Now that Marvel has released Captain America: Brave New World on Disney+, certain harsh realities come to light on a re-watch. It’s safe to say that Captain America: Brave New World didn’t quite strike the chord that Marvel Studios was hoping for. Mixed reactions fed into a trend in the MCU that has sparked criticisms leveled against the Multiverse Saga as a whole, wherein each of the Multiverse Saga’s best movies is followed by one that earns middling reviews at best.

Still, that is not to say that Captain America: Brave New World is bad. Critics and fans alike praise Anthony Mackie’s performance, excellent action sequences, and Harrison Ford’s compelling MCU debut, to name a few. Nevertheless, after raking in a respectable $413 million at the global box office, Captain America: Brave New World has officially jumped to Disney’s streaming service, allowing even the most ardent fans to look closer and recognize some harsh realities nearly four months after its theatrical release.

10

Thunderbolts*’ New Avengers Team Undermines Sam Wilson’s Avengers

A New Team Of Avengers Have Formed Before Sam Could Form His

One of the main through lines in Captain America: Brave New World concerned Sam’s reluctance to reform the Avengers. His reticence was rooted in his skepticism about government oversight, a stance he had seemingly maintained since Captain America: Civil War​​​​. Nevertheless, the end of Captain America: Brave New World saw him recruiting Joaquin Torres’ Falcon, stating that the world needs the Avengers after his run-in with Red Hulk, though he seems to be forming them independently of the government and sparking excitement over who will join his team.

Thunderbolts* hit theaters less than three months after Captain America: Brave New World and proceeded to run roughshod over Sam’s plans. The end of Thunderbolts* hit a similar note, with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine officially unveiling the New Avengers to the world, a team comprising the titular Thunderbolts and Bob Reynolds, whose Sentry and Void personas are being actively subdued. With the New Avengers receiving official government backing, they are already being marketed as the main team operating out of the old Avengers Tower. This has irked Sam, who is revealed to be suing the New Avengers over their moniker.

9

Captain America Will Return… But Probably Not Until December 2026

Anthony Mackie’s Only Confirmed Upcoming Appearance Is In Avengers: Doomsday

Captain America: Brave New World achieved the goal of establishing Sam Wilson as the new Captain America by proving that it is not the super soldier serum that makes the mantle, but a strong moral code and unerring willpower. This compelling new leader has shown his mettle and won swathes of audiences over as Steve Rogers’ successor. As the new Captain America, audiences will expect to see much more of him, though there is apparently still a long while to wait yet.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, which occurred as part of a five-hour live stream in March, included Anthony Mackie’s name. This confirms that Captain America will return, but not until late next year. This wait was further extended recently, as the original May 1 release date for Avengers: Doomsday was pushed back to December 18, 2026.

8

There Wasn’t Enough Red Hulk & He May Not Appear Again

Red Hulk Appeared For Less Than Ten Minutes

Although his appearance was universally expected thanks to marketing for Captain America: Brave New World, Red Hulk’s appearance in the movie’s third act was short but sweet. The classic final act brawl saw Red Hulk displaying an entertaining array of capabilities, including the iconic thunderclap and the ability to burn and singe with his heat-emanation. Between these and Cap’s resourceful strategies to subdue this insurmountable threat, this final brawl was a highlight of Captain America: Brave New World.

Unfortunately, it was all too brief. Red Hulk’s appearance comprised less than ten minutes’ worth of screen time, ending with Sam’s successful attempt to talk Red Hulk down. The remorseful Ross proceeds to turn himself in, resigning to an unspecified stint inside a Raft prison cell. Unfortunately, this suggests that Red Hulk will not re-emerge any time soon, if at all, short of a prison break.

7

Bruce Banner’s Absence Makes No Sense

Several Characters From His Past Star In The Movie

For all intents and purposes, Captain America: Brave New World is a sequel to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. The two main villains, the Leader and Red Hulk, are two of Hulk’s most iconic and longstanding nemeses, whose origins were in The Incredible Hulk. Captain America: Brave New World also doesn’t shy away from addressing this fact, with Bruce Banner being named multiple times throughout the movie, including in an early moment of exposition where a newscaster refers to Betty Ross as “Bruce Banner’s ex-girlfriend.“

All of this would suggest that Bruce Banner would have emerged at some point in the movie, possibly during the climactic final brawl with Red Hulk. Sadly, the myriad namechecks and the fact that Thunderbolt Ross and Samuel Sterns each achieved their final forms, so to speak, do not yield a Bruce Banner cameo. Even admitting that the final fight with Red Hulk was too brief for Bruce to have made it all the way from California, it’s hard to believe he doesn’t so much as contribute to the struggle against two gamma-infused villains.

6

We May Never See Giancarlo Esposito In The MCU Again

Sidewinder Didn’t Make Much Of An Impact

Giancarlo Esposito’s role in Captain America: Brave New World was largely kept secret in the movie’s marketing, although prevailing theories that he would be portraying the classic Captain America villain, Sidewinder, were vindicated. As the movie’s secondary villain, Esposito excelled in a grounded interpretation of the character who traditionally boasts the ability to teleport. Despite causing Cap some concern in the first half of the movie, Sam swiftly takes him out of the picture and later calls on his knowledge to help defeat the Leader.

Giancarlo Esposito portrays Seth Voelker, the first of three Sidewinders in Marvel Comics.

