Captain America has long been one of the Marvel Universe's most beloved characters, and because of the MCU, fans the world over have seen just why that is. Cap's never-say-die attitude, combined with his years of experience, peerless skills, the shield, and super soldier serum, have allowed Cap to triumph over some of the most dangerous villains around and made him integral to the Avengers and their defense of Earth.
Fans of the MCU who want to get into Cap's comic adventures are going to find a character who is similar to the one they know but also quite different in some important ways.
10 Cap's Shield Is Different In The Comics
In the MCU, Cap's shield is made of vibranium, a very tough metal that allows it to absorb impacts, making it that much more durable. However, in the comics, Cap's shield is made of an alloy composed of vibranium and adamantium, the metal that coats Wolverine's bones. Adamantium on its own is pretty much indestructible, so adding vibranium to the mix makes Cap's shield that much more invulnerable to damage.
Regarded as one of the greatest weapons on Earth, Cap's shield in the comics is much more durable than the one in the movies but it still serves as a symbol for one of the greatest heroes of them all.
9 Cap Isn't As Strong In The Comics
In the movies, Cap pulls off some pretty impressive feats of strength, most impressively holding back Thanos's hand in Avengers: Infinity War. This is very different from Cap in the comics. While his strength has seemingly gone up in recent years, most likely because of his portrayal in the movies, he would never be able to pull off some of the movies' strength feats.
The super soldier serum gave Cap peak human strength in the comics, not super strength. So, while he is very, very strong and works out often, at the most, he has very low-level super strength and wouldn't be able to do some of the things Cap in the movies can do.
8 He's Something Of A Ladies Man
Cap in the comics has been around for a long time and romantic subplots are a big part of fiction. While Cap in the movies has had some flirtations with having relationships, he pretty much has only had one actual relationship--the one with Peggy Carter. In the comics, he's had many relationships, mostly with those superheroes and secret agents he works with.
However, in the comics, his most important relationship is still with a Carter, but it's Sharon Carter and not Peggy, who never existed in the comics until her appearance in the movies. The fact that Sharon got so short-changed in the movies actually angered a lot of Cap fans because she is such a huge part of Cap's life.
7 He Is Actually The Leader Of The Avengers
In the movies, Cap is the "leader" of the Avengers but really, everyone listens to Iron Man. This has to do with the fact that Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man is the MCU's most popular character, so audiences expect him to take the lead. In the comics, this isn't the case at all--Captain America is widely considered the best leader the Avengers have ever had and everyone looks to him for guidance and tactics.
For fans used to seeing Iron Man as the linchpin of the Avengers, the one who comes up with all of the plans and guides the team, this is going to be very different for them. If anything, Iron Man in the comics fills the role that Cap does in the movies--important to the team and sometimes taking the lead but not the most important member.
6 Has Had Some Pretty Grievous Losses Over The Years
In the movies, the number of losses Cap has had can be counted on one hand--pretty much just the battle against Thanos in Wakanda. Even in Captain America: Civil War, he personally didn't lose anything--he was never imprisoned like the other heroes and just relocated to Wakanda. This is quite different than Cap in the comics--he's lost a lot over the years.
Not only have his enemies beaten him, but he's lost all kinds of friends and loved ones over the years. While Cap is known for being hard to beat, it's not impossible and in the comics, he has lost many times.
5 He's Given Up Being Captain America A Lot
In the movies, Cap quit being Captain America after the events of Captain America: Civil War but he still was basically Captain America. However, in the comics, Cap has given up being Captain America many times for all kinds of reasons.
Often, it's been because he was disillusioned with the American government and didn't want to be associated with it. Another time it was because he was made the Director of SHIELD and the most recent time was because the super soldier serum's anti-aging effects had given out.
4 His Rivalry With Red Skull Is A Defining Characteristic
In the movies, Red Skull and Cap's battles against each other were fierce but only took place during WWII. In the comics, Red Skull and Cap's war against each other has become one of the biggest rivalries in comics. Red Skull is the anti-thesis of Cap--he represents all of the horrors of racism and evil taken to the extreme, whereas Cap is all about freedom and the triumph of the human spirit.
The two men have had some titanic battles over the years, as Red Skull has done his best to destroy Cap, and Cap has worked hard at preventing his foe from making his twisted world view a reality.
3 Hydra Didn't Play As A Large A Role In His Life
In the comics, Cap has always battled Hydra, but it was very different than in the movies. In the movies, Cap fought Hydra during WWII more than he fought the Nazis. In the comics, Hydra would become the home of most of his surviving Nazi foes, and he would fight against them, but they didn't have that big of a role in his life or creation.
It was only after the movies, in one of those moves Marvel made to make the movies and comics match, that Hydra would play a massive role in Cap's life, something that led to the infamous Secret Empire storyline.
2 He Was Unequivocally The Good Guy In The Superhero Civil War
Civil War and Captain America: Civil War were two watershed events in their respective Marvel Universes. They were both quite different but one of the biggest differences is Cap's place in them. In the comics, Cap was the leader of the good guys; his side opposed the government taking too much control and didn't work with villains, while Iron Man embraced fascism and doing anything for victory.
The movie, while ostensibly about Cap, pretty much did everything it could to make him look bad and elevate Iron Man into the role of the one doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, mostly because Iron Man was the more popular character.
1 He Is The Most Important Hero In The Marvel Universe
In the MCU, Iron Man is the most important hero, and it's not even close. He was the first hero to go public, and the entire thing exists because of the popularity of his first movie. In the comics, Iron Man, while important, takes a back seat to Cap in pretty much every way.
Cap in the comics is the most important hero in the Marvel Universe. His example has inspired generations of heroes and not just ones who are in the Avengers. He's worked with every major hero and is respected by all. The heroes of the Marvel Universe squabble a lot but they have one thing in common--when Cap talks, they all listen.