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First 'Hail Hydra,' now this? Free Comic Book Day issue proves Hydra Cap is not playing around

It's been nine months since Captain America first said "Hail Hydra," and while the controversy rages on,  Marvel's Free Comic Book Day issue for Secret Empire proves "Hydra Cap" is not playing around.

The short one-shot provides some much-needed exposition to the ongoing Secret Empire story line, a well-written and unintentionally politically aware epic from Nick Spencer and Andrea Sorrentino. In it, we learn how Hydra pulled The Vision and Scarlet Witch onto its side, and a few more blanks are filled as to what happened between Secret Empire #0 and #1, namely how Hydra took over the entirety of the United States.

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But the real shock comes in the final panel of the issue, something none of us could have predicted. I mean, he's done it before, but this is just wild.

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Yes, that is the newly evil Captain America wielding Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, currently (previously?) held by Jane Foster. The hammer typically chooses a wielder based on their "worthiness," which in this case probably means "purity of heart." Of course, that heart is evil and that purity is... fascism? Let's go with that.

The image will be one that sticks with fans well into the future, but bare with the powers that be at Marvel. There is surely a good reason for this, right? Hold us.

It's not all doom and gloom, though, as Saturday's free comic also gave us a first look at Chip Zdarsky's Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, a heartfelt and humorous new take on the web-slinging hero. Well-earned Chip, thanks for bringing Peter home to New York.

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For more comic goodness, check out #PerfectPanels, the must-read comics for each week.