TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of Suicide

Captain America is tough, but one Venom comic imagines a version of Cap that takes his strength to another level, an immortal copy of Steve Rogers, impervious to traditional weapons. However, this isn’t the Cap readers know. His power isn’t truly his own; it’s the result of the monster that has taken on his form.

In Venom (2018) #27, written by Donny Cates with art by Juan Gedeon, a new version of Captain America debuts, and immediately proves that his Venom-corrupted form has given him an absurd healing factor, as he survives his body being blown apart.

When Eddie and Dylan Brock jump into an alternate dystopia, Captain America and the Avengers are the first heroes they encounter. However, Eddie quickly realizes these aren’t the true heroes. Instead, the team attempts to apprehend him, revealing themselves as symbiote-corrupted monsters that only resemble the Avengers in appearance and behavior.

Venomized Captain America Has a Crazy-Strong Healing Factor

Captain America and Other Heroes Replaced by Venomized Copies Under Codex's Rule

In this alternate universe, Eddie committed suicide, and Dylan’s mother, Annie, became Venom instead. While Annie eventually became a hero, much like classic Venom, Dylan instead embraced the symbiote God Knull, becoming Codex, the ruler of this world. In this form, Dylan replaces nearly every superhero with a Venomized copy, a power made possible by his connection to the symbiote’s genetic memory, known as the Codex. This ability allows him to duplicate their powers while also granting them new symbiote abilities, including healing factors.

As Captain America’s healing factor shows, these aren’t exact copies of the heroes either. This almost certainly isn’t Steve Rogers, but a symbiote taking on his form and some measure of his powers through Codex. Interestingly, the comic suggests that the copies still retain some core part of their host’s personality, even as a copy. This Captain America talks almost like a parody of the regular Cap, calling Venom ‘son’ and yelling "Avengers, assemble!" like the original. What this Cap doesn’t have is any free will or a personality beyond just some basic signifiers.

Captain America’s Overlooked Healing Factor

How the Venom Symbiote Takes Cap's Healing Factor to the Next Level

It's easy to forget, but Captain America also has his own healing factor in regular Marvel Comics, even if it’s not the first power most people would think of. It’s this healing factor that allowed Cap to survive in the ice for decades, and many alternate worlds have envisioned versions of Cap where he remains young compared to his peers, thanks to his healing factor. What Steve’s healing factor can't do in regular continuity, however, is regenerate half of his body. For that, Captain America will always need an upgrade, like the Venom symbiote.

Venom (2018) #27 is available now from Marvel Comics!