Warning: Contains SPOILERS for X-Force #5!WhenAvengersfans think ofCaptain America, they see the perfect embodiment of a hero in every sense of the word -but that much cannot be said for his variant, Captain Assyria. Captain Assyria is from an alternate universe that was corrupted by a god-tier villain, and now, he’s officially returning to Marvel lore. Not only that, but Captain Assyria comes with his full Avengers roster, complete with costumes and codenames.
In a preview forX-Force#5 by Geoffrey Thorne and Marcus To, the team of militant mutants are facing off against the last people they thought they’d have to fight: the Avengers. While it’s true the X-Men and the Avengers haven’t always gotten along, the current state of the Marvel Universe has cemented them as allies. When Orchis attacked mutantkind, the Avengers were there to help.Captain America led the Uncanny Avengers,Spider-Man let Nightcrawler use his superhero identity, and Iron Man risked his company and his life to help the X-Men.
However, as this preview shows,the Avengers are no friends of the X-Menanymore. At least, this version of the Avengers. These ‘heroes’ crossed over into Earth-616 from Earth-9105, aka the world that was corrupted by the Sphinx. Leading this Avengers team is Captain Assyria, and the rest of the Avengers are: Fenris, Horus, Iron Man, and Storm - and this evil version of the Avengers might take down X-Force (and even all mutantkind) once and for all.
Who is Captain Assyria? Evil Captain America’s Origin & History, Explained
First Appearance:New Warriors#11 by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley
Captain Assyria (whose real name was never revealed) filled the role of Captain America in Earth-9105, and - just like in this X-Force preview - led a version of the Avengers that had only one objective: protect the tyrannical rule of the Sphinx. The Sphinx is a god-like entity that possessed an ancient pharaoh, and through him, changed the course of world history. Everything that happened was all a part of the Sphinx’s grand plan, who ruled the entire world from the shadows.
Captain Assyria has all the same powers as Earth-616 Captain America, and even has a shared history with Wolverine, fighting by his side during WWII.
When the Sphinx was passed to a new host, she decided to emerge from the shadows and rule with a much heavier hand. It was at this point the Avengers were formed, with Captain Assyria (named after the new name of the United States in this timeline) as the team’s leader. Rather than standing for justice and heroism, Captain Assyria only followed the will of the Sphinx, as he believed that working blindly for his tyrannical ruler was the equivalent of being a hero. And, above all others, the one thing Captain Assyria hated most of all were mutants.
Captain Assyria & His Avengers’ Hatred of Mutants Spells Trouble for X-Force
In Earth-9105, the one group that threatened the Sphinx’s power most was mutantkind, making them public enemy number one for Captain Assyria and his Avengers. And now, that hatred will fuel Captain Assyria’s drive to destroy the X-Force of Earth-616. In fact, with the widespread anti-mutant sentiment that is currently rampant in the Marvel Universe following the Fall of X, Captain Assyria’s Avengers may feel right at home in Earth-616, and will perhaps stick around to accomplish what Orchis failed to do: destroy mutantkind.
“That Ain’t Really the Avengers”: 20 Years Later, Marvel Names the 1 Hero Who Ruined the Avengers
Almost every single Marvel Comics superhero has joined the Avengers at one point or another, opening the door for the one hero who ruined the team.
While Captain Assyria’s return to Marvel Comics may seem shocking, given that he and his Avengers were seemingly erased from existence when the New Warriors defeated the Sphinx, it was later confirmed inAvengers: Forever#11 that he and his Avengers still existed in the multiverse. And now,Captain Assyriaand hisAvengershave crossed over into Earth-616, ready to destroy the mutants while they’re at their most vulnerable - and they may very well succeed.
