Warning: contains SPOILERS for Marvel’s Secret Empire event.

During the build up to Secret Empire, Marvel rewrote history, at least as far as Steve Rogers goes, transforming him into a mirror universe version of himself. At the same time, the Captain America fans know and love may still be running around inside Rogers, fighting the Cosmic Cube-based Hydra indoctrination poisoning him and the world. Still, this comes as little comfort to former friends and allies betrayed by Rogers, those now executed, battling the corruption of a Darkhold dimension version of Manhattan, or scrambling around the globe to collect Cube fragments.

As difficult as it is to believe, Rogers retains a number of loyal followers, otherwise courageous heroes or dubious mercenaries that are well-aware of his duplicitous nature. In fact, the Avengers still exist, now in a bastardized, Hydra variation. So who’s still working for Hydra Cap, and more so, why would they follow him?

Scarlet Witch

Why the Avengers Fight for Hydra & Captain America

Starting out as a villain, Scarlet Witch later became a core member of the Avengers. While Wanda Maximoff was often resigned to the background, her romantic interest in synthezoid Vision created a fascinating and charming relationship that continued on and off through the decades. Despite her immense powers derived through chaos magic, which allowed her to rewrite the entire Marvel Universe during the “House of M” event, her bizarre parentage (maybe she’s Magneto’s daughter; maybe she’s not) and unusual family life (usually she has two kids; sometimes she doesn’t) only contributed to her unstable mental state.

Her continued service with the Hydra-fied Avengers is simple: she’s a woman possessed, literally. At present, Wanda is under the control of one of the MU’s Elder Gods, Chthon. At this point, it’s unclear why Chthon itself is working (willingly or otherwise) for Hydra. Clearly, the ancient organization counts some powerful mystics among their ilk, especially Madame Hydra and (possibly Cube-realigned) Isaac Newton. They may have created a binding spell or promised him dominion over part of the Earth. Heck, perhaps Hydra just has the best horrors of antiquity benefits around.

The Vision

Why the Avengers Fight for Hydra & Captain America

Much like Scarlet Witch, Vision’s incredible power set and quirky personality make him a must-have for any superhero squad. Capable of altering his body mass, generating energy discharges, and flipping a switch between emotions and a lack-thereof, Vision has been an Avengers' fixture since Hank Pym created him in the ‘60s. In an attempt to mimic his fleshy cohorts (very Data from Star Trek), he even built himself a family that proved all-too-human.

Unfortunately, he does have one major weakness, which Hydra seems to have exploited: he’s still a robot running off a series of computer codes. Steve and the green and gold posse apparently found a way to hack into the android hero, possibly using Rick Jones mad skills – at least before they executed him, anyway (there’s gratitude). It’s unclear how easy it is to re-crack the Vision’s programming, but until the remnant resistance heroes do, the warped Avengers have a potentially deadly ally.

Odinson

Why the Avengers Fight for Hydra & Captain America

Marvel recently revealed the real reason Thor Odinson was no longer able to wield his hammer Mjolnir (spoilers ahead). He first lost his "worthiness" at the conclusion of the “Original Sin” miniseries in 2014. During the storyline, Nick Fury Sr. took over Watcher duties for the murdered Uatu. Now an all-seeing being known as the Unseen, Fury whispered into Odinson's ear that “Gorr was right.” For those who missed the Jason Aaron’s intense “God Butcher” saga, Fury/Unseen was referring to Gorr's belief that the universe's deities are petty, self-serving creatures – which they usually are. So, when the nigh-infallible Unseen-Fury's confirmed this to Odinson, his sense of worth crumbled and his mighty mallet fell from his hands.

Shortly thereafter, his former lover Dr. Jane Foster proved her own merit and hoisted the hammer as the latest Thor. In the Secret Empire Free Comic Book Day issue, though, Steve Rogers proved his combat value by besting Earth's Mightiest Heroes and stealing Mjolnir from Thor, which suggests that Jane Foster was either incapacitated or stripped of her own powers and captured. In Secret Empire #4, Thor relates to belligerent demigod Hercules that he serves with the Avengers to protect “those I love” and Asgard. Without the full picture, it’s not entirely clear what he means. Readers can assume he’s referring to an endangered or dying Jane and that wielding the hammer gives Steve Rogers power over Asgard as well – putting the entire Ten Realms at risk.

