Peggy Carter

Agent Margaret "Peggy" Carter, is one of the most prominent agents of the Strategic Scientific Reserve during and after World War II. Carter later joined the SSR, formed to fight HYDRA. On the mission in Germany, she saved Abraham Erskine from Johann Schmidt. The success of her mission enabled the SSR to start Project Rebirth and develop their Super Soldier Serum to make the army of Super Soldiers. During the project, she had befriended Steve Rogers, one of the project's candidates.
In 1943, after the abrupt end of Project Rebirth and Rogers' transformation into the only Super Soldier, Carter assisted him in becoming the world's first superhero, eventually falling in love with him.
== Biography ==
=== World War II ===
==== Joining the Strategic Scientific Reserve ====
==== Training Rebirth Candidates ====
: "Faster, ladies! Come on! My grandmother has more life in her, God rest her soul. Move it!"
: ―Peggy Carter[src]
In June 1943, Carter was assigned to Chester Phillips' training base Camp Lehigh where she met the candidates for Project Rebirth. Carter called for the recruits for attention and introduced herself as the new supervisor from this particular division. When Gilmore Hodge mocked her English accent, Carter listened to his questions of joining the United States Army.
Carter then asked Hodge's name and told him to step forward for their confrontation. As Carter told Hodge to put his right feet forward, she was hit on by Hodge, being as a person who would like some moves he would know she would like. Being offended by his lack of professionalism, Carter promptly punched him across the jaw, much to Phillips' approval. Once Phillips arrived and gave a speech to the cadets, taking an instant dislike for Steve Rogers as he believed that soldiers should be better in their operations.
As Rogers trained hard in his attempts to prove himself to be a worthy soldier with the U.S. Army, he struggled on much of the physical training, managing to get tangled with barbed wire fell that Hodge had dropped on Rogers and would be forced to crawl through all of the mud. Michael Duffy noticed this predicament which had garnered Carter's attention on the soldiers' training.
While Carter oversaw potential candidates' training for Project Rebirth, she continued to watch out for the division on their running exercise. While out on their run under Duffy's orders, Rogers and the other cadets were offered a ride back to base with Carter if they successfully took down a flag from the top of a pole.
As the other soldiers failed to climb the pole, Carter watched as Rogers took down the pole by pulling out its locking pin and giving the flag to Duffy. Carter was impressed by Rogers' clever approach and smiled, allowing him to ride back to base with her.
In a push up exercise with the whole division, Carter supervised them into shape, telling them to move faster and how her grandmother had more life in her before passing. While Carter ordered the soldiers to do jumping jacks, she was interrupted by Phillips' grenade, not knowing it was a dud and attempted to do something about it. Much to Phillips' surprise, Rogers jumped over the grenade in order to protect his fellow soldiers from the blast and told everyone to get back.
Looking at Rogers' attempt to protect others from the explosive, Carter was surprised by the grenade to be fake, leading to her smiling at Rogers for act of bravery he committed. Once Rogers realized it was a dud and had not exploded, he then asked Carter if it was a test. While from an observant feet away, Phillips had finally relented to Abraham Erskine, much to his annoyance and Erskine's satisfaction.
==== Project Rebirth ====
: "Did you have something against running away?""You start running, they’ll never let you stop. You stand up, push back. Can’t say no forever, right?""I know a little of what that’s like. To have every door shut in your face."
: ―Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers[src]
When Steve Rogers was selected as the candidate, Carter and he were driven together to Project Rebirth. On the way, Rogers pointed out many of the locations in New York City where he had been beaten up. As Rogers and Carter talked about being picked on and ignored for something they could not change, Carter was charmed by his determination and humility, as well as his desire to one day dance with "the right partner."
Once they arrived at the SSR facility under the antique shop, Carter escorted Rogers to where the Strategic Scientific Reserve were awaiting their arrival in order to begin the procedure as was planned. Carter met an elderly woman who was standing behind the shop desk, giving her a secret code, which granted them access into the secret facility, which was being hidden behind a large bookcase to avoid suspicion from members of the general public.
As soon as they stepped inside the main room, Carter observed all of the scientists turning and looking at Rogers, awaiting the beginning of the experiment, before Abraham Erskine greeted Rogers. While Rogers was instructed to remove his shirt, shoes and hat ready for them to begin their experiment, Howard Stark prepped the machinery for the experiment to work as Carter looked back on Rogers for his well-being.
