In the aftermath of Avengers Standoff, Steve Rogers is young again. Armed with a new shield and sporting a new costume, Marvel’s original Captain America will star in a Free Comic Book Day issue the first Saturday in May.
Writer Nick Spencer, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort answered fan questions in a Marvel live event and talked about what’s next for the original Sentinel of Liberty as he goes back in action in a brand new series.
Spencer will continue writing Captain America: Sam Wilson and launch Captain America: Steve Rogers.
Rogers returns to action in the field after playing the role of commanding officer with big challenges including Civil War II, the Red Skull’s terrifying new Hydra, and Baron Zemo is still out there.
The return of Zemo of Red Skull mark a return of classic rogues gallery in the Rogers books.
In July Steve Rogers book will tie into Civil War II with Cap trying to broker a truce between Carol Danvers and Tony Stark. After leading the anti-registration movement opposite Iron Man in the first Civil War, how will Steve’s role change with the new conflict.
“He’s aware the impact him taking a side would take, but he’s more interested in just stopping the fighting. He’s determined to prevent a second Civil War–he’s trying to be Switzerland.”
Here are more highlights:
Brevoort stressed that the Sam Wilson book is not made irrelevant by Steve’s return. Both will proceed into the foreseeable future–they’re both relevant to each other, as well as the larger Marvel Universe. There’s stuff cooking in both of them that will have big impact down the line.
Spencer felt there was also a lot of drama to mine from having two Caps. There isn’t any plan to take the mantle from Sam at the moment.
“They’ve repaired their friendship. They were never comfortable with the distance between them, so they’re both very eager to work together again. Steve shows up in Sam Wilson #9, Sam will show up in Steve’s book shortly. They’re all in each others’ orbits. The two of them and Bucky are reconnected as a result of Standoff.”
Sharon Carter and Rick Jones will be major parts of Steve’s “team,” and there will be more familiar faces coming to the book.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is under the microscope after Maria Hill’s actions involving the Pleasant Hill facility.
“That’s a major part of Steve’s books. She stacked the decks on the World Security Council with people friendly to her, but Kobik and everything in Standoff was her crossing a line. You’ll see more of this story in Agents of SHIELD and New Avengers as well.”
The new Quasar will have a major role to play not only in the Cap books, but in the broader Marvel Universe in the next year or two. (SHIELD officer Avril Kincaid inherited the Quantum Bands from original Quasar Wendell Vaughn in the Standoff finale.) “Where she fits and what she’ll have to deal with will be big stories. You’ll definitely see her in the Cap books, but big plans for her all around.”
The super soldier serum was sucked out of Rogers and he’s been an elderly man without powers but now he’s back after a transformation by Kobik, the Cosmic Cube in the form of a little girl.
“Steve’s out of sorts–this is a major transformation. He’s always been a man out of time, so in some ways the 90 year old version might have felt more comfortable–he might have made his peace in certain ways.”
“Now that he’s back in his youth, it’s a way to reconnect to the classic “man out of time” element.”
Before this, Steve and Sharon had a life of quasi-retirement. They were looking at being old together–now they’re at very different places in their lives.
Spencer on Two Caps:
Wilson’s books will be dealing with domestic/civil issues, Steve’s book has more questions about security, freedom v. safety, the kinds of lines you’re willing to cross when lives are at stake.
“Steve does not view his role as being to tell Sam what to do–he gave him the shield, he trusted him with it. It was Sam’s idea to share the role–Steve worries about taking the spotlight from Sam.”
Two Caps, Two Sides, One Civil War II:
“Sam is going to make a clearer choice in Civil War II than Steven.
These are very different characters–they view the role of Cap differently and are at very different times in their lives. Each book offers its own kind of Cap story.”
Rogers is back just as a new version of Hydra resurfaces:
“They’re entirely ideological, so you’re giving Steve the chance to go up against something that is so completely diametrically opposed to his worldview.
They’re doing a new take on how Hydra recruits, how they work, what they do. At its core though it’s still deeply rooted in fascism, a worldview that is built on control at all costs. To put that up against Steve, you always get something out of that.”
Daniel Acuna will stay on as Captain America: Sam Wilson artist, Captain America: Steve Rogers by Spencer and Jesus Saiz arrives May 25th.
By Editor