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Deadpool

For the so-called Merc with a Mouth, motives aren’t always the trickiest thing to come by. After all, what’s in a nickname? Clearly, Deadpool has done a lot of things for money, even if he isn’t always proud of them. For those playing along at home, Wade’s priorities have realigned somewhat over the last few years. Since becoming a card-carrying member of the Avengers, and later joining Cap’s Unity Squad, Deadpool seems to have flipped his hero switch.

Deadpool #32 further explains his motives, as well as his accidental alliance with Hydra. Wade clearly reveres Steve Rogers as a god. After Cap charges him with assassinating Agent Coulson, though, Deadpool realizes he's trapped in the machinery of a hijacked country. He tries to do right by his daughter, who keeps getting in fights at the special Hydra school he enrolls her in. Similarly, the Merc appears to be losing heart with his own assignment – tracking down friends and former allies in the resistance. However, it sounds like Wade is already changing his tune. His passive-aggressive salutes like “Fail Hydra” and “Kale Hydra” were replaced by genuine treason when he withheld the location of the rebel’s secret base (boy, that sounds eerily familiar).

If his recent misadventures as a Hydra-venger, and his cryptic biblical reference to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for “silver” are any indication, Deadpool’s days as a fascist stooge are numbered.

Black Ant/Taskmaster

Why the Avengers Fight for Hydra & Captain America

Much like Deadpool, Eric O’Grady (Black Ant) and Tony Masters’ (Taskmaster) roles are fairly self-explanatory: they’re mercenaries. Recently established Madame Hydra, Elisa Sinclair, caught them in Bagalia, trying to sell proof of Steve Rogers’ true allegiance to former S.H.I.E.L.D. director Maria Hill. As a result, she forcibly conscribed the mercenary pair into Hydra, under threat of death. Although they’re currently well-paid, both men are rarely willing to risk extreme bodily harm for a paycheck. Like most hired guns, good help is hard to find, much less retain, especially in the dangerous business of superhero clobbering. Their Avenger days may conclude if the stakes grow too high.

Doctor Octopus

The Superior Octopus talking

Longtime Spider-Man adversary Otto Octavius was recently reborn in a new body during the Clone Conspiracy. His Spider-clone body was cured of its degenerative problems and offers him incredible reflexes and other Spider-perks. After Ben Reilly’s operation at New U unraveled, Octopus fled to one of his old secret hideouts, only to find it crawling with Hydra operatives. Dr. Armin Zola offered him a deal: he would provide Octavius with unlimited funds and a killer suit in return for loyalty and some organizational dirty work. Naturally, they also bonded over their mutual Spider-hate.

As a result, Octavius teamed up with Hydra and became the Superior Doctor Octopus. While he may not be a full-fledged Avenger, he often fights alongside them, including a major raid on Atlantis in search of a Cosmic Cube fragment. He’s also struck out on solo missions, including securing the New Tian border from mutant foes in Secret Empire: United. In the long run, Ock is more of an ally of convenience, though, much like his soldier-of-fortune cohorts, Black Ant and Taskmaster. Always treacherous, Octopus would sell out Hydra if the right opportunity arose – or they got in the way of his mission to destroy Parker Industries.

Bonus Entry: The Punisher

The Punisher Is Contemplative

Frank Castle isn’t technically an Avenger, nor would he ever be, even in a non-Hydra-fied world. His tactics tend to be, shall we say, a bit rough around the edges for Earth’s Mightiest. His vigilante war against crime often put him at odds with his fellow superheroes, as well as law enforcement in general. At the same time, his heavy-handed tactics actually like seem a better fit for the United States of Hydra.

While writer Nick Spencer only scratched the surface of The Punisher’s role as Steve Rogers’ superhero assassin, there may be more than meets the eye to his allegiance with the Secret Empire. Castle’s admiration for fellow vet Captain America is readily apparent. It's quite possible Castle has been brainwashed, but by all outward appearances, he’s a willing participant in the current authoritarian regime. The coming issues, though, will reveal the truth.

Although the idea of supporting the duplicitous Captain American is distasteful, the Hydra Avengers are a reminder that people – even superheroes – are far from infallible or predictable. As the battle escalates in the coming months, heroes and villains fall, and the ravages of a fascist state take their toll, some of Captain America’s staunchest allies lose their stomach for the cause. Similarly, if Steve Rogers enemies can free their friends and family from his control, the tables could rapidly turn on Hydra Cap. Most importantly, if AI Tony Stark and his crack team can reassemble the Cosmic Cube, they’ll be able to re-rewrite history and bring Rogers back to his true self.

Next: Marvel Reminds Fans: Ant-Man Beat His Wife

Secret Empire #4 is currently available.