Marvel Secret Empire: Is The Real [Spoiler] Back?

05/17/2017 01:54 pm EDT

There isn't much hope these days in the Marvel Universe, and the beginning of Secret Empire #2 doesn't exactly inspire confidence that some will be found. The ending though? That's another story.

Spoilers incoming for Secret Empire #2, so if you haven't read it yet you've been warned.

New York's defenders are still stranded in the dark dimension, while some of the most powerful heroes aren't even on earth. What little remains of the resistance is reeling from the attacks on Las Vegas, and they can't even agree on a plan. Hope might have to come from another source, and the final pages of Secret Empire #2 show what, or who specifically, that source might be. As a woman is getting mugged by several superpowered cronies, a hidden savior comes to her aid, easily dispatching the three villains. When she asks for his identity, he says "My name is Steve Rogers. I'm just trying to get home."

Those words carry significant weight of course, as Steve Rogers is currently leading the Hydra military state that has overtaken the United States. His very memories and DNA has been changed to believe he is Hydra, and that what came before is all a facade to keep Hydra from its rightful place. Is this Rogers a piece of him that separated from the base version during conversion, or is this perhaps a Steve Rogers from an alternate reality. As fans have seen, characters and objects from other universes have made it over thanks to Secret Wars, including Old Man Logan, the Ultimate Thor's Hammer, and Miles Morales. If this is another version of that, this could be the Ultimate Universe Captain America as well.

Of course, it could also be taking place within Steve's mind, as his original memories fight for control against his manipulated ones. This seems to be taking place in the physical world though, so it is probably something more along the lines of the previous theories.

You can view the spoiler images in the gallery.

Secret Empire #2 is written by Nick Spencer with art by Rod Reis and Andrea Sorrentino. Mark Brooks provides the book's cover. The official description can be found below.

Enshrouded in darkness, plagued by the minions of Baron Mordo and cut off from all assistance, The Defenders and Doctor Strange struggle to save the lives of the innocent people consigned to this hell on Earth. Will Dagger prove to be the key to stopping this nightmare? Meanwhile, will the appearance of a new hero provide Iron Man with the key to Captain America's startling change? THE SECRET EMPIRE WILL DEFEND YOU!

Secret Empire #2 is in stores today.

MORE COMICS: Captain America's Hydra Costume Revealed On Final Secret Empire Cover / Review: The Wicked And The Divine 455 A.D. #1 / Teen Titans #8 Review - Moving In The Right Direction

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.