Marvel Comics Asks Fans To Be Patient With Captain America/Hydra Story
It's not easy watching your favorite superhero move to the dark side, but Marvel Comics is hoping readers can be patient and open-minded regarding Captain America's turn to Hydra before they make any judgements.
Marvel Comics has released a statement to ABC News regarding its upcoming summer event Secret Empire, which centers around the fascistic secret society known as Hydra. The Secret Empire event has sparked notable controversy amongst comics readers since the Marvel's very own Captain America was revealed to be a Hydra double agent, a far cry from the squeaky-clean hero we've come to know him as. "With Marvel Comics' Secret Empire, the forces of Hydra have taken over and, due to the villainous actions of the Red Skull, have manipulated Marvel's greatest hero, Captain America, and forced him to adopt their cause," the official statement explains.
The first official issue of Secret Empire, which follows last month's #0 installment that details Captain America's takeover, is set to hit shelves tomorrow. In the wake of the uproar, and so close to the event's kick-off release, Marvel Comics has asked fans to "allow the story to unfold before coming to any conclusion."
The statement notes that the minds at Marvel "hear [fans'] concerns about aligning Captain America with Hydra," but politely ask for a bit of patience throughout the Secret Empire event.
Though Captain America is now cosmically altered, Marvel states that he's still a hero who values morals, and that being manipulated by Hydra is extremely difficult for him. "Captain America...will always be a cornerstone of the Marvel Universe who will stand up for what is right, and Secret Empire will be the biggest challenge [he] has ever faced," the statement reads.
Marvel's statement carries this sentiment to its conclusion, hinting at what may happen in the climax of Secret Empire: "What you will see at the end of this journey is that [Captain America's] heart and soul—his core values, not his muscle or his shield — are what save the day against Hydra and will further prove that our heroes will always stand against oppression and show that good will always triumph over evil."
As reported by ABC News, Marvel's parent company, The Walt Disney Company, had no involvement in the statement. Additionally, the announcement isn't affiliated with a specific Marvel executive or Marvel Comics editor. Rather, it's attributed to "the folks at Marvel" in general.
It sounds like Secret Empire will have plenty of intense action sequences, burgeoning moral conflicts, and tons of narrative twists as issues continue to roll out. But, as Marvel said, fans will simply have to wait and see how it all really goes down.
Secret Empire #1 will be available digitally and in stores tomorrow, May 3. Marvel Comics is also releasing an exclusive Secret Empire: Free Comic Book Day issue, which fans can pick up in select stores on Saturday, May 6. Until then, check out the dark history of Captain America.