A new image of Steve Rogers reveals Captain America‘s new costume, as the Avengers‘ latest mission puts the Sentinel of Liberty through Hell. With an unruly beard, bandaged arms and a metal breastplate, Cap is ready for a brutal adventure that Marvel is hinting will be his last.
Since his debut in 1940, Captain America has stuck relatively close to his original design, with a spangled red, white and blue battle suit, Hermes-like wings on his helm and his iconic shield. However, that only means that when Steve Rogers is reduced to a more embattled look, it hits even harder.
Now, Marvel has released an image of Steve Rogers as broken down as he’s ever been, facing a villain that will rock the Avengers franchise like few ever had.
Captain America Wears Armored Breastplate to Take on Red Hulk
Via social media, Marvel Comics has released a teaser image for the upcoming Avengers: Armageddon #1, releasing June 10. Marco Checchetto’s art shows Spider-Man and Wolverine leaping into battle, a superpower-granting Origin Box being activated, the Avengers’ Quinjet exploding in the air, and an armored Captain America standing in front of an aging Red Hulk.
Captain America is shown with a thick beard, chaps, and bandages covering his body. His absent sleeves and clear injuries suggest some kind of major impact that even his shield couldn’t stop, while his armored breastplate appears to be somewhat makeshift, implying a guerrilla war against Red Hulk’s forces.
Avengers: Armageddon Is About to Change the Game
The new story – from Chip Zdarsky, Delio Diaz, Frank Alpizar, Jesus Aburtov and Cory Petit – is set to redefine Avengers comics, with Marvel promising there will be the franchise before Armageddon, and the franchise after. Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Armageddon/X-Men already offered some context for Checchetto’s image, showing a future where Steve Rogers is Red Hulk’s prisoner.
The issue showed a future where Red Hulk has enforced a twisted version of democracy across the world, leading humanity into a chaos that Thunderbolt Ross claims is of their own making. In that future, the Avengers and Fantastic Four were killed by Red Hulk, with Ross seeing this potential outcome and continuing with his plan anyway.
Red Hulk currently commands a Hulk army, but is the threat he poses really so big? Yes, considering the promotional information Marvel has released for what comes next…
Will Steve Rogers Survive Avengers: Armageddon?
Marvel has revealed that following Avengers: Armageddon, a new Avengers series will launch with the tagline ‘Earth’s Mightiest Survivors.’ This tagline, and the low-powered roster, suggests that the traditional big-hitters of the franchise will perish during the events of Armageddon.
This seems like a modern version of the Onslaught Saga and its Heroes Reborn follow-up from the ’90s, where Marvel’s heroes were banished to an alternate dimension and presumed dead, returning soon after. Despite this, Marvel is still likely to leave any casualties ‘dead’ for a number of years, especially given the comic franchise has been floundering for years. A major reset is needed, and that’s clearly exactly what Marvel has in mind.
With what appears to be a historic reset of the Avengers comic franchise, Marvel has a chance to unleash a shocking story with major casualties and lasting consequences. With Steve Rogers’ Captain America going up against the Red Hulk in a makeshift armored costume, it’s clear the Avengers are on the backfoot, and any victory they can scrape from this dark story will be shot through with loss.
Avengers: Armageddon #1 is coming June 10 from Marvel Comics.
- First Appearance
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Captain America Comics
- Alias
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Steve Rogers, John Walker, Sam Wilson
- Alliance
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Avengers, Invaders, S.H.I.E.L.D., U.S. Army
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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Marvel