<sod>  {{spoiler}}
 In the current Marvel Universe history, Steve Rogers was a sickly [[United States|American]] [[fine arts]] student specializing in illustration in the early [[1940s]] before America's entry into [[World War II]].  He was disturbed by the rise of the [[Third Reich]] enough to attempt to enlist only to be rejected due to his poor constitution.  By chance, an [[United States Army|Army]] officer looking for test subjects for a top secret defense research project offered Rogers an alternate way to serve his country.  The officer was looking for suitable test subjects for a top secret defense research project, Operation: Rebirth.  This project consisted of developing a means to create physically superior soldiers and Rogers was deemed ideal.  Rogers agreed to volunteer for the research and after a rigorous physical and combat training and selection process, was chosen as the first human test subject. He received injections and oral ingestions of a chemical formula that was termed the Super Soldier Serum, which had been developed by the scientist Dr Emil Erskine (who was code-named Dr Reinstein). Rogers was then exposed to a controlled burst of "Vita-Rays" that activated the chemicals in his system. Although the process was arduous physically, it successfully altered his physiognomy from his relative frail form to the maximum of human efficiency, including greatly enhanced musculature and reflexes.
 
Unfortunately at this moment of triumph, a [[Nazi]] [[secret agent|spy]] revealed himself and shot Erskine. Because the scientist had committed the crucial portions of the Super Solder formula to memory, it could not be duplicated. Rogers killed the spy in retaliation and vowed to oppose the enemies of America. Meanwhile, the US government decided to make the most of their one super soldier and eventually made him a superhero who served both as a [[counter-intelligence]] agent and a [[propaganda]] symbol to counter Nazi Germany's head of terrorist operations, the [[Red Skull]]. To that end, Rogers was given a costume modelled after the American Flag, a bulletproof steel shield, a personal [[sidearm]] and the name of Captain America.  He was also given a cover identity as a clumsy [[infantry]] private at Fort Lehigh where he made friends with a teenage [[mascot]], [[Bucky (comics)|James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes]].  Soon, Barnes learned Roger's [[secret identity|dual identity]] and offered to keep the secret if he could become his [[sidekick]]. Cap agreed, and trained Barnes appropriately.  Rogers also received a new shield made from a chance mixture of [[iron]], [[vibranium]] and an unknown catalyst which formed an indestructible metal light enough to use as a [[discus]]-like weapon that could be angled to return to him.  It proved so effective that the sidearm was dropped. Throughout World War II, the duo fought the Nazi menace both on their own and as members of the superhero team called the Invaders.
 
 ==1960s Revival==
 In ''[[The Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]] #4'' ([[1964]]), the Avengers discovered Captain America's body in the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]]. Rogers had been preserved in [[suspended animation]] in a block of ice since [[1945]], which melted when the block was thrown into the ocean by the [[Sub-Mariner]]. When Rogers revived, he related his last, failed mission in the closing days of World War II, when an sabotaged robot plane exploded, killing Bucky and hurling Rogers into the freezing waters. Rogers accepted membership in the Avengers, and although he soon adjusted to modern times well enough to eventually assume leadership of the team, he was plagued by guilt for not being able to prevent Bucky's death.
 <eod> <sod> {{spoiler}}
 In the current Marvel Universe history, Steve Rogers was a sickly [[United States|American]] [[fine arts]] student specializing in illustration in the early [[1940s]] before America's entry into [[World War II]].  He was disturbed by the rise of the [[Third Reich]] enough to attempt to enlist only to be rejected due to his poor constitution.  By chance, an [[United States Army|Army]] officer looking for test subjects for a top secret defense research project offered Rogers an alternate way to serve his country.  The officer was looking for suitable test subjects for a top secret defense research project, Operation: Rebirth.  This project consisted of developing a means to create physically superior soldiers and Rogers was deemed ideal.  Rogers agreed to volunteer for the research and after a rigorous physical and combat training and selection process, was chosen as the first human test subject. He received injections and oral ingestions of a chemical formula that was termed the Super Soldier Serum, which had been developed by the scientist Dr Emil Erskine (who was code-named Dr Reinstein). Rogers was then exposed to a controlled burst of "Vita-Rays" that activated the chemicals in his system. Although the process was arduous physically, it successfully altered his physiognomy from his relative frail form to the maximum of human efficiency, including greatly enhanced musculature and reflexes.
 
Unfortunately at this moment of triumph, a [[Nazi]] [[secret agent|spy]] revealed himself and shot Erskine. Because the scientist had committed the crucial portions of the Super Solder formula to memory, it could not be duplicated. Rogers killed the spy in retaliation and vowed to oppose the enemies of America. Meanwhile, the US government decided to make the most of their one super soldier and eventually made him a superhero who served both as a [[counter-intelligence]] agent and a [[propaganda]] symbol to counter Nazi Germany's head of terrorist operations, the [[Red Skull]]. To that end, Rogers was given a costume modelled after the American Flag, a bulletproof steel shield, a personal [[sidearm]] and the name of Captain America.  He was also given a cover identity as a clumsy [[infantry]] private at Fort Lehigh where he made friends with a teenage [[mascot]], [[Bucky (comics)|James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes]].  Soon, Barnes learned Roger's [[secret identity|dual identity]] and offered to keep the secret if he could become his [[sidekick]]. Cap agreed, and trained Barnes appropriately.  Rogers also received a new shield made from a chance mixture of [adamantium], [[vibranium]] and an unknown catalyst which formed an indestructible metal light enough to use as a [[discus]]-like weapon that could be angled to return to him.  It proved so effective that the sidearm was dropped. Throughout World War II, the duo fought the Nazi menace both on their own and as members of the superhero team called the Invaders.
 
 ==1960s Revival==
 In ''[[The Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]] #4'' ([[1964]]), the Avengers discovered Captain America's body in the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]]. Rogers had been preserved in [[suspended animation]] in a block of ice since [[1945]], which melted when the block was thrown into the ocean by the [[Sub-Mariner]]. When Rogers revived, he related his last, failed mission in the closing days of World War II, when an sabotaged robot plane exploded, killing Bucky and hurling Rogers into the freezing waters. Rogers accepted membership in the Avengers, and although he soon adjusted to modern times well enough to eventually assume leadership of the team, he was plagued by guilt for not being able to prevent Bucky's death.
 <eod>