Although Captain America has existed since 1940 – gaining a resurgence in popularity when he joined the Avengers book in 1964 – the most commonly known Steve Rogers' backstory and origins came from books in the 21st century, notably from writer Ed Brubaker.
While several great Captain America books were released throughout the 20th century, many of his greatest have been released in the modern era. The Winter Soldier, Man Out of Time, Civil War and more are all modern must-reads for any Cap fan. These stories aren't just pivotal for Steve Rogers, they're also definitive for Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes and other supporting characters who've contributed to the Captain America legacy.
10 Cap & The Avengers Reborn In The Ultimates
Although The Ultimates, written by Mark Millar with art by Bryan Hitch, isn't a Captain America comic by title, it's one of the books that launched the Ultimate Comics universe alongside Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men.
It's both a modern retelling of the formation of the Avengers (or in this case, Ultimates) and the discovery of a frozen Steve Rogers. It's a fantastic ongoing story that explores Steve Rogers' place in the 21st century, including his struggles with leading a team in a world that's technologically decades ahead of him.
9 Bucky Returns As The Winter Soldier
Written by Ed Brubaker, the Captain America comic events "Out of Time" and "Winter Soldier" redefined Steve Rogers in the main 616 Marvel Comics universe. As the Red Skull returns with the power of the Cosmic Cube, so too does Cap's old ally, Bucky Barnes – long thought dead after World War II.
These comic arcs lay the groundwork for these characters. Bucky's characterization moving forward is defined by this retelling of his origin in "Winter Soldier," which is also the main inspiration for the movie of the same name.
8 Choosing Sides In Civil War
After a super-powered individual causes an explosion that leads to several casualties, S.H.I.E.L.D and the world governments enact a Superhuman Registration Law. It abolishes secret identities and forces heroes and villains to either retire or come forward and reveal their identities to the world.
The comic event Civil War bled into almost every main title. Captain America takes center stage, both in his own series and the main Civil War book as leader of the Anti-Registration group. The reason for Steve's stance is explored in both and solidifies his unwavering sense of morality and justice.
7 The Death Of Captain America
"The Death of Captain America" is a comic arc written by Ed Brubaker following the events of Civil War. Steve Rogers is murdered following a massive confrontation between the heroes, leaving Cap's allies to pick up the pieces and solve the mystery of who the killed him.
While the story itself doesn't focus on Steve Rogers, his supporting cast takes center stage and gives readers an opportunity to learn more about them and their connection to Steve. S.H.I.E.L.D, Sam Wilson, and Bucky Barnes headline this comic arc as they each pursue their own leads as they try to avenge Steve.
6 The Untold Life Story Of Cap & Bucky
"The Life Story of Bucky Barnes" is a comic arc in the pages of the Captain America and Bucky series. While this arc explores Bucky's origins, it's far more unique than "just another origin story." Told from the perspective of Bucky, fans experience Steve and Bucky's early partnership.
It's a well-written story by Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko with art by Chris Samnee. Delving even further into Bucky's character, it highlights what he thought of Steve when standing shoulder to shoulder with him in battle. Arguably, Brubaker contributed more to Bucky's character than Steve's over his comic run.
5 Battling Sci-Fi Monsters In Dimension Z
After Ed Brubaker's legendary run on Captain America ended, Rick Remender filled the role of writer for the series, with legendary artist John Romita Jr. joining him. While Brubaker is a tough act to follow, Remender is another one of Marvel's most prolific writers. He took the series in a direction it hadn't gone before: specifically to a place called Dimension Z.
In this comic arc, Steve Rogers finds himself stranded in another world (seemingly created by Arnim Zola) filled with monsters. While Captain America mainly told stories of spies or espionage, Remender injected some science fiction into the series. Whether it's to everyone's taste or not, it's certainly a unique storyline in the series.
4 Retold Origins In Man Out Of Time
In 2011, Mark Waid wrote a mini-series titled Captain America: Man Out of Time. The series explores the events of the Avengers as they discover Cap's body and wake him up. True to the series title, Steve Rogers has to navigate a world that's unfamiliar to him and catch up on events and technologies that happened during the decades he was in the ice.
Although the series treads familiar ground and revamps the events The Ultimates told just nine years earlier, Waid and artist Jorge Molina craft a story that's much closer to Steve than any previous iteration. What does being frozen for sixty years do to a person, both physically and mentally? Man Out of Time answers these questions and more.
3 Falcon Becomes The All-New Captain America
Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon, is a longtime ally of Captain America. After Steve loses his super-soldier serum and turns into an old man, he appoints Sam as the new Captain America. Sam keeps the title through the comic series All-New Captain America as he ushers in a new era for the character.
Steve Rogers has a large supporting cast that contributes to the book's success. Ed Brubaker expanded Bucky Barnes' character through "The Winter Soldier" comic arc, and now Sam Wilson shines in the spotlight to prove, as Bucky did before him, that Captain America is a title worn by anyone who earns it.
2 When Steve Lost The Super Soldier Serum
During a long battle against the Iron Nail, Captain America is stabbed by one of his tendrils, which drains the super soldier serum from his blood. As a result, Steve rapidly ages and loses all the super enhancements the serum afforded him. For all intents and purposes, Steve is turned into a regular, elderly human.
As shocking as this moment was in Captain America #21, the heart of this story is in the issues that follow. Steve must cope with life without the serum and ponder what his place in the Avengers, or even the world itself, will be from now on.
1 Cap Was Secretly A Hydra Agent This Whole Time?
Written by Nick Spencer, the Marvel comic crossover event Secret Empire was met with mixed reviews. While the story was well written with incredible art from Steve McNiven, Rod Reis and more, the controversy of Captain America revealing himself as a secret sleeper agent for Hydra was too much for readers.
The idea of making one of the most patriotic, loyal, heroic-by-every-definition heroes an unwitting bad guy didn't sit right with fans. Regardless of the stir Secret Empire caused in real life, the story itself is an interesting take and a must-read for any Cap fan.