For the past two years, Marvel has been on the firing squad of critics and fans alike for the treatment of one particular character: Captain America. Two words: "Hail Hydra" shattered the comic book community, fracturing them into different groups. While no one was exactly crazy about the idea, some were more open to seeing where the story goes than others. I am not going to lie, I found myself on the side of the others, completely infuriated that my favorite super hero had betrayed every single one of the ideas he fought for in his history. However, I would be lying if the series didn't win me over. The title Captain America: Steve Rogers by Nick Spencer delves into this "Hydra Cap," and gives a portrait of the America that we are very scarily turning into. This whole run has led up to the current Marvel event: Secret Empire. Secret Empire has itself been a figure of controversy, from things like the Hydra Cap lifting Mjolnir, and the same Captain killing Black Widow, the arc has attracted a lot of "mixed attention" from people. However, after 10 issues, Marvel undeniably delivers an end to Hydra Cap that could not have been more fitting and could not have been at a better time.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
The issue starts off with the heroes of Marvel truly united for the first time. However, they aren't out of the woods yet, Hydra Cap comes out in a Stark built Cap suit powered by all, save one, of the cosmic cube fragments making him nigh god tear. One would think this all but over for the Avengers, but luckily they had a plan made by Bucky Barnes: to bring the final fragment of the cosmic cube to Hydra Cap and reform Kobik, the form the cosmic cube takes when it gains sentience. Bucky would then attempt to reason with it and bring their Steve back. Sam Wilson, having resumed his place as Captain America, tricks the Supreme Leader of Hydra (Steve) into thinking he is submitting. This allows Sam a chance to get close enough to piece the cube together, then Scott Lang (Ant Man) grows back to full form with cosmic cube in hand and the plan works. Between Bucky and the remaining memory of the old Steve Rogers, they convince Kobik to help defeat this Hydra Cap by bringing Steve back. Back in the real world a blue figure starts to form from nothing. Low and behold a classically costumed Steve Rogers glares into the eyes of his doppelganger clad in the ominous green and yellow of Hydra.
There is technically one more issue left, Secret Empire: Omega that will serve as the epilogue, focusing on Steve Rogers seeing the damage his counterpart had caused in his absence. There will no doubt be some bitterness, wounds to heal, and maybe even some wounds that will stay forever open. Nonetheless, this has proven itself to be an incredible story-line that addresses several sociopolitical issues, ones that especially after the events in Charlottesville, VA needed to be brought to the forefront in comic books. In an America where a fascist presence exists to the degree it does, where people proudly display swastikas and "sieg heil" for their white supremacist cause, we as Americans must do something. We must fight in any way possible, these bigots do not represent us as a nation and they never have. In this time we as a nation find ourselves divided, some point fingers at the past administration, others the current, however, it shouldn't be an issue in the first place. As Americans we have existed peacefully with differentiating opinions for centuries without it killing each other, but now there is a group that genuinely hates enough to want to exterminate people based on their skin color, their religion, the list goes on. America has been a country that has ultimately been about progress. We have had missteps in history, there is no doubt, but where there was uncharted territory we took the first steps into it, it's our way, to push forward through the frontier. That push may not be easy, but I would like to believe that the push has always been with the best intentions, even if there were those of us that failed to uphold that intent. Steve Rogers is back, he is attacking a fascist in the iconic stars and stripes, and while we should be careful in the way we combat them, it's time we stand up in the face of that hate and turn it away.
For the past year or two Nick Spencer has been accused of not understanding Steve Rogers, not respecting the legacy that Jack Kirby and Joe Simon made when they created him, and for sure it's been a rocky journey that has certainly crossed some red tape, however, this has always been the story of Captain America. In a previous post I mention a quote by Jim Steranko:
He was the American Truth. The face unrevealed behind the mask was ours.
These two Captains, the Hydra Cap and the golden age Cap, in a way they represent the division our nation has faced in recent years. The story of Steve Rogers is the struggle of our nation. It's a terrifying thing to look at a mirror sometimes, but we have to if we want to change and push forward. This arc provided us with a mirror and many of us did not like what we saw. The question I pose is this, are you willing to do something about that reflection and push forward, or will you ignore it and walk away from it?
This has been another edition of Comic Relief! I hope you have enjoyed this post and we hope to see you again soon!
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