Captain America Comics who was an agent of the “Daughters of Liberty” and an early love interest for Steve Rogers.
Margaret “Peggy” Carter made her first, albeit unnamed, appearance in Tales of Suspense #75 in March 1966, with her full introduction in issue #77 in May 1966. She was created by the legendary duo of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Her creation came during the Silver Age of Comic Books, a period where Marvel was actively expanding the backstories of its flagship characters.
Carter was conceived to provide a wartime romance for Captain America during flashback sequences, adding a layer of personal tragedy to his story as a “man out of time.” Initially, she was a brave American agent working with the French Resistance, a capable but ultimately supporting character whose primary narrative function was to be the lost love Steve Rogers left behind. Over the decades, her character remained a relatively minor figure in the comics, her story defined by amnesia and her connection to her more prominent niece, Sharon Carter, who would become Captain America's modern-day love interest.
It was her adaptation into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger, that catapulted Peggy Carter into the global spotlight. Portrayed by actress Hayley Atwell, the character was re-envisioned as a British agent of the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR). This version was so compelling and popular that her role was significantly expanded, leading to a Marvel One-Shot, her own television series (Agent Carter), and pivotal appearances in numerous MCU films. This immense popularity eventually influenced the comics, leading to renewed focus on her character and the creation of alternate versions where she, not Steve, receives the Super-Soldier Serum.
The origin and life story of Peggy Carter diverge dramatically between the primary comic book universe and the cinematic universe. Understanding these differences is crucial to appreciating her full legacy.
In the prime Marvel comics continuity (Earth-616), Margaret “Peggy” Carter was a wealthy young American from Virginia. During her teenage years, she was swept up in the tide of World War II, joining the French Resistance to fight the Nazi occupation of France. She quickly proved herself to be an exceptionally skilled and courageous operative, a crack shot, and an expert in espionage. It was during this time that she met and fell in love with Captain America, who was on a mission behind enemy lines. The two fought alongside each other on several occasions, forming a deep and passionate bond. Peggy was known to the French locals only as “Mademoiselle.” Their romance, however, was tragically cut short. During one mission, she was nearby when an artillery shell exploded, the shock of which induced profound amnesia. She was sent back to Virginia to recover, with no memory of her time in the war or of Steve Rogers. For decades, she lived a quiet life, her memories of the war suppressed. Captain America, meanwhile, was lost in the ice and presumed dead. When he was revived in the modern era, he learned of a woman he believed to be Peggy living in a nursing home, her mind ravaged by what was believed to be old age and dementia, though it was later revealed to be the lingering effects of her amnesia. Their reunion was heartbreaking, as she could only recall him in fleeting moments of lucidity. Her primary legacy during this long period was through her younger sister's daughter, Sharon Carter. Inspired by her aunt's legendary wartime stories, Sharon joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and eventually became Agent 13, a key ally and love interest for the revived Captain America. Peggy eventually passed away in a nursing home, with Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter at her side. Her life in the comics is ultimately a story of wartime heroism followed by decades of personal tragedy.
The MCU reimagined Peggy Carter's origin and elevated her to a central role in the franchise's history. Here, she is British, not American, and is a highly capable agent of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) before being assigned to the American-led Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) during World War II.
From the very beginning, Agent Carter was integral to Project Rebirth. She was one of the few who saw the potential in the scrawny but courageous Steve Rogers, advocating for his inclusion in the Super-Soldier program. She oversaw his training and was present when he was successfully transformed into Captain America. Their relationship quickly developed from a professional one to a deep, mutual respect and romantic attraction, defined by witty banter and a shared sense of duty.
Unlike her comic counterpart, Carter was a frontline field agent throughout the war, working directly with Captain America and the Howling Commandos to dismantle HYDRA's operations across Europe. Their planned post-war life together was shattered when Steve Rogers crashed the Red Skull's aircraft, the Valkyrie, into the Arctic, where he was presumed dead.
Devastated but resolute, Peggy continued her work with the SSR after the war, battling institutional sexism and proving her value time and again. Alongside Howard Stark and other allies, she became a foundational figure in the creation of a new peacetime intelligence organization: the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, or S.H.I.E.L.D. She served as one of its first and most influential directors, shaping the course of global security for the latter half of the 20th century.
She eventually married a soldier whom Captain America had saved during the war and had two children. When Steve Rogers was revived in the 21st century, he found an elderly Peggy suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Their reunion in Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a profoundly emotional moment, showcasing their unbreakable bond despite the passage of time. She passed away peacefully in her sleep, as revealed in Captain America: Civil War.
However, her story received a significant epilogue in Avengers: Endgame. After returning the Infinity Stones, Steve Rogers used the Quantum Realm to travel back to the 1940s and live out his life with Peggy, finally getting the dance they had promised each other. This act created a divergent timeline where they grew old together, providing a happy, definitive conclusion to their love story that stands in stark contrast to the tragedy of her Earth-616 counterpart.
