The shield Captain America uses is an icon that's synonymous with the hero, as well as the Avengers as a team. It is easily one of Marvel's most recognizable symbols - if not one of the most recognizable symbols in all of comics. The vibranium-alloy disc has proven itself useful in battle, but the traditional shield is not the only one Cap has used in his eighty-year history.
Captain America has had numerous shields over the years, whether they be in the standard Marvel universe (Earth-616) or in one of the many other dimensions of the multiverse. Some have been leaps and bounds beyond the others, while some of Captain America’s shields have fallen flat. A good shield must be practical, sturdy, and iconic, able to Cap both in battle and as an unwavering symbol of the American Dream. With those criteria in place, these are Captain America's best shields.
Captain America's Original Shield
Captain America's first shield from 1941 may not be as sleek or even as versatile as the one that fans have seen the most within comics (and in the MCU). However, this shield was the very first he used, and it proved to be integral to Captain America's design for the next eight decades. This isn't the most aerodynamic accessory, but it gets the job done and the shape has come back in other shield iterations over the years. It didn't last too long before being replaced by other shields, but its influence is inarguable. It protects Captain America and has the ability to be used for offense, albeit not as effectively as the disc-shaped version that ultimately replaced it.
Steve Rogers needs a shield, no matter the shape or size. The size and shape determine how effective each one is, but the fact remains that it is the best weapon he could have. Guns are not synonymous with the hero (though Bucky used them in the role), and while he has super powers thanks to the super soldier serum, his shield is his main source of defense and offense. Despite using the shield as a weapon, the fact that it first and foremost offers protection is a major statement about who Captain America is and aims to be. While it isn't as iconic as the round shield, Steve Rogers' first weapon may actually be even more successful in this role, taking the instantly recognizable shape of a traditional shield.
The rounded triangular look has returned a few times with some variation, including in Ultimates (2002), Realm of Kings (2010), and Secret Empire (2016), where it gained a deadly laser edge to go with Cap's dark corruption by Hydra. Isaiah Bradley's shield was in a similar shape in Truth: Red, White, and Black (2003). It may not be a shield that bounces back, but it definitely works well and has held up as a solid option over the years.
Captain America's Best Alternate Shields
While Captain America has some shields that are unlike anything he tends to wield, he has several that maintain the general look of his usual weapon. The circular shape of his main shield has proved to be the most effective. He can throw it and catch it with ease, but a few visual differences add enough variety to change things up without hurting the overall functionality. The Golden Age shield that followed up the first shield in 1944 is definitely a great one, albeit in a slightly different color variation from his modern shield.
Another worthy variation is the shield Captain America received in the 1976 Marvel Treasury Special: Captain America's Bicentennial Battles #1. In a pin-up within the issue, the titular hero was reimagined within the era of the American Revolution. To fit the era, Cap's shield has a band of stars ringed around an eagle in the center, instead of a single star. It maintains the patriotic tone of the character, captures the spirit of freedom, and it maintains the perfect form - a disc. This shield would not only work well in battle, it would look good too!
Heroes Reborn (1996) and Heroes Return (1998) may not have been Marvel's best comics, but along with Dark Reign: Fantastic Four (2009), Captain America's central star motif and it adds grommets, providing a bonus visual layer that doesn't detract from the rest of the shield's appeal.
Captain America's Best Shield
There is a reason that Captain America has always reverted back to one core design. This shield is so good that most of the alternate versions Steve - and his variants - have used have been modeled after it. It has the most aerodynamic design of them all, and the durability of the vibranium-alloy and the flexible functionality make this shield a must have. The shield has remained largely unchanged, and has even resisted 'improvement.' In Avengers #6, from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Iron Man updates the shield so Cap can summon it back to his arm with a magnetic device, and even control it in flight. Sadly, the shield is so perfectly balanced, even these seeming improvements have to be removed to maintain its effectiveness.
The round shield is iconic for a reason and there are few flaws to be found in the overall design of Captain America’s most famous accessory. Despite a striking comic-book design, it has been able to exist outside of the pages of comics without looking overly cartoony and it has been Steve's main shield for many decades, and he isn't the only one to find it all but perfect.
The Captain America mantle has also been worn by John Walker, Sam Wilson, and Bucky Barnes. Each of them has kept the shield - even if they've changed the outfit. The shield has outlasted the bearer of the codename, becoming a symbol beyond Steve Rogers' name. In the brief time that Sam was Captain America in the comics, he didn't really change the shield, despite having a few years to do so. While Steve himself did change shields a few times, he has always come back to this classic model. Like the principles of Captain America, this shield is timeless and universal - it just refuses to give up and it can be depended on in a fight.
