Captain America: Peculiar Conundrums Emerge in "Brave New World"

Captain America: Brave New World leaves viewers with several lingering questions. This review explores the film's biggest unanswered questions and plot inconsistencies.

Captain America: Brave New World Image Gallery

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Banner's Absence: The film directly builds upon The Incredible Hulk, yet Bruce Banner is conspicuously absent. Given his established role in monitoring global threats and his connection to the resurrected Samuel Sterns (The Leader), his absence is a significant plot hole. While an off-world explanation is plausible, it weakens the narrative.

The Leader's Limited Scope: The Leader, a brilliant mastermind in the comics, is portrayed as having surprisingly limited strategic thinking in the film. His actions, particularly his self-surrender, contradict his supposed intellect and long-term planning capabilities. His motivation seems overly simplistic, focusing solely on personal revenge against Ross rather than the larger global or even multiversal threats he's aware of.

Red Hulk's Inconsistency: The film's Red Hulk deviates significantly from the comic book version. Instead of retaining his intelligence and tactical prowess, Ross becomes a mindless rage monster, mirroring the early Hulk. This missed opportunity to present a unique Hulk variation is disappointing.

Weapon Inconsistencies: Red Hulk's invulnerability to bullets is inconsistent with his vulnerability to Captain America's vibranium blades. While vibranium's superior properties offer a potential explanation, it raises questions about the relative strength of different materials within the MCU.

Bucky's Political Career: Bucky Barnes' sudden political aspirations feel out of character and unexplained. His past actions and personality don't suggest a natural transition into politics.

Sidewinder's Unclear Motives: Sidewinder's intense personal vendetta against Captain America lacks sufficient explanation. His motivations remain ambiguous, raising questions about the film's narrative choices.

Sabra's Underutilized Role: Ruth Bat-Seraph (Sabra) feels like an obligatory inclusion of a Black Widow archetype, lacking a substantial role in the overarching narrative. Her adaptation from the comics also strips away key elements of her character, raising questions about the purpose of adapting her at all.

Adamantium's Significance: The introduction of adamantium serves primarily as a plot device, driving conflict without establishing its long-term implications for the MCU. While its connection to Wolverine is evident, its broader impact remains unclear.

The Lack of Avengers: The film hints at the need for a new Avengers team but fails to meaningfully progress towards its formation. The absence of other heroes during the climactic battle undermines the potential for a more epic confrontation.

Poll Question: Should Captain America: Brave New World have included more Avengers characters?

For further discussion on Captain America: Brave New World and the future of the MCU, please refer to our ending explained breakdown and the list of upcoming Marvel projects.