Captain America is known as a tenacious fighter, often surprising enemies with his ability to persevere through punishment and keep a fight going. But that fortitude isn't just rooted in his enhanced physique. There's another quality about Steve Rogers that makes him so indomitable—a quality his allies have been able to observe firsthand, especially one of the oldest: Namor the Sub-Mariner.
The current Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty series is bringing major changes to Cap's history. It turns out that he has been the unwitting pawn of a decades-long conspiracy orchestrated by the Outer Circle, a clandestine oligarchy whose symbol is emblazoned on Captain America's shield. Making matters more complicated, Bucky Barnes is seemingly back on the side of the shadows, having shot his former ally during his assassination of a man called "The Revolution." In the ensuing fight, Bucky drops Steve and his shield hundreds of feet into a nearby river. Luckily, the Captain has friends in deep places.
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Carmen Carnero opens with Steve reflecting by the river's edge when Namor arrives, holding his shield, asking if Rogers wants to "challenge" him for it. Steve tells him it wouldn't be a fair fight, given his arm is currently in a sling. Namor scoffs at this, telling Cap that he's seen him persist under far worse circumstances. They were Invaders together after all. "It's not about the wound," the Atlantean says. "It's about how you got it." Namor surmises that Steve's recent scuffle with Bucky has left a greater wound on his heart than his body, pointing to the true source of Captain America's strength.
Captain America Has A Hero's Spirit
Captain America is driven by belief. He has always been a man whose conviction will power him through the most insurmountable odds. His first duel with Iron Man in Civil War saw him beaten within an inch of his life, but he stubbornly clung to consciousness simply to prove a point. The conflict ended later only once Rogers saw what havoc the superhero war was causing. It broke his resolve and made him easy to subdue. In effect, he defeated himself, which is what he's done again at the beginning of this issue. Namor's pep talk is necessary not only for Cap to get back in the saddle, but for the audience to understand him on a deeper level.
In a series that's positioned to fundamentally change the First Avenger moving forward, Captain America is going to need all the support he can get, even if it comes from old allies like Namor.
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 is available now from Marvel Comics