- “Her one choice gave birth to a whole new history and gave the multiverse a new hero.”
- ―The Watcher[src]
Captain Carter (real name Peggy Carter) is a Marvel character who first appears in the animated Disney+ series What If...?. She is an alternate version of Peggy Carter, tangent from the Earth-616 universe. Another version of Captain Carter, originating from Earth-838, appears in the live-action film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati.
Captain Carter was a member of the military, fighting in World War II, when she became the subject of a serum that transformed her into a super soldier. She fought against HYDRA and the Red Skull, before being transported nearly seventy years forward in the future, through the power of the Tesseract. She eventually joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and later was chosen by The Watcher to form the Guardians of the Multiverse, a team united against the threat of Ultron, a being in possession of the Infinity Stones.
Peggy Carter was originally created by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby. The Captain Carter incarnation of the character first debuted in the 2016 Marvel video game, Marvel Puzzle Quest, before transitioning into the Exile Comics.
Appearances
Marvel Cinematic Universe
What If...?
"What If... Captain Carter Were The First Avenger?"
In 1943, the Nazi's begin their invasion of Europe. Project Rebirth is developed by the Allied Countries, as a means of helping fight the war. Peggy Carter, a high-ranking officer in the military, give Steve Rogers, the test subject, words of encouragement, before he is set to be given the Super Soldier Serum. Peggy decides to stay in the laboratory, while the experiment is set to go underway. During Dr. Erskine's brief on how the serum will work, Peggy finds a sleeper agent, preparing to detonate a hidden bomb. She dives in his direction, but is too late, and the room is engulfed in fire and smoke. The spy proceeds to shoot Steve and takes one of the vials. Before he can escape, Peggy shoots him, and she runs to Steve, when Howard Stark reports that the power levels for the machine are declining. Running out of time, and Steve being too injured to go through with the experiment, Peggy takes his place in the testing chamber, despite orders from Colonel Flynn, stating otherwise. As the serum is injected into her body, Peggy Carter emerges from the pod, as a super soldier with an enhanced stature, and a newfound strength.
Peggy is reprimanded by Flynn for her actions, as he believes a woman isn't a suited candidate for the project. Extractions of Peggy's blood is taken, in hopes they may be able to recreate the serum, so that Flynn can repeat the experiment, with his desired outcome. Peggy takes her frustration out in the training room, and is accompanied by Steve, who's in recovery from his injury. He points out that at least she hasn't been placed on a USO tour, where she'd be forced into a costume, and placed on stage. Peggy apologizes for taking Steve's place, but he believes now she can be the one to help end the war, and the two exchange a moment together.
Stark, Flynn and Carter discuss HYDRA's current movements, and find that the organization are headed towards a location with high levels of gamma radiation, emitting from the Tesseract. Peggy suggests retrieving it herself, but is immediately shutdown, and Howard's talks of the risks they face, should HYDRA gain the Tesseract in their possession, but Flynn is adamant in his decision.
Howard catches Peggy, drowning her sorrows in a bar, and expresses his distaste for Colonel Flynn and his decisions. He hands Peggy the USO costume designed for her, with some upgrades he added, as well as a vibranium shield, both of which, support the Union Jack.
Against Flynn's orders, Peggy dons her new uniform, as she ambushes members of HYDRA, who engage in offense against her. Peggy apprehends the platoon, who attacked her, and safely recovers the Tesseract, to Colonel Flynn. She advises her superior, that she can't win the war, stuck behind the desk, and prompts him to promote her for field duty.
When Steve tells Peggy that his best friend, Bucky Barnes has been captured by HYDRA, Peggy makes plans to recover him and his team, and the pair share another moment together, in which she mentions sharing a dance.
Peggy infiltrates a HYDRA base, where Bucky and his team, the Howling Commandos are being held. She introduces herself, and leads the group, out, but they are left entrapped in a trench, after finding themselves, vastly outnumbered. Captain Carter calls in for air support, and Steve replies on the other end, arriving in a large exoskeleton, created by Stark, powered by the Tesseract. Together, the duo help fight off the last of the HYDRA agents in base, and the group celebrate.
