Steve Rogers quits and Peggy Carter returns in the latest issue of Captain America

The future of Captain America is going to look very different after the latest issue of his ongoing series.

Ta-Nehisi Coates and Adam Kubert upped the ante this week in the latest issue of Captain America. It furthers a story in which the title star has been framed for killing General “Thunderbolt” Ross and for being a Hydra commander in 2017’s Secret Empire crossover. A “power elite,” which includes Alexa Lukin, Selene Gallio and Wilson Fisk has conspired to cause all this. Rogers wound up surrendering to authorities and heading to a private prison run by Wolfgang Von Strucker. He and his heroic allies later caused a jail break to allow his escape.

All the while, Cap’s ally Sharon Carter has been leading a squad of superheroines as the “Daughters of Liberty,” a stealth team dedicated to the cause of freedom. It was they who caused the jailbreak, and their roster includes notable figures like Invisible Woman, Spider-Woman, Echo, Mockingbird, Misty Knight and White Tiger. Yet their newest member was a mysterious red-head named “the Dryad,” who had been helping down track Ross’ real killer, the Foreigner. In the finale of this issue, it’s revealed that she’s none other than Sharon’s aunt, the famous Peggy Carter!

Peggy Carter was created by none other than Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966’s Tales Of Suspense No. 65-67. Introduced as Cap’s wartime partner and lover, she was originally Sharon’s elder sister. However, once World War II became more distant as the decades wore on, Peggy was retroactively branded as Sharon’s aunt instead. Despite being elderly, in the comics, Peggy continued to aid Cap well into her golden years. She dated SHIELD agent Gabe Jones and investigated alongside him, as well as served as a member of the Avengers’ support staff.

After the 1980s, however, Peggy Carter’s appearances began to wane in the comics. Elderly women aren’t usually considered critical supporting characters, as Sharon usually had a larger role. After 1989, in fact, Peggy Carter only had two comic book appearances; in 1999’s Avengers Annual No. 3 when the Avengers disbanded their staff, and in 2015’s Operation S.I.N. No. 1-2, where the dementia-suffering, nursing home-dwelling ex-agent passed away.

However, Peggy Carter became infinitely more popular after 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, where Hayley Atwell played the role. She proved so popular that despite being in her prime in the 1940s that Atwell would appear in the sequel, two Avengers films, and a slew of other projects. Peggy Carter got a short in 2013 and, in 2015, alone not only appeared in Ant-Man, but starred in her own TV series for ABC, Agent Carter, which ran for two seasons.

Her survival and rejuvenation — she’s now more youthful in appearance than Sharon — is currently unrevealed. She also wears a nose ring, which is quite a fashion statement for a woman born in the 1920s. It could be possible she’s the version of Peggy Carter from 2018’s Exiles No. 3, where the team traveled to a parallel world where she became Captain America. At SDCC this year, Marvel announced a What If animated TV series which was set to debut with that premise. However, in a world where clones, time travel, and resurrections are old hat, it could be the genuine Peggy Carter. She’s a top ranking member of the “Daughters,” and only Sharon and Bucky know of her survival.

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Steve Rogers also resigned his position as Captain America following the massive frame-up job he’s suffered. Unlike Peggy Carter’s return, this is more routine for the character. In Captain America No. 180-184 from 1974-1975 (during the Watergate scandal), Rogers quit in the face of government corruption and became the caped “Nomad, Man without a Country.” In 1987 (midway into Ronald Reagan’s second term), Cap was fired and replaced with the more aggressive John Walker in Captain America No. 332; he would later don a black costume as “The Captain.” And in 2007-2008 (during the end of George W. Bush’s second term), the hero was seemingly killed off in Captain America No. 25-42. Cap also quit due to similar circumstances during Mark Waid’s run from 1995-1998. Even Rogers’ costume is the same as in 2010, when he revived but allowed Bucky to serve as Captain America.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a globally recognized author, columnist, and commentator outside of the realm of comic books. It stands to reason that his run on Marvel’s most patriotic hero would have some newsworthy moments! More revelations about Peggy Carter may be coming in future issues!