Brian Truitt

USA TODAY

SPOILERS: The following contains important plot points from Captain America: Steve Rogers No. 1.

Benedict Arnold may have some unlikely new competition for America’s biggest turncoat.

In the debut issue of Marvel Comics’ Captain America: Steve Rogers out today, the star-spangled superhero of comic books and movies is revealed to be — and always has been — an agent of the evil organization Hydra, a ruthless bunch that Cap’s been fighting since World War II.

It’s a flooring disclosure for the popular character who celebrated his 75th anniversary this year and is currently on the big screen in Captain America: Civil War. But Marvel executive editor Tom Brevoort confirms that it’s really Steve Rogers and not some clone, shapeshifting Skrull, Life Model Decoy or a Cap from an alternate universe.

Has Captain America replaced Superman as the USA's superhero symbol?

In the aftermath of a battle with Baron Zemo in the issue, written by Nick Spencer and drawn by Jesus Saiz, Steve Rogers betrays a fellow hero and says two jarring words: “Hail Hydra.” “We knew it would be like slapping people in the face,” says Brevoort.

And this new status quo might mean turning on others considered friends. “His mission is to further the goals and beliefs of Hydra,” Brevoort says. “If that involves taking down the Marvel universe, sure. (But) it may not be as simple as that. It’s not like he’s exchanged his white hat for a black hat — it’s a green hat.”

Hydra is shown in the new issue as a nefarious group led by the Red Skull that is attracting the disaffected and disenfranchised, especially youth — both in the current day and in the 1920s, when Steve and his mother are recruited.

While Spencer is definitely “politically aware,” Brevoort says that when they started working on the story, the zeitgeist wasn’t quite what it is today. “Having this go on in the middle of this odd and offbeat and contentious presidential primary process — and all of the stuff going on in the world right now — we guessed right. This in a sense feels more relevant right now than it would have a year ago.”

But the Hydra reveal is part of a much bigger story that began with Sam Wilson being handed the Cap mantle and Steve’s recent rejuvenation via Cosmic Cube. “It will go to some scary and shocking places if it hasn’t already,” Brevoort promises. The second issue of the new comic will lay out a better understanding of what’s happened and how Cap’s worked as this undercover operative, and subsequent chapters will dig into new sides of who Steve Rogers is.

All things 'Captain America: Civil War'

Right now, only readers are in on the secret, and the fact that the most trusted and respected Marvel hero is in Hydra will inform every interaction Cap has in various series, whether it’s with Iron Man or a supervillain.

“Suddenly there’s a whole other wrinkle to all of it,” Brevoort says. “Any cover with Steve Rogers takes on a slightly different dimension because you have information that no one else in that picture has.”

Brevoort’s already receiving passionate emails from fans along the lines of the notes received nine years ago when Steve Rogers was assassinated as part of the Civil War story line.

“The idea of Captain America means something very primal and very strong to the people of this nation, and they have a very visceral reaction when you get to something like that,” Brevoort explains. “You want people to feel and react to your story. So far, so good.”