Captain America: Brave New World - Our Biggest WTF Questions

Captain America: Brave New World leaves viewers with several lingering questions. This latest MCU installment, while introducing Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as Captain America, falls short of expectations, leaving many plot points unresolved and characters underdeveloped.

The Hulk's Absence: The film directly builds upon The Incredible Hulk, yet inexplicably omits Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner. Given the events unfolding—the gamma-irradiated Samuel Sterns' rise to power and the Red Hulk transformation of President Ross—Banner's absence is glaring. His established role in monitoring global threats makes his MIA status perplexing.

The Leader's Limited Scope: Tim Blake Nelson's Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, possesses immense intellect, yet his strategic planning seems surprisingly deficient. His actions, particularly his self-surrender, contradict his supposed brilliance and lack the grand, world-threatening ambition expected of a mastermind villain.

Red Hulk's Inconsistency: The film's portrayal of Red Hulk deviates significantly from the comics. While the comic book version retains intelligence and strategic prowess, the MCU's Red Hulk is depicted as 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 contradicted by his vulnerability to Captain America's vibranium blades. While vibranium's superior properties offer a plausible explanation, it raises questions about the consistency of power levels.

Bucky's Unexpected Career Change: Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes' sudden political aspirations are jarring and lack any prior indication in previous MCU appearances. His history makes his foray into politics seem incongruous.

Sidewinder's Unexplained Grudge: Giancarlo Esposito's Sidewinder harbors a seemingly personal vendetta against Captain America, a motivation that remains unexplained. This unresolved conflict hints at potential narrative elements lost during reshoots.

Sabra's Unclear Purpose: Shira Haas' Ruth Bat-Seraph, adapted from the Sabra character, feels underutilized. Her role as a minor obstacle turned ally lacks significant impact on the overall narrative. The adaptation itself seems arbitrary, given the significant divergence from the comic book character.

Adamantium's Significance: The introduction of adamantium serves primarily as a plot device, driving conflict between global powers. Its long-term implications for the MCU remain unclear, beyond its obvious connection to Wolverine's eventual arrival.

The Avengers' Continued Absence: The film alludes to the need for a new Avengers team, but fails to meaningfully advance its formation. The lack of a larger team-up, particularly during the climactic battle, is a missed opportunity to build anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday.

These unresolved plot points and underdeveloped characters leave Captain America: Brave New World feeling less impactful than it could have been. The film raises more questions than it answers, leaving viewers anticipating future MCU installments to address these inconsistencies.

Should Captain America: Brave New World have included more Avengers characters? The answer is subjective, depending on whether one prioritizes a focused narrative on Sam Wilson or a more expansive team-up event.