Follow

    Captain America

    Character » Captain America appears in 11750 issues.

    During World War II, Steve Rogers volunteered to receive the experimental Super-Soldier Serum. Enhanced to the pinnacle of human physical potential and armed with an unbreakable shield, he became Captain America. After a failed mission left him encased in ice for decades, he was found and revived by the Avengers, later joining their ranks and eventually becoming the team's leader.

    Why Is Captain America Called The First Avenger?

    • 74 results
    • 1
    • 2
    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #1  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous

    When He Wasn't? 

    Avatar image for supershafe
    SuperShafe

    482

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #2  Edited By SuperShafe

    @spiderbat87: what do you mean, the question is spectacularly vague. why do you say he isn't the first avenger?

    Avatar image for innervenom123
    InnerVenom123

    29886

    Forum Posts

    1786

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 11

    User Lists: 1

    #3  Edited By InnerVenom123

    Why is Namor called the first mutant, when he wasn't? :P

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #4  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @SuperShafe said:

    @spiderbat87: what do you mean, the question is spectacularly vague. why do you say he isn't the first avenger?

    It's not vague at all, he get's called the First Avenger yet he wasn't so why call him it?
    Avatar image for strider1992
    Strider1992

    18531

    Forum Posts

    5604

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 16

    User Lists: 10

    #5  Edited By Strider1992

    Why does anyone do anything?

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #6  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @Strider92 said:

    Why does anyone do anything?

    usually logic and reason 
    Avatar image for strider1992
    Strider1992

    18531

    Forum Posts

    5604

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 16

    User Lists: 10

    #7  Edited By Strider1992

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @Strider92 said:

    Why does anyone do anything?

    usually logic and reason

    Normal people yes but then there are people like this....:

    Where's your logic and reason now!!!?

    Avatar image for trueilluminatus
    TrueIlluminatus

    9579

    Forum Posts

    18169

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #8  Edited By TrueIlluminatus

    Captain American doesn't care what you have to say, son.

    Avatar image for kiltro95
    Kiltro95

    306

    Forum Posts

    1818

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #9  Edited By Kiltro95

    It's just a title, big whoop.

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #10  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @Illuminatus said:

    Captain American doesn't care what you have to say, son.

    I don't suppose frictional characters usually do.... dad
    Avatar image for trueilluminatus
    TrueIlluminatus

    9579

    Forum Posts

    18169

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #11  Edited By TrueIlluminatus

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @Illuminatus said:

    Captain American doesn't care what you have to say, son.

    I don't suppose frictional characters usually do.... dad
    No Caption Provided
    Avatar image for innervenom123
    InnerVenom123

    29886

    Forum Posts

    1786

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 11

    User Lists: 1

    #12  Edited By InnerVenom123

    @Illuminatus said:

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @Illuminatus said:

    Captain American doesn't care what you have to say, son.

    I don't suppose frictional characters usually do.... dad
    No Caption Provided
    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #13  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @Kiltro95 said:

    It's just a title, big whoop.

    Yea one that makes no sense. It's like Wolverines title being The Tallest One There Is 
    Avatar image for madrooster81
    MadRooster81

    186

    Forum Posts

    8

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #14  Edited By MadRooster81

    I think the more proper term would be first superhero. But I'm guessing they refer him as first avenger due to being the first superhero that became an avenger. But logic and reason have no place in comics. I've given up on that happening. lol

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #15  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @cjbostick81 said:

    I think the more proper term would be first superhero. But I'm guessing they refer him as first avenger due to being the first superhero that became an avenger. But logic and reason have no place in comics. I've given up on that happening. lol

    He was far from the first hero. Herc, Thor, Union Jack, Wolverine, a Black Panther, Blade and half the members of The Twelve are all older and I'm pretty sure theres more  
    Avatar image for ken_keck
    ken_keck

    3

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #16  Edited By ken_keck

    this is why I like JLA lol no hate though.

    Avatar image for chalkshark
    chalkshark

    1271

    Forum Posts

    407273

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 6

    #17  Edited By chalkshark

    If I had to hazard a guess, strictly speaking from the film's perspective, the idea of a super-hero working alongside/for the military may have been the template for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Avengers Initiative. Ergo Captain America gets saddled with the title "First Avenger" as a nod to the his being the root core of the concept.

