Captain America (2025 series) #5

Dave Coulton, the new Captain America, returns home to surprise his mother….

In Latveria, Captain America (Steve Rogers) receives a call from New Cap claiming, “we’re the bad guys” and his intention to wipe out the Latveria army. Cap stops a soldier from threatening an old woman with a gun then he asks Marius Wolf where the barracks is. Wolf doesn’t want to tell him as he thinks New Cap killing all the soldiers is a good thing. Cap points out that an American murdering Latveria soldiers unprovoked will not further any of Wolf’s goals so the rebel leader gives Cap directions. But Commando Slate is also there and she shoots down a soldier then asks his fellow where to find the barracks….

Dave tells his mother about all the anger and pain he has felt….

Cap rides his motorbike out to the barracks where he finds the Ambassador’s daughter and he calls for a rescue while continuing to search for New Cap. Cap finds him knee-deep in bloody corpses, claiming that killing them all is the only way to find freedom. Cap tries to talk him into calming down, telling him individuals can’t make these choices. New Cap relies that there is too much blood on his hands to stop now and hurls his shield at a surviving soldier but Cap throws his shield, knocking Dave’s out of the air. The two men fight and Slate arrives to kill them both. She opens fire, Dave jumps in the way with his shield, saving Cap and then he flings the shield knocking her out. New Cap then collapses from a heart attack, side effect of the new, imperfect Super-Soldier Serum. Dave whispers to Cap the big secret: that the Howling Commandos were sent to murder the hostages, not rescue them. The rescue team arrives for them….

Dave leaves a note for his mother, noting he is no longer her son but killer and he needs to make that mean something….

One month later, Steve Cap reports to General Ross, having been AWOL all that time. Steve explains that he went on a trip around the USA, trying to find out if his country ws still worth fighting for. He still believes in the American Dream and requests a discharge so he can help Americas in need. Ross refuses. Tony Stark is passing by and threatens to give up his government work is Cap is not allowed to retire. Ross relents, Steve and Tony go out for a beer….

A short time later, Cap arrives at Avengers Mansion to be greeted by Iron Man (no one yet knows that Tony Stark is Iron Man). They chat and Steve explains that Tony’s definition of their mission convinced him: “The Avengers help people.”  Shellhead mentions that Steve has gotten a package. He opens it and finds a note from Reed Richards, “The world never forgets heroes. I’m glad you’re here” and enclosed is the Bucky action figure and Steve vows to the late Bucky that he is going to make his life mean something….