Warning: Contains Spoilers for Avengers #25!!

The mantle of Captain America comes stacked with certain expectations. For many fans, Captain America is the quintessential Marvel hero, the leader of the Avengers, and generally someone capable of taking on threats that seem untouchable; however, that isn't necessarily true for Sam Wilson. As the Avengers continue to face off with Doctor Doom, Sam appears to hit his limit and question his standing with the team as a result.

...the current Captain America isn't as strong and can't take hits the same way as Rogers.

In Avengers #25, the primary Avengers team continues to engage with Doctor Doom. After a prolonged battle, Captain Marvel makes the executive decision that Captain America is too injured to continue fighting and needs to be evacuated to their Impossible City base.

Although Sam protests, Carol reminds him that he's "not a superhuman" like the other Avengers and that she can tell he is too injured to continue fighting. That, combined with Madcap’s later claim that Captain America is “the weakest Avenger,” paints a grim picture for Sam Wilson and his place within the team.

Captain America’s Power Problem: Why Sam Wilson Is Struggling to Keep Up

Avengers #25 by Writer Jed MacKay, Artist Valerio Schiti, Colorist Federico Blee, and Letterer Cory Petit

Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, received the super soldier serum, which provided him with a physical boost in every regard. His strength, speed, stamina, and durability were all ramped up well beyond what a normal man is capable of achieving, and he set the precedent for what 'Captain America' could accomplish. Neither of his successors possessed the same abilities. Bucky Barnes is not a super soldier, nor is Sam Wilson, and that leaves major gaps between their abilities and what Steve accomplished. In a literal sense, the current Captain America isn't as strong and can't take hits the same way as Rogers.

It would be a disservice to Sam Wilson to claim that he is a weak man. That couldn't be further from the truth. He has repeatedly proven that he can keep up with the Avengers in most circumstances, and he does possess the power to communicate with birds, technically marking him as a superhuman. However, when it comes to his ability to withstand hits and recover, he lacks the durability and rapid healing that many of his teammates possess. In that respect, he is an ordinary man facing extraordinary foes, and the fight with Doom made that fact glaringly obvious.

Sam Wilson Doesn’t Need to Be a Super Soldier to Be Extraordinary

He May Not Be the Strongest Avenger, But His Leadership and Heart Set Him Apart

Saying that Sam Wilson isn't as physically strong or durable as Steve Rogers or his fellow Avengers doesn't mean he has nothing to offer. While the team continues to deal with Doctor Doom, an injured Sam and a fractured Impossible City are the only ones left to defend their base against the new Masters of Evil. Through quick thinking, they combine forces to compensate for each other's deficits and injuries, proving that Sam's intelligence and rapid decision-making help bridge the gap left by his lack of superpowers. No Captain America is weak, and Sam carries the mantle for a reason.

In the most literal sense, Steve Rogers is stronger than Sam Wilson, but Madcap's claim that Captain America is "the weakest Avenger" overlooks Sam's other strengths. It's certainly true that he has to work harder to prove he can keep up with the rest of the team, and there will always be feats they accomplish with ease that he simply isn't capable of. Even if he's the "weakest" to wear the mantle, that doesn't diminish his worth. Steve Rogers may be the strongest Captain America, but Sam Wilson's contributions to the Avengers remain immeasurable.

Avengers #25 is available now from Marvel Comics!