Aside of “Man” (e.g. Superman,
Batman, Spider-Man, Power Man), “Captain” is probably the most archetypal or common
word attached on a superhero name. Having the “Captain” in his name doesn’t
necessarily mean he has this particular military or maritime title (though
there are some in this list who does have the appropriate military background
for it), but it does imply that this superhero has some chops as a leader
and/or is an “A-list” type of superhero.
10.) CAPTAIN CAVEMAN
To start this list, let’s have a
Hanna-Barbera character, who is an obvious gag of the whole “slapping ‘Captain’
on the superhero’s name” thing. So with
“Captain” preceding “Caveman”, we get a superhero from the Stone Age. Simple eye-roll inducing superhero
christening. Anyway, I still find
Captain Caveman a fun character when I was a kid, especially because of his
ability to pull different objects hidden in his hairy body and hilariously
crashing whenever he flies (because of losing “energy”).
9.) CAPTAIN HAMMER
Captain Hammer might be a
“superhero” but he serves as the antagonist (the only antagonist in this list) of
the terrific musical short film Dr.
Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog. Being a
narcissist, Captain Hammer’s “heroic” actions are more for the sake of feeding
his vanity and ego. Despite of this, he
is easily a likable character – probably because of actor Nathan Fillion’s
charm and how the story’s climax used Captain Hammer’s super-strength as an
illustration to introduce a thought-provoking facet of the said super power: to
be invulnerable, due to super strength, means having the whole concept of pain
foreign to the one bearing this power; thus, having no idea of what pain is
gives him a low tolerance for pain that when he feels it for the first time –
no matter how minor – since he’s not used to what pain is and has developed no
idea on dealing with it, he will be completely overwhelmed by the feeling,
causing massive trauma.
8.) CAPTAIN COMMANDO
Captain Commando is one of the
most fascinating video game characters I’ve encountered as a kid. I love his self-titled game and he’s one of
my favorite characters in the Marvel vs.
Capcom game. Captain Commando is
supposed to be a futuristic superhero that fights super-powered crime. He possesses several gadgets, most notably
his “Energy Gloves” which allows him to shoot fire and electricity bolts. He attaches the word “Captain” in all his techniques,
like “Captain Kick”, “Captain Cannon”, “Captain Goggles”, etc. Now doing this is absolutely corny, but these
techniques however are highly invaluable and his fire and electricity attacks
are powerfully badass. He is assisted by
the “Commando Team” which is made up of a mummy, a ninja, and a baby piloting a
mecha.
7.) CAPTAIN ATOM
Captain Atom is said to be the
inspiration of the nigh omnipotent character in Watchmen, Dr. Manhattan, hence, the almost similar origin stories,
powers, and character appearance.
Captain Atom is probably one of the most powerful superheroes in the DC
Universe because of his ability to absorb and manipulate infinite amounts of
energy to a near limitless extent. He
can manifest the energy he stores through a variety of ways like flight, super
strength, self-sustenance, projection of energy attacks in various forms, and
even the conversion of energy into matter.
He is also an actual holder of a “captain” rank, being a former Air
Force soldier.
6.) CAPTAIN UNIVERSE
This superhero is somewhat
unique. Captain Universe is not a
superhero dependent on a single identity.
Rather, the Captain Universe character is a merger of the Uni-Power, an
extra-dimensional force, and its chosen host.
The Uni-Power would impose the power and costume of Captain Universe to
a worthy host whenever a severe crisis or threat is at hand. After the crisis is resolved, the Uni-Mind
would usually leave the host immediately, returning the host to his or her
status quo. Dr. Strange (combining with
the Micronaut leader, Commander Arcturus Rann), Spider-Man, the Hulk, a
toddler, a dog, an astronaut, a small-time crook, and even a pair of identical
twins are some of those chosen to become Captain Universe in the past to deal
with a situation. Captain Universe possesses
immense amount of power and his (or her) abilities include superhuman strength,
flight, time travel, telekinesis, highly enhanced senses, and unlimited projection
and supply of energy. An
African-American woman named Tamara Devoux is the current Captain Universe and
is, surprisingly, a member of the current roster of Avengers. It’s still not yet fully revealed what is
this Captain Universe’s mission and why she had joined the Avengers.
5.) CAPTAIN PLANET
Whenever the Planeteers found
themselves on a tight corner or in a fight that they couldn’t win on their own,
they combine their elemental ring powers – earth, fire, wind, water, and heart
(which is supposed to be the element of emotion, if I understood it right) – to
summon Captain Planet, who possesses all of these elemental powers magnified
(as what the end song of the show said).
Captain Planet has various abilities, which includes weather control; flight; invisibility; telepathy; and fire, water, wind, and earth projection
and manipulation. His power increases
whenever he gets in contact with nature or pure, clean forms of natural
elements (i.e. clean water, sunlight, lava, etc.). But despite of being a powerful hero, he is
also greatly vulnerable to pollution. Captain
Planet fights in the same way as Spider-Man and Buffy: he makes quips, puns,
taunts, and wisecracks during action or combat (probably the main reason I
started to like the character).
4.) CAPTAIN BRITAIN
Though Captain Britain has been
meant to be the UK counterpart of Captain America, the character has been able
to separate himself from being a mere Captain America rip-off and had made a
name for himself as a distinctive and interesting superhero. Despite of having ties with Science as a
brilliant physicist, Captain Britain’s powers, however, originated from magical
sources – specifically, Merlyn (yes, an obvious reference to Merlin). He has the usual package of typical superhero
abilities – flight; and superhuman speed, stamina, strength, senses, agility,
reflexes, etc. – as well as being able to create force fields. At the present, Captain Britain’s power is
dependent on his confidence and emotions.
