Warning: Spoilers ahead for Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #1Star-Lord. The Guardians of the Galaxy have gone from obscure space adventurers to being some of Marvel's most beloved heroes. However, there's a reason they've been deemed "A-holes" by a good number of people that they encounter. Their brash attitude makes them pretty rough around the edges, and one member of the team has managed to even get on Cap's bad side.

In Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #1 by Thomas Krajewski and Jason Muhr, Groot and Rocket find themselves being held on the RAFT after attempting to steal a device from General Thunderbolt Ross. The Avengers arrive to bail them out after being explained that the "weapon" they were trying to take is actually a farming device. As the Avengers walk them to the Quinjet, Captain America pulls Groot aside and tells him that as much as he loves teaming up with the Guardians, Groot in particular has been letting him down.

This will likely come as a huge shock to fans of the franchise because Groot has become a fan-favorite in recent years, so to see Cap paint him in a negative light is pretty surprising.

Captain America's Disappointment in Groot Comes from High Standards

Cap Expects More from Him Over the Other Guardians

At first, it's pretty disheartening to see Groot being criticized by the leader of the Avengers after years of making a name for himself as the kindest Guardian of the Galaxy. However, Cap lays it out for him to understand that he's mostly disappointed because Groot should be setting a better example for his own team. He even states that, although Rocket has been letting him down as well, he doesn't "expect much out of him" because he knows how abrasive Rocket can be, especially with his past as a technological thief.

Groot, on the other hand, has always been shown as having a kind heart. This allows him to express empathy for his team (even though some of them may not exactly deserve it), allowing for smooth team-ups that get the job done. However, Cap points out that his major weakness is allowing Rocket to steal, even though he knows it's wrong. To him, Groot could be improving himself because "it's what heroes do," and by continuing to go along with his friend's shady actions, he's consistently doing the wrong thing.

Steve's Dislike of Groot Is a Disheartening Reveal

Groot Seriously Messed Up to Get On His Bad Side

It can be incredibly upsetting for fans of the Flora Colossus to see Captain America of all people voice dislike for him. After all, Steve is essentially the heart of the Avengers, as he always fights for the best of humanity and is capable of seeing the good in everything. The fact that Groot, a hero who came back from a major villain phase during the Guardians' recent Grootfall arc, is one of the few heroes whom Steve is disappointed in is no small feat. It takes a lot to set Steve Rogers off. He clearly sees potential in Groot based on the phrasing of his warning, but if Groot continues to allow Rocket to walk down the path of a thief, their relationship might never recover.

Groot Cements Cap's Disappointment in Him In the Worst Way

He Will Never Be Forgiven by Steve

The most heartbreaking moment in this first issue is how Groot tries to make things right with Captain America while aboard the Quinjet. He apologizes over and over, but ends up sneezing in Cap's face, leading to him shooing him away. Not long after that, the disease inside Groot's sneeze takes hold of Cap, turning him into a zombie and kicking off the zombie apocalypse. Essentially, Steve transforms while still being frustrated with Groot, meaning he will never have a chance to forgive him. It's an action Groot can't undo, and even though this story will likely see him attempt to be a better hero, the Cap he knew will never see his change now that he's been infected.

Of course, Bruce Banner has hinted that he can concoct an antidote to the zombie virus, giving Groot the perfect opportunity to not only save the world, but also to prove to Steve that he can be a hero. It will be interesting to see the lengths he will go to save his reputation with the Avenger, as his first goal is to get Hulk to the lab without being distracted. Until then, though, it's an upsetting reveal to see that Captain America views Groot as his least favorite member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, especially with other carefree teammates like Star-Lord standing by his side.

Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!