Warning: contains spoilers for Avengers Forever #7!
The infamous skinny version of Steve Rogers finally returns to Captain America comics, and while he has no powers, he’s a hero nonetheless. The return takes place amidst a massive prison storyline in which multiple variations of Captain America are tested by other variations, all overseen by the Multiversal Avengers. In Avengers Forever #7Skinny Steve Rogers is tested like all the other variants – but will he win?
The Multiversal Masters of Evil, comprised of Red Skull variants, seek to dominate the entire multiverse. Thus, they are opposed by a small group of Avengers including Tony Star (the Ant-Man), Ghost Rider, Deathlok, the Infinity Thing, and more. The heroes need an army, and so they go to the one man across the multiverse who consistently stands up to evil in the face of impossible odds: the human variants of Captain America.
In Avengers Forever #7, written by Jason Aaron with art by Aaron Kuder, five variations of Steve Rogers find themselves in a nondescript prison cell with a single door leading to an incredibly difficult training course. Among a dodging ’60s Steve and a Wolverine variant of Captain America is a skinny little Steve Rogers with glasses and a soft-spoken demeanor. This Rogers obviously never ingested the super-soldier serum, and thus never became the Captain America that Marvel fans know – but he did become an artist (who has worked at Marvel Comics of all places, judging by his work on tales of suspense).
Skinny Steve Rogers has appeared in Marvel Comics before – albeit briefly. Sam Wilson became Captain America after Steve Rogers suffered an attack that removed the serum from his body, turning him into his meager past (when he regained his powers, the two men agreed to share the name). Canonically, the 616 version of Steve Rogers wanted to be an entertainer and was quite talented, but when World War II broke out, he put his personal goals aside and enlisted in the US Army.
In contrast, this Rogers never joined the military and therefore never gained his powers – but he’s still rushing out the door with the refractory Steve and the Hound variant as well. He comforts heavy Steve (who has been bullied in his house) and never doubts his friends’ abilities. The fact that he holds his head up high and doesn’t give in to despair makes this version of Captain America more than worthy of the title, even if he doesn’t have super-strength or Captain America’s signature shield (which he acquires at the end of the issue).
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