Vic Joins Steve Rogers: Marvel Officially Announces Name of Captain America’s New Sidekick

Vic joins Steve’s future adventure

Upcoming Captain America issues take Steve Rogers beyond Earth-616 canon. A villain whose identity remains unknown has warped reality, leaving Steve in a dystopian future where his reputation is ruined.

Marvel identifies his new companion as Vic, a child clone of Doctor Doom. Created by Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti, Vic first appeared in April’s Captain America #10. Doom intended him as a future heir, but Vic was activated early and lacks Doom’s memories.

A mission with Nick Fury

The summary for Captain America #17 says Steve goes on the run with Vic after the events of ARMAGEDDON. A U.N.-backed S.H.I.E.L.D. demands that Vic be handed over, setting Cap against Nick Fury, while an old enemy returns.

Vic also appears on the covers of issues #18 and #19. The summary for #19 confirms that the child clone remains with Steve, while Valerio Schiti’s art depicts Vic in a hooded jacket, an Iron Man mask and a gauntlet. They stand beside a silvery Iron Man, likely a new character.

A dangerous legacy

Vic was raised in Latveria and exposed to Doctor Doom’s propaganda, but he trusts Steve as his protector. With sentiment turning against superpowered people after Avengers Armageddon, Fury’s reconstructed S.H.I.E.L.D. may not accept Cap as Vic’s guardian.

The cover for issue #19 hints at villainous versions of Spider-Man and possibly the Falcon. The story’s corrupted versions of familiar heroes suggest a future in which the Avengers’ legacy has been damaged.

Echoes of an earlier story

The setup recalls the 2012 “Castaway in Dimension Z” arc, in which Steve adopted and raised Ian Rogers, the genetically engineered son of Arnim Zola. Ian later came to Earth-616 as the new Nomad and still operates there.