Stranded in enemy territory and hunted by Hydra’s twisted version of the Avengers, Ian “Nomad” Rogers is in a dangerous position in Hail Hydra, the Secret Wars miniseries that reunites the creative team behind last year’s Winter Soldier: The Bitter March. Writer Rick Remender, artist Roland Boschi, and colorist Chris Chuckry did great work with that retro miniseries, and they’ve maintained the thrilling energy of that past collaboration in this new title. Ian, the biological son of Captain America villain Arnim Zola and adopted son of Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter, is one of Remender’s biggest contributions to the Captain America mythos, and it’s fitting that the writer would shine the spotlight on Ian for his last Marvel project for the foreseeable future.
Hail Hydra finds Ian at odds with his biological pedigree as he searches for his missing adopted parents, joined by their daughter Ellie as he makes his way through a nightmarish New York City ruled by Leopold Zola. Boschi’s art intensifies the threat Ian and Ellie are facing, and the enthusiasm of Hydra’s loyal followers in this preview of next week’s Hail Hydra #3 spotlights the overwhelming influence of Hydra that the two heroes are desperately trying to escape. Ed Tadeo and Scott Hanna’s inking brings an extra sharpness to Boschi’s linework that makes the visuals feel more contemporary than the artist’s work on The Bitter March, and Chuckry uses a textured color palette that similarly modernizes the art. This creative team previously created a retro spy pastiche, but their current series has a freshness that feels right for a next generation hero like Ian Rogers.