    From a marketing perspective, they stuck the title on there to get the word "Avenger" out there in the non-comics buying public consciousness, to prep the masses on the forthcoming Avengers film.

    From a comic book perspective... it's completely wrong. That said, out of respect for Captain America and what he meant to the team, the actual first Avengers did give Captain America founder status within the team.

    Avatar image for gambit1024
    Gambit1024

    10217

    Forum Posts

    47

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 9

    #18  Edited By Gambit1024

    Funny, I think they only started to call him that after the movie. I never remember them doing it before that...

    Avatar image for capt
    capt

    2

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #19  Edited By capt

    Who was the first Avenger?

    Avatar image for madrooster81
    MadRooster81

    186

    Forum Posts

    8

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #20  Edited By MadRooster81

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @cjbostick81 said:

    I think the more proper term would be first superhero. But I'm guessing they refer him as first avenger due to being the first superhero that became an avenger. But logic and reason have no place in comics. I've given up on that happening. lol

    He was far from the first hero. Herc, Thor, Union Jack, Wolverine, a Black Panther, Blade and half the members of The Twelve are all older and I'm pretty sure theres more

    Sure age wise there probably are. But in reference to comic book hero, wasn't he one of the first in the Marvel U? This is coming books we are talking about, logic and reason have no place here lol.

    Avatar image for nomadicxnightmare
    nomadicxnightmare

    153

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    @chalkshark said:

    If I had to hazard a guess, strictly speaking from the film's perspective, the idea of a super-hero working alongside/for the military may have been the template for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Avengers Initiative. Ergo Captain America gets saddled with the title "First Avenger" as a nod to the his being the root core of the concept.

    From a marketing perspective, they stuck the title on there to get the word "Avenger" out there in the non-comics buying public consciousness, to prep the masses on the forthcoming Avengers film.

    From a comic book perspective... it's completely wrong. That said, out of respect for Captain America and what he meant to the team, the actual first Avengers did give Captain America founder status within the team.

    ^This. The "First Avenger" title was sparked from the Marvel movie universe and at the time tied the CA movie into the upcoming Avengers movie.You got to pull it out of context with the regular comic Marvel U. Only downside is you might run into a few newbies who have only watched the movies who are gonna call him the "First Avenger" out of complete ignorance.

    Avatar image for awesam
    AweSam

    7530

    Forum Posts

    2261

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #22  Edited By AweSam

    @Strider92 said:

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @Strider92 said:

    Why does anyone do anything?

    usually logic and reason

    Normal people yes but then there are people like this....:

    Where's your logic and reason now!!!?

    Mad TV?

    Avatar image for cattlebattle
    cattlebattle

    20983

    Forum Posts

    313

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #23  Edited By cattlebattle

    It does not make any sense
     
    Even if they were going by the fact that he was around fighting before any of the other Avengers...there is still Thor, who was avenging crap way before any of them
     
    Thor is the first Avenger, or Hercules

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #24  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @capt said:

    Who was the first Avenger?

    Well it was Iron Man that formed the team but Wasp that actually named them Avengers  
     
    @cjbostick81 said:

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @cjbostick81 said:

    I think the more proper term would be first superhero. But I'm guessing they refer him as first avenger due to being the first superhero that became an avenger. But logic and reason have no place in comics. I've given up on that happening. lol

    He was far from the first hero. Herc, Thor, Union Jack, Wolverine, a Black Panther, Blade and half the members of The Twelve are all older and I'm pretty sure theres more

    Sure age wise there probably are. But in reference to comic book hero, wasn't he one of the first in the Marvel U? This is coming books we are talking about, logic and reason have no place here lol.

    Namor, Kar Za and i'm pretty sure the Human Torch all came before him
    Avatar image for madrooster81
    MadRooster81

    186

    Forum Posts

    8

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #25  Edited By MadRooster81

    But neither of those guys joined the Avengers during the first run. Captain America joined and began leading the team after issue #4.

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #26  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
    @cjbostick81 said:

    But neither of those guys joined the Avengers during the first run. Captain America joined and began leading the team after issue #4.

    It's still a stupid and nonsensical title, it's like calling Wolverine the first X-Man (which I suppose is true now)
    Avatar image for x35
    X35

    6466

    Forum Posts

    755055

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 163

    User Lists: 8

    #27  Edited By X35

    @spiderbat87: Yeah, it's dumb.

