Throughout the years, Captain America has transformed from a symbol of patriotism to what it means to be an American. He’s fought for justice—sometimes even when that’s at odds with the current government. Cap continues to hold himself, and his fellow citizens, to a high standard of fairness and equity, even when the price he pays is high. He’s become a symbol of hope and the will to make the world a better place.

“With or without the costume, Steve Rogers is a genuinely good and decent man who always strives to do the right thing,” writer J.M. DeMatteis told me. “Captain America’s strength doesn’t come from the Super-Soldier formula that transformed him, it comes from the depth of his compassion and his belief in the revolutionary power of simple human decency.”