Captain America keeps Sentinel of Liberty: Marvel brings it back in a new What If…?

Marvel Comics’ What If…? Captain America #1 lands on August 5, 2026. Marvel is framing Steve Rogers here as the “Sentinel of Liberty,” but not as a replacement for Captain America.

The issue sends Steve into 2099, though “Sentinel of Liberty” isn’t some brand-new label Marvel just came up with. The company already used it in 2022’s Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, released alongside Sam Wilson’s Symbol of Truth. That Sentinel of Liberty run also spent time digging into Captain America’s shield and the Outer Circle.

Marvel has been reworking Steve Rogers’ look in other places too. There’s the battle-damaged armored costume and metal breastplate from 2026’s Avengers: Armageddon, shown during a fight with Red Hulk. Then you’ve got the Galactic Talon costume in Marvel Future Fight and the Seaside Sentinel skin in Marvel Rivals.

If you keep up with Captain America across comics, games, or Marvel Cinematic Universe rumor cycles, this one feels like another clear sign that Marvel wants several versions of Steve in play at the same time. That stands out even more with all the Avengers: Doomsday speculation, especially the talk about a possible return as Nomad while Sam Wilson remains the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Captain America.

You can pick up What If…? Captain America #1 from Marvel Comics on August 5, 2026.