    Captain America was not the first person to join the Avengers and he was not the earliest existing superhero to join the Avengers and his film wasn't even the first Avenger solo film to be released. There's actually no logic to it.

    Avatar image for powerherc
    PowerHerc

    86191

    Forum Posts

    211478

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 11

    #28  Edited By PowerHerc

    Calling Cap the "First Avenger" is pure marketing hyperbole and has nothing to do with reality.

    Avatar image for madrooster81
    MadRooster81

    186

    Forum Posts

    8

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #29  Edited By MadRooster81

    Agreed. I was grasping a straws trying to make something make sense, but I failed....sigh

    Avatar image for jinxuandi
    jinxuandi

    606

    Forum Posts

    36922

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 5

    #30  Edited By jinxuandi

    @PowerHerc said:

    Calling Cap the "First Avenger" is pure marketing hyperbole and has nothing to do with reality.

    Ding ding ding!

    Avatar image for kiltro95
    Kiltro95

    306

    Forum Posts

    1818

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #31  Edited By Kiltro95

    @spiderbat87 said:

    @Kiltro95 said:

    It's just a title, big whoop.

    Yea one that makes no sense. It's like Wolverines title being The Tallest One There Is

    Look at it this way Marvel gives those characters titles like that not only to increase the influence but also the appeal, you have to look at it from an advertisement view, as for Wolverine it doesn't make sense. All in all if Marvel wants to call a character that for commercial use what's the big deal?

    Avatar image for nova_prime_
    Nova`Prime`

    4172

    Forum Posts

    25

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #32  Edited By Nova`Prime`

    Because that's how they wanted to connect the Captain America movie to The Avengers... obviously you didn't see the failed tack lines for the other Marvel movies... Iron Man The Richest Avenger, Thor The Godly Avenger, Incredible Hulk The Angriest Avenger (my personal favorite).

    Avatar image for jpwolf5
    JPWolf5

    67

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #33  Edited By JPWolf5

    Well while he wasn't the first person to become an avenger he was the first marvel character created so maybe he should have been called The Original Avenger

    Avatar image for renamed040924
    renamed040924

    29288

    Forum Posts

    5083

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #34  Edited By renamed040924

    I find it ironic that, for the so called First Avengers, Captain America's movie actually came last.

    Avatar image for nova_prime_
    Nova`Prime`

    4172

    Forum Posts

    25

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #35  Edited By Nova`Prime`

    @JPWolf5 said:

    Well while he wasn't the first person to become an avenger he was the first marvel character created so maybe he should have been called The Original Avenger

    But he wasn't Namor and Human Torch came before he did. Even in The Marvels (or was it the Marvel Project... the one written from a reporter's view point of the MU) Namor and Human Torch came before Cap, just like they did publication wise.

    @nickzambuto said:

    I find it ironic that, for the so called First Avengers, Captain America's movie actually came last.

    Actually its not that off of an idea, if you think about it, Cap's movie tied all the other movies together. You had Howard Stark making the Iron Man connection, you had Prof. Erksian and the Super Soldier Serum making the Banner/Hulk connection, and then you had the cosmic cube make the Thor connection. All in all it really brought everything together and was an excellent lead into the Avengers.

    Avatar image for jpwolf5
    JPWolf5

    67

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #36  Edited By JPWolf5

    @Nova`Prime`: True but out of those three characters he was the first one to become an avengers

    Avatar image for theblueangel93
    TheBlueAngel93

    21064

    Forum Posts

    16240

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: -1

    #37  Edited By TheBlueAngel93

    As far as I know that title was only for the movie, which is because in the movieverse Captain America was actually the first costumed superhero thus making him the "First Avenger".
     
    But as far as I know, he doesn't  hold that title in the mainstream universe because he obviously wasn't the first Avenger, he was like the sixth actually.
     
    Also, I would like to mention that in other counrties outside of the U.S., Captain America: The First Avenger was simply titled "The First Avenger" due to other countries not receiving a movie based solely on a character called Captain America, due to the "America" part. So it's possible they added that title so that people would still know this has something to do with Iron Man, Thor, and the Avengers due to him being called "First Avengers".