While Peggy Carter is a baseline human in most incarnations, her skills and resources place her among the most capable non-superpowered individuals in the Marvel Universe.
In her original comic book appearances, Peggy's abilities were those of a seasoned guerrilla fighter and spy.
The MCU version of Peggy Carter is a far more developed character, with a broader and more clearly defined skill set that established her as a truly elite agent.
The “What If…?” series and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced a popular variant, Captain Carter, who received the Super-Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers.
Multiverse of Madness utilized a jetpack for enhanced mobility, a piece of equipment her main MCU counterpart did not have.Agent Carter television series. Jarvis served as her “man in the chair,” providing logistical support, technical assistance, and often, much-needed moral support and comic relief. Their platonic friendship was a cornerstone of the series, showcasing a deep, loyal bond.Agent Carter series, this MCU version of the classic Captain America foe was a brilliant psychiatrist and hypnotist working for the Soviet organization Leviathan. He represented a more insidious, psychological threat than the brute force of HYDRA, preying on Peggy's personal trauma and losses.This is the defining storyline for the classic comic book version of Peggy Carter. Following the mission where Captain America and Bucky were seemingly killed, the cumulative trauma of the war, coupled with a nearby explosion, shattered Peggy's mind. She was found wandering Paris with amnesia, unable to recall her name or her love for Steve Rogers. This event removed her from the board for decades, transforming her from an active hero into a tragic figure whose life was defined by what she had lost and forgotten. Her eventual, partial recovery and life in a nursing home became a source of profound sadness for the revived Captain America.
Chronicled in the Agent Carter One-Shot and subsequent television series, this storyline is arguably Peggy's most significant contribution to the MCU. In the aftermath of WWII, Peggy Carter finds herself relegated to administrative work at the SSR, ignored by her male colleagues. When Howard Stark is framed for treason, she undertakes a secret mission to clear his name, proving her superior skills as a field agent. This arc establishes her as a proactive hero, battling not just foreign spies but also the suffocating sexism of the era. Her success and partnership with Stark directly lead to the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D., cementing her legacy as a figure as important to world security as any super-soldier.
While Peggy's role in this film is small, it is incredibly impactful. Steve Rogers visits an elderly Peggy in a nursing home. She is suffering from Alzheimer's, and their conversation is a heart-wrenching mix of lucidity and confusion. She recognizes him and speaks of him as if he just came back from the ice, but then forgets that he is sitting right in front of her. The scene powerfully conveys the tragedy of the 70 years they lost. Her line, “The world has changed, and none of us can go back… you have to start over,” provides Steve with the emotional push he needs to find his place in the modern world, while simultaneously highlighting the pain of her own inability to move on completely.
This episode from the animated What If…? series explores a pivotal divergent timeline. When a HYDRA agent attempts to sabotage Project Rebirth, Steve Rogers is injured, and Peggy Carter makes the split-second decision to take his place in the experiment chamber. She emerges as a super-soldier. Initially sidelined by military leadership, she takes matters into her own hands, stealing a prototype shield and uniform to become Captain Carter. This story showcases the hero Peggy always was, now with the power to match her will. It culminates in her sacrificing herself to push a multidimensional creature back through a portal, only to emerge in the 21st century, mirroring Steve's own “man out of time” story and setting the stage for her future multiversal adventures.
What If…? animated series (designated Earth-82111), this version became a super-soldier and a founding member of the Guardians of the Multiverse. A live-action version from a different reality (Earth-838) appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. This version was a hardened, confident leader but was shockingly killed in battle by the Scarlet Witch, demonstrating the extreme threat of multiversal incursions. This variant's immense popularity has made her a major character in her own right, complete with comic book series and merchandise.Multiverse of Madness. The game depicts her with powers and a backstory that aligns closely with the What If…? episode, further cementing this variant as a mainstream part of the Marvel brand.Exiles comic series. This version, codenamed “Captain America,” joined a team of multiversal heroes. Though visually similar to the later MCU Captain Carter, this comic version predates her animated counterpart, showing that the concept of Peggy wielding the shield existed in the comics' creative sphere.Captain America Comics who was an agent of the “Daughters of Liberty” and an early love interest for Steve Rogers.Agent Carter television series was critically acclaimed for its period setting, spy-thriller tone, and Atwell's performance, but was cancelled after two seasons due to low viewership ratings. Despite this, it maintains a passionate cult following.Captain America: The First Avenger becomes a powerful recurring motif throughout the MCU. Its final fulfillment in Avengers: Endgame, set to the 1945 song “It's Been a Long, Long Time” by Harry James and Kitty Kallen, is widely considered one of the most emotionally satisfying conclusions to a character arc in cinema history.Captain America: Super Soldier #1 (2011), where one panel shows a “what if” scenario. However, the idea was more fully realized in the 2018 Exiles series.