Clark Kent/Kal-El/ Superman is one of the first superheroes and the one who started it all. He set the standard for true heroics with his values and his optimism, he became a symbol of hope. After many iterations of the Man of Steel, Henry Cavill took on the cape and brought us the most recent version of the blue boy scout.
Steve Rogers/Captain America was one of the first and currently one of the most loved heroes in Marvel, especially with Chris Evans bringing the character to life in the MCU. With some similar but also very different characteristics, do Cap and Superman have what it takes to make a good super team? Here are five reasons why they would and another five reasons they would not.
GREAT: Similar Ideals
Part of what makes Superman one of the greatest heroes is that he has the powers of a God yet still remains humble and is willing to help others no matter what. No one is more afraid of his powers than himself and he dies everything he can to present himself as a hero and a savior of the world.
Since his time in World War II, Cap has been fighting for the little guy, with his abilities enhanced, he can easily take on any soldier on the battlefield and like Supes is very careful about abusing his power. They are both great heroes, larger than life in their respective universes yet remain men of the people. Neither has forgotten their humble backgrounds.
HATE: Cap Is More Progressive
Despite being raised in the early 40s and being part of a very conservative society, Cap has always been open to new ideas and has always been understanding of backgrounds and other people's worldviews. It's part of what makes him a great leader and one who is loved by all.
It's not saying Superman is necessarily conservative but it is tougher for him to accept other people. You can't blame the guy, his mild-mannered nature made him a target growing up and because he was strong enough to punch a hole through a bully, he never fought back, which made him a bigger target. He was skeptical about Batman, he was even skeptical about Wonder Woman when he first met her.
GREAT: Symbols Of Hope
One of the biggest reasons Superman the most famous superhero is because of what he represents. Superman is a beacon of hope for the world, a protector of the innocent, and a representation of how people should act. Although the world has a hard time accepting it at first, they quickly realize how much of a hero he is and he becomes an icon.
Similarly, Cap was literally created to be the standard for American soldiers and his ideals and views on life not only make him a symbol of hope for America but also for the whole world. We can rest assured knowing Cap is doing everything he can to keep the world safe.
HATE: Power Struggle
Both these heroes are the leaders of their respective groups and are used to giving the orders with the help of their billionaire best friend, (Superman with Batman, Cap with Iron Man). This also means that neither of them is really used to taking orders and it might be a problem if they both want to be in charge in the team-up.
It could be debated that the two could just put their minds together and lead a team together but it could also be bad when you have two capable leaders on the same team.
GREAT: Both Great Leaders In Their Own Rights
When it comes to solid leadership, both these guys are great in their own right. Superman shows he cares for his team and is willing to work with them for a common goal, from the most powerful, to the youngest and most inexperienced. He's patient and understanding of all his team and their power set.
Similarly, Cap is very understanding of his team and treats every member with respect. Besides his great strategic mind, he has a team that trusts him and would literally take a bullet for him.
HATE: Caps Lack Of Powers May Hold Him Back
When it comes to powers, Superman is arguably the most powerful character in all of comics. His God-like powers make him a force to be reckoned with and someone who can stand to toe with even villains like Thanos. He has super strength, invulnerability, flying, and even heat vision.
Cap, on the other hand, is only considered superhuman and is only slightly above average compared to a normal person. Although he has proven he can take on villains hundreds of times stronger than him, he still struggles and could be in for a rude awakening if he tries to take on a Superman villain.
GREAT: Both Unrelenting
When it comes to overcoming adversity and never giving up, these two are the best to do it. Cap has always been someone who gets back up after every punch and works tirelessly until he literally can't anymore. He was willing to take on Thanos and his army even though he was severely outnumbered and injured.
Superman is much of the same. In both comics and in the movie, Superman is able to find the courage to keep going and does anything he can to protect the innocent. He literally fought Doomsday till his dying breath and managed to save the world from destruction.
HATE: Different Backgrounds
Before he was the World's first Avenger, Steve was a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who was constantly bullied for his size. It wasn't until he was experimented on and given the Super Soldier serum that his life changed and he became the hero we all know and love.
Superman was born on a foreign planet and was sent to Earth where he was found by modest Kansas farmers. He went his whole life hiding from the world in fear of showing his powers and his father's paranoia that the world would see him as a threat. This made him cautious of the world around him.
GREAT: Similar Personalities
When it comes to sticklers for the rules and the ones who can't really loosen up, these two are often the ones who get the most grief for it. Cap is always being teased by Tony to loosen up and for refusing to curse or always being on the job.
Similarly, Superman is literally nicknamed the "Blue Boy Scout" because he's always following the rules and always showing restraint despite him being the most powerful of his teammates.
HATE: Cap Doesn't Value His Secret Identity As Much
Cap, like most of his fellow heroes, rarely covers up his identity and has always been known as Steve Rogers. He doesn't have a secret identity and is basically a celebrity in the MCU, with everyone knowing who he is.
Superman, on the other hand, is very protective of his secret identity and will risk anything to protect it. He values having a private life and does a lot of work to throw people off his trail as Clark Kent, a man who is completely different than his super counterpart.
