Did you know that Captain America was the first Marvel superhero to make it to the big screen? It’s true! Dick Purcell played Cap in the 1944 Captain America live-action serials, just three years after Jack Kirby and Joe Simon created the character. But it took the better part of 70 years before Captain America finally became a true superstar outside of comics.
Within the Marvel Universe, Cap has always had a prominent place among the Avengers and his own comic book series. But as you can see in Burger Fiction’s new Evolution of Captain America video, Cap has largely been a secondary hero in films and television. In fact, Captain America has never even had his own cartoon series! Although you can see a clip for the Captain America animated series test reel in this video. Reportedly, that Cap series was canceled because of Marvel’s bankruptcy in the ‘90s.
For some of you, this video may be your first glimpse of the two Captain America TV movies from the ‘70s starring Reb Brown…and there are some Batman ‘66 levels of camp in these clips as Cap’s shield moves through the air like it has a mind of its own. Even the Captain America movie from 1990 suffers from some of that campiness. And if you look closely at Matt Salinger’s Cap then you may be able to tell that the ears on his mask aren’t actually real.
Captain America: The First Avenger did a lot to rehabilitate Cap’s image, once Chris Evans stepped into the role and the Marvel Cinematic Universe got under way. But it was Captain America: The Winter Soldier that made Cap into a superstar among the general public again. Until Guardians of the Galaxy came along, The Winter Soldier was Marvel Studios’ highest grossing film that didn’t have Iron Man in it! Judging by the early reaction to Captain America: Civil War, Cap’s superhero packed sequel may actually pull in more box office than The Avengers!
What did you think about Burger Fiction’s Evolution of Captain America video? Throw your mighty shields and share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Image: Marvel Studios