From there on out, Captain Carter is given more of an active role in the field, defeating various HYDRA agents, along the way, alongside Steve in his new suit, dubbed, the "HYDRA Stomper". Words of Captain Carter's feats also reach Red Skull, the head of HYDRA.
One night, Peggy and Steve go out to drink, and they discuss the effects of the serum. He expresses his admiration for her, and Peggy reveals how she is finally being respected by others. When Steve starts doubting himself, Peggy reassures him of his abilities, and calls him her hero, to her embarrassment, a compliment he returns. The pair almost kiss, when Howard interrupts, to call them away on another mission. The group arrive on a train they plan to intercept, after learning from their intel, that the Red Skull is abroad. Captain Carter and the Commandos land atop of the moving train, whilst Steve takes a look inside, only to find it, rigged with the explosives. Steve warns them off, while the train detonates, and the group are forced onto the tracks, where the mountain falls begins to fall. Steve is nowhere to be found, leaving Peggy distraught, and they are forced to leave, before the entire mountain topples them.
They head back to base, and Peggy interrogates Arnim Zola, to learn that Red Skull intends to use the Tesseract to unleash an interdimensional force that will lead HYDRA to world domination, and if it were to fail, world annihilation. They devise a plan to capture him in his military base, at Castle de Krake. Captain Carter breaks through their line of defense, allowing the others to enter. They trespass in the castle searching for Steve, while Peggy and Howard, manage to locate Red Skull, elsewhere. They come to find he has opened a portal, unleashing a tentacled creature from within, but much to the Red Skull's dismay, the beast, entraps him in one its arms, suffocating him, to everyones horror. Whilst Howard operates a device to shut down the portal, Peggy finds a sword, she uses to fight the creature. The portal begins sucking the beast back into itself, but also Peggy, who has fallen under its grip. She holds down the sword, as resistance, when Steve arrives in the HYDRA stomper, only to be thrown back by the creature. It unleashes a scream, that aggravates the team, though Peggy remains immune to its effects. She charges towards it, pushing the monster back, despite its resistance, placing herself in harm's way, in the process. Steve begs her to stop, but Peggy is insistent, reassuring him, they'll be able to dance on Saturday night. She gives him a smile, before both she and the creature, are sent through the portal.
Peggy emerges from the other side, finding herself in the presence of two men, who know of her identity. She questions where Steve Rogers is, and one of the men informs her that the war ended almost 70 years ago. He asks if she's going to be okay, and in a bittersweet moment, she's telling him she will be, as she learns they've won the war.
"What If... The Watcher Broke His Oath?"
Following her arrival into the future, Captain Carter eventually settles into the new timeline, now working with S.H.I.E.L.D., alongside side a handful of colleagues, which include Black Widow.
Whilst on a mission to intercept Batroc, a mercenary, Natasha questions if she has any plans for Saturday night, and mentions someone named Barnard from accounting, has been asking about her. Captain Carter declines her offer, before diving out of the helicarrier, and coming into contact with Batroc's men. She apprehends them, before getting into a fight with Batroc. As the two spars, Peggy is shocked to find a giant figure emerge from the sky, to tell her she's been chosen.
Peggy suddenly finds herself at the Whip & Fiddle, an old pub she used to attend, amongst a group of others, and finds a photograph of Steven on a mantlepiece. A man behind the counter reveals the pub facade was his idea, having read about it in her biography. She and the others question their whereabouts, when the figure that took them, emerges from the shadows. He reveals they have all been individually chosen based on their skillsets, and are required to save all realities, dubbing the group, the Guardians of the Multiverse. When Thor tries to leave, he walks into a void inside that attempts to suck him in, and quickly returns, prompting to Peggy to accept their mission. The Watcher informs them that their worlds are or will be under attack by Ultron, an artificial intelligence, elevated to a cosmic being, thanks to his enhanced synthetic body and the power of the Infinity Stones. The plan is to stop Ultron by separating him from the stones, using the Infinity Crusher, a tool possessed by Gamora, that holds the power to disintegrate them, and Captain Carter formulates the team's line of attack.
