 Take 10: Captain America Villains
With the impending return of Steve Rogers, the Secret Cabal looks at Captain America’s most dangerous foes
Posted: 2009-06-17 Updated: 2009-06-22 10:38:08 Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
This summer, Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, returns in CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN—but he may not find the world he comes back to so inviting.
Sure Cap's allies like the Avengers, the Falcon and his protégé Bucky Barnes will no doubt be overjoyed with Steve's survival, but the Star-Spangled Avenger ha accumulated no shortage of deadly enemies in his lengthy career. As a service to our favorite Sentinel of Liberty, the Secret Cabal compiled this list of the most unsavory villains to cross paths with Captain America.
For each entry you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy! 10. FLAG SMASHER
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #312 (1985
Why He Makes the List: "A different kind of terrorist, Flag Smasher doesn't hate any country, regime or people in particular, he hates them all. Smasher is devoted to tearing down all forms of organized government, and thus he presents a unique conundrum for Cap, often forcing him to ally with would-be enemies for the greater good. With an army of goons called ULTIMATUM at his back and a country to call his own, until Cable took him down for good, Flag Smasher was a danger to the whole world." – Secret Cabal member Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: CABLE & DEADPOOL #28—Flag Smasher attempts to dodge an assassination attempt by Deadpool!
9. VIPER
Learn More About Her… here
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #110 (1969)
Why She Makes the List: "Viper's dark beauty and slinky outfits draw away from the terrifying truth about this unhinged lady: she's an utter nihilist devoted to tearing down all that anybody holds dear. Where Captain America is a beacon of hope and salvation, Viper is his opposite number: a harbinger of doom and despair. On her own, with the Serpent Squad, and as Madame Hydra, Viper has devoted herself to annihilating Steve Rogers and won't quit until she's done." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #181—Viper leads the Serpent Squad against Nomad and the Falcon!
8. BARON BLOOD
Learn More About Him… here
First Appearance: INVADERS #7 (1976)
Why He Makes the List: "You're going to read a great deal about Nazis on this list. They've been a thorn in Cap's side for 70 years. Plus, they're just plain evil. So how do you make a Nazi even MORE EEEEEEEVIL? Turn him into a vampire. Well, to be fair, Baron Blood joined the Nazis after becoming a vampire. Heck, maybe that transition is more evil! Whatever. Baron Blood was such a nasty dude that Cap actually decapitated him. Harsh, but necessary." – Secret Cabal member Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #254—Cap teams with Union Jack against the undying evil of Baron Blood!
7. ARNIM ZOLA
Learn More About Him… here
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #208 (1977)
Why He Makes the List: "An early pioneer of human genetic engineering, Arnim Zola combined his scientific mojo with another of his great loves: evil. Joining up with the Nazi all star team of Baron Zemo, Hitler and Red Skull, Zola proceeded to genetically modify the hell out of stuff, clashing with Cap on numerous occasions. The dude who looks like a robot with a TV in his chest has continued his freaky experiments over the years and recently became instrumental in the Red Skull's plot to kill Steve Rogers." – Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #208—Captain America encounters the bizarre menace of Arnim Zola for the first time!
6. THE SERPENT SOCIETY
Learn More About Them… here and here
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #310 (1985)
Why They Make the List: "Generally, Captain America prefers to fight his personal battles mano-a-mano, not dragging the Avengers into situations he feels he should handle himself, which is why the Serpent Society present him with quite the conundrum: they're a vast and varied group with an array of sinister talents, but in each of their incarnations, they have invariably been Cap's problem, nobody else's. Whether he's fending off Viper or Sin's more militant Serpent Squads, trying to unravel King Cobra's elaborate schemes, or even romancing Society defect Diamondback, Cap's relationship with these snakes is always complex." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #31 (2002)—The Serpent Society coils around Captain America and their own errant member, Diamondback!
5. BATROC
Learn More About Him… here
First Appearance: TALES OF SUSPENSE #75 (1966)
Why He Makes the List: "He leaps! Oh, how he leaps. But really, there's much more to Batroc than leaping. He kicks! He lives the life of a badass mercenary. And most importantly, he tussles with Captain America(s) and doesn't always get his teeth knocked out. How? Batroc is a master of savate, the French martial art of kickboxing. Even his moustache could kick your butt." – Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #30 (2002)—As Cap's life unravels, Batroc strikes!
4. DOCTOR FAUSTUS
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #107 (1968)
Why He Makes the List: "Captain America defines himself by his undying belief in the American dream and peoples' inherent good, which is why the sinister psychologist known as Doctor Faustus has proven such a demoralizing and frustrating foe for him. Faustus prays on the dark underbelly of otherwise noble psyches, twisting morals and decency into doubt and decay. Faustus is not a muscle man who Cap can punch and get rid of so easily, he's a master manipulator who always knows to stay far enough behind the scenes to avoid Steve Rogers' red glare." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #107—Doctor Faustus launches his first salvo of psychological warfare against Captain America!
3. CROSSBONES
Learn More About Him… here
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #359 (1989)
Why He Makes the List: "Who's Brock Rumlow, you may question? Brock Rumlow is both one of the greatest civilian names in Marvel Comics history and the villain known as Crossbones. An excellent hand-to-hand fighter trained by Taskmaster, Crossbones is also a master marksman. Need evidence? Crossbones fired and landed the first shot on Captain America in CAPTAIN AMERICA #25, a shot that incited the confusion and panic that allowed Cap's killer to make her move." – Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #16 (2004)—With the Red Skull dead, Crossbones strikes out on his own!
2. BARON HEINRICH ZEMO & BARON HELMUT ZEMO
Learn More About Them… here and here
First Appearances: AVENGERS #4 (1964) and CAPTAIN AMERICA #168 (1973)
Why They Make the List: "The family that hates Captain America together sticks together—well, in spirit anyways. Heinrich, the original Baron Zemo, dealt Steve Rogers perhaps his most devastating loss, causing the apparent demise of his young partner, Bucky Barnes. While the elder Zemo would fall in battle with Captain America years later, the toll he took on the Star-Spangled Avenger can never be undone, and his son would enthusiastically pick up his mantel not long after. The Zemos are proud, ruthless and, most of all, relentless; Captain America will ever be rid of their curse for long." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: AVENGERS #277—Baron Helmut Zemo's ultimate campaign of revenge against Captain America and the Avengers comes to a head!
1. THE RED SKULL
Learn More About Him… here
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #7 (1941)
Why He Makes the List: "Many consider Captain America to be the single most decent, honorable hero in the Marvel Universe, so his greatest foe would have to be one evil SOB—and the Red Skull fits the bill. Not only is the Red Skull a card-carrying Nazi, he's been one since the days of World War II, so he's got the market more or less cornered when it comes to hatred and bigotry. While his Fuhrer and his party have long since fallen by the way side, the Skull has not relented in his campaign of terror and dreams to bring the twisted dreams that have defined him to life. And how much does he hate Captain America? He killed him—that's how much." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: TALES OF SUSPENSE #66—The Red Skull encounters Captain America for the first time since the Star-Spangled Avenger's rebirth in the modern age! Not a subscriber to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited yet? Join now!
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Well obviously Red Skull would be #1 but I think Viper should be slightly higher on the list. Other than that its a great list. :) ^^what he said^^ Posted By: The_Greatest_Username There are three enemies not mentioned that need mentioning...
1). The American Government. Cap has had quite a bit of falling out with the government many times, most notably becoming Falcon... |
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