The Iron Man as Captain America: A What-if Analysis
What if the Super Soldier Serum was given to Howard Stark instead of Steve Rogers? How would this have altered the course of history and the characters we know and love? Would Howard Stark, the arrogant and ruthless genius, have transformed into Captain America?
Howard Stark's Composition and the Super Soldier Serum
Howard Stark, known for his brilliance and audacity, would not have embraced the role of Captain America even if he were given the Super Soldier Serum. The serum would have enhanced his already formidable traits, pushing him into a path that he might not have willingly chosen.
Howard was never a combatant at heart. His passion and interests lay in engineering and inventing, often at the expense of practicalities like physical endurance or combat skills. The Super Soldier Serum would have made him a peak physical specimen, but it would only have emphasized his arrogant and self-absorbed nature. He was a playboy and an inventive genius, and the serum would have amplified these traits rather than tempering them with a sense of duty and responsibility.
The Impact on Howard’s Personality and Abilities
The Super Soldier Serum is renowned for not just enhancing physical strength but also magnifying personality traits. If Howard Stark were to have received the serum, he would have become super strong, but he would also have become hyper-assertive, smug, and incredibly careless about others' feelings. This transformation might have led him down a darker path.
The first Iron Man movie focuses on Tony Stark's growth and learning from his mistakes. Tony learns to be more responsible and empathetic. However, Steve Rogers, on the other hand, was always a better man, even without the serum. Tony's character arc in Avengers: Endgame shows that he has moments of clarity but would still be far from the moral and ethical standards set by Steve Rogers.
The Consequences of the Serum
If Howard Stark had received the Super Soldier Serum before his arc as Iron Man, it is likely that he would have turned into a villain. With his newfound strength and enhanced arrogance, the events that led to the shrapnel in his chest could have pushed him into a different direction. The realization of the consequences of his actions might have spurred some growth, but it would have been a different kind of self-improvement.
In the end, Howard's transformation might have led to a more severe sunburned look or a darker, more confrontational demeanor. The serum would have heightened his flaws, making him even more unrelentingly focused on his goals, regardless of the harm he might be causing.
Conclusion
The Super Soldier Serum is a transformational agent that enhances both physical prowess and personality traits. For Howard Stark, it would likely have amplified his existing vices, leading to a darker path rather than the heroic one that defines Captain America. The character arcs of both Tony Stark and Steve Rogers are deeply intertwined with the choices they make, and without the Super Soldier Serum, the outcome would be drastically different.
Would The Iron Man have become Captain America? The evidence suggests that the answer is a resounding no. Howard Stark's nature and the changes brought by the Super Soldier Serum would have led to a character far removed from the values embodied by Captain America.