They are transported to a barren world, that'll keep them hidden from Ultron. Following their arrival, Dr. Strange's arm briefly transforms into a tentacle, and Peggy asks what happened. He answers that love was the cause, just as it was with her, and reveals Steve Rogers took the serum in his universe, becoming Captain America. Together, the group make a toast, celebrating their new alliance, when Ultron's face forms in the sky. As he enters their world, Dr. Strange places a spell on them, giving a form of magical armor for protection. Thor directly attacks Ultron, despite Captain Carter reminding him of their plan, but his attack has no avail, and Ultron tumbles the mountains on which they stand. Strange's spell ensures their safety, but he informs them it won't last. Captain Carter holds onto Star-Lord as he flies them upward, to directly ambush Ultron, and Peggy takes ahold of one Thor's hammers, that have been duplicated by Strange to land to safety. Peggy runs towards Star-Lord, who has been knocked back by Ultron, and he reveals he managed to grab one of the stones. While Strange holds Ultron back with a horde of zombies, Peggy and the other leave through a portal, while he's distracted.
Captain Carter and the other arrive in an apocalyptic world, where she is met, with that universe's version of Black Widow. She introduces herself, and the others, and provides personal information on Natasha, to prove her claims. Ultron arrives, in attempt to retrieve the stolen stone, and attacks Captain Carter and Gamora, who seek to protect it. She and Natasha both continuously throw their shields at Ultron, in an attempt to delay him. The group actively attack him at once, and use their collective strength to hold him down, via a spell, performed by Strange. While they do, Gamora activates the Infinity Crusher, which removes the stones from Ultron, resulting in an explosion. Ultron's body disappears, but his voice can be heard, informing them, the stones differ in each reality, and the Infinity Crusher was designed to destroy the stones in Gamora's world, not his. Ultron rises from a fire and blasts the group with the combined power of the stones, though they remain safe, due to Strange's protection spell. Ultron turns his attention onto Strange, and blasts the group, weakening the barriers keeping them safe. Natasha has an idea to infect Ultron with a virus, contained in an arrow, and has Captain Carter keep Ultron busy, while she tries to shoot him with it. Peggy climbs upon the rooftops, and jumps onto Ultron, removing the armor protecting him, giving Natasha a clear shot. The arrow is shot directly into Ultron's eye, and Peggy lets go of Ultron, falling to the ground.
Ultron descends, and Peggy steps out of the rubble, only to find Killmonger, standing over the android, absorbing his armor, and taking the Infinity Stones for himself. Erik explains that with the stones in their possession, they can all fix their lives, tempting them all with its power, and reminding Peggy that it can give her the opportunity to reunite with Steve. T'Challa attempts to use the stones against them, when Arnim Zola, the virus contained in the arrow, wakes up in Ultron's body, to claim the stones for himself, much to Peggy's surprise. Zola raises the possessed Ultron's arms, causing the Stones to gravitate towards him, when Killmonger does the same, placing them, in the middle of the two. With the stones being unused by either party in the moment, Strange and the Watcher neutralize both Zola and Killmonger. With the threat now ended, the Watcher returns everyone to the pub, and gives his thanks to the group, before proceeding to returns Peggy and the others, back to their respective universes, through the front door. Before she can leave, Peggy takes a glance back at the Watcher, who understands she'd rather return to her original timeline, and she questions whether she's earned her happy ending. The Watcher assures her, she is needed in her current world and time, as Captain Carter. Peggy takes a final look at Natasha before entering through the portal and returning home.
Returning to the moment she was taken, a distracted Peggy is punched by Batroc, but he is disarmed by Black Widow, who Peggy embraces, happy to see, much to her confusion. She leads Peggy to what Batroc and his men were after and tells her to brace herself. Peggy opens the slot of an old vault, and finds the HYDRA stomper, and Natasha reveals that there's someone inside.
"What if... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?"
