While the MCU has pulled from the original comics in many regards, one key aspect of Captain America's leadership of the Avengers has been left out completely. A huge mark of Cap’s leadership includes the Star-Spangled Avenger using the team to redeem villains and turn them into heroes.
The membership of the Avengers has been in flux since The Avengers #2 by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Paul Reinman, Stan Goldberg, and Artie Simek, when Hulk left the team after their first adventure. The next big shake-up occurred in The Avengers #16 by Kirby, Lee, Dick Ayers, Carl Hubbell, and Simek, in which the entire team (aside from Cap) takes a leave of absence following a harrowing battle with Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil.
To take their place, villains Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch try out for the team, becoming the new Avengers line-up by the end of the issue. While the classic members would eventually come back, this tactic of recruiting former villains would become crucial to the team, especially under Cap's leadership.
Captain America Uses the Avengers to Redeem Former Villains
Including Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and More
As the years went on, more former villains like Black Widow and the Black Knight joined the ranks, as Captain America often recruited former foes into the Avengers. It may be hard to believe for modern fans, but staple members of the Avengers like Black Widow, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver all started out as villains in other books. Hawkeye and Black Widow were introduced as opponents for Iron Man, while Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were originally members of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in the pages of X-Men by Lee and Kirby.
Related
The MCU Has Only Used 2 of Captain America's Official 8 Strongest Villains (Steve Rogers' Thanos-Level Enemies)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has only used two of Captain America's eight "Thanos-level" enemies, meaning the other six are ripe for adaptation.
The fact that many of these characters have gone on to become the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe shows how Captain America’s methods have been proven right time and time again. Cap elaborated on why he often chooses villains for Avengers membership status in 2022’s X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 by Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Kris Anka, Russell Dauterman, Carlos Fabian Villa, and more.
There, Cap discusses how Rogue was on his “list” after she fought the Avengers in Avengers Annual #10 by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden, which also happens to be Rogue's first appearance. “She went on my list to enlist,” Cap explains, “I knew if I didn’t make friends with her, I’d be fighting her for the rest of my days.”
The MCU Didn’t Take Advantage of Captain America Recruiting Former Villains
An Essential Character Detail, Wasted
It’s a shame that the MCU never explored this aspect of the Avengers in any serious way. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch may have started off fighting against the Avengers at the behest of Ultron in Age of Ultron, but they weren’t out-and-out villains. Seeing the big bad in one movie later repent and join the Avengers could have been a powerful way to show Cap’s philosophy in action. Even though the MCU never took advantage of this idea, fans can always look to the comics to see how Captain America used the Avengers to recruit former villains and turn them into the Marvel Universe’s greatest heroes.
The Avengers #16 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Captain America
Initially debuting in 1940, Captain America is the patriotically themed superhero who has shared the title with only a few individuals. Beginning with Steve Rogers, Captain America's birth resulted from a frail man taking part in an experimental U.S. Army super-soldier trial, which imbued him with super-human abilities. The character is often depicted wielding a nigh unbreakable and aerodynamic shield made of vibranium that they use to defend and attack their foes.
First Appearance Captain America Comics
Alias Steve Rogers, John Walker, Sam Wilson
Alliance Avengers, Invaders, S.H.I.E.L.D., U.S. Army
Race Human
:quality(85):upscale()/2023/03/13/840/n/1922794/a144765f640f75218ce2b5.24945169_.webp)
English (US) ·