Despite the United States slipping further and further into a dystopian hellscape, it’s our Independence Day! One man who would probably have a thing or two to say about the state of our Union is Steve Rogers. Captain America has seen a lot of shit in his 85 years. The Marvel Legends line has featured over 40 different figures of the Sentinel of Liberty. In honour of July Fourth, I’m highlighting my Top 10 Captain America Marvel Legends. Feel free to rank them as you choose; I present these in the order in which they were released. It’s a fun way to see how the line has progressed over the years. All figure photography by yours, truly! Enjoy!
Captain America 2002
The O.G.! I still remember finding all of Wave 1 of the ToyBiz Legends at Target and leaving Toad on the pegs. Cap might be showing his years, but he can still do what 99% of the other Captain America Legends can: Pull in a sizable foot fetish crowd with his toe articulation! Shown here with the most recent Steve Rogers Legend from the Secret Wars wave, the very first Cap was the one that laid the foundation for the next 23 years of Marvel Legends. In spite of the fact, it will take a Maximum Legends Cap to get us back to those articulated toes.
Captain America and Bucky 2007
Hasbro’s first Captain America Marvel Legends figure took us all the way back to the days when everyone agreed that the right thing to do with a Nazi was to punch them in the face. How I long for 2007… er, 1940. The Bucky from the same wave is not quite in scale. Cap is undersized or Bucky is oversized, or some combination of the two. Either way, I had to cheat a bit to achieve this pic, which looks more like the traditional younger teenage sidekick as opposed to the more modern take on the character.
Cap Wolf 2016
This 2016 release was a simple Captain America figure that happened to include an alternate Cap Wolf head. Hasbro has been putting out holiday-themed figures in their Star Wars line for a few years with mixed results. I’d suggest an all-new, larger-scale Cap Wolf figure with wolf legs and hands would be a perfect Halloween-themed Marvel Legends release. 2024 saw the release of Cap Wolf and The Howling Commandos. Isn’t it time we get ourselves a proper Cap Wolf in the Legends line?
Captain America and Peggy Carter Captain America: The First Avenger 2019
Despite the fact that he’s not in a traditional red, white, and blue uniform, this is one of the better MCU Caps. Add in a fantastic Hayley Atwell likeness on the Peggy Carter figure, and you have yourself a must-have two-pack for any Cap Fan.
Worthy Cap Avengers: Endgame 2020
Teased for a split second in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Steve Rogers was finally revealed to be worthy of lifting Thor’s Hammer in Endgame’s final battle. Cap bringing down the lightning on Thanos is one of the many “Awww shit!” moments that Steve gets to have in the Avengers finale.
Venomized Captain America 2020
I never saw the Maximum Venom series, but I don’t think I need to to get the gist of an alien symbiote taking over Captain America. I try not to be a completionist, but this was one Cap figure that was too rad to pass up. Any time I can get a unique shield, I’m excited. This shield is arguably the star of the offering. The symbiote encasing the shield and the tendrils reaching out punch up the drama and make this a stand-out in my Cap Collection.
Captain America Avengers: Infinity War 2021
The Infinity Saga line of Marvel Legends has allowed Hasbro to take another crack at some of the MCU figures that missed the mark. Case in point, the Infinity War Captain America had arguably the WORST Chris Evans likeness to that point in time. Three years later, they delivered Sexy Steve in all his glory. Ready to step out of the shadows and into your heart, Bearded Chris Evans Cap took a zero and made it a hero. A must-have for your MCU Cap collection!
Zombie Captain America 2021
Featured in the animated What If..? series, Zombie Cap is all kinds of creepy. I love the pale blue skin, the exposed ribcage and the chunks of flesh torn from his thighs. It’s gruesome and gorgeous at the same time.
Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary Captain America 2022
This is my favourite comics-inspired Steve Rogers head sculpt. Just the right amount of young Robert Redford. The 20th Anniversary Cap updated the original and allowed Hasbro to show off what they’ve learned from two decades of making Legends… except for the toe articulation and pinless joints.
Ultimate Captain America 2023
Years before there was an MCU, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch told their own widescreen interpretation of The Avengers in The Ultimates. A comic that featured multiple bad ass moments for Ultimate Captain America including an epic confrontation with Ultimate Hulk. Steve takes the fight to Hulk by punching him in the face, kicking him in the balls, delivering an uppercut with his shield, followed by a takedown into a ground and pound. Ultimate Cap backed down from NO ONE.
Bonus Steve! Commander Rogers 2023
Technically not a Captain America figure, but as I mentioned, I’m a sucker for a unique shield, so enjoy Commander Rogers fancy energy shield and have a Happy Independence Day!