CAPTAIN AMERICA
of Earth-81426
Real Name: Steve Rogers
Identity/Class: Alternate reality
(Earth-81426)
human mutate
Occupation: US President;
former Avenger, adventurer,
crimefighter, artist (see comments)
Group Membership: US Government;
formerly Avengers, Invaders (see comments)
Affiliations: Falcon (Sam Wilson), Andrew Jackson Hawk, Nick Fury, Bernie Rosenthal,
Samuel T. Underwood (all Earth-81426)
(see comments)
Enemies: Red Skull
(Johann Shmidt), assassin (name unrevealed)
(all Earth-81426) (see comments)
Known Relatives: Joseph Rogers (father,
deceased), Sarah Rogers (mother, deceased) (see
comments)
Aliases: Mr. President (see comments)
Base of Operations: Washington, DC, USA;
formerly New York City, USA (Earth-81426) (see
comments)
First Appearance: What If...? I#26/1
(April, 1981)
Powers/Abilities: Captain America has been
imbued with the Super-Soldier serum; this has heightened his physical
form to near-pinnacle human abilities, exceeding Olympic athletes in
endurance, strength, speed and agility. He is a master of multiple
forms of unarmed combat. However, occasional neglect of daily training after presidential election has slightly
reduced his overall fitness.
Captain America carries a 2.5' diameter concave shield made of a Vibranium-steel alloy. This is virtually indestructible and provides excellent defense against all manner of attack, and can be hurled as a rebounding weapon.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
History:
(Captain America I#250/What If...? I#26/1 (fb)) -
Samuel T. Underwood, Chairman of the New Populist Party (NPP), offered
Captain America (Steve Rogers) the NPP candidacy for US presidency in
the upcoming
election. Cap initially declined, but the offer weighed on his mind and
he consulted with his fellow Avengers. Later at the NPP Convention, he
readied to address the crowd and reject their proposed nomination.
(What If...? I#26/1) - Seeing the disappointed faces
in the crowd made Cap falter mid-sentence and he instead declared he
would run as their candidate. This caused much stir in the media with
superheroes sought for comment. However, Cap needed a running mate for
Vice President and his party room men were coming up with bizarre
candidates based on popularity, but Cap demanded a politician
with integrity, consistent voting track record and knowledge of the
Washington scene; Senator Andrew Hawk was his choice. Underwood
presented Hawk to Captain America in the party room, but Hawk was taken
aback by the electioneering officials, so Cap and Hawk moved elsewhere
to speak privately and Hawk agreed. Opposing presidential candidates
Carter and Reagan offered mild criticism that Cap easily deflected,
promising to remove his mask after the election (having already
confided his secret identity to Hawk). Cap made sure to share the stage
with Hawk as a sign of equality, and when Cap expressed doubts, Hawk
reassured him.
Captain America beat Carter and Reagan in the states and electoral
college votes, and also had over half the popular vote. Despite the
busy schedule leading to inauguration, Rogers still squeezed in artwork
assignments from his regular job. At the inauguration, Cap took off his mask in
public (shocking his sweetheart Bernie Rosenthal), but an assassin took
aim. Cap's instincts kicked in and he dodged the bullet. Bodyguards
couldn't keep up with Cap as he raced up and captured the assassin.
(What If...? I#26/1 (fb) - BTS) - With Rogers in
office, Americans generally felt safer; his political opponents
respected him and the press dubbed him "President America." Allies also
felt safer and more secure. The Rogers-Hawk administration quickly set
up a solar collection station in close orbit that beamed back solar
energy and eliminated the USA's reliance on foreign oil.
However, civil unrest in the South American country of San Pedro
persisted and became an increasingly larger media issue in the USA.
(What If...? I#26/1) - At a press conference,
journalist Trask pressured President Rogers on what he was doing about
San Pedro. Rogers' government was about to supply solar-powered weapons
to rebels, led by the charismatic Jacinto Morez, to overthrow the
tyrannical government and also prevent US soldiers becoming involved.
The move was a success and Morez was elected in, but then secretly
eliminated and impersonated by the Nazi fiend Red Skull. "Morez"
invited Rogers to the San Pedro presidential palace and Rogers
agreed, but once
there, the Red Skull pulled off his mask and knocked out Rogers (who
wore his Captain America uniform underneath). The Red Skull publicly
suspended Rogers in his uniform in chains on TV to weaken American
morale and declared
he would target American cities using the now modified solar satellite
as a beam weapon. Both the palace and the satellite were too heavily
defended to be attacked from outside. While the Red Skull gloated on
camera, Rogers was able to reach his shield and break his chains to
storm free and fight the Red Skull, realizing that the two of them
would always be polar opposites. Rogers took a brief opportunity and
partly through luck and intuition, adjusted the controls to realign the
solar satellite's lethal beam away from the US White House and instead
to San Pedro's presidential palace. Rogers kept fighting
the Red Skull, unable to escape lest the villain change the weapon
settings, and the solar beam incinerated the palace, instantly killing
the mutual foes. Days later, a S.H.I.E.L.D. cleanup crew recovered
Cap's shield in the still-warm rubble. Col. Nick Fury delivered the
eulogy at Rogers' funeral in Arlington Cemetery in front of the solemn
heroes assembled there, and the shield was passed to Cap's former
partner, the Falcon (Sam Wilson).
Comments:
Adapted by Mike W. Barr, Herb Trimpe, Mike Esposito plus "creative
contributions" from Roger Stern and John Byrne. Based on an idea by
Roger McKenzie & Don Perlin.
