WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Captain America #12 by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Adam Kubert, Matt Milla and Joe Caramagna, in stores now.
Secret Empire may have ended two years ago, but its aftereffects can still be felt to this day. In the event, an evil version of Captain America (created by a sentient Cosmic Cube) took over the United States of America as the Supreme Leader of Hydra. The entire country was turned on its head, under the ruling fist of this Hydra Supreme. Although the superheroes of the Marvel Universe would eventually emerge victorious following the return of the real Steve Rogers, the public's trust in Captain America was shaken to its core.
For the better part of two years, Steve tried his best to instill confidence once more in the red, white and blue shield, but the scars of Secret Empire remained. Things got infinitely worst in the pages of the main Captain America, title by Coates, Kubert and Leinil Francis Yu, when the titular superhero was framed for the murder of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. Thanks to the manipulations of the villainous organization known as the Power Elite, there is simply no trust left in the idea of Captain America.
For that reason, in Captain America #12, Steve decides to hang up the shield and ditch the Sentinel of Liberty costume. But he's not giving up the fight. Instead, he puts on an old costume -- one that might be familiar to fans: the costume of Commander Rogers.
After being framed for the murder of Thunderbolt Ross, Steve saw it prudent to turn himself in. He was then incarcerated in a prison known as the Myrmidon, which was under the control of Baron Strucker, a member of the manipulative Power Elite. Thankfully, Sharon Carter and the Daughters of Liberty broke Steve out.
Now, in Captain America #12, Steve goes back on patrol. But the problem is that the Power Elite has been keeping busy. They continued to manipulate the narrative of events, and convinced the public that Steve and Hydra Cap are the same person. The public has essentially turned on the idea of Captain America -- which means that there is simply no place for such a symbol in the country. Not right now, anyway.
For that reason, Steve decides to hang up the shield. Although he spent plenty of time trying to fight for his name, it's time for a different kind of fight. And so, as he looks at his own hall of costumes, he locks onto the Commander Rogers suit and puts it on, and picks up its holographic red, white and blue shield.
The Commander Rogers costume is a suit Steve put on after he returned to life in 2009. When Steve died at the end of Civil War, Bucky Barnes eventually became the new Captain America. But upon his return, Steve didn't ask for the shield back. Instead, he became Commander Rogers, Super Soldier at the onset of Marvel's Heroic Age.
Now, the return of this costume isn't just a nod to Steve's past -- it's also symbolic of the change he is making. Steve is showing that while the image of Captain America is tarnished, he is still there to fight for the dream. If he can't do it as Captain America, then he'll do it as himself -- Steve Rogers.
Captain America #13 hits shelves August 28.