Like every Saturday, here we are in a new episode of Aperit-Hero, the column where we talk about our most beloved heroes and their great and noble deeds! The protagonist of today’s Aperit-Hero is Captain America, the timeless man!
5 years have passed since the greatest cinematic event that the history of cinema has ever seen, 5 years since the end of the journey of our beloved Steve Rogers, played by the great Chris Evans (full filmography here). We thought we would never see him again, but instead our Captain reappeared in What If…?, animated series in which, especially in episode 8 (click here for the review), is back in style. In What If…? Steve Rogers proved himself again a generous and selfless hero, of which he has always been the figure and image. Captain America is in fact one of the superheroes who best captures the essence of heroism. But let’s analyze the character in detail over the years, from the first Captain America film to Avengers Endgame.
Not a perfect soldier… | Aperit-Hero: Captain America, a timeless man
The story of Steve Rogers begins during the second world War, the time when the world was facing the biggest war it had ever seen. The world was in danger, threatened by the Nazi organization called Hydraheaded Red Skulla man so wicked that he has nothing to envy the historic monster Adolf Hitler. From the beginning of his career as a soldier, Steve Rogers has always shown himself to be a good man, even though he was not a perfect soldier. This is the concept with which the character is born and with which he continues until the end of his days.
Just think of the single gesture during training, in which a grenade was thrown and Steve threw himself into it to save the other soldiers. This gesture was enough to demonstrate to everyone what kind of person he was, and above all it convinced Doctor Erskine to choose Steve Rogers as the most suitable for the super soldier serum. The United States in fact had a weapon to counter the Nazis and save the world from their domination, a serum capable of donating super strength, super agility and super speed to anyone who took the serum. The choice fell on Steve Rogers precisely because of his big heart as a true hero, and this is how the legend of Captain America was born. A timeless legend, because to defeat Hydra, Steve sacrificed his life in the 50s that he could have shared with Peggy Carter, the woman he was in love with. He gave up his life to defeat the Nazis, only to awaken 70 years later in modern-day New York, hired by Nick Fury as the first Avenger.
Avengers Assemble! | Aperit-Hero: Captain America, a timeless man
In the 21st century, the new life of Steve Rogers begins, who has now become a man out of time. As much as he has accepted his fate, as much as he has agreed to continue fighting, the fact remains that Steve is not from the 21st century. The fate he suffers is cruel, he lives in an era that does not belong to him, in a world completely different from how he left it when he decided to sacrifice himself to defeat the Nazis. But not only that, despite trying to settle into the modern era, misses Peggy Carter terribly. A lack that, unfortunately, is never filled by anyone else. The love story that binds them is in fact one of her most beautiful, because Steve remembers her every time he throws himself into battle.
The battles, however, fortunately, become lighter when he discovers a new family: the Avengers. The team formed by Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye. This team gives Steve Rogers a new reason to fight, a new place to call home. Because, despite the initial differences, the team of which Steve becomes the leader becomes a real one family. A group of people to rely on to defeat every evil and to confide in whenever needed, in particular with Tony Starkson of his dear friend Howard Starkthe one who created Captain America’s shield, and Natasha Romanoffwho becomes his closest friend, especially after she helps him defeat Hydra once again, in the new era.
Friendship with Tony Stark | Aperit-Hero: Captain America, a timeless man
An event that certainly marked Steve’s life is his separation from Tony Stark. There is no shadow of a doubt, Bucky Barnes is Steve’s best friend, but it is with Tony that things become more intricate and complex. First of all, Steve knew his father and was one of his closest friends and one of the people who contributed to the birth of the legend of Captain America, but thanks to Tony, Steve finds a home, a family, a friend. The friendship with Tony Stark goes through various stages, but is put into serious question when Steve has hid the death of his parents at the hands of the Winter Soldier. As much as Steve didn’t want it, he hurt Tony deeply by keeping the truth from him, selfishly wanting to protect his best friend Bucky.
When Steve and Tony get separated, things get seriously complicated, because not only are the Avengers separated in Civil War, but Steve even renounces the title of Captain America, because he no longer feels worthy of the title for having hurt Tony. This leads to Infinity Warwith the Avengers divided and unable to counter the one who represented a threat to the universe: Thanos. In fact, if the villain won, if the heroes lost, it was precisely because of the separation between Steve and Tony. And when the Avengers win, it is precisely because in the end the two reconcile, team up again and reunite the Avengers for the rematch. Steve and Tony are two sides of the same coin and can’t live without each other.
…but a good man | Aperit-Hero: Captain America, a timeless man
After everything that happened with the Avengers, with Bucky and with Tony, only one thing has never changed about Steve: he never stopped loving Peggy. After spending five years in a world now halved, with Thanos having won, with billions of people dead, Steve still thought about Peggy. Although he worked in a rehabilitation center where he motivated groups of people in therapeutic meetings to learn about themselves, face the problem and, above all, move forward, Steve had never really moved onalways anchored to the past and never able to adapt to that era that did not belong to him.
This, though, is why Steve Rogers is a good man: he suffered his whole life, yet he never gave up, never stopped fighting for the greater good, and continued to give the world the hero it needed. That’s why, at the end of the story, Steve is worthy of lifting Mjolnirand also for this reason, when it happens, Thor isn’t surprised. Steve always demonstrated his pure heart and warrior spirit, he never stopped fighting for the greater good and acted like a true hero until the end. The scene where he saves Thor from Thanos by managing to hold the hammer is proof that Steve Rogers is a good man.
I can do this all day
Throughout his journey, we got to see who Steve Rogers really is and who Captain America really is. One thing is clear: what’s special about Steve Rogers is much more than what came out of a trap door, to quote Tony Stark. Throughout his journey, Steve has ultimately proven that what is special about him lies in his spirit and heart, he is not special for being a super soldier, but for being a good person. Steve Rogers perfectly represents the essence of heroism and sacrifice. Steve Rogers is one of the greatest heroes the world has ever seen.
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