Marvel Comics’ fictional story of a 40s-era U.S. Army scientific experiment, “Super Soldier Serum,” literally turned 5’4” 95-pound sickly soldier Steve Rogers into superhero Captain America. This top-secret test suddenly thrust Captain America, “Cap,” to the pinnacle of a muscular physique with suddenly superior conditioning and combat skills.
As a new 6’2” ripped, 240-pound warfighter, Cap’s amazing new physical abilities made him into a living legend, fighting evil at home and abroad. Known as a symbol of American patriotism and justice, Captain America’s red, white, and blue costume sports a red, white, and blue American flag motif.
After nearly eight decades, Cap is seldom seen going into battle without his iconic weapon, a powerful shield. This famed shield is, without question, one of the most popular icons in Marvel’s make-believe world. Quite simply, no image of Captain America is complete without his shield (affiliate link if you want to buy one).
Chiefly used defensively to fend off enemy attacks, Cap also uses his shield offensively as a weapon, throwing it at enemies where it famously ricochets off walls and returns to Cap’s hands.
Captain America used many shields throughout history since his various shields have not only saved his life countless times, they’ve also been lost, seemingly destroyed, regularly damaged, and once even sunk to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean’s bottom.
Cap’s shields have been broken by Doctor Doom in Secret Wars, Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, Molecule Man in The Avengers #215, and others. Let’s look closer at some of Captain America’s many shields seen on his arm, and particularly at the shield materials, used throughout the character’s evolution.
The Original Shield
The good captain’s various shields have been made of a variety of materials and in different shapes over the years. Cap’s very first shield was bulletproof and heater shaped – it looked similar in shape to a modern clothes iron or badge.
Introduced and featured on the cover of Captain America Comics #1, this star-spangled shield was intended to mimic the shield in the Seal of the United States. It was originally made of steel, which certainly isn’t as protective as what we’ve now come to expect from Captain America.
With a band of three five-point stars across its top and alternating red, white and blue stripes across the surface area, the shield looked busy and didn’t have the aerodynamic qualities of subsequent shield designs. This first shield was used by Captain America until it was crushed by Mr. Hyde in Avengers #275.
The Impenetrable Second Shield: Never Duplicated
The second shield, the highly recognizable circular shield best associated with Captain America, uses sophisticated technological advances only the world of fiction can provide. This design entered the scene in the next issue, Captain America Comics #2 as a gift to Captain America from Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1941.
The second shield, a star-spangled circular shield included a five-point white star in its center with a blue background. This shield design is clean, crisp, and has come to signify the captain’s iconic weapon – it’s the cool, classic design the public best knows and is most accustomed to.
This shield was primarily made from a combination of the following three elements:
1. Vibranium
The U.S. Army made the shield out of the only supply of vibranium, a fictitious material the Army had on hand. Vibranium is a made-up metal found in the invented country Wakanda that absorbs vibrations and is capable of releasing large amounts of kinetic energy. When vibranium is forced to absorb sound waves and other energies it actually becomes exponentially stronger.
Originally deposited on the Earth by way of a meteorite, the largest store of remaining vibranium is located in Wakanda. While many have attempted to take it for their own, Wakanda has kept the supply reasonably safe over the years.
There are at least two man-made varieties of artificial vibranium. One kind, Reverbium, is particularly dangerous because as it absorbs energy it becomes stronger until it reaches a certain point and detonates with no warning whatsoever.
2. Steel alloy
The most obvious material and the other one that isn’t purely fictional. The steel alloy in Captain America’s shield makes it seem possible for his shield to be real. Cap has from time to time used a shield made solely of steel, especially when his good shield was at the bottom of the ocean.
3. Proto-Adamantium, the “unknown substance”
This fictional alloy from Marvel Comics is said to be discovered accidentally by the U.S. Army and never duplicated. It’s described as virtually indestructible. It is further said that attempts to reverse-engineer the adamantium element in this shield were unsuccessful so the shield could not be replicated.
An especially fun fact: adamantium later became famously known for being the metal on Wolverine’s claws. There is much speculation on who would win in a battle between Captain America and Wolverine but luckily there is no substantial proof one way or the other.
Other Shields
Other shields Captain America has regularly taken into battle have been made from less durable material, such as a yellow plasma shield and a series of energy shields featured in the comics but not seen on the big screen.
One shield that didn’t last long was from the 70s. It was large, transparent, plastic-looking, and didn’t even look like sturdy weaponry – it’s not surprising that version didn’t last.
Yet another shield was oddly disc-shaped and given to Cap by Tony Stark in Captain America #339. This shield was made of the fictitious metal adamantium but only lasted a few editions before it was permanently retired and replaced.
Conclusion:
Whatever shield Captain America’s got on his arm, and whatever it’s made from, Cap’s earned his status as a prominent leader in The Avengers, a fictional team of the earth’s mightiest heroes created by legendary writer-editor Stan Lee.
Captain America rightfully joins Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, and others dedicated to fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way. From the 40s to today, Captain America has inspired millions.