Captain America is in charge of Hydra, and thus the United States, in the first look at Nick Spencer and Steve McNiven's "Secret Empire" #1.

The preview of Marvel Comics' anticipated and controversial event, which debuted via Entertainment Weekly, sets the stage for what readers should expect as its story unfolds across nine issues of the main story and a number of tie-ins and one-shots. What we know thus far is, Steve Rogers is still in control of the Avengers (or at least some form of the Avengers), and the superhero underground appears to be helmed by the Marvel U's newest teen team, the Champions.

RELATED: No Big Events After Secret Empire for ‘18 Months, At Least,’ Says Marvel

Check out the preview below, along with the first issue's solicitation text. "Secret Empire" #1 arrives May 3.

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SECRET EMPIRE #1 (of 9)

  • NICK SPENCER (W) • STEVE MCNIVEN (A)
  • Cover by MARK BROOKS
  • Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
  • VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
  • Hydra Hero VARIANT Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
  • Young Variant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
  • Villain Variant Cover by DAN MORA
  • PARTY VARIANT COVER BY TODD NAUCK
  • PARTY SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY TODD NAUCK
  • PREMIERE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
  • It’s been building for months, across a bevy of titles! But now, the moment has arrived for Steve Rogers to step into the light and declare his allegiance to Hydra! How can the heroes of the Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted figure among them? And what will this mean for the world? The map of the Marvel Universe changes in ways nobody will expect — TRUST THE SECRET EMPIRE!
  • 48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99