A new Marvel Comics storyline reveals a surprising but logical weakness of Captain America. The Sentinel of Liberty is generally presumed to be a healthy human male in peak physical condition. However, while this is generally true, there is apparently an unexpected balance to the Super Soldier formula that empowers Steve Rogers.
Written by Chip Zdarsky, with art by Valerio Schiti, Captain America #12 continues the on-going Armageddon event. The storyline finds Red Hulk, annoyed with the bureaucracy of the American government, leading his own team of loyal soldiers to liberate hostile countries. This starts with the nation of Latveria, which was already suffering as a result of a civil war between three factions following the death of Doctor Doom.
It was in the middle of this conflict that Steve Rogers seemingly died while saving a young boy. However, Captain America #12 reveals that Steve Rogers survived, albeit with serious injuries requiring multiple complex surgeries. Naturally, his Avengers teammate Tony Stark is quick to offer to pay the bills and buy whatever special equipment might be needed. However, there is a complication that even Iron Man‘s money can’t overcome.
One of the doctors explains that the Super Soldier formula that transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America speeds his healing. Unfortunately, it also altered his body chemistry in unpredictable ways. As such, the usual rules regarding how to treat certain conditions cannot be applied to Steve Rogers.
The reasoning behind Captain America’s latest weakness
The idea that the Super Soldier formula makes it harder to treat Steve Rogers medically makes a wicked sort of sense. Much of Marvel‘s mythology is built around the efforts to replicate the process that turned him into Captain America. And most of the problems with the process are born of the unknown chemical content of the Super Soldier formula.
In the real world, doctors ask patients what medications they are taking, including basic over-the-counter drugs. This is because chemicals in the human body can produce unexpected reactions when mixed together. Poison Control consultants do the same thing for the same reason.
Given that, it is reasonable to presume that Captain America might be a difficult patient. His increased stamina might require higher than normal levels of medication to put him under. However, real world anesthesiologists often have trouble judging how high a dosage a patient might require. And some common anesthetics can be toxic depending on what other medications the patient is taking. This could add a new terror to treating Steve Rogers as, despite being elevated to the peak of physical perfection, he is still all too human; a fact driven home by this new weakness.
Captain America #12 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
