Warning! Spoilers for Fantastic Four: Life Story #2 ahead!

Marvel has confirmed that Captain America, one of the most patriotic heroes of all time, would have shockingly switched sides and fought against the United States in the Vietnam War. This is surprising to say the least, especially from a superhero most famous for wearing the American flag and punching Hitler in the face in his debut issue (in March 1941 no less, months before America entered World War II). Yet Marvel's position is official: in Fantastic Four: Life Story #2, written by Mark Russell with art by Sean Izaakse and colors by Nolan Woodard, Captain America attacks American soldiers.

After the conclusion of World War II, Captain America Comics waned in popularity and the titular hero eventually disappeared from publication. Stan Lee revived the character in 1964's Avengers #4, and Captain America has graced the covers of his own new series and team-up issues ever since. Captain America mostly fought mad scientists and supervillains who threatened the homefront, but writers usually refrained from even addressing the Vietnam War...until now.

Related: Captain America Fought Richard Nixon - And Lost

In Fantastic Four: Life Story #2, the team's origin is retold through the lens of the era in which their comics debuted: the '60s and '70s. These are tumultuous times for everyone, superheroes included, and Americans slowly lose faith in their leaders and authority figures. As Susan Storm ponders the state of the world, heroes like Namor and Captain America take matters into their own hands. "Because when you can't trust those in charge to do the right thing...who else is there?" At that moment in the Vietnamese jungle, Captain America leaps into action and attacks a United States soldier guarding prisoners.

Amazingly, this is not the first time Captain America has switched sides in Vietnam. In Spider-Man: Life Story, Captain America goes rogue and attacks more American soldiers about to execute prisoners. Watching an American hero actually defending the Communist forces of North Vietnamese is astounding, and something that clearly could never have been printed during the war, what with the anti-Communist fervor gripping the country at the time. Towards the end of Fantastic Four: Life Story #2, Captain America is seen at the United Nations alongside Black Panther and Namor, suggesting he was eventually forgiven for his traitorous actions during the war...or more likely, that he was never caught.

The 1970s, in the aftermath of Watergate and approaching the eighth year of operations in Vietnam, was a difficult decade for a patriotic hero like Captain America. No longer could he be seen as a man who represented the United States government - and writers knew it. Captain America was eventually retooled into a man who put American's stated ideals before America itself (or its elected officials). Even though the Life Story series takes place in an alternate universe separate from main continuity, they still depict a Captain America true to his core values: putting people over party.

Next: Captain Marvel Is Stronger Than Aquaman - Even Underwater