Unfortunately, with Captain America: Brave New World grossing less than Marvel might have hoped, it is unclear whether Giancarlo Esposito will reprise the role in a future MCU installment. Despite Captain America: Brave New World director Julius Onah stating in an interview with The Wrap that his story was purposely “left open,” his small and largely unexceptional role may preclude him from future MCU plans. This would be a shame considering Giancarlo Esposito’s talents, but it may be that he will soon join the ranks of the MCU’s most wasted actors.

5

There Was Plenty Of Other Reasons For Captain America To Rebuild The Avengers

Red Hulk Isn’t The First Big Threat Of The Multiverse Saga

In an early scene, before a mind-controlled Isaiah Bradley attacks the President, Sam Wilson is asked by Thaddeus Ross to reform the Avengers. Sam is immediately reluctant, even seeming incredulous at the idea that the world needs the Avengers right now. It would take his brawl with Red Hulk for Sam to see that the Avengers are needed, resolving to form them independently.

Now, leaving it so late has caused friction between Captain America and the New Avengers, with the latter simply filling a gulf in the first place.

It’s hard to fathom how Sam didn’t reach this conclusion earlier, however. Although Thanos was the greatest threat the universe faced, his defeat didn’t mean the world no longer needed the Avengers, who were operating long before Thanos even arrived. Many huge threats have beset Earth since then, from the Skrull invasion to a multiversal tear looming in the skies of New York. Now, leaving it so late has caused friction between Captain America and the New Avengers, with the latter simply filling a gulf in the first place.

4

SERPENT Should Have Had Superpowers

The Movie Wasn’t Completely Grounded

Some of Captain America’s most bizarre villains were adapted in Captain America: Brave New World as SERPENT, known as the Serpent Society in Marvel Comics. Instead of leaning into the original Serpent Society’s snake-themed powers, however, Captain America: Brave New World reconceptualized them as a fairly cut-and-dry mercenary group led by the well-armed Sidewinder. The movie’s first act leans into a grounded tone as most of the mercenaries in SERPENT remain nameless cannon fodder with no discernible powers or character designs to speak of.

While Captain America: Brave New World was mostly successful in evoking the spy-thriller feel it was aiming for, it is hard to ignore the Red Hulk in the room. While Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s most outlandish facets concerned super soldiers, mind control, and the digitized consciousness of Arnim Zola, Captain America: Brave New World faced an uphill battle in attempting to ground a huge red rage monster, a gamma-empowered superintelligence, and a calcified Celestial jutting out of the ocean. In the inherently fantastical context of the Multiverse Saga, giving powers to the Serpent Society probably wouldn’t have been a bridge too far.

3

Isaiah Bradley Deserves Better

Isaiah Bradley Is Tragically Mistreated

Isaiah Bradley is targeted by Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader as a victim of mind control, which forces him to stage an attempt on President Ross’s life. This unsurprisingly leads to Isaiah’s arrest and incarceration, causing him significant trauma as he returns to prison and faces the death penalty. His role in Captain America: Brave New World was largely a plot point and a primary motivation for the titular protagonist. Thankfully, when the truth about the assassination attempt was revealed, Isaiah was freed.

Still, Isaiah’s story in the MCU thus far has been fraught with tragedy. His attempts to lead a quiet life (even kicking back against his White House invitation initially) after being so severely mistreated in his past are once again thwarted as he is thrown into prison for something that wasn’t his fault. It is unclear whether Isaiah will reemerge in the MCU, but if he does, he should be afforded the treatment he deserves.

2

Ross’s Gamma Poisoning Is A Huge Plot Hole

Ingesting Gamma Isn’t Typically How Hulks Are Created

As the secret plot leading to Thunderbolt Ross’s transformation is steadily unveiled, it is revealed that Ross made a deal with Samuel Sterns where he would secure Sam’s freedom in exchange for a life-saving pill to counteract Ross’s heart condition. Unfortunately for Ross, Sterns had infused his pill with gamma radiation, slowly poisoning him over the years to spark a career-destroying transformation into the Red Hulk. When this transformation occurs, he is practically indistinguishable from the Hulk, save for the red coloration and heat generation.

It is clarified in Captain America: Brave New World that gamma radiation is all that was used in the pills. Unfortunately, this doesn’t live up to scrutiny given the established rules surrounding Hulks in the MCU. Every other Hulk character, including the leader, is transformed through exposure to Bruce Banner’s blood, while Bruce Banner himself combined gamma radiation with the super soldier serum. Captain America: Brave New World therefore seems to suggest that anyone who ingests a certain amount of gamma can become a Hulk, which seems too simplistic a process.

1

The Marketing Should Have Kept Red Hulk Secret

The Moment Would Have Had More Of An Impact

The Red Hulk was the primary set piece of Captain America: Brave New World, which was certainly borne out in the marketing. It didn’t take long for trailers and images to confirm that Thunderbolt Ross would finally transform into the Red Hulk in this movie after several years of speculation from franchise fans. This makes sense, given the inherent spectacle of Red Hulk and the fact that he and Captain America are so mismatched in power.

Still, this meant that the marketing softened the impact of the final act. When watching Captain America: Brave New World, preceding scenes are dampened by the anticipation of Red Hulk’s debut. Removing Red Hulk from the marketing and making his role as secretive as Captain America: Brave New World trailers made the Leader would have made re-watching this scene evoke a stronger sense of nostalgia, akin to such stunning MCU reveals as Bucky Barnes being the Winter Soldier in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

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