Spoilers for The Ultimates #7!
In Marvel's recently relaunched Ultimate Universe, The Ultimates teamed up to deal with an evil version of Reed Richards, with Captain America
and a teenager Iron Man
called Iron Lad (among other heroes) giving his all to protect his world. After losing Iron Lad in a fight against the Ultimate Universe's Hulk, Captain America takes a moment to reflect on Tony Stark's legacy, delivering the perfect eulogy he was never able to deliver after Iron Man died in the MCU.
Ending his tenure as the hero of the MCU's inaugural film after sacrificing himself in Avengers: Endgame With an Infinity Stone-powered gauntlet, Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, received a tearful send-off in the days following Thanos' defeat, with Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, never really getting to say his piece on screen.
In The Ultimates #7following the tragic and brutal deaths of Iron Lad, Captain America and the original Human Torch, Jim Hammond, take a moment from all the chaos to remember the young man who brought them together, promising “We will try not to let you down.”
Steve Rogers' compliment to Iron Lad is the line he never got to say to Iron Man in the MCU
The Ultimates #7 – 2024 (Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri)
Following the battle that saw Tony Stark killed after an Iron Fist-powered Hulk crushed him alive, this issue sees a plainclothes Steve Rogers and Jim Hammond playing one in an old bar that Steve frequented when he was young. Tired and disillusioned with what has happened recently, the two reflect on what they can toast now that “new beginnings” are not in the plans. First toasting to “all those who are not saved”, Steve adds: “And for Tony. Who brought us together. We will try not to disappoint you”, saying what he never could to Iron Man in the MCU.
Giving Captain America a real moment, no matter how brief, to acknowledge Tony's death is huge, as in Avengers: Endgame, Steve was only part of the funeral attendees at Iron Man's lakeside ceremony, with no eulogies coming from him regarding Tony's death. Furthermore, with Steve promising that he and the rest of the Ultimates will try their best not to disappoint Iron Lad, Cap can actually do this in the comics, unlike his MCU counterpart who, shortly after returning all the Infinity Stones across the timeline , retired to be with the love of his life and stopped being a superhero altogether.
Captain America will always try to avenge his friends in the comics and MCU
Although this Captain America is obviously no the live-action MCU iteration of the character, Steve Rogers finally expressing his gratitude and reconfirming his commitment to Tony Stark's memory and his contribution to the superhero community at large is a satisfying moment. which could afford to be revisited and expanded in future issues. However, as revealed at the end of this chapter, Iron ManThe Ultimate universe counterpart is being kept in a healing bath of sorts, courtesy of Doom and She-Hulk, so maybe Captain America will finally be able to reveal his thoughts on Iron Lad in person.
The Ultimates #7 is available from Marvel Comics.