World Why doesn't Cap seem to age?

[Fantasyartist]

In the latest edition of Captain America, Steve Rogers notes that in chronological terms he would be over NINETY. Even allowing for the fact that he's been frozen for 20 years(between 1945 and 1964), he should be showing his age by now and not looking permanently as if he was just out of his teens. I have a theory as to why he is seemingly immune from ageing. The Super Soldier Formula permanently altered his DNA structure, esp the telomeres which govern physical ageing. The shorter they become the more the body ages. But when he ingested the SSF, it changed his DNA- his telomeres rewind constantly, which means that he can never physically age(although he CAN die, in the sense that his body suffers injury beyonds its ability to heal itself).

I have a theory that this is the reason supernatural beings such as mythological deities( Thor, Hercules, Valkyrie) vampires and werewolves are also immune from physical ageing.

Anybody think as I do?

Terry

 

[WolfCypher]

Welcome to world of comics.

Characters don't age cause comics go by a sliding timeline. 40 years ago, it was established that Cap was frozen up til the 60s. Fast-foward to today, and that's been retconned to say he's been frozen up til the 80s. In another 20-30 years, the timeline will move up to say he was unfrozen in the 90s.

These characters can't age. When they do, its one age per every 10 real life years. And when they age too much, the comics will retcon their ages. Spidey will always be in his mid-20s, Stark in his mid 30s, Cap in his mid 30s.

 

[Fantasyartist]

Yes, that's one reason I suppose(try imaging Cap or Mr Fantastic or Spidey,hobbling around on a Zimmer frame), but as Cap is not an immortal like Thor, Hercules , Valkyrie or a supernatural being like Dracula , Baron Blood or Werewolf By Night, or a mutant like Wolverine(although like the FF, Spidey, Daredevil or the Hulk he IS a mutate) with his fast healing ability, I think that there should be some rational explanation for his ability to stay youthful seemingly indefinitely.

Terry

 

[WolfCypher]

You're overthinking this. Anyone here tell you its simply Marvel not wanting to age any of there characters. Hell, DC is in the progress of deaging some of their characters come Spetember.

OK, fine. Lets say something in his enhanced blood is keeping him young. Still doesn't explain how every.single.character in comics, up to and including Archie, don't age. These characters are a product. They need to be marketed to their target audiences. And when one generation of audiences grows too old, a newer generation of potenial fans will come in to be introduced to these charcters who, after several generations, have the same faces and same ages. Its just the policy of these companies to keep their products from aging.

Now, unless I'm totally missing the "real" point of this thread and you meant for this topic to be taken loosely and for fun, there really isn't any hidden reason why Cap, or any comic character, do not age other than their companies want them to stay the same.

 

[Fantasyartist]

Yeah, I guess you're right- I WAS overthinking it!

Terry

 

[awsmpup]

I, personally, think that the serum is involved with that. I think it made him sort of like Wolverine. I mean, the reason Wolverine doesn't age is because of his healing factor. Since the serum had enhanced everything (aka personality and physic (not sure if I spelled that right :P), he has accelerated healing, like Wolverine. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that.

 

[JtoDaP]

I, personally, think that the serum is involved with that. I think it made him sort of like Wolverine. I mean, the reason Wolverine doesn't age is because of his healing factor. Since the serum had enhanced everything (aka personality and physic (not sure if I spelled that right :P), he has accelerated healing, like Wolverine. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that.

Its true that wolverine is like 200 years+ old BUT thats only because Marvel wants him to be. Just like they want Spiderman to be in his 20's and cap to be 90+ years old for eternity. If they let heroes get old or die (really die!) they wouldn't be selling comics.

But like you I would like to think it has to do with the serumt:

 

[Slushy]

Side effect of the Super Solder serum.

 

[Lilbaz]

Think Judge Dredd is the only one who ages in the comics. He's slower now, complains about his age and even got cancer.

 

[dax]

I thought being frozen for 70 years is the reason why Cap never aged.

 

[Mightmitenot]

Who's to say Super Soldier serum and or Vita Ray treatments may have ******ed Steve's aging process.

 

[SuperSanchez]

Why do the simpsons never get old? Maggie would be over 21 by now, ask that to yourself