Synopsis
Captain America mentally reviews his origin, how he was chosen for the experiment that made him the embodiment of the nation’s ideals during the dark days of World War 2. But now he is discouraged, disillusioned at the seeming betrayal of those ideals by America’s own leaders and considering abandoning the identity that no longer symbolizes what it once did. Thor attempts to encourage Cap by praising the nobility of his mission to combat evil, but Cap dismisses the argument with an appeal to the growing moral ambiguity of the times. Iron Man points out that Cap has always used his superior abilities to help those in need—but what happened as a result? asks Cap. The people turned against him, choosing to believe the Secret Empire’s smear campaign. The Falcon bursts in and confronts Cap, reminding him how he inspired Sam Wilson to become a costumed hero, one who proudly served by Cap’s side in the fight against evil. Cap will have none of it: heroes can’t be trusted and hero-worship does more harm than good. Peggy Carter assures him that America’s ideals are greater than any crooked politicians and that such crooks are exposed and the country righted itself. But Cap is more than an example of heroism, he is a symbol of America, forged in the crucible of the War against the Nazi threat, and continuing to the present to combat newer threats to the nation. Cap points out however, that America is now a diverse nation, without a unified goal or set of values. He then asks to be left alone to think. Vision pauses to ask if he would be able to turn away from a life of adventure, and Sharon assures him she will support whatever decision he makes. A short time later, he emerges from seclusion and announces to his stunned friends that Captain America must die….