Steve Rogers was a scrawny 4-F, who was considered unfit for military service. He is given a experimental serum, which forever changes him into a muscular, extremely agile super-soldier. He also is given a red, white and mostly blue superhero costume, a nearly indestructible shield, and gains a 16 year old costumed assistant,Bucky. They had many adventures together in various comic titles until around 1950. There was a failed attempt to revive Captain America and Bucky in 1953, but it didn't take. Captain America would have to wait until the 60's to get a proper revival.
In "The Avengers"#4 (March 1964), Captain America is found frozen in a block of ice and revived by the Avengers. Back in W.W. 2, Cap and Bucky were battling the Red Skull. Bucky supposedly dies in an explosion ( although he was found alive and brainwashed by the Soviets; much later he is restored to normal), which also buries the Red Skull in a pocket of gas, in suspended animation until the 60's. Cap is captured by Baron Zemo, and is frozen until he is revived by the Avengers; the superhero group he promptly joins. He gained his own solo feature in "Tales of Suspense"#58-99 (drawn in every issue except for two, by Jack Kirby). With issue #100, the title became "Captain America" and drawn by a variety of artists, including Gil Kane.
The Falcon / Samuel Wilson (with his pet falcon, Redwing) was introduced in "Captain America"#117. The African-American superhero became Cap's full-time teammate in #134 (Feb. 1971), which lasted until #222 (June 1978). Most of that series was drawn by the great Sal Buscema. Jack Kirby again took over artistic duties from #193-#214.
In the late 70's, a W.W.2 revival series was created. That series was "The Invaders", which was about a superhero group that battled Hitler's forces, as well as other W.W.2 era menaces. The group consisted of --Captain America & Bucky, The Human Torch & Toro, and the Sub-Mariner.
Captain America has been in a 1944 serial (starring Dick Purcell), several animated series', 2 TV movies (starring Reb Brown), and a little known movie release (starring Matt Salinger). In 2011, "Captain America" was finally made into a fantastic blockbuster, starring Chris Evans (there is currently a sequel in the works, called "Captain America-The Winter Soldier"). Evans wonderfully repeated the role of Captain America, in the Box-Office smash, "The Avengers" (2012). Chris Evans perfectly portrayed Captain America's old fashioned values, unswerving patriotism, and spirit of self-sacrifice. I'm eagerly anticipating the release of the "Captain America" sequel!
"Captain America" continues to be a great symbol of American strength and patriotism!
Best Captain America line in The Avengers when he's told that Loki and Thor are "like gods": "There's only one God, ma'am, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that."
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