Warning: Spoilers for The Avengers #23!Iron Man and Captain America have one of the most interesting relationships of all the Avengers, and a hilarious new moment features Tony taking on Cap’s identity in a scene that’s deeper than it appears. Tony’s feelings about Cap are infinitely complicated, and this moment puts all those complications on the page in a genius moment of characterization.

In The Avengers #23 by Jed MacKay and Farid Karami, Iron Man is hilariously dressed up in Captain America’s classic costume as it’s revealed that his deepest desire is to be just like Cap.

The issue sees classic Marvel alien bounty hunters Technet, including Joyboy, a baby-looking alien who can grant someone’s deepest wish - but with a monkey’s paw-type twist. Iron Man, therefore, gets to be a big ol' hero like Cap but loses his armor for Cap’s classic fabric costume.

Iron Man's Deepest Desire Is to be More Like Captain America

The Avengers #23 by Jed MacKay, Farid Karami, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit

While this visual is hilarious, it’s also a subtle moment of characterization for Iron Man. Tony is often defined by his guilt. He doesn’t feel like he can live up to the heroic ideals of his peers, and he’s aware of just how selfish and self-destructive he can be. Of course, he then wishes that he were more like Captain America, morally forthright and self-assured in all he does. Whether Cap actually feels like that is irrelevant; it’s how Tony views Cap’s idealism and strength of will in comparison to himself.

Iron Man and Captain America’s history of fighting each other only further complicates these character implications. The two are classic Avengers teammates and friends, but Civil War by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven broke that relationship, turning the two against each other. Tony was guilt-stricken when Captain America died shortly thereafter, but even so, Tony disappeared eventually when he lost his memory of his actions during Civil War. Part of Tony’s guilt is about what he believes he did to Cap. His supposed moral failings hurt the man that he idolizes.

Iron Man and Captain America Have a Long History of... Subtext

Some Fans Will Certainly See Tony's Desire in a Romantic Light

There’s also one more implication that can’t be ignored, and that’s the potential romantic subtext of the moment. Like so many angsty friendships laced with conflict, Cap and Tony have long had a community of fans who see their conflict as partially an externalization of some deeper romantic or sexual feelings for each other that the two don’t want to it. Iron Man dres as Cap is even more charged with that subtext in mind. Captain America and Iron Man’s relationship is so multi-faceted that a small moment like an Avengers costume mix-up can be read a million different ways.

The Avengers #23 is available now from Marvel Comics.