Once Rogers was strapped into the Vita-Ray Chamber, Erskine gave a short speech to Chester Phillips and all the other people watching about exactly how Project Rebirth would work and what their procedure entailed, promising this would be the first step towards bring them to peace during World War II. Carter observed Rogers being injected with to the Super Soldier Serum treatment with group of people in a room.
Erskine then ordered Stark to activate the machine which lifted Rogers before dosing him with Vita Radiation. Carter witnessed how Rogers was injected with the Super Soldier Serum at Project Rebirth. During the procedure, Rogers began to scream in pain; Carter ordered Erskine and Stark to stop the procedure, but Rogers insisted he could finish the procedure. Eventually, the experiment was complete, and Rogers finally emerged from their experiment with a greatly enhanced physique.
Rogers was successfully transformed, growing over a foot in height and gaining incredible muscle mass. Carter was the first to greet Rogers as he stepped out of the Vita-Ray Chamber, asking how he felt, to which the awestruck Rogers could only comment that he felt taller. While Carter gave Rogers a t-shirt to cover himself up, all the other scientists and generals then came down to congratulate the team.
==== Assassination of Abraham Erskine ====
As the celebrations continued, one of the guests, Heinz Kruger, detonated a bomb and destroyed much of the lab. Kruger then shot and killed Abraham Erskine before making his escape. Furious at the thief, Carter began to fire at him with a gun and was able to shoot him in the arm.
Carter followed the assassin into the streets of Brooklyn and fired several rounds into the car Kruger was using to escape. Carter managed to shoot the driver, but Kruger turned the car around and drove straight at her. Carter was saved by Steve Rogers, who pushed her out the way, although Carter insisted she could have stopped him. Rogers gave chase and successfully caught the assassin, but was unable to stop Kruger from killing himself.
==== Further Testing ====
: "Any hope of reproducing a program is locked in your genetic code. But without Dr. Erskine, it could take years.""He deserved more than this.""If it could only work once, he'd be proud it was you."
: ―Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers[src]
With Abraham Erskine now deceased, any hope of reproducing the Super Soldier Serum was seemingly lost. With blood samples being taken from Steve Rogers in hopes to replicate the formula, Carter told him that any sample could be lost and would take years to replicate. As Rogers told her that Erskine deserved better, Carter noted that he'll be proud that his work lied upon him.
Finding Howard Stark still working on the Fieser Dorsch, Carter explained that HYDRA was the Nazi deep science division that was led by Johann Schmidt. As Chester Phillips had noted that HYDRA has bigger ambitions and that the Strategic Scientific Reserve had been retasked, Carter tried to ask what Phillips was doing but he declined her assists and told her to pack her bag to fly over to London as well as Rogers. Carter then listened on as Rogers tried to convince Phillips to allow him to serve, but Phillips refused. Carter then witnessed Senator Brandt offering Rogers a chance to serve his country.
==== Reunion with Captain America ====
: "These are your only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey? You were meant for more than this, you know. What?""You know for the longest time I dreamed about coming overseas and be on the front lines. Serving my country. I finally get everything I wanted... and I'm wearing tights."
: ―Captain America and Peggy Carter[src]
Chester Phillips was given a new assignment to take the Strategic Scientific Reserve to Europe to take the fight directly to HYDRA, and made Carter and Howard Stark a part of his staff. In November 1943, Carter met Steve Rogers again, though at this time he was employed by the United States Government to perform as the United States Army mascot, "Captain America".
Carter who tried to persuade him that he was meant for more than what he was doing, reminding him of the reasons why Abraham Erskine had selected him, commenting on how much Rogers sounded like Senator Brandt when he attempted to defend his recent work. During their conversation, Rogers learned that Bucky Barnes as well as the whole 107th Infantry Regiment had been captured by HYDRA and Phillips was not planning a rescue mission.
Running across the camp with Rogers, Carter then went immediately confront Colonel Phillips tent who teased Rogers over his Captain America character. As Rogers begged Phillips to inform him if Barnes was alive or dead, with Phillips explaining they believed he was gone, Carter looked upon Rogers as he began to plan on leaving the base camp and left the tent. Carter then stole weapons and some equipment, including Captain America's Shield, in an attempt to drive to the HYDRA base and find Barnes.
