Marvel Legends Captain America “Secret Empire” Figure Revealed

 

Captain America fans and Marvel Legends collectors can look forward to a version of the character getting the ML treatment by Hasbro - as the Secret Empire era Cap aka “Hydra Cap” now has a 6” figure being previewed in the In Demand Toys 20th Anniversary Celebration! 

As reported by ItsDanWho and MarvelousNews, this Hydra Cap will be a Walmart exclusive - and comes with the new costume and shield he wore first in the “Steve Rogers: Captain America” series that ran during Secret Empire.

Happy Fourth of July and Happy Birthday Steve Rogers - aka Captain America!

Today is July 4th  - marking the celebration of Independence Day in the United States of America AND the fictional birthday of one of the greatest superheroes in comic book history! On this day on July 4, 1918 - Steven Grant Rogers was born in the Marvel Universe -  a scrawny kid with a sense of idealism, patriotism, and justice who would soon volunteer for "Project Rebirth" and be injected with the Super Soldier Serum to transform him into a powerful warrior for the allies in World War II. While it proved successful - he would end up being the only successful "Super Soldier" as the scientist responsible for the serum would be assassinated. Dedicating himself to become a symbol as much as a weapon for justice - Steve Rogers donned the stars and stripes, wielded the shield, and became the sentinel of liberty known as Captain America!

So yes, today is the birthday of Cap! Whether you know him from Marvel Comics, his time fighting in the present alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the Avengers, or his portrayal by Chris Evans in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - the character of Steve Rogers doesn't just wear the flag and fight for America - he fights for the ideals and beliefs of the dream, freedom, and justice wherever it may be. I've been a fan of the character in many forms of media, and it's always been a treat to honor one of my favorite characters in comics - whether it be through my collection or through cosplay!

Happy Fourth of July and Happy Birthday, Captain America!

Secret Empire extends to #10 issue come August

In what feels like a recurring trend for recent Marvel events, Marvel.com has announced that their current Captain America/ Hydra centered crossover story "Secret Empire" has been extended one more issue - bringing the total count to 10 and seeing the last issue come out this August. The story, written by "Captain America: Steve Rogers" writer Nick Spencer, sees the Cosmic Cube altered Steve Rogers as the new Supreme Commander of Hydra - leading his new council and army to take over the world and with the divided heroes trying to mount a stand against his secret empire.

In the article, Marvel SVP and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort explained why there was a need to add an issue #10:

“[Writer] Nick [Spencer] has constructed each issue of SECRET EMPIRE so that it ends with a climactic twist or a big reveal or a shocking development, and issue #9 is no exception,” said SVP & Executive Editor, Tom Brevoort. “So moving into the finale, with issue #10, the heroes across the Marvel Universe will be pushed to the breaking point as we race to the exhilarating climax we’ve been planning for months. Oh, and let me say again: we’re not going to use the Cosmic Cube to simply reverse everything away—the stakes matter, maybe more than they ever have before.”

Secret Empire #10 will be written by Nick Spencer and drawn by Steve McNiven, with a cover by Mark Brooks featuring a new look for the Hydra leader Cap.

Secret Empire: "United We Stand" trailer released by Marvel

Beginning with quite the bang in terms of what transpires in the 1st issue and the Free Comic Book Day issue that were released last week, Marvel Entertainment and writer Nick Spencer are on the march along with a group of talented artists to tell the tale of "Secret Empire" - where a very different Steve Rogers/ Captain America rises as the new Supreme Leader of Hydra and reveals himself to the world while launching a campaign to takeover everything under the organization's rule. Now the heroes have to stand together and find a way to fight back against the one they trusted the most... And nothing will ever be the same once all is said and done.

Secret Empire UNITED WE STAND Trailer
To coincide with the launch of the storyline, Marvel has released a new "United We Stand" trailer where Nick Spencer lays out what exactly will go down in this storyline as it finally unravels itself.

Secret Empire and its tie-in issues are available at your local comic book shops and retailers.

