The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has no shortage of super-soldiers – characters who are physically enhanced to the point of exceeding the limits of ordinary people. From the 40s until modern times, super soldiers have always been an indispensable piece of Marvel’s puzzle, especially when the number of superheroes and supervillains is increasing rapidly.
Although many people have participated in Dr. Abraham Erskine’s serum experiments, only a few of them have achieved the expected results. And there are even fewer people who have achieved the necessary level of strength and fitness to make a huge impact on the world.
In the MCU, super soldier history begins with Steve Rogers, who took over the experiment from Dr. Erskine in 1943, and thereby became Captain America. Next, similar experiments were continuously conducted inside and outside the United States, resulting in the birth of many other super soldiers, with powers that were much different from Rogers because no one could replicate recreated the original recipe that Dr. Erskine used.
Red Guardian
Red Guardian first appeared in Black Widow and will join the MCU’s Thunderbolts squad – Photo: Marvel Studios.
Blockbuster Black Widow brought the Red Guardians into the MCU, with origins directly linked to Captain America. Alexei Shostakov was originally a Soviet soldier who received a Russian version of the super-soldier serum and operated as the superhero Red Guardian during the cold war, before being imprisoned in a re-education camp in Siberia. for many decades.
Although physically enhanced by the super-soldier serum, Alexei’s strength is not as strong as the original series, and of course it is difficult to match Captain America. Throughout most of the duration of Black Widowthis character mostly only shows his humorous side, instead of showing off his fighting skills impressive enough for the audience to admire.
The Flag Smashers
The Flag Smashers gang is the villain in the series The Falcon & the Winter Soldier – Photo: Marvel Studios.
Karli Morgenthau and his terrorist gang, the Flag Smashers, once decided to follow in the footsteps of Steve Rogers and use a new super-soldier serum provided by Power Broker/Sharon Carter. This serum is considered the most perfect copy of the 1943 version made by Dr. Erskine, and also the most successful product after failed experiments spanning decades.
That is also the reason why Morgenthau and his associates possess the same strength as Steve Rogers himself. However, because of not being properly trained, led and trained properly, Flag Smashers quickly collapsed before being able to use their full strength.
Winter Soldier
Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes is a close friend of Steve Rogers, once brainwashed by HYDRA to turn into an emotionless killing machine – Photo: Marvel Studios.
Turned into a deadly weapon by HYDRA, Bucky Barnes is considered the opposite of Captain America, and one of the most feared super-soldiers of the MCU. After “losing his life” during World War II, Bucky was fortunately saved by HYDRA, but accidentally became a test subject for this evil organization.
Over the decades, Bucky has been constantly receiving many different versions of the super soldier serum. In addition, he is also equipped with a metal arm so that he can easily perform any assassin mission from HYDRA Now, having escaped the situation of brainwashing, Bucky is almost on the road. mainstream and continue to accompany the new Captain America – Sam Wilson. In addition, this character will also join the Thunderbolts squad at the end of phase 5 of the MCU.
US Agent
US Agent/John Walker is Captain America’s successor for a short time – Photo: Marvel Studios.
Following the retirement of Steve Rogers, the US government selected John Walker for the role of the new Captain America. However, Walker quickly proved himself not worthy of this title as his predecessor, both in character and strength.
To make up for his shortcomings, Walker stole a quantity of Power Broker’s super-soldier serum and used it to strengthen his body and powers. Currently active as US Agent, Walker has had the opportunity to show superior abilities when confronting both Falcon and Winter Soldier, thereby showing that this character is much stronger than the super-soldier versions. generated from other clones. US Agent will also return in the blockbuster Thunderbolts and promises to be one of the important factors in the future of the MCU.
Isaiah Bradley
Isaiah Bradley was once considered an alternative to Captain America – Photo: Marvel Studios.
Series The Falcon & the Winter Soldier revealed that there are many secret super soldiers that have existed in the MCU, and Isaiah Bradley is one of them. Bradley was once injected with an experimental super-soldier serum, but it was part of the US government’s secret plan to replace Captain America, after the superhero was “sacrifice” in 1945.
Before being betrayed and imprisoned by his country, Bradley participated in many top secret missions, including the battle with Bucky Barnes and crushing the metal arm of the Winter Soldier. Although Marvel Studios has never directly demonstrated Bradley’s fighting skills on screen, stories from the past have indirectly confirmed that the character is much stronger than any other super-soldier. others imitate Captain America.
Red Skull
The new Red Skull is the MCU’s first super soldier – Photo: Marvel Studios.
The leader of the first villain group of the MCU, HYDRA, is also the first super soldier of the MCU – that is Johann Schmidt / Red Skull. He worked with Dr. Abraham Erskine before the events of Captain America: The First Avenger to make super soldier serum.
Schmidt decided to test the drug on his own body before it was perfect. This caused him to be transformed into a Red Skull, with an extremely grotesque and somewhat scary appearance. However, he still possesses the physical enhancements and strength that Erskine’s original super-soldier formula bestows. Even so, the power of the Red Skull is still quite pale compared to Captain America, whose pure, kind heart can amplify the ability of that serum and become one of the greatest superheroes. All Time.
Captain America
Captain America is the most important super soldier of the MCU – Photo: Marvel Studios.
Captain America’s legacy in the MCU goes far beyond any super-soldier that existed before or after his time. As the first person to successfully adopt the original serum created by Dr. Abraham Erskine, Rogers became the standard by which all other super soldiers were judged.
Throughout his superhero career full of ups and downs, Captain America has repeatedly demonstrated his incredible strength, from stopping a helicopter from taking off with his bare hands, to confronting him alone. Mad Titan Thanos. His strength is also constantly enhanced by his kind and pure heart. This is also the main reason that helps Rogers lift Thor’s magic hammer Mjolnir – a treasure that only accepts the most deserving.
Captain Carter
Captain Carter is the recipient of Dr. Erskine’s experiments instead of Steve Rogers in some other reality – Photo: Marvel Studios.
If there is a super soldier stronger than Steve Rogers, it must be Peggy Carter, who received the serum of Dr. Abraham Erskine in another reality. With a pure heart, but naturally better than Rogers, Captain Carter has become one of the most powerful superheroes in his universe. Everything Captain America ever did and was able to do in Earth-616, Carter can also do completely and even slightly better.
Up to now, there have been two versions of Captain Carter appearing in the MCU, and both are extremely powerful superheroes with particularly important roles. The first version from the animated series What If…? and is a member of the Multiverse Guardian detachment, having fought the evil Ultron armed with 6 infinity stones. The other version appeared in the blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and a member of the Illuminati secret society on Earth-838.
Emil Blonsky
Emil Blonsky/Abomination is the main antagonist in The Incredible Hulk and has been re-exploited by Marvel Studios in a number of recent projects – Photo: Marvel Studios.
While Hulk and the MCU’s super-soldier are closely related, most of the characters associated with the Green Giant are not considered super-soldiers like Captain America. Emil Blonsky is an exception, because he used to use a special serum in the hope of becoming super strong like Steve Rogers, but instead turned into the monster Abomination.
The unintended transformation process has helped Blonsky possess a great base of strength and even be able to directly confront the Hulk – something that even Captain America can hardly do. Therefore, at the present time in the MCU, when it comes to super soldiers, no one can be stronger than Emil Blonsky.
Source: Marvel Studios, ScreenRant
