As far as role models go, Steve Rogers was nothing more than a stepping stone in Peter Parker's life. He was present in Schkeuditz, Germany, when Parker had his first serious gig as a superhero, but the two exchanged nothing more than simple pleasantries. Captain America saw a little bit of himself in young Spider-Man but left abruptly.

The Star-Spangled Man later appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming as a motivational speaker in Parker's high school P.E. class, his superhero speech delivered straight from an old-school television screen, and he had a similar cameo in the film's post-credits scene. New concept art for Spider-Man's solo debut, however, reveals Cap had a much bigger role to play in an earlier version of the script: as a gleaming symbol of heroism. Literally, gleaming.

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Marvel concept artist Peter Mitchell Rubin shared several set designs for Spider-Man: Homecoming that ultimately didn't make it in the film. These include a shot at Washington Monument of the Howling Commandos, beautifully rendered in solid gold plating. As the group's leader, Steve Rogers can be found front and center, sporting his World War II uniform and classic Vibranium shield. The memorial sits on the edge of a semi-circular fountain and comes with its own guide and educational tour.

The Howling Commandos made their debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), which took place in 1942. In fact, Jim Morita, the ancestor of Peter Parker's present-day high school principal, was a Howling Commando himself.

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Directed by Jon Watts, the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Michael Keaton, Cobie Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jake Gyllenhaal. It opens in theaters on July 5, 2019.