What You Need to Know for ‘Captain America: Cold War’

Arnim Zola invaded New York City in CAPTAIN AMERICA (2022) #0, prompting Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers to step in. The two came to the conclusion that the Marvel Universe was indeed large enough for them to share the mantle.

Although they embarked on separate adventures, in CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR, a crossover that occurs in CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY (2022) and CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH, their worlds are about to intersect once more (2022). Here is what you need to know about what has occurred in those series thus far before CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR ALPHA (2023) #1 launches the event next month.

MEET THE OUTER CIRCLE, LIBERTY’S SECRET ENEMY AND SENTINEL OF LIBERTY

The Outer Circle, a covert group that made its debut in CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY (2022) #2, will be the main antagonist of CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR. During the tragic war of World War I, a group of influential people established a cabal to subtly influence world events in an effort to bring about a utopia. To carry out that strategy, they invented a game known as the Century Game in which participants alternately make decisions that manipulate history.

Each member of the organization was given a unique title when it was formed. Wolf Fortunov, alias Power, Etien Argent, alias Money, Ika Abodje, alias the Machine, and Ana, alias Love, are the core members of the Outer Circle. In an effort to undermine the group’s plans, Gavrilo Princip joined the Outer Circle under the title Revolution. Princip was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which precipitated the start of World War I. Princip joined the Outer Circle as an enemy because he thought the cabal’s interference wasn’t in the best interests of the globe. Nonetheless, it was against the Century Game’s regulations for the Outer Circle members to engage in open combat.

Over the decades, the Outer Circle manipulated world events with help from their “Starpoints,” special assassins working on their behalf. The group engineered many key moments in the Marvel Universe and even manipulated Bucky Barnes’ life so he’d eventually become Winter Soldier, one of their Starpoints. Additionally, Captain America’s iconic shield was modeled after the Outer Circle’s symbol as part of a sly attempt to one day have him discover and destroy the group.

THE OUTER CIRCLE IS UNCOVERED BY STEVE ROGERS

Beginning in CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY, Rogers came across a numbers station transmitting a code that was quickly deciphered by his longtime friend and ally Roger Aubrey, a.k.a. the Destroyer. An attack on New York City was predicted by this transmission, but Rogers and Barnes stopped it. In the process, they found a fragment of neganite, a stone connected to Dimension Z, Arnim Zola’s fictional universe.

Rogers and Barnes looked into the Outer Circle more after this failed attack and other intercepted messages. Rogers confronted a Starpoint named Redacted who eventually sided with Captain America after learning the truth about the meaning of the insignia on his shield. Peggy Carter, who had connections to the Outer Circle, was confronted by Barnes, who then started working covertly with her to defeat the gang.

Rogers, Barnes, and Redacted were able to attack the Outer Circle’s headquarters, which was designed to resemble Captain America’s shield, as a result of their studies. Princip was killed by a bullet fired by Barnes that passed through Rogers while he was there. The Winter Soldier then flung his devoted companion overboard. Princip was then replaced by Barnes in the Outside Circle and took on the banner of the New Revolution with the specific intent of destroying the organization from within.