This reality diverged from Earth-616 in Captain America I#250 when Captain America decided to accept the New Populist Party's invitation to run as their presidential candidate. As such, his complete affiliations, enemies, aliases, team memberships and occupations up to that point of divergence would be the same.
If this reality diverged at Captain America I#250,
then technically San Pedro already existed as a nation on Earth-616,
it's just that the insurgency never gained traction without US aid and
the Red Skull's BTS manipulations.
Stats are from the OHotMU vol.1 (1983).
Despite some minor
variations, it is not 100% clear whether this reality is the same as
the one from What If...? Season 1 Episode 8, September 29 2021, "What
If... Ultron Won?", which showed Steven Grant Rogers being sworn in as
the President of the United States. This reality was briefly glimpsed
during the fight between the Watcher and Infinity Ultron.
---Snood
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Captain America of Earth-81426 has no known connections to:
Colonel Nick Fury commanded the attack by
S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage
Law-Enforcement Division) on the solar collection station satellite
after it had been remotely taken over by the Red Skull and used as a
weapon, targeting Washington, DC. But S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons couldn't get
past the satellite's defense systems and Fury realized they couldn't
evacuate the city in time. Captain America stopped the Red Skull's mad
plan and both died in a redirected satellite blast. Days later,
S.H.I.E.L.D. troops found Captain America's near-indestructible shield. Soon
after, Fury delivered a eulogy at Captain America's funeral before the
assembled heroes paying their respects. Fury passed Cap's shield to the
Falcon (Sam Wilson).
--What If...? I#26/1
Andrew
"Andy" Jackson Hawk was married with two children, and was a senator in the
US Congress. He had a solid and consistent voting record, knew the
political scene in Washington, DC, and demonstrated integrity and
self-respect. These aspects made Hawk a solid choice for Captain
America (Steve Rogers) when he was looking for a running mate as Vice
President for his election campaign with the the New Populist Party
(NPP). Initially concerned that his co-candidacy was token because of
his minority ethnicity, Captain America assured him otherwise and Hawk
agreed to run. Despite few people recognizing Hawk, the NPP people
acquiesced to Cap's demand. Rogers also confided his secret identity to
Hawk. The Cap-Hawk team won the majority at the election and Rogers
unmasked publicly. The Rogers-Hawk administration brought security and stability
within the USA and among its allies, and they pushed quickly ahead with
a solar collection station in close orbit that beamed back solar
energy and eliminated the USA's reliance on foreign oil. Political and
civil unrest in the South American nation of San Pedro diverted
attention, and American solar armaments were supplied that helped
overthrow the tyrannical government there (although all were unaware the
villainous Red Skull was taking control of the small state and baiting
Cap). Disguised as the leader, the Red Skull invited Rogers to San
Pedro, and the traveling President left the Vice President in charge as
per protocol. However, Rogers and the Red Skull died fighting each
other (so inevitably Hawk succeeded Rogers as US President).
--What If...? I#26/1
The
Red Skull (Johann Shmidt) was incensed that foe Captain America (Steve
Rogers) had become leader of the USA and so sought to rule his own
nation. Insurgency led by the charismatic Jacinto Morez against the
tyrannical government of San Pedro made an excellent target for the Red
Skull. Escalating American media reports forced the new Rogers-Hawk
administration to act and they supplied specialized solar weapons based
on the USA's new solar collection station in close orbit that beamed
back solar energy. At some point, the Red Skull eliminated Morez
(likely after his election) and impersonated him using a mask. He
invited Rogers to San Pedro as thanks for the USA's aid, but it was a
baited trap. The Red Skull captured Rogers and publicly suspended him
in his Captain America uniform in chains on TV to weaken American
morale and declared he would target Washington, DC using the now
modified solar satellite as a beam weapon. While the Red Skull gloated
on camera, Rogers was able to reach his shield and break his chains to
storm free and fight the Red Skull, realizing that the two of them
would always be polar opposites. Rogers was able to adjust the controls
to realign the solar satellite's lethal beam away from the US White
House and instead to San Pedro's presidential palace. Rogers kept
fighting the Red Skull, unable to escape lest the villain change the
weapon settings, and the solar beam incinerated the palace, instantly
killing the mutual foes.
--What If...? I#26/1
Samuel T. Underwood was the Chairman of the New
Populist Party (NPP) and took a chance
opportunity to offer Captain America the NPP candidacy for presidency.
Cap initially declined, but the offer weighed on his mind and he
eventually accepted. Underwood soon convinced Senator Andrew Hawk,
Cap's choice as running mate as Vice-President candidate, to speak with
Captain America.
--What If...? I#26/1
images:
(without ads)
What If...? I#26/1, p10, pan3 (main image)
p9, pan5 (headshot, unmasked)
p8, pan6 (with Hawk at election victory)
p17, pan3 (Fury)
p5, pan1 (Hawk)
p7, pan4 (Hawk with family)
p16, pan5 (Red Skull)
p14, pan8 (Red Skull revealed, headshot)
p4, pan9 (Underwood)
classic cover (Rogers being sworn in)
Appearances:
What If...? I#26/1 (April, 1981) - Mike W. Barr (writer), Herb Trimpe
(pencils), Mike Esposito (inks), Roger Stern & John Byrne
("creative contributions"), Denny O'Neil (editor)
First posted: 07/04/2025
Last updated:
07/04/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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