Of all the characters that have gotten the short end of the stick in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, none have been done dirtier than Sharon Carter. While the comics version of Sharon has had an incredibly amazing journey,the MCU one has failedto live up to her potential.
While Carter has been around since the mid-60s, fans of the MCU met Sharon inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. Though she’d later appear inCaptain America: Civil Warand the television miniseriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, these adventures pale in comparison to the life that the comics' version of Sharon Carter has lived in the comics.
Sharon Carter’s Life is Way More Adventurous Than the MCU Let On
She’s Been a Spy, an Avengers' Ally, and Even a S.H.I.E.L.D. Director
Sharon Carterwas created by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Dick Ayers, and she first appeared inTales of Suspense #75’sstory “30 Minutes to Live!".She and Captain Americafirst cross paths while Sharon is on a mission that’s interrupted by the mercenary Batroc the Leaper. The two began crossing paths thanks to her work as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Agent 13, and eventually the two fell in love. Unfortunately, her life as a spy put a strain on their relationship,especially when Captain America was led to believe that Sharon had died while on a mission.
She later founded her own team of heroes, the Daughters of Liberty…
Sharon eventually came back into Steve’s life, though their relationship took a long time to rebuild. In the meantime, Sharon briefly became the Executive Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. when Nick Fury needed to step aside. Sharon and Captain America’s relationship faced another obstacle at the end of the “Civil War” storyline when she was mind-controlled by Faustus and assassinated Steve without even realizing it. Fortunately, Steve returned to life andSharon left S.H.I.E.L.D. to work with him and the Secret Avengers.
Sharon stayed in the spy game as a free agent, allying herself with heroes moreso than S.H.I.E.L.D. She later founded her own team of heroes, the Daughters of Liberty, when Captain America was branded a traitor at the end ofSecret Empire. Together, Sharon and the Daughters of Liberty worked alongside Steve to investigate a dark conspiracy in the Marvel Universe.Sharon even dipped her toes into the life of a superhero by briefly donning the mantle and the armor of the Iron Patriot, though that was just to fight the mutant Selene.
The MCU Never Showed Off Just How Awesome Sharon Carter Really Is
Sharon Carter faced an uphill battle when she was introduced in the MCU. While she has been Steve Rogers' love interest for decades, film fans gravitated more to Captain America’s romance with Sharon’s aunt, Peggy Carter, which was a huge part ofCaptain America: The First Avenger. Though the film attempted a romance between Sharon and Steve, it didn’t take and ultimately, Steve’s journey in the MCU ended with him going back in time to life a life with Peggy. Sharon, on the other hand,ended up becoming the villainous Power Broker, selling government secrets to the highest bidder.
Obviously, there are a lot of differences between the main Marvel Comics canon and the one presented in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But it can’t be said enough how dirty Sharon was done in this franchise. Her relationship with Captain America notwithstanding, none of the movies or television shows really developed her the same way that the comics did. She got some good moments, sure, butthe comics' version of Sharon is a total badass who has fought alongside the Avengers and taken down some of the most powerful organizations around.
Change is to be expected when comics are turned into movies and shows. But unfortunately, in lifting Peggy Carter for the MCU stans, comic readers were robbed of seeing Agent 13 become the amazing super spy she should have been. While there’s nothing wrong with Emily VanCamp’s performance,it would have been amazing to see her take on Sharon Carter lead S.H.I.E.L.D. or create a superhero team like the Daughters of Liberty. Instead, all fans have left are hoping that the Power Broker angle works out, but it’s unlikely that it will.
Sharon Carter is a Much Better Character in the Comics
Don’t Rely on the MCU’s Interpretation of Every Character
While the MCU has done a lot of things right, it’s take on Sharon Carter just wasn’t. In the comics, she’s got so many great adventures and stories with Steve. But the reality is that not everything can be translated to the MCU and the best Sharon stories remain in the comics. Fortunately, for anyone who never connected with Sharon Carter as a character in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, there are plenty of stories that should give them a better idea of the kind of hero she really is.
