Marvel Confirms Captain America's New Powers Before MCU Comeback

3 weeks ago 37

Published Jun 25, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

Patrik Walker is an Emmy Award–winning writer who covers all things Comics & Superheroes. His work can also be found at the Dallas Cowboys, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports, among other outlets. One of the most respected names in his field, he is also a diehard enthusiast of all things comics, anime, gaming and movies — thriving in spaces where discussions involving those or similar topics reign supreme.

What in the ... hell ... is going on with Captain America? It's a good question to ask, both literally and figuratively, seeing as Chris Evans has now officially gone from choosing Peggy Carter over returning to his MCU current timeline in Avengers: Endgame, passing the mantle of Captain America to Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson in the process, to returning as Steve Rogers for Avengers: Doomsday.

The answer as to why that's taking place will be provided in December 2026, because maybe he's Nomad — a story for another day — but Rogers is literally going through Hell for Marvel Comics in the meantime.

In Captain America #12, written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Valerio Schiti, Rogers finds himself drawing an intriguing new power ... from the underworld ... and in large part due to Doctor Doom.

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Cover art: Valerio Schiti
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Variant covers: Cory Smith, Martin Coccolo
On sale: June 24, 2026
Length: 32 pages
Price: $4.99
UPC: 75960621146301211

Captain America Goes to Hell to Power Up Before MCU Return

Per the official synopsis: "FROZEN...IN HELL! After S.H.I.E.L.D.'s campaign in Latveria meets a brutal and violent end, Captain America finds himself in the last place he expected to be, alongside the last person he expected to see again. Where has Victor Von Doom been since the FALL OF DOOM, and what does he want with Steve Rogers? Find out here as everything hurtles toward ARMAGEDDON!"

One word: whoa.

It's true that while Captain America has proven, time and again, to be one of the strongest in Marvel lore, he's also met his match on multiple occasions — opponents such as Thanos and Red Hulk (in Armageddon) immediately come to mind here.

Doctor Doom + Captain America = The Power of Resurrection?

What we discover in Captain America #12 is that Rogers is comatose after his battle with the Red Hulk, and while he fights for his life physically, he's also fighting for his soul as Doom reveals to him, in Hell, that the two are now linked by a "silver cord" that could, Doom says, resurrect the villain.

Of course, the cord likely works both ways, in that Captain America may be able to fight his way out of Hell to resurrect himself instead. You can bet Mephisto is watching this closely, because it could form a truce between Doom and Cap that changes everything, for everybody.

Considering Rogers is back in the MCU to take on Doom (former Iron Man bestie Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Doomsday, wouldn't it be wild if Kevin Feige and the Russo Brothers took a page out of Captain America #12 and found a way to tie the two souls together to create absolute havoc within the factions and with everyone's morality compass?

Eh, we dream big — maybe too big.