I've dreaded coming back to this thread for the longest time. *sigh*
Anyways.
A BIG problem when we're talking about certain characters is the Handbook vs. Comic Book argument. In Captain America's bio, he is described as a peak human. In every way possible. As if he were a gold-medal winning olympic weightlifter, olympic sprinter, olympic gymnast, olympic swimmer, etc. Simultaneously. Cool!
But, a flaw in that argument....the BEST discus throw record for the olympics is about 243 feet. How far did Cap throw his shield, in order to catch up to the ballistic missile taking off? Not to even mention that Cap's shield would be several times the weight of a discus.
The BEST clean & jerk on record, that is, lifting a weight from the ground to over head, about 580 pounds. Cap tossed an 800+ pound woman without strain.
The FASTEST mile ran was about 3:43. Cap ran one in just over a minute flat.
The thickest skull in the world gets smashed through a brick wall? They're knocked out. Cap? Pissed.
Humans are in buildings that collapse every day. What happens? They get crushed, starve, or are rescued. What did cap do? Brace the falling debris, and eventually dig his way out.
A strong guy walks up to the front of a tractor, and grips it. What happens? He loses his grip. Or, at best, the tractor might inch forward or back. Cap? Rips the damned steel from the frame.
That olympic weight lifter is around, and a torpedo goes off. What does he do? Well..if he can even PERCEIVE the thing, he gets his arm torn off. Cap? Catches it, no problem.
The best boxer in the world has a laser fired at him. What happens? He has a ****ing hole in his chest! Cap? Rolls with it. Like it was an amateur boxer's right cross.
Look, I'm not even arguing Cap vs. Spidey anymore. I think I did an okay job of that already. I think that I presented a VERY good case for Cap to win thirty percent of the time against current spidey. I even convinced a couple people to support me. I really couldn't care less if this thread died and never resurfaced.
However, I would like to point out, that no matter what Bio's say, no matter what the handbooks say, Captain America is stronger than any weightlifter could dream of, faster than any sprinter could hope to be, more durable than the most experienced street fighter. Cap isn't peak human. He isn't the best a human could be. He IS Superhuman. Preternatural.
You want to define a character by handbooks? Fine. I don't read handbooks; I read comics. This isn't a handbooks versus Forum; it's a comics versus Forum. Read a comic, Captain America surpasses his bio's in every single one.
Also, look...if you detected any hostility in this post, forgive me. There is no offense meant to you, C-Master, or anyone else who disagrees with me. It just seems....I don't know, frustratingly like trying to convince someone, arguing (with what seems to me, well formed arguments...) and having them rebut with 'Nuh-uh!'
Also note, that I'm not referring to anyone in particular, just in general. Saying that Cap can't do what he's shown to be capable of OVER and OVER again, is like saying Namor is a 60-tonner. It's as innaccurate as saying that Captain America, Deadpool, Wolverine are all masters of every martial art on the planet.