While Peggy and Natasha concern there is someone inside the armour, the HYDRA Stomper wakes up and attacks them both. After Natasha and Peggy work on The Hydra Stomper, Peggy is shocked to learn it is Steve Rogers and that he has barely aged since the 40s. Carter and Widow flee to Nick Fury's office and Carter confronts him since Fury told her Steve Rogers died during a mission. Later at the Red Room, Steve talks to Peggy about how he forced himself into battle after he was teleported to the future and that he struggled to live without her. After Steve seemingly dies, Peggy believes he is actually alive and vows to find the man she once loved. Carter tells Natasha she is going to take a night off to find Steve, but before she can do so, Peggy is then accidentally transported to 1602 by the Scarlet Witch, who meets her along with an alternate Nick Fury. Frustrated that she can't get one night off, Peggy calls out to the Watcher.
"What if... The Avengers Assembled in 1602?"
Captain Carter meets an alternate Steve Rogers
After Captain Carter is transported to 1602, she is asked to help queen Hela, who is sucked into a portal and dies, causing Thor to blame and send his men after Captain Carter. Peggy meets an alternate Steve Rogers (from Avengers: Infinity War), who has no memory of 2018. It is soon revealed that this Rogers is the Forerunner and was accidentally transported to 1602 when he was fighting Thanos. Rogers recalls accidently hitting the time stone with his shield, sending everyone from 2018 to 1602. Peggy tearfully tells Steve that they never get their happy ending, but he assures her that somewhere out there (Avengers: Endgame) they do. Steve and the rest of the Avengers are sent back to their timelines and Peggy is seen having a drink on her own. Thinking she is speaking to The Watcher, Peggy greeted by Strange Supreme who tells her he's got a story to tell her.
"What if... Strange Supreme Intervened?"
Captain Carter appears in this episode following the previous one, where she is asked by Strange Supreme to help him deal with a "threat" named Kahhori. However, Peggy soon realises Strange Supreme is the real threat and joins forces with Kahhori to defeat Strange. Carter tries to get through to Strange and helps him see the error of his ways. After Kahhori is sent back to her timeline and Strange Supreme sacrifices himself, Peggy is left with The Watcher, who offers to finally return Carter to her universe. However, Peggy refuses as he wants to "take the scenic route" and explore more universes along the way.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- “Your alternate self created the Illuminati to make the difficult choices no one else could.”
- ―Captain Carter to Doctor Strange[src]
Captain Carter in live action.
An alternate version of Captain Carter, originating from Earth-838, appears in the film as a member of the Illuminati. When 616 Doctor Strange finds himself in another universe, Captain Carter and her Illuminati teammates confront this alternate version of their former teammate and informs him that him being in another universe is dangerous. Captain Carter informs Strange that his alternate self created the Illuminati to make difficult choice that the public could not and they find he is a much more dangerous than the Scarlet Witch. It is revealed that three years earlier, Captain Carter and the Illuminati faced their own Infinity War and after defeated Thanos, but the team learnt that their Doctor Strange had been dream walking after becoming corrupted by the Darkhold and as a result, they had Strange be killed by Black Bolt.
- “I can do this all day.”
- ―Captain Carter
Captain Carter fights the Scarlet Witch
The Illuminati headquarters is suddenly breached by the arrival of Scarlet Witch so Captain Carter and the Illuminati (minus Baron Mordo) decide to intervene and confront the witch once and for all. After Mr. Fantastic fails to reason with Wanda, Captain Carter and the rest of the team watch as Richards is killed by the witch. To avenge their friend, they all bound together to kill Wanda, until Captain Carter is the last one standing as both Black Bolt and Captain Marvel are killed. Captain Carter refuses to surrender to the Scarlet Witch, saying she is able to hold her own, but is eventually killed when Wanda throws back the captain's shield and Carter is bisected with her own shield.
Gallery
Trivia
- Peggy emerges in the epilogue of the first episode of What If...? in a similar way Loki does in the beginning of The Avengers, with both meeting Hawkeye and Nick Fury, who tells them to put down the sword.
See also
External Links
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