Free Spirit (comics)

Free Spirit is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appeared in Captain America vol. 1 #431 (September 1994), and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Dave Hoover.

Fictional character biography

As a graduate student, Cathy Webster participates in an unsanctioned psychology experiment involving subliminal recordings. She is subliminally programmed to hate all men, and her body is subjected to "mutagenic radiation". The radiation enhances her body to peak physical condition similar to Captain America. Cathy eventually overcomes her brainwashing and discovers the woman in charge of the experiment, a criminal scientist named Superia.^[1] She also crosses paths with the criminal Baron Zemo and the morally ambiguous Diamondback.^[2] Captain America and Cathy aid another hero, Jack Flag, in defeating the Serpent Society, who had infiltrated Sandhaven, Arizona. She infiltrated their headquarters and attacked Coachwhip, defeating her and wearing her costume as a disguise.^[3] Captain America then takes Free Spirit and Jack Flag under his wing, where he trains them to be heroes. They join Captain America's network of computer operatives called the "Captain America Hotline", fighting against ULTIMATUM, AIM, and Madcap. When Captain America temporarily loses his powers due to the breakdown of the Super Soldier Serum in his bloodstream, he inherited the hotline to Jack, Cathy, Fabian Stankowicz and Zach Moonhunter.^[4]

The Initiative

Cathy is being considered as a "potential recruit" for the Initiative program, according to Civil War: Battle Damage Report.^[5]

Captain America: Steve Rogers

After Steve Rogers was restored to his prime, he recruited Jack Flag and Free Spirit as part of S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to combat the growing threat of Hydra. They went to Bagalia to deal with Baron Zemo and his "New Masters". However, Jack ignored Captain America's orders to remain with Free Spirit and went after Zemo himself, confronting him on his getaway plane and defeating him. Angry at him, Rogers throws Flag from the airplane without a parachute, before saying "Hail Hydra" at the end of the issue.^[6] Free Spirit manages to find him on the street, unconscious but alive, until all the villains of Bagalia attempt to kill them. They are eventually rescued by Steve Rogers and the S.H.I.E.L.D. squad in time to get Jack Flag medical attention, who fell into a coma as a result of the injury.^[7] She is later seen talking to a comatose Jack on the medical bay when Rick Jones arrives, attempting to cheer her up.^[8]

Powers and abilities

Like Captain America, Cathy has been augmented to peak physical condition. She has reached a high level of martial prowess, including basic acrobatics and street fighting techniques, from training sessions with Captain America and Jack Flag.

References

External links

• Women of Marvel Comics: Free Spirit
• Comic Vine: Free Spirit