EARTH-8909 (EARTH-STEVE ROGERS REFUSED TO GIVE UP BEING CAPTAIN AMERICA)

Type: Alternate/Divergent Earth

Environment: Earth-like

Usual means of access: Vibrational attunement

Dominant Life Form: Humanity

Significant Inhabitants: Avalanche (Dominic Petros), Black Knight (Dane Whitman), Blob (Fred Dukes), BUCkies (Bold Urban Commandos), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), The Commission on Superhuman Activities, Crucible (Byron Calley), D-Man (Dennis Dunphy), Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Destiny (Irene Adler), Dr. Druid (Anthony Ludgate), Falcon (Sam Wilson), Henry Peter Gyrich, Lemar Hoskins, Iron Man (Tony Stark), Jerry Johnson, Rick Jones, Hector Lennox, Michael G. Lienenger, Meteorite (Ned Lanthrop), Mist Mistress, Mort, Mystique (Raven Darkholme), Nick Fury, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Nomad (Jack Munroe), Occult (Peter Quinn), Pyro (St. John Allerdyce), the Red Skull/John Smith (Johann Shmidt), Redwing, Reed Richards, Douglas Rockwell, She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), S.H.I.E.L.D., Jasper Sitwell, Super Patriot (John Walker), Taskmaster, Thor, Vagabond (Pricilla Lyons)

First Appearance: What If II#3 (September, 1989)

History: (What If II#3 (fb)) - The Commission on Superhuman Activities told Captain America that he was to start taking orders directly from them or turn in his costume and give up being Captain America. Cap asked for twenty-four hours to think about his decision, but then changed his mind and immediately refused to let his identity be taken and used for some political agenda.

(What If II#3) - Cap had to fight his way through security to get out of the Commission's building and Douglas Rockwell called Nick Fury and told him that Captain America had turned traitor and requested S.H.I.E.L.D. come capture him. Fury didn't believe Rockwell and decided that S.H.I.E.L.D. would "git around to it".

Cap found a hidden location and called the Avengers to officially resign his team membership. Only seconds afterwards the Freedom Force burst into the Avengers' base demanding to know Cap's location. The situation escalated into a fight until Gyrich arrived and had the teams stand down. He demanded to know Cap's location, but the Avengers told him nothing. Gyrich told them they had not heard the last of it.

In the Pentagon the Commission introduced their newest operatives, Super Patriot and his BUCkies to their trainer, the Taskmaster. He began to train them for their task: to capture Captain America.

Gyrich announced on television that the Avengers had been stripped of all law-enforcement authority in the United States and that Captain America's Hotline had been shut down. This caught the attention of Rick Jones.

Douglas Rockwell reported to his secret employer, Mr. Smith, that the Commission's new recruits were coming along nicely and Smith reminded him that he wanted Captain America alive.

At the Lincoln Memorial, Cap met with friends who told him that many people were still on his side. They informed him that Rick Jones was going on a television show that night to defend him. On the show, hosted by a man named Mort, Reed Richards, Michael G. Lienenger (representing the Veterens of Foreign Wars) and Rick Jones all voiced their support of Cap. Rick announced that Cap would be at a rally in Washington Square the next day to get his own word out.

The rally had barely begun when Super-Patriot and the BUCkies jumped from a helicopter to arrest Captain America. As Cap fought the Super-Patriot Cap's friends tangled with the others and the crowd began to panic. Then Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived to stop the fight; with them had come the President of the United States himself. The President announced that the country would now be represented by two symbols of freedom -- Super-Patriot, who would serve the government, and Captain America, who would continue to act on his own and that all the charges were dropped.

Watching the rally live from his office, Mr. Smith was enraged. He contacted Rockwell, who was standing behind Captain America, and ordered him to kill Cap. Rockwell pulled a gun and shot Cap in the head. Fury then shot Rockwell to death.

The President asked Super-Patriot to take up Captain Amercia's costume. He accepted and served as Captain America. On a mission in Derry, Maine he pummelled Meteorite of the Resistants to death and after that he began to enjoy the death and destruction he could get away with as Captain America. The government tried to cover things up at first, but eventually had him surrender his costume and he was sentenced to the Vault.

In Washington a new monument was built called Freedom Hall and it was devoted to Captain America and others who defended the ideals of the nation. Mr. Smith, the Red Skull, went there and laughed about his victory.

Comments: Created by Jim Valentino, Dave Simons and Bob Downs

The President in this issue was depicted like Ronald Reagan.

This world diverged from the Marvel Universe during Captain America I#332

by Patrick D Ryall

CLARIFICATIONS:
Not to be confused with:

• Any of the other countless alternate universes