It's a new era for Captain America duties. Their dual outing may provide the best reason why having two heroes wear the star spangled outfit is better than one.
Longtime friends Steve and Sam had previously been co-Captain Americas, but the latter returned to his old Falcon identity shortly after the events of Secret Empire. Marvel made waves early in the year with the announcement that both heroes would star in their own series as the Avengers' most patriotic hero. Steve would be the star of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty while Sam would headline Captain America: Symbol of Truth. Each series will focus on the identity being used in a different capacity, with Sam serving as the public's Captain America and Steve taking on more clandestine work.
Issue Captain America #0 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Tochi Onyebuchi, Mattia De lulis, and Joe Caramagna may be all the evidence fans need that two Captain Americas are justified. The two heroes jump in to stop Arnim Zola's latest plot to take over the world, which involves a rocket that will usher in an age of dinosaur people. Sam and Steve agree to the most obvious play: Steve handles the interior while Sam takes to the air. The former Falcon expertly dodges lasers while Steve takes on Zola directly. The two manage to cripple the rocket, with Sam getting them out before it explodes. Unfortunately, electricity from the exploding ship fries Sam's wings, and Steve has to step in with some quick thinking: riding his shield through the air so the two can safely crash land into the Hudson river.
It's probably no coincidence that the first adventure for the pair of Captains is taking down a rocket. The secret origin of Captain America explored in The Avengers #4 showed the hero falling from an experimental drone, leading to the suspended animation that brought him into the present. The adventure seen in Captain America #0 is a wonderful parallel to the classic story and a good example for how teamwork will benefit the Captain America legacy.
The two Captains are only able to take down Zola by working together. Sam may have mastery of the air, but Steve works better on the ground, facing a threat directly. By working in tandem, they're able to defeat Zola effortlessly and make an easy escape thanks to Sam's wings. But even when flying fails the pair, Steve is able to take the lead and show his friend a thing or two about falling with style. As partners, the two will be able to take the Captain America identity to greater heights by using their strengths to compliment one another in this new chapter for the Marvel Comics heroes.
