These days, it seems like Marvel’s speciality is character assassinations, and fans of Captain America are sure to recoil at the reveal that Steve Rogers has secretly been an agent of HYDRA since childhood. In fact, he even murders Jack Flag before declaring his allegience to the terrorist organisation in Captain America: Steve Rogers #1, and while you may think we’re dealing with an imposter, LMD, or clone, it’s been confirmed by both Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and writer Nick Specer that this is the real Steve and his new status quo moving forward. Why though would they do this to such a beloved character? Well, as with most things Marvel these days, it seems to be for the shock factor.
“His mission is to further the goals and beliefs of Hydra,” explained Brevoort. “If that involves taking down the Marvel universe, sure. (But) it may not be as simple as that. It’s not like he’s exchanged his white hat for a black hat — it’s a green hat. We knew it would be like slapping people in the face. The idea of Captain America means something very primal and very strong to the people of this nation, and they have a very visceral reaction when you get to something like that. You want people to feel and react to your story. So far, so good.”
Needless to say, revealing that Cap has always been an undercover agent for HYDRA is a baffling move, and one which is sure to alienate a lot of fans. Still, in a Marvel Universe with no Fantastic Four, a dead Cyclops, and Peter Parker now Tony Stark-lite, perhaps this revalation shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
