WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #74, on sale now.
Due to the shifting nature of the Marvel Universe timeline, it's always hard to pinpoint what exactly the future will fully and finally be. But a recent tease from Marvel's most devilish foe suggests that one romantic pairing might be in the works for two longtime Avengers.
In Mephisto's vision of the future from Amazing Spider-Man #74 by writers Nick Spencer and Christos Gage, along with a collection of artists including Marcelo Ferreira, Mark Bagley, Zé Carlos, Dio Neves, Carlos Gómez, Ivan Fiorelli and Humberto Ramos, plenty of future heroes are glimpsed on the battlefield -- including what appears to be a version of James Rogers, the son of Captain America and Black Widow.
James Rogers first appeared as one of the principal characters of the animated film, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow. In one unique timeline across the Marvel multiverse, Captain America and Black Widow eventually had a child together -- resulting in James. Born with many of the same enhanced physical abilities that his father was granted by the Super Soldier Serum, James and the rest of the Avengers' children were some of the last survivors in their world after an assault by Ultron decimated humanity and wiped out most of the Avengers. Protected by an elderly Iron Man and trained in the use of an energy variant of his father's shield, James ended up leading his friends into battle against Ultron.
He later appeared during a universe-hopping storyline in Avengers, fighting against Ultron and ultimately helping protect the world as a new generation of Avengers. The possibility of him and his allies has always been on the table for the Marvel Universe, and now it appears that Mephisto's vision of the future suggests he will indeed eventually be born. Following Spider-Man's victory over Kindred, Mephisto and Doctor Strange briefly discuss the latter's long-time obsession with Spider-Man. He reveals to the Sorcerer Supreme that he's been having visions of his eventual triumph over the mortal realm, lording over the fallen heroes of Earth from a grisly throne. The only thing that could defeat him is Spider-Man, the last remaining hero -- and seemingly the one fated to bring about the end of his reign.
However, in reality it's not Spider-Man who accomplishes this goal but rather his daughter, May -- revealing why Mephisto has tried so hard over the years to manipulate events to keep her from even being born. In his true vision, it's a variant of May Parker aka Spider-Woman he sees swinging to confront him, over the bodies of future incarnations of major heroic legacies. This includes a shot of what is clearly supposed to be a variant of James Rogers -- either unconscious or dead on the battlefield, with his energy shield laying nearby. This suggests that in whatever future Mephisto is gazing at and terrified of, a variant of Captain America and Black Widow's child is among the heroic forces who would stand opposed to him.
Coupled with the appearance of some of the X-Men from the possible future glimpsed in Battle of the Atom, it appears that the future of the Marvel Universe Mephisto fears includes major figures from multiple possible timelines. Spider-Girl and James Barnes both hailed from different possible futures for the Marvel heroes, and yet they can both be seen as heirs to their father's heroic legacies. It also suggests that fans should keep an eye on Captain America and Black Widow -- and that at some point, the two long-time Avengers might end up becoming more than just allies and friends.