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Long beforeCaptain Americabecame wide known as Steve Rogers , he kept his identity a close - guard closed book - by pretend to be one of the unsound soldiers in the history of the United States Army . As one of the first - ever loyal superheroes ( and arguably the most successful ) , Captain Americaspent the Golden Age of Comicsconcealing his identity from his fellow soldier . It was n’t until Captain America ’s relaunch in 1968 that readers give away how Steve Rogers kept his indistinguishability a secret : by take up a tactics fromBatman , a primal member of the Distinguished Competition .
Captain America made his entry inCaptain America Comics # 1 , magnificently plug Hitler in the font on the cover version . Even more memorable than Captain America ’s top was the month in which the matter went on cut-rate sale : Marchof 1941 , almost a full yr before America entered World War II . This was controversial at the time , equivalent to a present - twenty-four hours Captain America attacking Vladimir Putin . Nevertheless , the hero show immensely popular with reader ( and Cap ’s teen sidekick Bucky certainly helped ) . But there was still the topic of Captain America cover his genuine identity , a topic that would n’t be touch upon until much afterward .
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InCaptain America Annual # 1 , write by Stan Lee with fine art by Jack Kirby , the origin of the star topology - spangle superhero is retold in detail . The major beat of the original 1941 narration rest the same : a scientist ( renamed Dr. Erskine ) presents a slender , sickly Steve Rogers with a trial tube of chemicals , a Nazi saboteur assassinates the doctor , and Rogers decks him before he can escape;he ultimately becomes Captain America . Some time later on , the comics shifts to a scene in whichPrivateRogers is accosted by an angry Sergeant , furious that Rogers is too bungling for his own good . “What ’s the role ? ! I wonder how much the Germans are payin ' Rogers to stay on our side?!“he shouts . As he storms off , Steve privately rue playing the fool in front of his friends , but it ’s the best way to forbid anyone from touch base Private Rogers and Captain America .
If obfuscating imbecility were an Olympic sport , Batman would be the all - time Au medal champion . Ever sinceDetective Comics # 27 in 1939 , Bruce Wayne has run up his billionaire playboy image to such an extent that he remain the right-down last possible candidate for Batman . There ’s a serious luck that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were inhale by Batman ’s act , which by 1968 was a foundational part of his character . Of course , Steve Rogers does n’t have the same inventive to hide his identity as Bruce Wayne . Steve is alreadya soldier in the United States Army- delivering correct hooks to mustachioed megalomaniacs is already part of his job description .
Captain America would eventually shed the secret identity element shtik altogether in 2002 after killing an Osama bin Laden - esque terrorist ; though his private life plainly became public , he was never dog by constabulary like Batman . Bruce Wayne’spublic image has shifted over the yearsfrom a lackadaisical louse to a benevolent businessman , but he ’s always enshroud behind another personality . WhenCaptain Americafelt he no longer needed to hide likeBatman , he publically unmasked in front of the entire world - something Bruce Wayne can never do .
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