Superheroes come in all shapes and forms and some of them are a little more egocentric than others. This diversity can appear within a single franchise; in My Hero Academia, for example, All Might is the epitome of a selfless hero, while his burning rival, Endeavor, strives for the top spot for more selfish reasons.

Similarly, Captain America, the star-spangled hero in the Marvel comics, never fights for fame and glory, whereas other heroes are in it for the glory and riches. This even happens in the MCU, a microcosm of the Marvel universe as a whole, and more than a few parallels exist between All Might and Captain America that goes way beyond the USA theme.

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How All Might & Captain America Went From Zero To Hero

Young All Might crying My Hero Academia

All Might is universally beloved as the ultimate Symbol of Peace, but he was not born that way. In fact, he later admitted to Izuku, his powerful protege, that he was born without a Quirk at all. He gained the Quirk known as One For All from Nana Shimura, who herself had received it from another wielder, and so on. All Might had the bodily power to match what was in his heart, but he wasn't done yet. He underwent training with the jet hero Gran Torino, and this training was anything but easy. By the end, All Might had emerged as the most powerful hero of his generation, famed for his seemingly infinite strength, speed and endurance. He could win the day with a single punch in most cases.

Steve Rogers was born in the early 1920s as a light-weight kid from Brooklyn and failed to qualify for the U.S. Army when the nation entered World War II. But there was hope: he was given the experimental super-soldier serum, and that gave him a powerful body match what was in his heart. He underwent serious training, gained his famed vibranium shield, and started to prove himself as the USA's #1 defender of hope and freedom (and soon, the world's). This transformation was clearly shown in Captain America: The First Avenger.

Both of these heroes proved that true strength is earned, and they had to fight their way from weakness and obscurity to become the heroes they were always meant to be. They had to "unlock" their potential, and each experienced a turning point with One For All and the super-soldier serum. This contrasts sharply with heroes like Endeavor and Hawks the winged hero, who were born special, and the mighty Thor, born as the prince of Asgard with incredible powers at his disposal. Even the humblest man can become something incredible.

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All Might & Captain America Are Selfless Heroes

captain america endgame

It is clear that All Might and Captain America went on a similar trajectory to become powerful heroes, but what matters most of all, as they say, is what's on the inside. Both of them have the same heart and they use it for selfless ends. Never did Captain America pick up his shield for personal glory (at least, not in the MCU), and All Might learned to appreciate his fame but not feed on and identify with it. They put duty first and they knew that every innocent victim whom they failed to save or any villain they failed to defeat would be a permanent stain on their virtue has heroes. Doing the right thing is its own reward for these characters, and they'd hesitate to accept huge rewards even if they were offered. Any time All Might or Captain America fails to rescue someone or save the day, it weighs heavily on them, not because of unflattering headlines in tomorrow's newspaper, but because they failed their duty -- the cause that they put before themselves. It's almost as if they are apologizing to the world because they are a servant of justice, not its embodiment.

This selfless spirit goes beyond humility and risking their lives for other people. All Might and Captain America are also perfectly willing to pass on their mantles and symbolism as a hero to worthy successors since once again, they are a tool of justice and virtue, not the embodiment of those things. The noble cause comes first, and if someone more worthy comes along, then it is time to pass on the baton. That, combined with a practical need for a successor as they get older, drives All Might and Captain America both. All Might was losing strength rapidly and found a worthy heir in Izuku Midoriya. It was almost time to hang up the cape and All Might was at peace with that. He kept up his appearances only to keep the world happy, not for the fame of being All Might for a few more months. Captain America, in Marvels' extensive lore, sometimes passes on his status as the star-spangled Avenger to worthy allies, primarily Sam Wilson (Falcon). It's not about Steve Rogers' personal fame and glory; it's about having a proper Captain America on the scene at all times. Steve Rogers, like his My Hero Academia cousin, will give anything, from his costume to his life, to make sure there is always a hero ready to save the day.

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