Source: media.gq.com

9. This isn’t Permanent

But let's pretend like the story really is going in the "Cap totally for real IS HYDRA" direction. That doesn't matter either.

Why? Because IT WILL GO BACK. Comics are all about change and reverting back to the status quo. I've spoken before about how I love the Dark Flash story, in which a mysterious new Flash replaces Wally West. That arc was good, because it was a shakeup that told an interesting story before shifting back to the way things were before. A neat diversion before the return to the norm.

Also, Superior Spider-Man and Peter David's Grey Hulk run were both incredibly interesting. It was fun to read longterm changes to classic characters, yes, but they eventually went back to normal.

But no, you're right, when a comic book character changes, they stay that way forever. I forgot that Ben Reilly was still Spider-Man, Azrael was still Batman, and Superman was still made of blue electricity.

And it's amazing that they were able to make Cap a HYDRA agent when he's been a werewolf since the late eighties.