Captain America: hero of WWII, leader of the Avengers, the perfect zero to hero story. But is Steve Rogers really all he's cracked up to be? As a superhero, I would have to say no. Why? Well, let me tell you.
In order to become Captain America, Steve Rogers was injected with a super soldier serum to enhance his physical form. Because of this serum, Steve was given the body of an Adonis, the strength of ten men, the ability to run twice as fast as the average man, enhanced physical endurance, and accelerated cell regeneration (he heals quickly). This is all really cool! But the problem is, it's all been done before in better ways! Now I'm not saying that all superpowers should be exclusive to one superhero, what I'm saying is his powers are the same as other heros' powers but on a much tamer level.
For example, his super strength. Steve has the strength of ten men, but the problem is is that other heroes have the same thing, but they're much stronger. Take Thor for example. He's a lot stronger than Steve! Maybe that's a bit of a harsh comparison, considering Thor isn't really human, but a god. But what about Bruce? He's also a lot stronger than Steve.
Or what about Steve's increased running speed? Quicksilver (aka Pietro Maximoff) had a speed that greatly surpassed Steve's! Now maybe since Pietro is dead he doesn't count, but he was still much faster than Steve ever was.
Next up, enhanced physical endurance. Steve is able to fight harder for longer, run for greater distances and is able to take a few more punches than the other Avengers... Except for Thor... and Bruce... and Wolverine. Yes, I know Wolverine's not an Avenger, but still, you get the point. Wolverine is able to fully heal literally one second after getting wounded, to the point where he's almost immortal. And Bruce once said that if he shot himself, the Hulk would come out and spit the bullet right back out.
And finally, enhanced cell regeneration. Now, with Dr. Cho's awesome medical technology, she can reproduce cell tissue right over a wound, like she did with Clint in Age of Ultron. And Thor, being a god, can use magic to heal quickly. Also, Barry Allen (aka the Flash. And yes, I know he's from DC, but still) has accelerated cell regeneration and, of course, superhuman speed. Both of which exceed Captain America's ability to do those things. Not to mention Wolverine, once again.
Now, I'm not saying Steve is useless as a superhero, not at all! He's a great leader and understanding friend, not to mention he's the perfect counterbalance to Tony's reckless behavior. As a writer and actor, I can greatly appreciate Steve's honorable character in the MCU. We can really see Steve as a real human being because of his relatability and vulnerability.
We first see Steve as a little guy who never backs down from a fight, even though his chances of winning are slim. Then, we see him as the perfect soldier, ready and willing to use his skills for the good of his country only for him to be disappointed and paraded around as a showgirl. But, he keeps going, determined to do prove himself. He stands up for what he believes in, he always protects his friends, and even stays humble despite being the heartthrob of all America. We even get to see how Steve expresses his emotions. Just like me, he's an artist. Even though the artistic side of Steve isn't really built upon or pointed out, we still get a glimpse into his heart and mind because of it.
But as much we see Steve succeed, we still see him screw up every once in a while. He regularly disobeys his orders, he foolishly tries to enlist even though his every single one of his ailments disqualifies him as a soldier, and he even lies on his enlistment form five times.
But what really takes the cake, and what I think I like best about Steve, is that we get to see just how broken he is. We see him cry, we see him go into fits of rage and frustration, we get to see his worst fears, his greatest regret, and even see him long for the life that he never got to live. Heck, we even see him struggle with mental illness!
Steve is a phenomenal character, one well worth adoring. Steven Grant Rogers, Captain America, is a leader, an artist, trustworthy, determined, humble, willing to lay down his life for those he loves, but most of all, he's imperfect and broken, just like the rest of us. Yes, as a hero, he's kinda lame, but what he lacks in the superhero department, he more than makes up for in character, charm, and story!
I love all of the Avengers (except for Vision, sorry not sorry), but I love Steve the most. Yes, I know I just built up an entire argument saying that he was the lamest of all the Avengers, but notice I never said he was the lamest superhero. Steve may not be a Norwegian god, a highly trained sharpshooter, or philanthropist billionaire, but he's definitely one of, if not the best, Avenger out there. Steve is a kind-hearted man who is willing to fight for his beliefs, family, and country, and I definitely think that's what makes you a true superhero. Not the strength of your muscles, but the strength of your heart, and Steve Rogers definitely has the strongest heart of all the Avengers.
