In this review of Captain America #10, the battle between Steve Rogers and Salvation reaches its riveting conclusion. Political agendas manifest and come to light in the backdrop of this ideological war.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #10
Writer: CHIP ZDARSKY
Artist and Main Cover: VALERIO SCHITI
Variant Covers: TODD NAUCK, PACO DIAZ, RON LIM, JUSTIN MASON
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 4/29/26
This review contains spoilers
Salvation does not wear Doom’s armor for fashion. Latveria’s latest dictator is himself all powerful, launching an energy blast that looks very similar to his predecessor’s. Captain America blocks it with the shield, but he cannot protect the civilians around him that are harmed from its impact.
Cap reflects on how Salvation—once known as the rebel Marius Wolf—contained hope within his vessel. And how as the world turned, that hope became a distant memory. What replaced it was a Victor Von Doom-esque belief that only he could make the right choices to save Latveria.
Salvation pauses the battle after hearing something on comms, leaving while stating Cap’s S.H.I.E.L.D. compatriots have betrayed him.
Elsewhere, The Red Widow and Tambling locate the weapon of mass destruction underneath a statue of Doctor Doom. However, Tambling meets his end at Widow’s hand, as she’s revealed to be the traitor.
Cap tells the rest of the team to hang back and support injured civilians. In need of a ride, a hopeful Latverian citizen lends Steve his horse, trusting Captain America to bring a better tomorrow.
Rogers contacts Nick Fury Jr. to gain Widow’s last known location, but he’s instead put on a broadcast with General Thunderbolt Ross. An angry Ross blames Steve’s rebellious nature and inability to follow orders for the mission going horribly wrong, and states he’s made America angry.
Back at the statue, it’s uncovered that Widow’s betrayal was to strengthen the political ties between Russia and Latveria. However, opening the weapon’s container reveals nothing inside. An enraged Salvation has no time to mourn, he’s met by the thundering sound of Cap’s shield hitting his dome.
Cap engages The Red Widow, whose speed allows her to get a quick slash on the WW2 veteran. But Cap’s experience comes in hand, as he knocks her knife away and then elbows her.
America’s hero questions the assassin, asking the Widow if her leaders have truly earned her loyalty and patriotism. He asks if her patriotism is enough to justify her murders.
Salvation is angered by Cap’s speech, and overwhelms him using powerful mystic blasts. He offers a rebuttal, telling him living in America affords him luxuries that blind him to the world’s struggle. Blinds him to why and how someone can be driven to perform the actions Salvation/Widow do.
Cap cannot find himself able to debate Salvation. His wrath for the dictator’s actions will forever remain, hence he responds by reminding the Latverian that he murdered his own citizens. Salvation justifies it by labeling the ones he slayed as traitors.
Exclaiming that democratic leaders elected Doom recently (in One World Under Doom), he believes the Captain’s true anger lies in the fact Salvation exists outside of the system. He’s uncontrollable.
Salvation prepares to kill him, but Cap is saved by a citizen whose brother was murdered by Latveria’s leader. It gives him the opportunity to counterattack, knocking Salvation to his feet as the citizens band in numbers and restrain him. Cap remarks that Salvation feels he’s above his citizens, but like any other dictator, he’ll face reality when they confront him and remind him the true power belongs with the people.
Captain Rogers in search of the weapon, returns to the statue whose inscription reads: “King Victor Von Doom the First. From humble beginnings to eternity.”
It points towards a house in a square named after Doom’s mother, and Cap approaches it to find an older woman and Nick Fury pointing guns at each other. A figure approaches, asking the woman to put down her rifle. In Latverian, he states that he cannot hide any longer.
Elsewhere, Thunderbolt Ross enters flow state and transforms into the Red Hulk. Alongside an army of Hulk-esque figures, he prepares to launch a full-scale invasion into Latveria.
Back at the home, the figure is revealed. A young boy dressed in a green sweater and brown cloak emerges, exclaiming his name is Victor Von Doom, the leader of Latveria.
Analysis
An issue packed equally with action and dialogue, the battle against Salvation reaches a satisfying conclusion. Zdarsky—master craftsman of multi-dimensional characters—makes sure to articulate Salvation’s pain and help us understand the genesis of his villainy. A slight drawback is that it’s through utilizing common tropes about the nature of capitalism and political disarray, but that doesn’t make the issue’s stance any less relevant.
Zdarsky writes a political thriller on multiple fronts; discussing espionage, democracy, invasion, and the nature of first-world intervention. Salvation criticizes the lack of American intervention in Latveria during a time where citizens felt oppressed, but also criticizes American intervention in countries with a visible profit. The rebel’s speech allows for nuance, as Zdarsky displays that a concept like intervention is not fundamentally flawed, but the application of it is.
Steve’s existence presence in Latveria stands as a sufficient foil for Salvation’s criticisms. He arrived and succeeded with the goal of American intervention against a Latverian dictator, except it was against Salvation himself. Salvation can’t see his own parallel to Doom, validating Cap’s words of Marius Wolf transforming into what he hates.
In addition, Cap’s victory wouldn’t be possible without the everyday Latverians who supported him, highlighting that this battle was solely for the people. A man criticized for carrying America’s shield, Steve performed the desired intervention in absence of his leaders.
Holding on to the intervention theme, the issue ends with Red Hulk launching his assault on foreign soil. Due to it reflecting off Salvation’s presented themes, the build for the summer’s Armageddon event–alongside Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon–is now in full gear without feeling out of place.
Final Thoughts
A Captain America book that goes full-throttle on the superhero’s political foundation, Chip Zdarsky writes a thriller that tackles multiple fronts. Alongside set-up for the upcoming Armageddon event, the issue presents worthwhile philosophical takes on key characters amid the battle with Salvation’s conclusion.
