The first issue of Captain America: Steve Rogers kicked off the series with a teeny, tiny almost insignificant twist to the canon. And you know how fans are. Do something as minor as rewriting the very core of a 75-year-old character and they just flip out. Comic book fans took to Twitter to express their outrage over the American ideal being a secret Nazi with the hashtag #SayNoToHYDRACap. A few fans felt the need to point out Cap’s Earth-1218 origins made making him a HYDRA spy an especially crass decision.
Absolutely horrific. He was created by 2 jewish men to fight Hitler. Now you make him a Nazi?! #saynotoHYDRAcap https://t.co/irn06Xkbex
— Jess (@jzneale) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/WlNTERASSASSIN/status/735504483841658881
#SayNoToHydraCap because he was created by 2 Jews as a statement against nazism. This warps a beloved character into a villain, & it's gross
— yes homo (@lubelord) May 25, 2016
#SayNoToHydraCap because it's a ridiculous and unnecessary "twist" that is disrespectful to the creator and character. Steve ain't no nazi.
— VeggieQueen🌽 (@PrettyBonesW) May 25, 2016
When nerds and outrage collide, you can only guarantee one thing: a locked Wikipedia page.
It seems the people have taken to Wikipedia to express their anger.#SayNoToHYDRACap #MarvelDoesntDeserveCap pic.twitter.com/43OZCLOkO0
— Bella Grace (@theBardenBella) May 25, 2016
Of course, users were ready with endless appropriate reactions from the Marvel Universe and its real-world actors.
Promise me one thing – that you will stay who you are, not a perfect soldier, but a good man. #SayNoToHydraCap pic.twitter.com/9W0sxxsVQ4
— Brendon Holl 🍥 (@CambodianThunda) May 25, 2016
#SayNoToHydraCAP
Chris Evans Reacts To The Lame Plot Twist Himself: pic.twitter.com/mFUiGZXY2E— 𓄒 (@ufodinos) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/BrooksMoonlight/status/735518285924536321
https://twitter.com/fearIessqueen/status/735515826741075969
I recognise @Marvel has made a decision, but… #SayNoToHYDRACap pic.twitter.com/kn5uUCt9Dm
— Kate McManus (@Mackagascar) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/CarefreeTom_182/status/735511935781855232
And did anyone stop to think about poor Bucky in all this?
https://twitter.com/leedsnjh/status/735527269045653504
More than a few fans were calling for the editorial team to step away from their beloved superhero.
https://twitter.com/luliebee/status/735535801270833152
put down that shield, nick spencer. you dont deserve it. #SayNoToHydraCap
— a little soup boy (@jehantxt) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/hannibaltrash/status/735510382626885632
Even former Captain America writers were dragged into this mess:
https://twitter.com/brubaker/status/735484384132796418
The Nazi controversy quickly brought to mind the #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend push and how Marvel opted not to make Steve Rogers bisexual.
Wanna make a canonically anti-Nazi character Nazi? No problem!
Wanna make a canonically straight character bi? IMPOSSIBLE!#SayNoToHYDRACap— 🌈La masciara🌙 (@_Call_Me_Liv) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/WlNTERASSASSIN/status/735505354260385792
Okay. Let me get this straight. Cap can't have a boyfriend, but he can be a Nazi? #SayNoToHYDRACap
— Michael Fry (@MFryActual) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/saintseb/status/735533884855754752
https://twitter.com/escmegan/status/735535518008643584
The anger was so strong that at least one reader opted to bring their outrage out into meatspace.
https://twitter.com/castiel_levi/status/735524293749133313
A few Cap stans even went so far as to say the dreaded DC-word.
Meanwhile at @DCComics , they're watching @Marvel & #SayNoToHydraCap like pic.twitter.com/QUak5A9rNS
— KerBob 🤷♂️ (@KerBob97) May 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/alyciasdxbnam/status/735523407664713728
Of course, all this huffing is likely to be for naught. As our own Dan Seitz pointed out in his review of the first issue, it seems like Cap is being manipulated by forces outside his control. Given the way that story arcs work (and the ever-present reset button in comics), it’s unlikely that Cap will be sporting Hugo Boss for long.