Captain America almost had a very different name, and honestly, “Super-American” sounds like something from an alternate Marvel universe. The character was originally sketched by Joe Simon in 1940, with the words “Super American” written under the drawing. He soon dropped the name, realizing that there were too many heroes with “Super” in their name.
The Origin Of Captain America Explained
The name change was a significant branding shift. Simon wanted to come up with a name that would instantly distinguish his new hero from the vast number of characters inspired by the character of Superman. “Captain America” just sounded better, Simon recalled. Moreover, there were not many comic book characters at the time that had “Captain” in their name.
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Jack Kirby later admitted that the character was born out of a time when patriotism was at a high level, and war was imminent. This concept was the core of the character, and Steve Rogers was a distinctly patriotic hero.
It was impossible to miss that identity when Captain America Comics #1 hit the newsstands in 1940, featuring the iconic cover of Cap punching Adolf Hitler. According to the Smithsonian, the character was designed to embody American ideals and foster patriotism.
The Journey From Super-American To Captain America
The name “Super-American” was first considered for the character by Joe Simon when he was developing it with Jack Kirby in the early 1940s. But Simon soon realized that the name was too close to that of Superman. Captain America gave the character a more solid identity.
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It sounds like a title, almost as if Steve Rogers has been given a role to fulfill. And, given the character’s debut on the cover of Captain America Comics #1, punching Adolf Hitler, you’d never have to ask what that role meant.
The most intriguing aspect of “Captain America” is that the character eventually transcended the stereotype of the simple-minded, patriotic figure he was named after. Steve Rogers was first a symbol of American patriotism in World War II, but oftentimes, stories would wonder what America was for.
His problems with corrupt institutions, government decisions, and the misuse of power made the character much more complicated than a flag-waving superhero. That change makes the original name choice seem even more apt. “Captain America” is not only about strength or America. It conveys the concept of fulfilling the ideals of representation.
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