Jay Maidment / Marvel Studios

In a Universe where people build robotic suits of armor and have their entire skeletons coated in unbreakable metal alloys, Captain America is surprisingly frequently the underdog. Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, attained his “powers” by enlisting in a special military program during World War II, which injected him with the Super Soldier Serum, blasted him with “Vita-rays,” which sound like sting-ray shaped children’s vitamins but are actually bursts of serious radiation, and eventually allowed him to live out every American’s dream of punching Hitler square in the jaw. Nearing the conclusion of WWII Cap was hurled into the North Atlantic Ocean and was presumed dead. Then, like any good comic book character, Cap kicked the grim reaper right in the balls. Fresh from the edge of oblivion, Captain America immediately helped the Avengers defeat an alien invasion, stepping into the leadership position of the team of legitimate super heroes shortly thereafter.

Jay Maidment / Marvel Studios

Proudly flaunting his manliness by rockin’ a tight red white and blue costume, this Sentinel of Liberty has stood the test of time, remaining one of Marvel’s most popular comic book creations. Captain America: The First Avenger, starting Chris Evans as the Captain,is slated to come out July 22^nd. The movie is one of the most highly anticipated blockbusters in a summer that includes new additions to the Transformers and X-Men franchises, plus the final Harry Potter. After all, it’s difficult to out-badass a guy who calmly strides into a warzone with nothing but a shield and a handgun. Most people quiver behind a shield and use it to cover the piss-stain on the front of their uniform, but Captain America hurls the normally defensive weapon at his enemies with deadly accuracy.

The Star Spangled Avenger has saved the world more times than James frikkin’ Bond, and not just from wealthy foreigners with creepy scars or eye patches (though Cap has fought his fair share). No, his furious fists of freedom more frequently are put to the test against reality altering, nearly omnipotent forces. Though the Super Soldier Serum that courses through his veins allowed him to reach the maximum of human ability, Captain America has far surpassed that. His leadership abilities and his rock-steady moral compass made him one of the extremely few worthy enough to wield the magical hammer of Thor in battle, and he was the default leader of one side during the Super Hero Civil War.

So, for beating up Nazis, cheating death, scaring off alien invaders, and proving that real men wear red white and blue, Captain America, “You The Man”.

Matt Tarpey is an Aquarius from Chicago who loves singing in the shower, moonlit walks on sandy beaches, and all things pop culture

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