Some superheroes have a code against murder, like Superman or Batman. Captain America is one of the few who have killed and would not hesitate to do so as an option. It’s not something that Steve Rogers, the man behind the shield, relishes. Still, if it’s a viable option, he’ll take it. There are many Golden Age comics where Cap toasts one group of anonymous Nazis or another. The MCU continued this trend with various aliens, henchmen, and other goons getting finished off by the Captain.
Still, it’s more likely to find scenes where Captain America defeats a villain non-lethally or sacrifices himself instead of killing the others. Still, digging a little deeper, there are a few named characters who lost their lives at the hands of the first Avenger.
6 Black-smith
Originally a Daredevil villain, Starr ‘Machinesmith’ Saxon used his knowledge of robotics to frustrate one group of heroes or another. He became involved with The Fantastic Four and the X-Men among others. Then he faced Captain America in Captain America #249. He took his consciousness out of his physical body and sent it from one robotic double or another to avoid death. But while saving his life, he eventually got tired of it and looked for a way to end it.
He devised a plan to kill himself by a superhero. He confronts Captain America with several Android versions of himself, while leaving the central computer visible. Thinking he might trap Machinesmith in one body, Cap destroys the computer to prevent him from transferring through his duplicates. Instead, he destroyed the last remaining source of Machinesmith’s consciousness, killing him for good…or for a few years anyway.
5 Baron Blood
In Captain America #254, Cap went to the UK to deal with a vampire problem. An old friend of his, British superhero Union Jack, had family problems when his brother, Baron Blood, became a vampire. The Baron fought against Cap, Bucky and Namor during World War II. Now Blood was back and Cap had to team up with Joey Chapman, the new Union Jack, to stop him.
The duo managed to corner him, but they had no way of holding him back. As a vampire, the Baron would simply ignore any injury or free himself from any fortress. The only way to stop him for good was to kill him. Reluctantly, Cap picked up his shield and cut off the creature’s head with the edge.
4 Magneto
This one is more about teamwork. In the Marvel Zombies universe, Captain America was promoted to Colonel. Not that it saved him when the zombie apocalypse happened. Eventually, every living thing on Earth became a zombie or was eaten by zombies. One of the few living supers, Magneto, helped the Ultimate Fantastic Four and some human survivors escape to their universe.
Then he became the only person to face Colonel America and the rest of the undead heroes. He managed to slice off the top of the colonel’s head with his own shield, which annoyed him (“If we catch him – when we catch it – i get double ration!”). Eventually, Hawkeye and Wasp got the better of him, and Magneto became a chow to them, the Colonel, and every other hero in the area.
3 red skull
If regular Nazi troops got the fatal end of the corner, surely Captain America’s nemesis should get the same. The two had a decisive fight in Captain America #300, where Cap sought to avenge his fallen friends. However, Red Skull’s death came from poisoning both himself and Cap. Even as he lay dying, Cap refused to finish him off. It’s a noble and typical comic book way of preventing a hero from taking the lethal option.
What if? #26 was something much more conclusive. Captain America becomes President of the United States, makes his identity public, and provides the United States with a new source of clean energy through a solar satellite. Unfortunately, he gets caught by the Red Skull on a diplomatic visit and he plans to turn Cap’s own satellite into an orbiting laser to wipe out Washington DC. Cap frees himself, redirects the satellite coordinates to his location, and keeps the Red Skull occupied until he triggers. So Cap has to sacrifice his life and kill someone at the same time.
2 Iron Man
Red Skull is perhaps traditionally Captain America’s main villain. However, his most notable rival over the past decade and change is hero Tony “Iron Man” Stark. The two were just co-Avengers for decades. Then, after Marvel released the Civil war comedic event in 2006, the two often clashed in one conflict or another. Their most famous release was in Captain America: Civil Warwho cleaned up the messier aspects of comics into a clearer battle of ideals
It’s only Age of X: Universe that things took a bloody turn. In it, the heroes have been caught up in a government plot to exterminate the world’s mutant population. During the conflict, Iron Man is infected with a virus that traps him in his suit, slowly killing him as a result. When the Avengers decide to go against their mission and protect mutant children, Iron Man’s suit targets them against his will. With Stark’s permission, Cap lands him with a round shotgun to the back of his head.
1 Galactus
How could Captain America take on a giant planet-eating entity like Galactus? Few people from any corner of the Marvel Universe have had one against him. The most famous moment was not even in a fight, but with a threat. Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four threatened to use the Ultimate Nullifier to wipe out the entire universe if Galactus laid a finger on Earth. He decided not to call his bluff and left the planet alone.
So what if someone dares to use the device? Walk in What if? #32, where the villainous Korvac kills the Avengers and resurrects them as his pawns. The Watcher brings the strongest forces in the universe to stop them, including Galactus. It sounds like a stretch, but Korvac is smarter than he looks. He asks Cap to sneak into Galactus’ ship, get the Ultimate Nullifier and use it on him. The divine being is atomized, as is Cap in the process. Steve Rogers can be done in the MCU, although Anthony Mackie may want to double-check future scripts for Sam Wilson in the future.