While walking out the camp, Carter asked what Rogers was planning to travel, to which he'll do anything. Carter was then asked by Rogers what she meant when she claimed to believe he was meant for more than children's shows, which she heavily believed on her previous statement. Seeing his determination, Carter convinced Rogers to let her to aid him. With the help of Stark, Carter convinced him to use the plane from Stark Industries to help Rogers on his mission.
Once Stark agreed to help Rogers get to his destination at the secret HYDRA base in Austria where war prisoners were held, Carter and Rogers were on board as they flew to the destination; along the way, Carter gave Rogers a radio to call her should he need extraction. During the journey, Carter had an awkward conversation with Rogers who mistakenly thought she had begun a relationship with Stark. The plane was soon fired upon by enemy guns, so Rogers leaped from the plane while Stark flew Carter to safety.
==== Liberation of Allied Prisoners of War ====
: "You're late.""I couldn't call my ride."
: ―Peggy Carter and Captain America[src]
After a few days, Steve Rogers still hasn't returned, leading Chester Phillips to pronounce him as killed in action, Carter walked into his tent while Phillips gave his report, she told him that the last surveillance flight is back with no sign of activity. When Phillips told her that she was neither rich or a weapons contractor like Howard Stark, Carter told she held no regrets and neither did Rogers.
With Phillips not caring about her opinion and accused her of having Rogers and other soldiers killed, Carter told Phillips that she had faith in him. Before he could punish Carter for her part in Rogers' death, Rogers returned to the base with over four hundred rescued soldiers. Carter teased him for arriving late, and Rogers showed her that his radio had been damaged in the fighting. She then smiled admiringly at him as Bucky Barnes called for everyone to acknowledge that Captain America as a hero.
==== Working with Captain America ====
: "What do you think?""Yes, I think it works."
: ―Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter[src]
Carter was present at the Strategic Scientific Reserve's headquarters in London, along with Chester Phillips and the newly promoted Steve Rogers. They briefed on what he had learned during his raid on the HYDRA Facility, including the locations of other HYDRA bases across Europe which he had seen on Arnim Zola's map. In a meeting, they discussed the best way to take down HYDRA bases scattered across Nazi-occupied Europe.
Carter later approached Rogers in a pub while he was putting together a new team for his next missions, donning a stunning red dress. Carter informed Rogers that Howard Stark had some equipment he wanted Rogers to try in the morning. Although Bucky Barnes tried to ask Carter for a dance, Carter looked only into Rogers' eyes and stated that once the war was over, she intends to go dancing with "the right partner." Carter then told Rogers that Howard Stark needed to see him in the morning and left.
The next morning, Carter became furious at Rogers after catching him being kissed by Phillips' secretary Lorraine. Although Rogers had desperately tried to explain the situation, Carter proceeded to berate him by claiming that he had always wanted to join the United States Army and now ended up just like any other soldier. Rogers then accused Carter of having a relationship with Stark, much to her frustration at not understanding women.
When Carter came to collect Rogers later, she found him trying out the new shield that Stark had created for him, having taken an instant liking to it. He then enthusiastically showed off his new weapon to Carter, asking for her opinion. Without any warning, Carter acted on her earlier jealousy and picked up a gun and shot at Rogers, forcing him to block the bullets with his shield. Carter stoically declared that the shield indeed works before walking off, leaving Rogers and Stark shocked and impressed with her ruthlessness.
A few months into the war, Carter's anger towards Rogers eventually subsided while watching him on a film reel documenting one of his missions; in the footage, she saw he had placed a newspaper cutout of her face inside the lid of his compass, which left her quite touched. Carter eventually received word that Bucky Barnes had been killed on a mission to capture Arnim Zola. Knowing that Rogers would be devastated by the loss of his closest friend, Carter went to visit him.
Carter found a grieving Rogers sitting alone in the ruins of a bar drinking, being told that due to his cellular regeneration, he couldn't get drunk. Carter tried to comfort him, reminding Rogers that Barnes' death was not his fault. Once Rogers asked Carter if she read the report of the mission, she confirmed that she did, much to Rogers' disbelief on those odds. Carter assured Rogers that he did everything he could, and Barnes must have believed that their mission to bring an end to World War II was worth his sacrifice.
