After finding success in Captain America’s adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agent Peggy Carter returned to the main Marvel Universe in a major way.
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe of course draws inspiration from Marvel Comics, it’s also led to alterations in the source material. The MCU has often elevated characters who are somewhat obscure in the comics to more prominent roles, with the comics increasing their importance in response. Perhaps the best example of this is Peggy Carter, the Captain America supporting character who has become a central figure in the comics as a result of Hayley Atwell’s beloved portrayal of her in film and TV.
Like many important elements of the Captain America mythos, Peggy was added into Steve Rogers’ story retroactively after the character was revived as a member of the Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, she first appeared in Tales of Suspense #75 in 1966. A doctor who joined the French Resistance, Peggy was shown in flashback sequences to World War II, during which she and Steve Rogers fell in love. Their relationship ended when an explosion gave Peggy amnesia and she was sent back to live with her parents, while Steve was famously frozen in ice until he was uncovered by the Avengers.
In the “modern” era, Peggy worked with S.H.I.E.LD. and continued to be a part of Steve’s life after he was found, although not in a romantic relationship. Peggy was also shown to be the older sister, and alter aunt, of Sharon Carter, Steve’s longest-lasting love interest. As one of the longest-serving members of the Avengers’ support crew, Peggy continued to appear in supporting roles in stories related to Steve and or Sharon until she died of old age.
Atwell’s MCU version of Peggy was introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger, with fans and critics noting her performance and chemistry with Chris Evans’ Steve as highlights of the film. Atwell’s Peggy was so popular that she wound up becoming a much more significant part of the franchise, appearing in all of the Captain America films, a few Avengers films and the short-lived TV spin-off Agent Carter.
MCU Peggy is a British secret agent who worked with the U.S. military’s Strategic Scientific Reserve during World War II and would go on to be one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. Eventually, the popularity of MCU Peggy led to the character having a major resurgence in comics.
In the main Marvel Universe, Peggy was accidentally resurrected by Kobik, the sentient Cosmic Cube, when she was in the process of replacing Steve with a Hydra-loyalist duplicate during Secret Empire. Upon returning to life, a rejuvenated Peggy rejoined the Daughters of Liberty, a group of female freedom fighters she was previously associated with and assumed the mantle of the Dryad in Ta-Nehisi Coates, Adam Kubert and Matt Milla’s Captain America #9 in 2018. Although Sharon, Bucky, and Sam Wilson all found out she was alive, Peggy had them keep it secret from Steve for a time. Since she and Steve reunited, her recent appearances tend to depict Peggy as looking much more similar to Atwell than she previously did, with her hair color notably being changed from blonde to brown.
Atwell is set to reprise the role of Peggy again in What If…?, Marvel’s animated series, in which she will portray an alternate universe version of the character who was given the Super-Soldier Serum instead of Steve and is dubbed Captain Carter. This Captain Carter appears to be based on a version of Peggy introduced in Exiles who served as the Captain America of her world.
While Agent Peggy Carter was once a bit-player relegated to the dusty corners of Avengers’ Mansion, her appearance in the MCU single-handedly revitalized her, making one of Marvel’s more recognizable heroes and setting her up for a return to action in the Marvel Universe.
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