Captain America the First Avenger Version

The wartime incarnation of Marvel's star-spangled soldier, caught in the big-head collectible format: the 1940s look from his first solo outing rather than the modern-day version that came later. That earlier costume is the one enthusiasts argue for, sitting somewhere between a propaganda poster and a uniform, and it carries a period charm the sleeker later suits gave up. The stylisation exaggerates the head-to-body ratio and strips the detail back, which suits a character who has always functioned as a graphic icon anyway. The round shield does most of the silhouette work, and the stance does the rest. An easy addition to a shelf of Marvel figures, a desk-side piece for an office that needs one honest bit of personality, and a safe gift for the friend who maintains the first film is still the best of them.