The Marvel Cinematic Universe faces a unique challenge of bringing back beloved characters while maintaining the consistency of more than a decade’s worth of interwoven plots. One such character is Steve Rogers, whose journey as Captain America seemingly ended in Avengers: Endgame when he reappeared as an elderly version of himself. However, a lesser-known comic storyline lays a captivating, non-multiversal path to bring back Cap.

The 2016 crossover event, Avengers: Standoff!, written by Nick Spencer with art by Jesús Saiz and Mark Bagley, centered around Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, and Steve Rogers investigating a strange town. At this point in the comics, Steve’s youth has been reversed, leaving him stuck as an old man.

However, the series introduces a fascinating plot device for reversing his aging that could seamlessly integrate into the MCU's established lore. Instead of relying on the increasingly complex and often overused multiverse, Standoff! presents a singular, powerful object with the ability to rewrite reality on a personal scale, laying a blueprint for Steve’s return.

The Cosmic Cube In the Form Of A Child Restores Steve Rogers' Youth

Avengers: Standoff! Written By Nick Spencer With Art By Jesús Saiz And Mark Bagley

Avengers: Standoff! revolves around Pleasant Hill, a seemingly idyllic town that is, in actuality, a high-security prison for supervillains. This prison is a creation of S.H.I.E.L.D., utilizing the reality-warping powers of a sentient Cosmic Cube. However, this isn't the familiar Tesseract seen in the MCU, but a separate artifact that has not yet been introduced in the films. The Cube manifests as a young girl named Kobik, who possesses unlimited power but also the innocence and naiveté of a child. It is Kobik who, through her desire to make things "better," uses her reality-altering abilities to restore Steve Rogers' youth.

Kobik’s actions are not an illusion or a temporary transformation for plot convenience; it is a genuine, fundamental rewinding of Steve’s biological clock, making him physically and mentally the young Captain America again. The ramifications of such a power, wielded by a metaphysical being with a child's understanding of right and wrong, are far-reaching in Standoff, and could be equally impactful in the MCU.

The Cosmic Cube Can Reappear Without Contradicting Steve's Return Of The Infinity Stones

No Multiverse Needed!

The obvious question for the MCU is how a Cosmic Cube, particularly one as powerful as Kobik, could be introduced after the Infinity Stones were seemingly dealt with. The key lies in understanding that the Cosmic Cube is not an Infinity Stone itself, but rather a nexus for reality-warping power. However, should the MCU decide to make the Tesseract (Space Stone) and the Cosmic Cube one and the same for simplicity’s purpose, endless possibilities open up. While Steve Rogers returned the Infinity Stones to their original timelines, there's no indication that the essence or energy of the Cosmic Cube itself was destroyed.

Instead, it was simply emptied of the Space Stone. This leaves open the possibility that the Tesseract could regenerate new otherworldly abilities over time, even drawing power from cosmic energy or a hidden source. The MCU has already established that powerful artifacts can evolve and change. The Aether, for example, transformed from a liquid to a physical form in the shape of the Reality Stone. If the films continue with this established science behind extraterrestrial artifacts, the Tesseract regenerating power would not be tied to the Infinity Stones, allowing a way to sidestep any chronological inconsistencies and keep it within the prime MCU timeline.

Another way to reintroduce a powerful artifact like Kobik without relying on the Infinity Stones is to connect its regeneration to the vast, barely explored cosmic energies within the MCU. This could be linked to the Celestials, who have already been established as capable of shaping life and reality across the cosmos, or even Captain Marvel’s escapades in space. This would allow for a self-sustaining power source that is distinct from the Infinity Stones and wouldn't require a multiversal explanation. With the galaxy as a backdrop, the introduction of a Cube could be a gradual process, culminating in the childlike form seen in Standoff.

The Blueprint Established In Avengers: Standoff! Would Avert a Controversial Storyline

The Perfect Way To Avoid A "Hail Hydra" Moment

Bringing back a young Steve Rogers (and Chris Evans) via a Cosmic Cube/Tesseract could avoid the rumored film adaptation of the controversial "Hydra Captain America" storyline in Avengers: Doomsday. Standoff does lead into this storyline, with Kobik being manipulated by the Red Skull to implant false memories in Steve, turning him into a Hydra agent. However, the MCU has the freedom to cherry-pick elements from the comics to bring back the original Avengers actors.

The MCU could utilize Kobik's genuine goodness and desire to help to simply restore Steve to his prime without dragging in the unpopular Hydra twist.

The core concept of a Cosmic Cube being able to restore youth is completely different from other plot devices, such as multiverse doppelgängers. The MCU could utilize Kobik's genuine goodness and desire to help to simply restore Steve to his prime without dragging in the unpopular Hydra twist. This would allow for the return of a beloved, classic Captain America, which would be particularly interesting to see after the events of Thunderbolts* established two very distinct Avengers teams, each led by one of Steve’s closest friends.

A Restored Steve Rogers To Tackle New Threats And Forge Classic Connections

With Chris Evans' And The Remaining Original Avengers Heavily Rumored To Return In Avengers: Doomsday, The Opportunity Is Ripe To Bring Cap Back

The return of a young Steve Rogers could open up entirely new avenues within the MCU, especially with the introduction of The Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four: First Steps. Marvel’s First Family is as classic as Captain America himself, and the two have frequently worked side-by-side to combat world (and sometimes galaxy) ending threats. As Chris Evans originated the live-action role of Johnny Storm, the tongue-in-check connection between his Captain America and Joseph Quinn’s Human Torch would be an entertaining dynamic to witness.

A restored Steve could even explore the consequences of time travel and alternate timelines in a more controlled, focused way. With the MCU now in its "Multiverse Saga” phase, the original Steve Rogers could be poised to confront the ramifications of his actions disrupting the Sacred Timeline at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Importantly, this rejuvenation would allow the MCU to delve deeper into Steve’s personal journey post-Infinity Saga, exploring how he adapts to a world that has changed significantly during his elderly, presumably inactive years.

Renewing Steve Rogers to his youth isn't just about nostalgia; it's about reinvigorating a cornerstone character with fresh purpose and giving audiences the Captain America they know and love, ready to face the challenges of a new era. Steve Rogers' return would inspire both new and existing heroes, providing a vital link to what made the MCU what it is today.