While Steve Rogers made history in Marvel Comics due to his many heroic deeds as Captain America, his efforts as a defender of justice go way before his days of donning his iconic costume and shield. In fact, there were instances in the past when Steve already proved himself as one possessing the heart of a true hero - he just so happened to not have the physical body at the time to embody those ideals in an era where soldiers have to actively defend the homeland from fascists, racists, and other villains.

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However, Steve Rogers already showed promise even in the times before he underwent Project Rebirth to become a Super-Soldier. It's also revealed that the days leading up to the experiment were also filled with exciting moments for Steve - as though fate itself was testing his mettle and worthiness for his upcoming destiny. Fans and newcomers to Marvel and Captain America comics might be asking: just what feats did Steve Rogers achieve even before he became Captain America?

1 Won The Art Of The Future Contest

Young Steve Rogers Had A Love For Art

Despite having a rough childhood as both a sickly boy and a life of poverty, Steve had clung to his love for the arts. On one occasion during his youth, Steve won the Gold Medal for the "Art of the Future" annual contest at the Creative Arts Project of the Daily Bugle. Working with the theme "Dawn of the Marvels," Steve created a hero called the Sentinel of Liberty fighting his country-less nemesis The Nomad.

This reward became the push he needed to pursue studies as a Fine Arts student. Ever the patriot, Steve also managed to insert public works during his time in school. At some point, he also started to create art for the Works Progress Administration to earn commissions. Steve found himself painting murals in the Federal Art Project wing of the building as part of the New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

2 Took Only 3 Months To Train His New Physical Body

Sped Up His Training To Help Him Adapt Just Before The War

A common trend in the history of Steve Rogers is a training montage soon after his success as a participant in Project Rebirth. However, unlike other superheroes, Steve's training has become more vital due to his status as the only Super-Soldier the United States has to offer in World War 2. Across comics that depict Captain America's history, Steve Rogers was immediately subjected to a three-month intensive training course to perfect the use of his new body.

In what appears to be a "rebirth" of his own, the Project Rebirth participant had been trained by the best the world offers to achieve peak physical performance. To maintain his body, Steve was introduced to the world's best gymnasts and bodybuilders. Meanwhile, he's taught to use his new body in physical combat through trainers in boxing and wrestling.

3 Fast-Tracked To Captain Status Through Strategy Training

Received Intensive Military Tactics Training For His Status

Despite Steve Rogers possessing the right heart to participate in Project Rebirth, his initial status as "unfit for service" meant Steve remains a newcomer in the deeper nature of military matters even if he's become the Project's first successful participant. With Professor Erskine's death making Steve the Project's only success, the quest is to ensure Steve can perform properly in combat.

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Aside from mastering how to use his body to peak performance, Steve also received dedicated training from General Chester Phillips regarding the essence of military strategy. As one of the leading figures of the Allies in the upcoming World War, Steve had to fast-track his training to ensure he can properly lead soldiers in the most dangerous of situations - training that proved helpful in Steve's adventures against the Red Skull and the Nazis.

4 Helped The FBI Conduct An Operation Against The Nazis

A Standoff With A Nazi Gang Proved His Heart In The War

At some point in the fall of 1940, a promising medical student, Sam Fogler, asked Steve Rogers to convince his older brother Harold to stop his life of crime. They were soon confronted by Harold's gang, who were revealed to be Nazis, and young Steve called them "hateful monsters" and "Nazi scum." Instead of being shot, the gang leader shot Sam instead. The arriving police told Steve that his actions proved that even though he wasn't physically fit to serve, he had the heart of a patriot.

This story became a pivotal point in the She-Hulk series, where Steve becomes Jennifer Walters' client against the opposing counsel of Harold's family as represented by Matt Murdock. Steve's testimony in court had him expound on the story, where his confrontation with the gang leader had taken enough time for the FBI, who had been following the Nazi gang, to conduct an operation against them. It's also the FBI who suggested that Steve still pursue his military aspirations, especially when one of the higher-ups is looking for someone with heart for a secret project.

5 Saved A United States Colonel From Assassination

The First Historical Appearance Of His Costumed Form

Just three days after receiving his costume, Steve Rogers had to don his star-spangled uniform to save Colonel Henson from being kidnapped and transferred to a secret Nazi military installation. Despite his humble report, Colonel Henson elaborated on the physical prowess and tactical acumen Steve implemented during the rescue.

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After stalling the transport with spiked barbs, a costumed Steve came for the ambush with a speeding motorcycle. Instead of going for a guns-blazing approach, Steve attacks with his improved physical prowess and uses his shield to block attacks. This also leads up to the events where the Colonel asks the costumed agent his name, and Steve for the first time says it's "Captain America."

6 Saved The Project Rebirth Formula

Skillfully Evaded Nazi Spies With His Frail Body

When Steve Rogers attempted to enlist as a soldier in World War 2, he was deemed 4F or "unfit" to serve due to his rather frail condition. While he was encouraged to help with the war effort in other means such as warehouse work, Steve wanted to fight. During his pondering, he ran across a man in an alleyway with a knife in his back. With his dying breath, he revealed himself as an FBI agent and handed Steve a jewel he said was vital to national security. Before Steve could even process what was happening, a group of Nazi spies rushed in his direction.

Despite this being an impromptu chase, Steve manages to hold his own using his instincts and whatever physical capability he has. He managed to use a garbage bin's cover as a shield that he threw to his pursuers, caused a distraction using a horse, jumped inside a vent above a speeding train, and even jumped towards a truck filled with hay and chickens. When he safely delivered the jewel according to the FBI agent's instructions, General Chester Phillips approached Steve and invited him to participate in the project after this display of bravery.

7 Became The First Success Of Project Rebirth

The Only Successful Result Of Project Rebirth

Perhaps the most notable achievement of Steve Rogers before becoming Captain America would be Project Rebirth itself. While Steve was handpicked due to his patriotism and character, his frail body still made it unsure whether he would survive the experimental Super-Soldier Serum. As such, it became quite a momentous occasion when Steve’s small stature transformed into a bulky one upon subjecting himself to the experiment, which had different visual iterations across flashbacks in the comics.

Either way, the result is the same: Steve has now possessed the ideal body of a soldier beyond human physiology. Unfortunately, Rebirth’s lead scientist Professor Abrahan Erskine was killed by a hidden spy soon after Steve’s successful experiment, making Steve the only success Project Rebirth has had back then (known to them, anyway). Since the incident, Steve has sworn to become the enemy of those who try to destroy the meaning of liberty, in honor of Erskine's legacy.

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