The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has never been short of super soldiers—characters whose enhancements elevate them beyond ordinary humans. From the 1940s to the present day, super soldiers have been a crucial component of Marvel, especially as the ranks of superheroes and supervillains are rapidly expanding.
While numerous characters have participated in the historic experiments of Dr. Abraham Erskine, only a select few have yielded the desired results. The number of individuals who have received the super soldier serum is limited, making their impact on the world stage even more significant.
In the MCU, the legacy of the super soldier begins with Steve Rogers, who received the serum from Dr. Erskine in 1943 and became Captain America. Subsequently, many similar experiments were conducted both within and outside the U.S. military, leading to the emergence of various super soldiers, each with unique strengths that differ from Rogers, as no one could recreate the original formula that Dr. Erskine developed.
Red Guardian
The character Red Guardian was introduced in the film Black Widow, with direct ties to Captain America. Alexei Shostakov is a Soviet soldier who was selected to be a Russian version of the super soldier and operated as the superhero Red Guardian during the Cold War, before being imprisoned in a Siberian gulag for decades.
Although he has the physical enhancements of a super soldier, Alexei’s strength does not match the original formula, making it hard to compare him to Captain America. Throughout a significant portion of Black Widow, this character serves mainly as comic relief rather than showcasing remarkable combat abilities.
The Flag Smashers
Karli Morgenthau and the Flag Smashers are a group determined to continue the legacy of Steve Rogers and use a new version of the super soldier serum provided by the Power Broker/Sharon Carter. This type of serum is considered the most successful iteration of the 1943 variant created by Dr. Erskine, and it is a product of the numerous failed experiments that spanned several decades.
The reason Morgenthau and her group possess such formidable powers is that they are not far behind Steve Rogers in strength. However, due to a lack of rigorous training and proper leadership, the Flag Smashers quickly fell apart before they could fully utilize their potential.
Winter Soldier
Once transformed by HYDRA into a lethal weapon, Bucky Barnes is seen as Captain America’s closest counterpart and is one of the most formidable super soldiers in the MCU. After going “missing” during World War II, Bucky was unwittingly turned into an experiment for this nefarious organization.
Over the decades, Bucky has undergone numerous iterations of the super soldier serum. Additionally, he has been enhanced with a metal arm, allowing him to perform incredible feats of strength against any adversary from HYDRA. Now, after escaping his brainwashing, Bucky has transitioned to a new life alongside Captain America, Sam Wilson. This character is also expected to join the Thunderbolts team in the later phases of the MCU.
U.S. Agent
After Steve Rogers’ retirement, the U.S. government chose John Walker to take on the role of Captain America. However, Walker quickly struggled with the responsibilities that came with the mantle, especially regarding his status as a super soldier.
To compensate for his shortcomings, Walker took a serum from the Power Broker and used it to enhance his own capabilities, making him a formidable force. Currently operating as U.S. Agent, Walker has shown considerable strength during confrontations with Falcon and Winter Soldier, proving to be much more powerful than other iterations of super soldiers created from different serum types. U.S. Agent is also set to play a significant role in the upcoming Thunderbolts project.
Isaiah Bradley
The series The Falcon & the Winter Soldier unveiled several hidden super soldiers who existed within the MCU, with Isaiah Bradley being one of them. Bradley was subjected to super soldier experiments as part of a secret government plan to replace Captain America after the hero’s “sacrifice” in 1945.
Before being imprisoned, Bradley participated in many covert operations, including battling Bucky Barnes and breaking the metal arm of the Winter Soldier. Although Marvel Studios has yet to depict his combat skills directly on screen, the stories surrounding his past have made this character more significant compared to other super soldiers.
Red Skull
The first antagonist of the MCU, HYDRA, was also the first super soldier of the franchise—Johann Schmidt/Red Skull. He initially collaborated with Dr. Abraham Erskine before the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, during which he sought to create a super soldier serum.
Schmidt decided to test this serum on himself before it was fully ready. This decision transformed him into Red Skull, a character with a grotesque appearance and immense power. However, he retains some of the physical enhancements and strength that the original formula granted him. Despite this, Red Skull’s strength pales in comparison to Captain America, who embodies the humanity and values that Schmidt lacks.
Captain America
The legacy of Captain America in the MCU has far surpassed any other super soldier that has existed before or after him. As the first successful recipient of the serum created by Dr. Abraham Erskine, Rogers became the standard against which all other super soldiers are measured.
Throughout his heroic career, Captain America has demonstrated incredible strength, from stopping a speeding helicopter to confronting the formidable Titan Thanos. His strength is complemented by an unyielding spirit, which is why he was ultimately deemed worthy of lifting Thor’s enchanted hammer, Mjolnir—an honor reserved only for those deemed truly worthy.
Captain Carter
If any super soldier could rival Steve Rogers, it would be Peggy Carter, who received the super soldier serum from Dr. Abraham Erskine in an alternate reality. With her own enhancements, Captain Carter has become one of the strongest superheroes in her universe. Everything Captain America could do, Carter can also achieve with even greater effectiveness.
As of now, there have been two versions of Captain Carter that have appeared in the MCU, both of whom are immensely powerful and serve significant roles. The first version appeared in the animated series What If…? and fought against the villain Ultron in an epic battle. The second iteration appeared in the blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati in the alternate reality of Earth-838.
Emil Blonsky
While Hulk and the MCU super soldiers have a complex relationship, most characters related to the green giant are not regarded as super soldiers like Captain America. Emil Blonsky is an exception, as he was transformed using a unique serum with hopes of becoming as powerful as Steve Rogers, but instead turned into the monstrous Abomination.
This transformation led Blonsky to gain immense physical strength and a monstrous form that could challenge even Hulk—something Captain America would struggle against. Thus, in the current MCU landscape, when discussing super soldiers, few can rival the power of Emil Blonsky.
Source: Marvel Studios, ScreenRant
