The Rise and Fall of Captain Carter: A Controversial Replacement for Captain America

The Evolution of Peggy Carter

Peggy Carter has evolved drastically in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to such an extent that she seems like a Captain America replacement, thanks to her appearance in Marvel’s What If…? season 2. Introduced in Captain America: First Avenger as a British intelligence officer and founder of the anti-Hydra collective Strategic Scientific Reserve, Carter initially appeared as Steve Rogers’ superior and later became his short-lived love interest. Apart from her arc being fleshed out further in the live-action series Agent Carter, an alternate version of the character also wielded Captain America’s shield under the alias Captain Carter in What If’s debut season and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Captain Carter in live action and animated form in the MCU.

But Captain Carter’s alternate reality adventures in the episode titled “What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?” make the character’s fate all the more interesting. Fighting off a corrupted Steve Rogers alongside Black Widow, Carter manages to free Rogers from the clutches of the Red Room but instead gets transported to the year 1602 toward Marvel’s What If…? season 2 episode 5’s ending. While the MCU has the potential for Carter to be a crucial hero for this alternate reality’s future, her prominence in both seasons of What If...? has prompted some criticism.

Captain Carter Transported in What If Season 2

Peggy Carter made her first appearance in 'Tales of Suspense' #77 in May 1966 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Captain Carter looking serious with multiverses in the background on a poster for What If

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The Controversy Surrounding Captain Carter

Peggy Carter’s increased runtime in the MCU as Captain Carter is drawing ire from some Marvel fans who believe her character development is unnecessary. The main argument driving these criticisms seems to be the claim that the MCU isn’t spending enough time with its current Captain America Sam Wilson (whose previous alter ego was The Falcon) than this animated series version.

Captain Carter and Hyrda Stomper in What If Season 2

However, it must be noted that even though Captain Carter has had her fair share of appearances as a lead in Marvel’s What If…? and a cameo in the Doctor Strange sequel, Wilson has had his own TV outing as Captain America with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Captain Carter in What If Season 2, episode 5, looking up with her Captain America: The Winter Soldier-inspired Captain Carter suit

Wilson’s tenure as Captain America is bound to be fleshed out further with the 2025 release Captain America: Brave New World. As for Captain Carter, the negative remarks are also being targeted at specific moments from the episode that didn’t sit well with audiences.

Thanos attacking Captain Carter and Kahhori in What If...? season 2 trailer

A large consensus of fans has also been showering praise on the season 2 episode, sharing their excitement about where Captain Carter’s arc goes in future episodes.

Earth-838's Captain Carter's death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

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The Divisive Nature of Captain Carter

Peggy Carter’s tenure in the MCU was kickstarted by her adventures as a British spy, initially during the Second World War and subsequently the Cold War. It’s only after Marvel’s What If...? championed her as a superhero and one of the members of the Guardians of the Multiverse that the franchise began exploring her potential as a full-fledged Avenger. But unlike Steve Rogers who went through bullying and physical insecurities before getting the Super Soldier serum, Carter’s ascent into superheroism hasn’t posed any serious challenges. Even after becoming Captain America, Rogers went through emotional dilemmas such as fighting against his own best friend Bucky Barnes.

Ever since Carter made her Marvel's What If...? season 1 debut, she has been merely depicted as someone who gets the serum instead of Rogers. Even if Agent Carter revealed some of the character’s vulnerabilities, Captain Carter is from an alternate timeline. So, her emotional side needs to be explored more to draw empathy from viewers.

Despite the backlash among MCU fans, actress Hayley Atwell's performance and Captain Carter’s heroic arc are drawing some positive reactions as well. Some fans believe that she is justifiably a role model for girls in Russia and all over the world given her status as a leader of the Allied Forces during the Second World War.

At the same time, it must be acknowledged that some of the criticism toward the character is also rooted in sexism, just like how Jane Foster’s Thor in Love and Thunder and Captain Marvel have often been subjected to online trolling and hate speech.

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