There's more to life than Steve Rogers. Indeed, the famous Captain America isn't the only super-soldier in the Marvel Universe. In fact, there are many others. With this in mind, we've decided to rank the various super-soldiers in the Marvel Universe in order of power, from least to strongest. Here are the 12 best super soldiers in the Marvel Universe:
12) Red Skull
Created in 1941 by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby and France Herron, Red Skull is obviously an allegory of Hitler. He automatically becomes the nemesis of Steve Rogers. Initially, Otto Schmidt is a normal human being. It was the scientist Armin Zola who administered another version of the super-soldier, concocted by the Nazis, to counter Steve Rogers's striking power. But unlike the American super-soldier, Red Skull was mostly stared at by this mysterious serum, and possessed virtually no physical enhancements. But, technically, he is indeed a super-soldier.
11) Barbara "Bobbi" Morse / Mockingbird
Created in 1971 by Len Wein and Neal Adams, Mockingbird is a secondary character in The House of Ideas. Originally, Barbara Morse was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. After studying biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology where she earned a doctorate, Bobbi Morse joined the "Gladiator" project led by Dr. Wilma Calvin. She then became Agent 19 of S.H.I.E.L.D. before taking the code name Mockingbird. She was also a member of the Avengers and was the wife of Clint Barton for years. In New Avengers 13, in 2011, we learn that to save her from certain death, she was injected with a version of the Super-Soldier serum. She thus obtains a self-healing factor, super strength, and extraordinary agility.
10) Nuke
Frank Simpson, aka Nuke, first appeared in 1986 under the direction of Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. A Vietnam War veteran, Nuke suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and becomes particularly psychologically unstable. With his American flag tattoo on his face, Nuke becomes a true killing machine. As for his super-soldier serum, he received it during the Weapon Plus program, derived from Wolverine's Weapon X program.
9) Bucky Barnes
Bucky Barnes has always been the "second" Captain America. Steve Rogers' right-hand man, he receives a super-soldier serum concocted by HYDRA. While he is left for dead by his lifelong friend, Bucky is recovered by the Russians who turn him into a veritable war machine. The rest of the story is well known; it was told very well in the MCU.
8) Isaiah Bradley
Featured in Captain America: Brave New World, Isaiah Bradley is the first Captain America in history. Created in 2003, Isaiah Bradley receives a dose of super-soldier serum during World War II. In fact, Isaiah Bradley and other African-American soldiers served as tests for the creation of the final formula for Steve Rogers. While most of these guinea pigs died, Isaiah Bradley survived, and his story was later buried by the U.S. government so that Steve Rogers would be the only official super-soldier.
7) John Walker
Created in 1986 by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary, John Walker is a patriotic citizen who decides to enlist in the Vietnam War. Before he is sent to the front, John Walker hears about an illegal program to give volunteers superhuman strength: the Power Broker (featured in Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Power Broker uses an alternate version of the super-soldier serum. The treatment worked on him, who then took the pseudonym Super-Patriot, before becoming U.S. Agent when Steve Rogers abandoned Captain America's shield.
6) Luke Cage
Created in 1972, Luke Cage was one of the first African-American superheroes to achieve enormous success with comic book readers. Originally, Luke Cage was arrested for a crime he did not commit. To get out of prison, he agrees to participate in an experimental program dedicated to recreating the Captain America serum. Unsurprisingly, the experiment doesn't go as planned, and Luke Cage receives powers other than those of Captain: namely a totally indestructible skin. And this is how Power Man was born.
5) Omega Red
If the USA has Captain America, the Nazis have Red Skull, there's no reason why the USSR shouldn't have its own super-soldier too. It is with this logic that the Russians use the serial killer Arkady Rossovich as a KGB guinea pig. Basically, Arkady Rossovich is a mutant capable of absorbing the life energy of his victims. The super-soldier treatment then gives him increased speed, strength, and resistance.
4) Red Guardian
Created in 1967, the Red Guardian costume has been worn by 7 different personalities, the most famous being Alexei Shostakov thanks to his presence in the MCU. Created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, the very first Red Guardian was a simple Russian soldier who fought the Nazis alongside Cap and Namor. Contrary to what is told in the MCU, the Red Guardians had no powers, and were simple, highly trained soldiers. Only Tania Belinski, a neurosurgeon who wore the Red Guardian costume, underwent treatment that gave her mutant powers, transforming her into Starlight. But in the MCU, Red Guardian is indeed a super-soldier, with impressive strength, almost equivalent to that of Cap.
3) The Man Thing
And yes, the transformation of Ted Sallis into Man Thing is linked to Captain America's serum. Originally, Ted Sallis is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent working on a new version of the super-soldier serum. When he is attacked by AIM, he injects himself with his own experimental serum. It works! Unfortunately for him, Ted Sallis has a terrible car accident in the bayous of Florida shortly after. This experimental serum combined with the magical energies of the swamp he falls into gives birth to The Man Thing. And in terms of power, The Man Thing is a serious competitor. We even hesitated to put him above Cap.
2) Captain America
He is the most famous, the most patriotic, the strongest, the fairest, the most balanced. He is THE American super-soldier. Created in 1940, Captain America is above all a propaganda hero to fight against the Nazi threat. Having become a true icon of modern pop culture, Steve Rogers is one of the greatest heroes of the House of Ideas, and undoubtedly one of the most powerful super soldiers.
1) Sentry
But even Steve Rogers can't hold a candle to Robert Reynolds. The latter is so powerful that he generally keeps himself apart from the rest of the world. Created in 2000, Robert Reynolds is injected with a derivative of the Super Soldier Serum and develops the power of a million molten suns. Too powerful for the rest of the Marvel Universe, Robert Reynolds has even tried to make the world forget about him. In fact, Reynolds suffers from several significant psychological issues, including schizophrenia, paranoia, and split personalities. With his immeasurable powers, Sentry is both Earth's greatest hero and its greatest threat when he allows himself to be invaded by The Void, an evil version of himself whose goal is to spread chaos...
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