    Avatar image for crackdown
    Crackdown

    633

    Forum Posts

    65

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #38  Edited By Crackdown

    In the Cinematic Universe, Howard Stark and Nick Fury started the Avenger Initiative after Captain America was lost. Cap was the "prototype avenger" thus "The First"

    Remember guys and gals, it takes inspiration from many different marvel universes, not just the 616 mainstream, and in it's own right, is a universe with it's own origins.

    Avatar image for lvenger
    Lvenger

    36475

    Forum Posts

    899

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 50

    User Lists: 18

    #39  Edited By Lvenger

    I think it had something to do with the fact he was one of the earlier characters in the MU who could actually be called a superhero. Plus the First Avenger thing was added onto the Cap film so that it wouldn't completely offend North Korea or Japan who have awkward diplomatic relations with America at best

    Avatar image for roboshark
    RoboShark

    2637

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #40  Edited By RoboShark

    My guess is he defined it.

    Avatar image for nudeviking
    Nudeviking

    485

    Forum Posts

    8985

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #41  Edited By Nudeviking

    @Lvenger said:

    I think it had something to do with the fact he was one of the earlier characters in the MU who could actually be called a superhero. Plus the First Avenger thing was added onto the Cap film so that it wouldn't completely offend North Korea or Japan who have awkward diplomatic relations with America at best

    It was South Korea, but you are correct. I never saw Captain America, but I enjoyed the hell out of The First Avenger!

    No Caption Provided

    No mention of Captain America anywhere on that poster.

    Avatar image for lvenger
    Lvenger

    36475

    Forum Posts

    899

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 50

    User Lists: 18

    #42  Edited By Lvenger

    @Nudeviking: Damn. I was a pole off the correct answer. But I gathered that was why there was no mention of Captain America anywhere in the title.

    Avatar image for thethe
    TheThe

    1847

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #43  Edited By TheThe

    I think they gave him this title - even if it's not true -because he's supposed to be the epitome of the "American way".Since he represents America, they needed a fancy title for him, something to appeal the mass in a patriotic sense.

    Avatar image for sammystorm75
    sammystorm75

    222

    Forum Posts

    18

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 1

    #44  Edited By sammystorm75

    He is called the first avenger since he was in WW2 and their was nobody else with him in that year so thats your answer.

    Avatar image for johnkmccubbin91
    johnkmccubbin91

    3897

    Forum Posts

    11900

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 672

    User Lists: 103

    #45  Edited By johnkmccubbin91

    Yes, but he was the first hero out of the original Avengers, comic or movie version

    Avatar image for sammystorm75
    sammystorm75

    222

    Forum Posts

    18

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 1

    #46  Edited By sammystorm75
    Captain America: The First Avenger promo pic
    Captain America: The First Avenger promo pic

    correct the title even says it

    Avatar image for jaken7
    JakeN7

    15180

    Forum Posts

    608

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #47  Edited By JakeN7

    @SuperShafe:Because he wasn't part of the Avengers until after he was thawed out of ice, which was after the team was formed, named, and set up base at Stark Tower.

    @capt: The original Avengers were Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Hulk

    @chalkshark: Yeah, Cap was literally "the inspirational cornerstone of the Avengers." That's why I think he's referred to as "The First Avenger." They also wouldn't have gotten their A-1 security status without him because they were initially denied it due to Hulk's presence on the team and the general public's fear of him. After Hulk left, Cap was thawed out and basically took his place. The team was then seen in a much more positive light and Captain America basically became their "front-man" for the team's public image.

    Don't forget that it was Hank Pym who suggested that everyone stay together as a team after their initial meet up to fight Loki.

    Avatar image for biteme_fanboy
    BiteMe-Fanboy

    8951

    Forum Posts

    454

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #48  Edited By BiteMe-Fanboy

    I don't think it necessarily means he was the FIRST to join the avengers. I think it's more on the lines of he was the first one to be a superhero that ends up as an Avenger.

    Avatar image for dogwelder
    Dogwelder

    4

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    Avatar image for jonny_anonymous
    Jonny_Anonymous

    45773

    Forum Posts

    11109

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 32

    #50  Edited By Jonny_Anonymous

    @BiteMe-Fanboy: He wasn't the first superhero though, there was was during WW1 and even before that.

    This edit will also create new pages on Comic Vine for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Comic Vine users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.