Sometimes, being a fighter runs in the family. Sharon Carter grew up with tales from her aunt’s times during World War 2 and it lead to Sharon stepping up to her own adventures. So who is Sharon Carter and what makes her aunt so special? Let’s find out!
Sharon Carter was born to Harrison and Amanda Carter. Though they loved her and she loved them, Sharon was her aunt Peggy’s child. Peggy Carter meant the world to Sharon, Peggy had been a freedom fighter during World War 2, even having teamed up with masked heroes like Captain America. Sharon would be enthralled when listening to these adventures. This would lead Sharon to pursue being a hero as well.
Joining S.H.I.E.L.D., Sharon was able to become a master spy going by the codename of Agent 13; she would excel in her field. During a mission that would have her going up against Hydra, she would meet and team up with the recently thawed out Captain America. The two had a chemistry that would lead to a romance as well as a working relationship.
Though the two didn’t see eye to eye on the world at large, Sharon was far more cynical and found Steve Rogers to be cute with his idealism; they would be an item on and off again for years to come. While away on a solo mission, Sharon was believed killed in action and presumed dead. This would lead Sharon into resenting S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury, in particular. She would work alongside former enemies to get back at him but eventually was able to leave those ties behind.
In that time, Nick Fury was believed dead but just like Sharon’s death, there was more to the story. Sharon would find herself time-tossed to World War 2, finding present day Nick Fury there as well. The two would work together to face off against the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. from before Nick Fury’s leadership. They would fight their way out and return, with Sharon able to reconcile and rejoin S.H.I.E.L.D., even becoming the director in Fury’s leave of absence for a time.
When Captain America is dealing with the Winter Soldier, Sharon would aide in finding out as much as she can about who this threat is. As the hero civil war was coming to an end, Sharon would be captured and mind controlled by Doctor Faustus, causing her to gun down Steve Rogers. Trapped with her captors, Sharon would still be able to free Bucky Barnes and eventually get rescued and aide in taking down the Red Skull once more.
Realizing that their lives were fraught but that she very much loved him, Sharon would propose to Steve Rogers. Sadly, he would get pulled into the bizarre Dimension Z, leading Sharon to follow after him to try and rescue him. Time moved differently here, by the time they would return, Sharon was now much older than time had passed back home. She would take over as S.H.I.E.L.D. director once again until the agency was given more power to surveil citizens. She believed someone the people could truly trust should take over, giving the position to Steve Rogers.
Unknown to Sharon at the time, Steve had been compromised and turned into a Hydra sleeper agent, giving them the keys to the kingdom. She would be held prisoner and even have Doctor Faustus attempt to mind control her for Hydra once more, but Sharon had learned to become immune to such control. She would break free and help in the cause to stop Hydra and even form a team, post-victory, to clear Steve Rogers name, knowing the effects mind control can have on a life.
There you have it! Sharon Carter has been part of the Marvel universe since the silver age of comics in some form or another. She’s been on the big and small screen, live action and animated, frequently alongside Captain America. See you next time!
Suggested Reading
Tales of Suspense #75
Captain America: American Nightmare
Captain America: Reborn
Secret Empire
Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
