CAPTAIN AMERICA of HARRISBURG
Real Name: Nichelle Wright
Identity/Class: Human athlete;
her identity as Captain America is publicly known
Occupation: Activist, vigilante
Group Membership: Captains Network (Campus Captain America/Arielle Agbayani, Captain America of the Railways/Aaron Fischer, Captain America of the Kickapoo tribe/Joe Gomez, Captain Jeremy Merrick, at least seven others unidentified)
Affiliations: Captain America (Steve Rogers), Captain America (Sam Wilson; aka the Falcon), Captain America, Captain America/Winter Soldier (James Barnes), USAgent (John Walker);
Enemies: Charles, Commander Krieger (Julia Koenig; aka Warrior Woman), Hate-Monger (Adolf Hitler mental replica/energy-being), Speed Demon (James Sanders, posing as Captain America), Superior (Sinthea Smith), Taylor, unidentified local sheriff
Known Relatives: Joan (older sister)
Aliases:
Base of Operations: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
First Appearance: The United States of Captain America#2 (September, 2021)
Powers/Abilities: Nichelle is athletic, notably strong and agile with quick reflexes.
She is an experienced and talented gymnast.
She carries a circular/discoid metal shield, and she is able to use items in her surroundings as weapons as needed.
Height: Approximately 5'4"History:
(The United
States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - A local gymnastic star,
Nichelle walked away from a promising athletic career to become an
activist and vigilante.
She spoke up about infrastructure problems and keeping outsiders from harassing local businesses.
(The
United States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - When Nichelle was a
college athlete, she only had to worry about gymnastics and grades. She
would hit the gym during the day and the library at night.
(The
United States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - Nichelle arranged
protests,
petitions, sit-ins, and strikes in support of resolving a water
pollution crisis, eventually achieving a pipeline that brought in clean
water.
(The United States of Captain America#2/2) - The father of a local by named Taylor was allegedly fired for Nichelle's activitism, even though he was allegedly not involved with the company poisoning the water supply.
Taylor and his friend Charles harassed people at Nichelle's protests.
(The
United States of Captain America#2/2 (fb) - BTS) - Nichelle petitioned
to get streetlights outside of a local business fixed, cutting down on
robberies.
(The United States of Captain America#2/2 (fb) - BTS) - Nichelle hung out by at least one bar frequented by a number of black trans women, protecting them from lurkers.
(The United States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - Nichelle made contact with Aaron Fischer, the Captain America of the Railways, and they made alliances as part of a Captains Network, taking the ideal of Captain America and using it to help others locally.
Wearing a Captain America-themed costume, Nichelle helped protect and defend others in parts of the city where the people were not as well-protected by the police. She continued to organize, march, and force lawmakers to do right by the people, but after-hours, she protected those who were not protected by the police.
(The
United States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - Many people in the
community were proud of and thankful for her, but many others
considered her to be criminal and problem-causing.
(The United States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking to frame Nichelle and draw her out, the mind-controlled Speed Demon, having adopted Captain America's scale mail costume and stolen the shield of Captain America (Steve Rogers), used the shield to repeatedly strike and shatter a water pipeline in Harrisburg.
Nichelle investigated, but the
police apparently showed up before Superior could slay her, and she was
instead arrested for destroying the pipe.
(The United States of Captain America#2 (fb) - BTS) - Nichelle was arrested and charged with domestic terrorism.
(The
United States of Captain America#2 - BTS) - Following a fight with
Captain Americas Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson, Superior resolved to
target Nichelle. Rogers and Wilson subsequently visited the police
station in which Nichelle was being held, advising the police of the
imminent threat to Nichelle, they were stalled by the captain, who
considered Nichelle a problem on several levels.
(The United States of Captain America#2/2 (fb) - BTS) - Nichelle's former gymnastics coach had her students keep a lookout for Nichelle.
(The United States of Captain America#2) - Hearing as a frustrated Sam Wilson threw the captain across the room, Nichelle was soon freed by Wilson and Rogers. However, not wanting anything to do with their "grand crusade" and wishing to continue helping out people locally, Nichelle prepared to head out on her own, although when Superior attacked, she tackled the sheriff out of harm's way. Nonetheless, she reiterated her plan to continue fighting for those in her hometown.
(The
United States of Captain America#2/2) - Seeing two boys she knew,
Taylor and Charles, causing problems at a local restaurant, using a gun
to try to force celebration for Nichelle's arrest. Sneaking in through
the kitchen, Nichelle confronted and took down both boys with the aid
of a frying pan.
Either a customer or an employee
called the police and advised them of Nichelle's presence, resulting in
their rapid arrival. Vaulting over a fence to escape, she was taken
into an abandoned church by Benjamin, a gymnast working with others who
supported Nichelle.
They were soon joined by
Nichelle's sister, Joan, and her former gymnastics teacher, who brought
her food as well as a series of recordings of people thanking her for
all she did and offering her a place to stay and meals as needed.
At 2:11 AM, Nichelle received a
message from Aaron about trouble heading her way, and she suited up and
asked for details as she was heading out.
Comments: Created by Christopher Cantwell and Dale Eaglesham.
At the time of her initial appearance, Nichelle was 22-years-old.
Captain America (2022)#0 is just an image of Nichelle shown by Arnim Zola, as one of the people Steve has inspired. Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty II#1 is similarly just him among others inspired by Steve, as Steve thinks about his life, friends, foes, etc.
Per the Marvel Database: Her
one pant leg look is in homage to the American/Olympic track star and
world record breaker Florence "Flo-Jo" Griffith Joyner.
I know Flo-Jo often wore a single pant leg in her
tights, but I just did not see anything that clearly stated Nichelle's
use as an homage to Flo-Jo. Maybe it was on some social network or I
just missed it...Anyway, if you don't know Flo-Jo, look her up. She was
a bit of a phenomenon back in the 80s.
Thanks to Loki for locating this sweet image of the alternate cover of The
United States of Captain America#2.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Nichelle Wright should be distinguished from:
Appearances:
The United
States of Captain America#2 (September, 2021) - Christopher Cantwell
(writer), Dale Eaglesham (artist), Martin Biro (assistant editor),
Alanna Smith (editor)
The United States of Captain America#2/2 (September, 2021) - Mohale Mashigo (writer), Natacha Bustos (artist), Martin Biro
(assistant editor), Alanna Smith (editor)
The United
States of Captain America#5 (December, 2021) - Christopher Cantwell
(writer), Dale Eaglesham (artist), Martin Biro (assistant editor),
Alanna Smith (editor)
First posted: 04/24/2023
Last updated: 05/20/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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