Marvel's Captain America from the not-too-distant future perfectly embodies the characteristics of the shield-bearing hero, and proves a more-than-worthy successor to Steve Rogers and those who came after. Captain America is most certainly a legacy title, passed down to other heroes like Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, John Walker and more. But in Ultron Forever, a 2014 miniseries written by Al Ewing with art by Alan Davis and colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, the future Danielle Cage makes her case to be among the greatest heroes ever to take up the shield.
In Ultron Forever, an all-powerful Ultron has taken control of the Earth and the entire solar system. To defeat the mechanical megalomaniac once and for all, Doctor Doom summons various Avengers from different time periods: the Incredible Hulk from the early 60s, Iron Man (actually James Rhodes, from a time when he wore the armor instead of Tony Stark), Thor from the mid-2010s (Jane Foster while she held Mjolnir), and more. Among the recruits is one Danielle Cage - who's transported by Doom while in a battle against her nemesis, the Golden Skull.
As the Golden Skull travels through the flooded streets of future Manhattan carrying stolen helium, Captain America attacks, throwing an enhanced version of the iconic red, white and blue shield. One of the Golden Skull's henchmen makes the mistake of assuming Cap is defenseless without her weapon - but she reminds them that "...my Dad was an unbreakable man named Luke Cage. And my Moms? Jessica Jones? She was even tougher." She's acquired the powers of both her parents - meaning she has super-strength and bulletproof skin. Danielle Cage charges into battle against the Golden Skull with her very own catchphrase: "I don't just throw the shield...I AM THE SHIELD!"
Cage might not be aware of it at the time, but this is the best possible attitude for a Captain America to have while wearing the suit and carrying the shield. Steve Rogers enlisted in the Army with the knowledge that he might one day have to sacrifice his life to save others (and in Captain America: The First Avenger, he demonstrated this perfectly when jumping on what he believed was a live a grenade during training). Steve may have carried the shield, but he always put himself between innocents and those who wished to do them harm, acting as a shield in his own right. Cage's bulletproof body may act as a literal shield, but she still notably carries a shield anyway - either as a weapon or as a symbol of Cap's true purpose.
Danielle Cage operates far into the future, but she carries the same attitude of Steve Rogers who fought in World War II. While it may be true that most heroes are the self-sacrificing type, it takes a very special type of hero to run toward the danger. Wherever Steve Rogers is in Cage's time, he should rest easy knowing that the Captain America of the future still carries the values of the past.
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October 09, 2021 at 12:00AM
