Every Time Captain America’s Shield Was Destroyed in Marvel Canon

In the Marvel Universe, there are few weapons as iconic as the star-spangled shield of Captain America. And throughout the Avenger’s long comic book career, the signature shield on his arm has been as unwavering, and unbreakable as Steve Rogers himself. But even if Captain America’s shield defies science in its superpowered abilities, these villains proved that with enough strength, magic, or cosmic plot behind them, the shield could be broken into pieces.

The Living Laser (Melted)

Avengers #35 (1966) by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Don Heck

Certainly not the most well known of Avengers villains, the Living Laser actually took on the team in one of their first true tests. Proving his gifts in getting the drop on the Avengers, the villain managed to trap both Captain America and Hawkeye inside a shrinking laser field, condeming them to death with a ticking clock. That is, until Cap raised his iconic shield to protect both he and Clint Barton… and forced both heroes to watch as the shield rose in temperature, and then was obliterated via laser.

Thankfully, the pair would be rescued moments later by back-up, but the shield was no more. Technically, this story also took place before Cap’s shield was given its more modern, indestructible backstory and creation with vibranium. Not ones to leave any flawed story untouched, later issues would reveal that the shield wielded by Cap inside the Living Laser’s cage was actually a replica, with the real one offered to Iron Man on a separate mission.

The Molecule Man (Dissolved To Atoms)

Avengers #215 (1982) by Jim Shooter, Alan Weiss, Dan Green, Christie Scheele

As the most devoted Marvel fans know, the Molecule Man a.k.a. Owen Reece possesses total authority over all matter and energy, granting him a level of power that is almost unparalleled (and fundamental in reconstructing the Marvel Multiverse). Having the power to obliterate or transform all of reality, it is good news to all residents of the Marvel Universe that Reece isn’t intent on becoming a god-tier being. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy taking on the Avengers every now and then.

The Molecule Man announced his return to prominence with gusto, revealing himself to the Avengers, and completely disarming ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ in a split second. Using his powers to dissolve Silver Surfer’s board, Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, Iron Man’s armor, and Captain America’s shield into dust, the heroes were totally at his whim. Thankfully, an appeal to reason and some scheduiled therapy were what Reece actually craved, and soon reversed his actions, restoring the weapons and shield to full power.

Doctor Doom (Beyonder Blast)

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #11 (1985) by Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck, John Beatty

There is no villain like Victor Von Doom, capable of gaining control of events he didn’t even have a hand in creating. An ability he got to demonstrate in Marvel’s famous Secret Wars event, recruiting the greatest Marvel heroes and villains for one massive confrontation on ‘Battleworld.’ MCU fans are currently dreaming of seeing that exact story play out in Avengers: Secret Wars, but if that’s the case, then Captain America’s shield may be destroyed in one of the most off-the-cuff manors in history.

In the original event, Doctor Doom managed to seize power and control from the mastermind of the battle, the Beyonder, unleashing cosmic levels of destruction. It was Issue #11 that revealed the scale of Doom’s devastation, with Cap’s broken and torn shield representing the heroes ass a whole. Beyonder would regain control, returning the heroes to the fight, and Cap would get the chance to repair the shield himself when the event came to a close. Will the same terrifying feat occur on film? Time will tell.

Thanos (Shattered)

Infinity Gauntlet #4 (1991) by Jim Starlin, George Pérez, Ron Lim

Thanks to the MCU, nobody needs to told about the legendary quest to collect and unleash the Infinity Stones carried out by Thanos the Mad Titan. Unlike the version of the story which played out in Avengers: Infinity War however, Thanos snapped his fingers as precursor to a battle against the collected Marvel heroes. While the movies made several playful references to the attacks and visuals of Infinity Gauntlet, but Captain America got it the worst on the comic page.

In the movie, Cap gets the chance to physically oppose Thanos, earning some credit and bravery points (long before getting to take on Thanos with some cosmic weaponry of his own). But in the version of the scene which took place in the comics, Steve Rogers bravely stands up to Thanos… and defeated with a single swipe of the conqueror’s hand. Shattering the shield, and Steve, with a move of total dismissal.

Cul Borson (Torn Apart)

Fear Itself #5 (2011) by Matt Fraction, Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger

Modern Marvel fans may know very little about Cul Borson, the brother of Thor’s father Odin, and the Asgardian God of Fear. Suspected as a constant villain by his famiuly, Cul was actually imprisoned by his brother out of fear he would try to kill Thor himself. So it came as no surprise when Cul was finally freed from his captivity, and he set about launching the Fear Itself event, unleashing magical hammers across the Earth to create new agents of fear.

The result was the strongest form of Cul ever seen, empowered by global fear to the point of being able to manhandle the Avengers, killing Thor, and shattering Captain America’s shield. Steve Rogers would lead the heroes to victory with Mjolnir in hand, and the shhield would be reforged by the Dwarves of Nidavellir. But that can’t take way from Cul’s accomplishments.

Ultron (???)

Age of Ultron #1 (2013) by Brian Michael Bendis, Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary

When Marvel Studios announced that the second Avengers films would be titled Age of Ultron, fans were rightfully confused to also learn that the movie would feature Ultron, but would not be adapting the story of the same name from Marvel Comics. In that storyline, Ultron was shown to have risen to power in the future, and succeeded in dominating the entire planet. With heroes reduced to a secret resistance, the effectiveness of Ultron was demonstrated, once again, via Steve Rogers. Captain America was beaten and bloodied by the villain, with his spirit broken alongside his signature shield.

Technically, the comic itself did not reveal how Ultron achieved the feat. Although, considering the robotic despot’s expertise in adamantium, vibranium, and all other cutting-edge Marvel weaponry, it’s not hard to imagine how he could pull it off. And thanks to a time-traveling Wolverine, this horrific future is avoided by the end of the story, making it just one more possible nightmare future for the Marvel Universe. While the movie version paid lip service to the comics by including the broken shield in Tony Stark’s dark vision of the Avengers’ death, the actual shattering of the shield did not.