Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, was conceived in 1940 by the brilliant minds of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. This was shortly after the start of World War II, and Captain America was very much intended to be war propaganda. He was an American super-soldier fighting the evil Nazis and the Axis powers, a true patriot. Kirby and Simon were morally repulsed by the actions of the Nazis, and so they created a man who stood against everything that the enemy represented. His character was intended to symbolize the America that they believed in - one of freedom and goodness. Captain America was a beacon of liberty. His popularity died down after the war, with his comics ceasing in 1950. However, he was revived in 1964 to become part of The Avengers, which was a massive hit with comic fans. Cap has been in publication ever since.