5 Future Versions of Captain America Who Prove the Shield Will Never Be Abandoned

Captain America is a superhero defined as a man out of time. Starting as a World War II super soldier and the ultimate weapon against the Nazi regime, Steve Rogers found himself awakening in the modern day after he was frozen in ice for decades. Yet no matter how much time has passed, one thing has always remained constant: Captain America is the ultimate symbol of hope and the ideals on which the United States was founded. As a timeless paragon of virtue, Captain America has inspired plenty of people to take up his patriotic costume and ensure those ideals are passed on to the next generation. For even in the far future, the Marvel Universe will always need a Captain America. 

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Captain America might be a character most associated with World War II, but his heroism and inspiration have kept his mantle alive across Marvel’s many possible future timelines. Whether it’s an older Steve Rogers or a legacy character, Captain America will exist in some form for decades.

5) Danielle Cage Captain America

In the modern day, Danielle Cage is the toddler daughter of the superheroes Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. However, in the possible future of Earth-15061, Danielle grew up to help avenge the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In this world, Thanos massacred most of the Avengers’ roster. Soon afterward, a next generation crimefighting team called the A.V.E.N.G.E.R.S. Initiative rose and defeated Thanos. Danielle was a member of this Initiative as the all-new Captain America. Instead of needing a Super Soldier Serum like her predecessor, Danielle inherited her father’s superhuman strength and unbreakable skin. And although she technically doesn’t need it, Danielle carries the Captain America shield because of the hope it inspires.  Along with protecting her own time period, Danielle has frequently been displaced to the modern day to battle villains like All-Father Ultron and Golden Skull. Although her parents may not approve of her superhero lifestyle, Danielle has more than lived up to the role as the new Captain America. 

4) James Rogers

In the animated film Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, the children of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must avenge their parents. When Ultron killed most of the Avengers and took over the Earth, Iron Man took his teammates’ children into hiding. One of these kids was Captain America and Black Widow’s son, James Rogers. The other kids include Thor and Sif’s daughter Torunn, Black Panther and Storm’s son Azari, Ant-Man and Wasp’s son Henry Jr., and Hawkeye’s son Francis. Despite starting as a resentful, bored kid, James quickly revealed himself to be a natural-born leader and master combatant. James would also inherit his father’s skill with the shield. He would rally the next-generation Avengers along with an older Iron Man and Hulk to defeat Ultron and liberate their world from the villain’s tyranny. Since then, James and the Next Avengers have continued their parents’ legacy by battling villains like Immortus and A.I.M in the comics.

3) Earth X Captain America

Steve Rogers has always been a hero who’s clung to his beliefs no matter how much the world changes, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the dystopian future of Earth-9997. In the acclaimed Earth X series, society has fallen into complete chaos because most of the world’s population develops superpowers as a result of a mysterious plague. Steve initially retired from his role as Captain America after he killed Red Skull in a rage, but years later he picked up the shield again to protect the innocent. He came out of retirement because his archenemy’s ideals were passed on to a villain known as the Skull, who sought to use mind control to take over America. A few years later, Steve would sacrifice his life to protect Mar-Vell from an angry and murderous mob. However, death wasn’t the end for Steve, as he transformed into an angel and joined the Avenging Host, which leads souls to a paradise afterlife. For even in death, Captain America is a shining beacon of hope.

2) Captain America 2099

Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man may be the most famous legacy hero of the year, 2099, but with a hero as legendary and iconic as Captain America, someone else was bound to take up the mantle. This was Roberta Mendez. However, half the time, she doesn’t even realize that she’s a superhero. After being used as a lab rat in a Super Soldier experiment by the evil corporation Alchemex, Roberta developed a split personality named Captain America. When Roberta hears the code phrase “assemble,” she passes out, and the Captain America personality takes over. This transformation also drastically increases her strength, speed, and agility. In addition to the classic shield, Captain America 2099 has hard-light wings. Although Captain America 2099 initially started as a mere lackey in Alchemex’s Avengers group, she, along with the rest of her teammates, rebelled against their corrupt handlers. No matter which personality is in control, Captain America 2099 is a selfless heroine who will never stand for injustice. 

1) American Dream

One of the best heroes to be inspired by Captain America’s heroic legacy is Shannon Carter, aka American Dream of Earth-982. In this possible future full of legacy heroes, Shannon is Sharon Carter’s cousin, and, like many people, she grew up idolizing Captain America. Starting as a tour guide at Avengers Mansion, Shannon was eventually recruited into the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, known as A-Next. Along with the rest of A-Next, American Dream helped save the original Avengers from a dark parallel universe. Although she didn’t receive the Super Soldier Serum, American Dream’s fighting skills make her a capable superhero. She also has access to Captain America’s original shield, along with mini shields she can throw as projectiles. American Dream has battled some of Marvel’s biggest villains, including Loki, Doctor Doom, and Galactus. American Dream is every bit as idealistic, brave, and kind-hearted a hero as the original Captain America.

What do you think of these future Captain Americas? Leave a Comment below and join the conversation in the ComicBook Forum!

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