If Captain America Hadn’t Been Frozen, Could He Have Saved Howard Stark’s Life?

Hello! The answer to this question is both yes and no.

Would Captain America Have Known About Hydra's Plans?

First and foremost, would Captain America have known about Hydra's assassination plans on Howard Stark? When Captain America (Steve Rogers) first discovered Bucky Barnes was the Winter Soldier, he was in shock. It’s uncertain when and if he would have learned about the Hydra hit on the Starks before it happened. Without that critical information, he would not have had a chance to prevent it.

Could Captain America Stop the Winter Soldier?

Given the assumption that Captain America knew about the assassination plans and was in the right place at the time, he could have possibly stopped the Winter Soldier. However, this raises a significant issue: if Captain America had saved Howard Stark, other events would have played out differently. The United States would have been able to defeat Germany and Japan, but Steve’s worldview and his role as an American icon would be heavily impacted.

Impact on World History

Steve Rogers would have had major issues with the dropping of the atomic bombs, the inclusion of Hydra agents into S.H.I.E.L.D., various plans that led to the Marshall Plan, and the growth of the Military-Industrial Complex, as highlighted by President Eisenhower. I cannot envision Steve remaining as Captain America for much longer. The United States was already on a path to becoming a superpower, which would result in the sacrifice of the idealism that Steve championed.

Alternate TV Shows and Myths

Had Captain America not been frozen and remained active, it's plausible that he would have formed a proto-Avengers with Howard Stark, Peggy Carter, and the Howling Commandos. However, with no leadership from Howard and Peggy, S.H.I.E.L.D. would likely become further entangled with Hydra and Ultron. Zola, though not a world-domination type, would encourage Hydra to subvert control of the U.S. and NATO.

Perhaps a mistake would have led Cap and his Avengers to fight Hydra-controlled S.H.I.E.L.D., with help from some unconventional heroes like Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne. The aftermath would likely see Zola physically defeated, S.H.I.E.L.D. officially shut down, and Hydra purged, although covert operations by the CIA would continue.

The New Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Rogers might have become the director of a new, more international, and more independent S.H.I.E.L.D. However, with old age, he would team up with the wiser Nick Fury for a buddy-cop-style mission to track down remaining Hydra conspirators and the mystery Winter Soldier in the late 1970s.

Impact on Tony Stark’s Life

In another timeline, Howard and Maria Stark would collect a prototype Super Soldier serum, and their vehicle would be attacked by the brainwashed Winter Soldier. It is likely that Captain America and agent Fury would intervene and ultimately defeat Bucky. However, Howard would die of internal injuries from the crash.

Bucky, partially reprogrammed, would live in hiding out of fear of being reactivated. Tony Stark would grow up to be a snarky and rebellious person, nursing a bitter grudge against his father, who failed to save him. Maria’s steady influence would balance Tony’s temper, ensuring he doesn’t become a douchey character. Maria would continue to run Stark Industries, and Stane would remain an insignificant figure in the business world.

Without Iron Man, there would be no Iron Monger, Whiplash, War Machine, or Ultron. Similarly, there would be no superpowered Wanda or Pietro.

Conclusion

The 'What If?' scenario of Captain America not being frozen raises interesting questions about the potential timeline and impacts on reality. Without Steve Rogers, the course of history and the characters’ journeys would be drastically different, ultimately leading to an alternate universe with unique events and outcomes.