Although Rogers still insisted that Barnes' death during was his fault, Carter got him to acknowledge how much he respected his best friend, and thus urged him to allow Barnes the dignity of having made his own choice to follow Rogers. As Rogers then declared that he would not stop until they had finally defeated HYDRA, while also vowing that he would personally either capture or kill the Red Skull himself to avenge Barnes' sacrifice, Carter reminded him that he would not be alone.
==== Losing Steve Rogers ====
: "I'll... I'll get Howard on the line. He'll know what to do.""There's not enough time. This thing's moving too fast and it's heading for New York. I gotta put her in the water.""Please don't do this. We have time. We can work it out."
: ―Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers[src]
Following the interrogation of Arnim Zola, it was learned that HYDRA was planning an attack on the United States of America. Carter attended a briefing run by Chester Phillips and learned about Red Skull's plans with his technology while they discussed their plan to bring an end to HYDRA and Red Skull himself. Along with Howard Stark and the remaining members of the Howling Commandos, crafted a plan in which Steve Rogers break through their defenses.
Once Rogers attacked HYDRA's last base of operations, allowing himself to be captured in order to distract Red Skull and allowed the United States Army time to attack the base. While Phillips had the called to enter in the base, Carter followed along with the assault force, as the HYDRA soldiers began to fire with their Assault Weapons. While the many soldiers were killed one by one with each fire power, Carter managed survive and broke into HYDRA's base of operation with Phillips killing one of them upfront. Now inside the base, Carter attempted to find where Rogers was located and found him following Red Skull.
Noticing Rogers being pinned down by a HYDRA soldier with his flamethrowers, Carter ran up behind the soldier and fired at the soldier's fuel tank, killing him instantly as is pack was on fire. Rogers then ran straight up to Carter and reminded her of what she had said to him following the Liberation of Allied Prisoners of War by saying she was late. Carter reminded Rogers to focus on capturing Schmidt and watched Rogers retake his shield and then continued his chase.
Schmidt managed to get to his plane and Rogers gave chase; seeing that he had no chance of catching up, Carter and Phillips stole Johann Schmidt's Coupe and gave Rogers a lift. Just as Rogers got inside the car, they raced after the plane, with Phillips also using the car's boosters to bring them alongside the plane's wing. Just before Rogers jumped aboard the plane, Carter had shared their first and last kiss and told him to go get Schmidt, before Phillips jokingly insisted that he would not be kissing Rogers as well.
As they neared the plane and Rogers prepared to jump on board, with little time to spare as they reached the end of the runway, Phillips was able to stop the car from plunging off a cliff edge while Rogers leaped onto the wheel and flew away with the plane. As the car had stopped and Phillips had to take a breath, Carter then looked up and watched as the plane flew away with Rogers on board, hoping to succeed on his mission.
After the base is finally taken, Carter eventually received Rogers' transmission from the Valkyrie; he reported that Schmidt is dead, but the plane was damaged and could still kill countless innocents should it crash. After Rogers decided to crash the plane into the North Atlantic Sea, Carter begged for him to reconsider, knowing that this would result in his death, but Rogers claimed there was not enough time.
As the plane made its final descent, Carter and Rogers spoke to each other as if Rogers was not going to crash, arranging a date to finally go dancing, setting up how the date will go and where she promised to teach him how to dance. When the ship finally crashed, all communications with the plane were then lost, and all Carter could do was to mournfully cry for Rogers' death.
== Personality ==
Carter was tough and resilient, standing strong whenever she was mistreated, be it by man or woman. She had a sarcastic streak, and could also become close to a select few people, such as Steve Rogers, Howard Stark, Edwin Jarvis and a few others. Though she believed in morality, she was willing to lie if the situation called for it, including the period when she was hiding her involvement with Howard Stark from the SSR.
== Abilities ==
* Expert Marksman: During the assassination of Abraham Erskine, Carter was able to kill the driver of Heinz Kruger, as he drove towards her, without fear of being hit. She chided Rogers for interrupting her shot when she aimed for Kruger.
== Appearances ==
In Order:
* Captain America
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Margaret Alexandra "Peggy" Carter was an American freedom fighter with the French Resistance during World War II, and her relationship with Gabe Jones was one of the first inter-racial relationships in comics.
Category:Captain America Characters
Category:Comics Characters
Category:Humans
Category:Females
Category:Brown hair
Category:Brown eyes
Category:Strategic Scientific Reserve