Thus, whenever he feels confident, he’s powerful, but whenever he begins
to doubt himself, his power grows weaker.
Aside of becoming a prominent member of British superhero teams like Excalibur
(UK’s X-Men counterpart) and MI-13 (UK’s S.H.I.E.L.D./Avengers counterpart), Captain
Britain had also been an Avenger and is an automatic member of the Captain
Britain Corps, a group of superheroes made up of the different Captain
Britains of different universes or realities whose purpose is to serve as
guardians of the Multiverse.
3.) CAPTAIN MARVEL
There had been various supeheroes
in Marvel Comics that had taken the name of “Captain Marvel”. My most favorite among them is the most recent
“Captain Marvel”: Carol Danvers, who had been Ms. Marvel for most of her
superhero career. I admit that it’s probably
because I greatly adore Ms. Marvel – the most badass female Avenger, in my
opinion (wish she’s on the next Avengers movie) – and am apathetic with those different male Captain Marvels. Recently, she decided to take the mantle of
“Captain Marvel” for herself to carry on the legend of the original Captain
Marvel (the Kree, Mar-Vell). And I
totally dig this development. We always
assume that a “Captain” superhero should be male when being a “Captain” is not at
all limited to males. Females can have the
title of “Captain” as well. So kudos to
whoever had this idea (I like the Ms. Marvel costume though over Carol’s new
Captain Marvel look) to make Carol Danvers a female superhero having a
“Captain” superhero name. I strongly
support any attempt – if any – of pushing Captain Marvel to become the “Wonder
Woman” of Marvel Comics. The character –
when she was still Ms. Marvel – has somewhat earned it in my book.
2.) CAPTAIN MARVEL
Chosen by the wizard Shazam to
inherit his powers and be a champion for good, whenever teenage Billy Batson
exclaims the wizard’s name – “Shazam!” – he is struck by a bolt of lightning
and transforms into his adult alter-ego, Captain Marvel. The word “Shazam” also serves as an acronym
for Greco-Roman mythological names (with the exception of Solomon) that serve
as representation of what powers Batson gains when he becomes Captain Marvel: these
are Solomon (vast knowledge and wisdom), Hercules (super strength), Atlas
(stamina, endurance, healing factor, invulnerability), Zeus (lightning bolts),
Achilles (courage, fighting skills, invulnerability), and Mercury (super speed,
flight). Because Marvel Comics owns the
trademark for the Captain Marvel
title, DC’s Captain Marvel has been marketed and alternately referred to as
“Shazam” for years, which would ultimately force DC to officially rename the
character as “Shazam” in its recent New
52 reboot. Despite of this,
Shazam/Captain Marvel remains the most popular and most remarkable “Captain
Marvel” character there has ever been (there was even a time when he was more
popular than Superman, in terms of comicbook sales) in the history of
comics.
1.) CAPTAIN AMERICA
Dozens of superheroes may be out
there bearing the “Captain” in their names, but there is only one “Captain”
that would always stand above them all.
There is only one “Captain” that can be nicknamed and referred to as
“Cap” and be distinguished above all other “Captains”. This “Captain” is THE Captain.
In fact, there had been times Steve Rogers had taken the name of “The
Captain” when his birthright superhero name, “Captain America”, is unavailable
or unsuitable for use.
Spider-Man (or Wolverine) might
be Marvel Comics’ most popular character but in the Marvel Universe, Captain
America is “The Man” – the most respected, esteemed, admired, and beloved
superhero in the Marvel U. He is more
than a superhero; he is the icon of the superhero community. He is
easily looked up to as a leader by other superheroes – particularly, the
Avengers – not only because of being a superior tactician and brilliant field
commander (due to his military background), but also because he has the innate ability
to inspire others and bring out the best in them.
Captain America is selfless, bold,
noble, and extremely loyal to the ideas, morals, and principles he stands for –
the same ideas, morals, and principles the United States of America had been historically
founded upon (which, I like to believe, is a fact and not merely a product of
historical romanticism). He would pursue
a righteous objective with dogged determination and burning tenacity, and would
make a stand for what he believes is right with uncompromising stubbornness, unshakable
conviction, and unflinching courage; regardless if his objective or stand is
against impossible odds, unpopular, or/and very costly or dangerous to do.
Take note that Cap has no
superhuman powers whatsoever. The
super-soldier serum that Steve Rogers took only gave him – who was thin and
frail prior the treatment he had undergone – a physique that is the zenith of what
a human body can attain. Any physical
strength, athleticism, conditioning, and stamina he gained are only that of the
extent of what’s humanly possible. Thus,
he is closer to the Batman-type of superhero (no super powers) than to the
Superman-type (with super powers). The
difference is Batman attained the apex of human physicality through brutal
exercise while Cap attained it through a serum.
However, this doesn’t mean that Captain America is no hard worker. Not at all.
Captain America became one of the most skilled and deadly combatants
in the Marvel Universe because of rigorous and intensive training. He studied different fighting disciplines and
martial arts, assimilating them into his own fighting style, which incorporates
the use of his formidable trademark shield.
Superman is Captain America’s
counterpart in DC Universe as the icon that all other superheroes look up
to. Yes, Superman is one of the most
heroic of superheroes; uncompromising, morally steadfast, brave in facing threats
and danger, selflessly putting himself in harm’s way to protect others,
etc. But Superman is a very powerful
superhero. Supes is bullet-proof, nigh invulnerable. Captain America, however, has these heroic convictions
that Superman has and does these heroic things that Superman does despite
having no superpowers at all. He is
mortal. He is not bullet-proof. And, if you look at it in this light, that is
more impressive. Captain America is
sheer heart, guts, and badassery.
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