a closing chapter featuring a historical account of Captain America’s de-icing in modern times titled Avengers Assemble: The Oral History of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Chronicling the history of Earth’s greatest superhero team from its formation and first-ever battle against the mischievous Asgardian enemy Loki, the exploits of Steve Rogers remain front and center. These pages feature personal interviews of not only several key members of the Avengers like Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Wasp and Spider-Man, but also other world famous heroes such as Mr. Fantastic, Nick Fury, Namor and Bucky Barnes. who were all greatly affected by what Cap’s return meant to their lives. According to Avenger founder and former financier Tony Stark aka Iron Man himself, it was Captain America who joined the set that not only led to the team’s golden age, but also at the true beginning of what would become the greatest superhero team on Earth.
Although Captain America seems to have a plethora of fans, another Marvel team that seems to predate the original Avengers itself seems to offer a starkly opposite take on Captain America’s legacy on Earth’s first team of heroes. Introduced in 2017 by The Mighty Thor The Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic duo, the prehistoric Avengers of 1,000,000 BC (consisting of Black Panther, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist, Odin, Phoenix, Starbrand and Agamotto) were the original precursors to the modern lineup. While many of those ancient Avengers got titles that would be passed on to modern successors, that wasn’t possible with someone like Steve Rogers. Captain America and his hero principles largely stem from the ideals of classic American values that hadn’t yet been established in the prehistoric days of the Avengers.
Does Captain America define the Avengers?
While Iron Man’s claim that joining Rogers was the real start of the Avengers is laudable, it’s not exactly the whole story. The Avengers lineup of 1,000,000 BC was clearly made up of a formidable group of heroes, with their main leaders being Odin and Lady Phoenix. While neither Odin nor Lady Phoenix were as patriotic or noble as Captain America, the two still managed to keep their team together in order to accomplish what needed to be done. It was an Avengers team already making an impact without a red, white, and blue scout at the helm. In the grand scheme of Avengers history, Captain America became a small cog that simply helped usher in a new, modern era.
Since the concept of avengers was established in prehistoric times, the profound impact that Captain America reportedly later is also somewhat diminished.
