Creation
Super-Patriot was created by Gary Friedrich and Herb Trimpe and his first and only living appearance was Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #13 (July 1969).
Origin and History
Super-Patriot was first seen staging a political rally in New York City, protesting the immigration policies of the United States. His speech labeled American officials who allow foreigners on American soil as “traitors”, and encouraged American citizens to overthrow the government. Agents of the anti-terrorist organization S.H.I.E.L.D. came on the scene to arrest Super-Patriot for his refusal of a federal subpoena, and the conflict quickly devolved into a gun battle between the two, from which Super-Patriot ultimately escaped unscathed.
Nick Fury, then a fugitive on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D., receives intelligence from a friend that Super-Patriot is planning a terrorist attack on the United Nations. An undercover agent of the Super-Patriot’s informs him that Fury is no threat; this agent later reveals himself to Fury as Jasper Sitwell, a S.H.I.E.L.D. mole. Fury trades places with him and arrives at the United Nations Headquarters just as Super-Patriot is about to destroy it with his “Ultimate Weapon”. S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up, and a three-way battle erupts, during which the Super-Patriot attempts to flee, clutching an American flag to his body (believing that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents will not fire at the flag). However, he accidentally trips over the fabric and falls to his death.
Nick Fury removes the Super-Patriot’s mask to reveal Nick Fury’s own face underneath. However, it is revealed that this was merely a hallucinatory vision induced by a “truth serum” S.H.I.E.L.D. had used on Fury with the intention of testing his loyalty. The battle with Super-Patriot was apparently real, however, as Fury’s colleague Dum Dum Dugan remembers it as well.
Legacy
John Walker, who later became Captain America then later U.S. Agent, used the name Super-Patriot to rival Captain America then was tapped by the Commission on Superhuman Activities to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America then adopted the moniker, U.S. Agent. Walker was aware of the prior Super-Patriot when he took on the name, although whether his decision to use it was based on his predecessor’s accomplishments (or lack thereof) was never revealed.
Later, Mike Farrell, a former neighbor of Steve Rogers, became the 3rd Super-Patriot and allied himself with the mutant Dead Ringer in a bid to discredit Captain America. Mike took the name and costume design from John Walker and whether or not he was aware of the original Super-Patriot was never revealed, although it seems unlikely.