Marvel releases "United We Stand" Secret Empire teaser poster

After previously revealing the title of their next big event that somehow involves Steve Rogers/ Captain America and current events in the Marvel Universe, Marvel (via Comic Book Resources) has released a brand new teaser poster for "Secret Empire" - showing the words "United We Stand" and all the prominent hero characters so far - Spider-Man, Cap, Old Man Logan, Deadpool, Black Bolt, Rocket Raccoon, Black Widow, Black Panter, and Captain Marvel to name a few.

 How this plays out is anyone's guess, but with the Marvel Universe involved and Hydra Cap still working in secret, it's bound to play out in some way or form. Let's just wait and see.

Marvel announces "Secret Empire" event for 2017 featuring Captain America

After recently releasing a trailer that detailed the new Hydra status quo of one reinvigorated yet tainted Steve Rogers, Marvel Comics has released an image of what appears to be their next big event storyline called "Secret Empire" - which puts Captain America in the middle of things as in the current "Captain America: Steve Rogers" comic book - he is an Agent of HYDRA who is manipulating things from behind the scenes and is working to a big endgame. Reported by Bleeding Cool, it's still up in the air as to how this event will play out in the bigger Marvel Universe, but as CBR points out the term "Secret Empire" also harkens to a division of HYDRA that has existed in stories before... And this new division could be Hydra Cap's own brainchild to put his plans in motion.

No release date has been given for Secret Empire, but expect it sometime in 2017 for sure.

Marvel releases "Hail Hydra" launch trailer for Captain America: Steve Rogers

2016 has certainly left a lot of shockers and unexpected things in its wake... And one of those in the popculture and comic scene was the big switcheroo that happened in the pages of the new series "Captain America: Steve Rogers" - which puts the newly restored Steve Rogers back in the uniform and wielding a new shield, but also with the revelation that he is an agent of Hydra. Anyone who follows the Nick Spencer and Jesus Saiz series knows that this was due to the machinations of the Red Skull - who manipulated the sentient Cosmic Cube entity known as Kobik to restore Rogers but also implant new memories of his past being laced with a history of being raised by the evil organization he fought since World War II.

Hail Hydra! Presenting a Special Launch Trailer For CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS!
Now Marvel has released a new trailer to promote the new storyline "Hail Hydra" starting with issue #7 and #8 - which brings readers and followers of the series up to speed and also teasing what the future may bring for Cap as he puts his own plans in motion.

Captain America: Steve Rogers is currently ongoing and published by Marvel Comics.

Marvel reveals the answer behind that Captain America plot twist w/ Captain America: Steve Rogers #2 *SPOILERS*

Looks like the cat is out of the bag, as Marvel FINALLY reveals the truth behind the sudden change in status quo Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, when the recently returned and restored Star Spangled Avenger showed he was an Agent of HYDRA in his new ongoing series "Captain America: Steve Rogers". Needless to say, that last page caused a lot of controversy and divided opinions - with the issue selling out and a second printing coming out as a result.

With the release of Captain America: Steve Rogers #2 this week the answer to why Steve changed has finally been revealed c/o Marvel Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso... And naturally it's SPOILERS for those looking to pic up the issue this week.

ICYMI: Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 takes a BIG TWIST (SPOILER)

After nearly two years of being aged into an old man and the super soldier serum drained from his system, Steve Rogers was recently restored to youth and vigor and has resumed his adventures as "Captain America" - complete with a new shield, new costume, and sharing the identity with his chosen successor and friend Sam Wilson, better known as The Falcon and now "Falcon Cap".

This week saw the release of "Captain America: Steve Rogers #1" - a new ongoing title written by Nick Spencer and artist Jesus Saiz that stars Rogers and continues his crusade as a superhero in the modern world. Aided by a supporting cast that included his love interest Sharon Carter, former sidekick Rick Jones, and of course other allies in the superhero community and S.H.I.E.L.D., it looks like everything is back to normal for Steve... That is until you read through issue #1 and find out the BIG TWIST everyone, including EW and Time, are talking about now.

SPOILER WARNING here and the big surprise coming after the jump. Don't look if you don't want to be spoiled.