In The United States of Captain America #4, we’ll meet Arielle “Ari” Agbayani, a new character created by Alyssa Wong and Jodi Nishijima.
In addition to introducing us to another exciting new Captain America character, the penultimate entry of the five-issue run will also reveal the iconic villain responsible for the story’s narrative catalyst.
The United States of Captain America #4
In The United States of Captain America series by Christopher Cantwell and Dale Eaglesham, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, and John Walker take part in a cross-country road trip in the pursuit of the stolen Captain America shield.
Along the way, the crew of Caps will also meet a series of brand-new characters who have chosen to step up and defend their respective communities. Each of these new characters was created by a different creative team, and each issue of the series will feature a backup story featuring the new characters from their respective co-creators.
Oh! Captains, My Captains
In the first issue, we’ll meet Aaron Fischer, the Captain America of the Railways, created by Josh Trujillo and Jan Bazaldua.
Issue two will introduce Nichelle Wright, the Captain America of Harrisburg, created by Mohale Mashigo and Natacha Bustos.
In issue three, we’ll be introduced to Joe Gomez, the Captain America of the Kickapoo Tribe, created by Darcie Little Badger and David Cutler.
And in issue four, we’ll meet Arielle “Ari” Agbayani, a Filipino-America hero who defends against injustice on her college campus.
Good morning! I woke up to a big response to our new Fil Am hero, and I'd like to thank you for sharing your voices with us.
I'd also like to clarify something about her full name, which is Arielle Agbayani. She's named after a few Fil Am friends, with help from my Fil Am fam.
— Alyssa Wong (they/them) @ C2E2 O-11 💖🌈 (@crashwong) June 5, 2021
In Comic Shops Across the U.S.A.!
The United States of Captain America #4 will be arriving at your local comic shop on September 22nd, 2021, and carries a final order cutoff of June 7th, 2021 – so call your shop today if you want to be sure and secure a copy (like Cap’s shield, these issues – which each introduce brand-new characters – are sure to be in high demand).
If you’d like to read the press release from Marvel in its entirety, including quotes from Wong and Nishijima about creating Agbayani, you can do so beneath this article.
Will you be heading to your LCS to pick up The United States of Captain America when its first issue arrives on June 30th, 2021? Let The Beat know, either here in the comment section or over on social media @comicsbeat!
THE RETURN OF AN ICONIC VILLAIN, A NEW LOCAL CAP, AND MORE IN UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #4!
Get your first look at Ari Agbayani, a new Captain America-inspired hero debuting this September!
New York, NY— June 4, 2021 — Launching later this month, THE UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA will celebrate Captain America’s 80th anniversary with an action-packed adventure that explores the iconic hero’s incredible legacy and stars his greatest partners and villains! Written by Christopher Cantwell with art by Dale Eaglesham, the upcoming limited series will see Steve Rogers teaming up with Captain Americas of the past—Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, and John Walker—on a road trip across America to find his stolen shield. On sale in September, issue #4 will reveal the true magnitude of the forces arrayed against them, including the return of some of Captain America’s most sinister foes…
In addition to featuring the ultimate Captain America team-up, this groundbreaking series will also introduce a diverse cast of new heroes and spotlight the communities they are part of and the unique challenges they face. Cantwell and Eaglesham are joined each issue by an all-star lineup of creative teams who will dive even deeper into the origins and motivations of these new shield-bearers in special backup stories. In UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #4, fans will meet Ari Agbayani!
Created by writer Alyssa Wong (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra) and Jodi Nishijima (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Ari is a local Captain America-inspired hero who seeks justice on her college campus. When her school turns a blind eye to fellow students behaving badly, she springs into action—and she’s not afraid to fight dirty. Here’s what Wong had to say about the inspiration behind this new Marvel hero:
“When editor Alanna Smith approached me about creating a new, local Captain America for this series, I immediately knew I wanted to write a Filipino-American girl. There just aren’t very many of us in comics! I grew up without a Filipino-American community for the most part, so every time I see a Filipino character, I get excited. And getting to create one–a Captain America, even!–feels incredibly special.
“Ari Agbayani is a scholarship student at a small, private university. When she finds out her best friend is being victimized by a wealthy legacy student, Ari is determined to make things right. But what can she do when her college is only concerned with keeping its donors happy, and half the buildings on campus are named after her best friend’s abuser? In order to take him down, she’ll have to get creative.
“Like the other Caps, Ari has a strong sense of justice and admires the ideals Captain America embodies. But the Captain America she’s inspired by isn’t Steve Rogers–it’s Bucky Barnes. Someone who hates bullies as much as Steve does, but is willing to use sneakier, shadier tactics to deal with them. Ari’s a vigilante, and she knows that you can’t always win by playing by the rules. Bucky’s influence is reflected in her costume, designed by the incredible Jodi Nishijima.
“Jodi has done such a great job bringing Ari to life. Her art is so playful, charming, and fun. It’s been an honor to co-create Ari with her!”
“I’m honored that my debut at Marvel could coincide with such an important and unique project,” Nishijima added. “To be able to lend my thoughts and experiences to a property and concept I greatly admire, as well as work alongside such talented and diverse creators, brings me an excitement that cannot be understated. Ari’s design was inspired by all the girls I’ve known in my life who in their day to day appear very sweet and empathetic, but when challenged can be terribly fierce. Her style is very much what I and my friends would feel comfortable and confident in wearing as well! I hope that her youthful design is well communicated and relatable, but no matter what I’m so glad that I could help bring her to life!”
See one of the mysterious villains the Captains will be facing off against in Gerald Parel’s UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 cover below. And check out Ari Agbayani on Marvel’s Stormbreaker Peach Momoko’s variant cover as well as design sheets by Jodi Nishijima. Don’t miss her exciting debut when UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 hits stands on September 22nd! For more information, visit Marvel.com.
Retailers, don’t forget to order your copies of UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 by Monday, June 7th!
Probably not going to pick it up. Putting aside the idea that with this title Captain America has become the McDonalds of the mcu, there is also the 4.99 price tag. And the storyline for the Philippine Captain America sounds like a paint-by-numbers plot for a 1980’s movie. Rich kid is the villain, college authorities too scared to do anything? Plucky heroine who goes outside the rules?
I am also curious as to where and how all these new Captain America’s got their training and/or powers. And the shields. But… Sorry, there is just isn’t enough originality here to get me to buy it. There was an issue a long time ago when Steve went into action with the Captain America who replaced him in the 1940’s, the one who replaced him in the 1950’s and one who was dying of cancer. If I want to read multiple Caps I’ll dig that one out of storage.
Road trip! This series sounds like a lot of fun. I hope Steve, Bucky, Sam and John (John? not too sure about John, but maybe) catch the shield-stealing villain!
Comments are closed.