Free Spirit (comics)

Free Spirit
Captain America #431 featuring Free Spirit, artist Dave Hoover
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Captain America vol. 1 #431 (September 1994)
Created by	Mark Gruenwald (writer) Dave Hoover (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Cathy Webster
Partnerships	Captain America
Notable aliases	Coachwhip
Abilities	Highly skilled acrobat and street fighter Peak physical condition

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.

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. She also crosses paths with the criminal Baron Zemo and the morally ambiguous Diamondback. 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. 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 bequeathed the hotline to Jack, Cathy, Fabian Stankowicz and Zach Moonhunter.