The Birth: It was a dark time. The clouds of war hung over Europe. The Nazi leader; Adolf Hitler seemed virtually unbeatable.
Martin Goodman (publisher from 1932-1972) was one of many Americans concerned about Hitler's aggression in Europe. Goodman's concern was reflected in his comic books, which declared war more than a year before the United States government did. The comic book medium may have been humble, but the message got through to American youth as Timely's (later changed to Marvel) violent heroes found a suitable target for their hostility in the menace of Fascism.

Except for a new Human Torch quarterly, throughout 1940 and most of 1941, Timely was still publishing little more than a monthly issue of Marvel Mystery. Goodman needed something more and that's when Joe Simon and Jack Kirby came up with the All-Americam Hero - Captain America.

The war came to an end Hitler had been defeated. With that, Captain America; a sellout during the war, dissappeared from the scene.
Then came the sixties. Stan Lee was spearheading the Marvel Age of Comics. Lee had been a great adimirer of the early Captain America exploits. He decided that it was time for Cap to make a comeback. Stan Lee's first script he sold was a Cap story. And now again he wrote up a new one to fit into the existing Marvel Universe. And he was joined by Jack Kirby, the artist who had originally drawn Captain America.

    Young Steve Rogers grew up on the lower east side of NYC. His parents were Irish immigrants. Steve's father, Joseph Rogers died when Steve was still a child and his mother; Sarah, had to struggle to make ends meet. Inspite of all the problems, Steve stayed in school and became a voracious reader - especially of fantasy. And he had a natural talent for art. While other kids played about, Steve was busy either with his paper and pencil or with his books.
To supplement her income, Sarah Rogers took in laundry. But she taxed herself to the limits which ultimately took it's toll. While Steve was still in his late teens, his mother passed away.
Steve found a cheap boarding house and took a job as a delivery boy.
Then one day, while watching the newsreel footage in a theatre, he discovered the horrors of war. With the patriotic feelings instilled in him by his parents, Steve volunteered for the army. But scrawny Steve Rogers was classified as 4-F -- unsuitable for service!
However, his patriotism did not go unheeded. General Phillips chanced upon the boy in the recruitment office and found him to be the perfect test subject for Operation Rebirth. He was introduced to Professor Abraham Erskine - one of he leading biochemists at the time. Rogers was put on greuling tests ment to determine the exact limits of his physical abilities.
Then came the day he was asked to try out the tissue building serum. In the midst of several dignitaries Dr. Eskine gave Steve the tissue building serum to be injested. Steve was then bombarded with Vita-Rays and slowly the change took place.
He was no longer the puny, scrawny Steve Rogers, but a man of immense strength, a man at the peak of his physical condition.
Unfortunately Dr. Eskine was murdered by an undercover Nazi operative who was then put out of commission by the newly reborn Rogers.
Rogers was put into a special training programme which helped him use his power to the optimum level. He worked out with the greatest boxers, body builders, gymnasts and wrestlers. And in his spare time, General Phillips instructed him on the finer points of military strategy.
His training complete, Steve was given a special uniform and his first mission was handed to him. That day, he put on the uniform and became Captain America!

His first appearance was in Captin America Comics #1 and later retold in Avengers #4.

The Alter Ego: Steve Rogers has always been true in his word an heart as well as highly patriotic - feeling that were instilled in him by his parents. Thor's hammer can only be lifted by one of pure heart and Steve had done that which proves the depth of his purity.
When Steve awoke in the modern age, he tried to get settled by getting a job as an artist and comic book penciller. He got himself an room in a Brooklyn appartment.
As for his romantic life, it has been one tough go adjusting to the new ways of courtship. He was close to Bernadette Rosenthal for quite some time though he didn't quite feel he was in love with her. But she continued to love him. And then there was Agent 13 from S.H.I.E.L.D a.k.a Shron Carter. Sharon was presumed dead in the line of duty but later on Marvel brought her back. Another lady who caught his fancy was Racheal, also known as Diamondback of the Serpent Society. She left the society along with her other friends Asp and Mamba.

The Legend: Captain America was active during the Second World War and his name became popular among his collegues as well as the Axis Powers. But then in July 1941, he was posted undercover at Camp Lehigh on special duty. Captain America could move about freely undercover but was also closer to the action. At the camp he met young James Buchanan Barnes a.k.a Bucky Barnes - the camp mascot. The two became close friends.
Then one day, Bucky stumbled upon Setve's secret. From that day on he trained under Cap and helped him out in many of his missions. That is...till the day they tried to stop a runaway experimental drone plane. They found themselves caught on the speeding craft as it headed out over the North Atlantic. Unfortunately, the plane was rigged with an explosive which suddenly blew up! Bucky was killed almost instantaneously and Steve fell to the icy waters with that image etched in his mind. Through a freak accident his body remained frozen in suspended animation.

It was the modern age! The Avengers had just come out a battle with the Sub Mariner and the Hulk. The Sub Mariner fled and soon found himself on top of an ice flow in the North Sea. He was bitter of losing his kingdom, his people and also harboured anger because of his recent defeat. When he chanced upon a bunch of Eskimos worshipping a body that was frozen, he got wild and threw the body into the ocean. As drifted along towards the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the ice slowly began to melt away. And there his body was found by the Avengers who were in their submarine.

Captain America emrged out of the suspended animation - a man out of his time. And he was once again reborn!

Cap fought many villains including his arch foe from the 40's - The Red Skull. In fact the Red Skull, making use of Baron Zemo and his daughter; the Mother Superior systematically tore at Steve Rogers after finding out his secret identity. They kidnapped his old friend Arnold Roth and killed his roomate Micheal. Cap's other enemies include Batroc the Leaper, Modok, Dr. Faustus, the Serpent Society, Arnim Zola and the criminal organization called H.Y.D.R.A.

The original Baron Zemo was a weapons scientist for the Third Reich. But when Cap attacked him, he fell into his the Adhesive X (his own creation) which caused his scarlet mask to permanently bond onto his face. He died years ago and his son Phoenix tried to destroy Cap. He too fell into the same chemical created by his father. Unfortunately he was not wearing any mask at the time and his face got horribly disfigured. He then took on the guise of Baron Zemo and tried to make Cap's life a living hell. Eventually he too was thwarted.

Captain America, when he was found by the Avengers, decided to stay on with the group. He was with them for many years and even became their leader at one time. Cap also took under his care, Jack Monroe a.k.a. Nomad, who became his partner.

Cap only relies on his peak human agility, strength, speed, endurance superior to any non super powered human when he tangles with the bad guys. Cap also has an Vibranium-Adamtium alloy Shield that he uses as protection as well as a weapon.