The Marvel Universe’s secret power couple could push Captain America’s war against the Outer Circle over the edge – or become a mutant scandal.
Captain America has spent the past year uncovering the global conspiracy operated by the ominous Outer Circle. Just when he and his allies thought they had a grasp on the situation, another mystery emerged to turn their world upside-down. Now due to the emergence of A.I.M. in New York City and no idea how things got this way, there is only one person Steve has left to call upon who could possibly make sense of it all. Unfortunately, his relationship with Emma Frost is complicated, and it might not bode well for his other ongoing romance.
After waking up in the middle of Kansas with no memory of how he got there, the titular hero of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8 (by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard, and VC’s Joe Caramagna) finds that his closest allies are all suffering from very similar scenarios. Considering none of them have any psychic abilities of their own, Steve is forced to call upon none other than Emma Frost for help, although he isn’t particularly enthusiastic about doing so. As it turns out, Steve and Emma’s formerly professional relationship may have taken a romantic turn at the latest Hellfire Gala, one he had been desperately hoping to keep between the two of them.
Captain America Once had a Fling With the X-Men’s Emma Frost
The Hellfire Gala has come to be an annual Krakoan celebration filled with glitz, glamour, and an unsurprising number of superpowered guests. While the last Hellfire Gala was filled with plenty of explosive action, the first in 2021 gave Emma and Steve a now all-too-important chance to mingle. Apparently, their first Gala encounter wasn’t the last time they saw each other outside the battlefield, either, even if it still defines how they see each other.
Back in Gerry Duggan and Matteo Lolli’s Marauders #21, Emma picked up on Steve looking at her with admiring eyes. At first, she assumed it was because of some budding romantic attraction. After gleaning Captain America’s thoughts, however, Emma discovered that she instead reminded him of his mother. This was far from what Emma was expecting, though it is painfully obvious that she has thoroughly enjoyed leaning into that sense of “admiration” in the time since.
Captain America’s Team-Up With Emma Frost May Cause Problems
As hilarious as this all is from the outside, it could prove to be a serious hiccup when it comes to Captain America’s current relationship with Sharon Carter. The two only recently reconnected thanks to Bucky’s interference as the New Revolution, and they have wasted no time in getting back to where they left things off. Of course, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room for someone else to drive a bit of a wedge between them. Although it is hard to imagine Emma’s presence will actually do any meaningful damage.
Sharon Carter is easily one of the most level-headed and focused figures that the Marvel Universe has to offer. As such, Steve doesn’t have to worry about what she might think of a fling he had while the two of them weren’t really a couple. If anything, she has something new to hold over his head when need be. It appears that Captain America has been given the gift of unexpected humiliation in the face of multiple Earth-shattering conspiracies.
