How Powerful Captain Carter Is Compared To Captain America

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for What If…? episode 1.

Marvel’s What If…? episode 1 introduced an alternate-reality, super soldier version of Peggy Carter nicknamed “Captain Carter”, but is she more powerful than the MCU’s Captain America? Steve Rogers is the most famous super soldier in both Marvel Comics and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Abraham Erskine’s Project Rebirth gave Steve a perfectly balanced set of superhuman abilities, and Steve’s selfless psyche allowed him to make the most out of them without overstepping any moral lines.

All of the super soldiers that followed the birth of the original Captain America were created out of a misguided rush to replicate the original experiment. Characters like Bucky Barnes and John Walker are as powerful as Steve Rogers, but struggled to gain control over their abilities and the responsibility they entail. The Hulk and Abomination are physically stronger, but the serum caused them to become rage-fueled monsters. Similarly, Red Skull’s appearance became as twisted as his mentality. One of the few who didn’t suffer any negative side effects after their super soldier transformation is Isaiah Bradley, who could have been as famous and powerful as Steve Rogers’ Captain America if he hadn’t been betrayed by his own country. But as Steve’s worthiness to wield Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame proves, the kid from Brooklyn was always the best choice to be the first and best super soldier.

Here’s where What If…? enters, as Peggy Carter was as prepared to be the subject of Project Rebirth as Steve Rogers. What If…? episode 1 confirmed that it only took one small decision for Peggy to receive the super sodier serum, from which she received abilities that she harnessed like second nature. Captain America: The First Avenger featured Steve Rogers mowing through countless HYDRA agents, but while he did become an unstoppable one-man army, he didn’t face HYDRA with as much grandeur as Captain Carter did in What If… episode 1.

Captain Carter was able to send HYDRA vehicles flying with just a light push or a kick, jumped impressive distances, and demonstrated a natural dexterity with the vibranium shield that Steve only showcased in later movies. Captain Carter jumped towards a HYDRA watchtower while driving her motorcycle by just propelling herself with her legs, and then kicked the bike towards the watchtower with enough force to cause an explosion. She also tackled four soldiers through a trench effortlessly, took down planes, and pushed Shuma-Gorath — one of the most powerful magical beings — back into its portal without any help.

Undoubtedly, What If… depicts Captain Carter as a much more powerful super soldier than Captain America. It could be argued that the show’s animation style exaggerates the action, as evidenced by the scene where Peggy, Bucky, and the Howling Commandos casually hop off a moving train and roll on the tracks without a scratch. However, it’s more likely that Peggy Carter’s innate strength and training prior to taking the super soldier serum made her more powerful than the main-universe Steve Rogers. After all, the serum had to pull double duty to transform the skinny Steve Rogers into Captain America.

Marvel’s What If…? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+

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