Captain America Returns: Puzzling Revelations in "Brave New World"

Captain America: Brave New World leaves viewers with several lingering questions. This latest MCU installment, while introducing Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, falls short of expectations, leaving plot holes and underdeveloped characters. Let's delve into the biggest unanswered questions:

Captain America: Brave New World Image Gallery

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Where's Bruce Banner? The film directly builds upon The Incredible Hulk, yet Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner is conspicuously absent. Given the events unfolding—the gamma-irradiated Samuel Sterns' actions and the Red Hulk's emergence—Banner's absence is a glaring plot hole. His established role in monitoring global threats makes his MIA status inexplicable.

The Leader's Limited Scope: Tim Blake Nelson's Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, possesses immense intellect, yet his strategic planning seems surprisingly flawed. His actions lack the grand, world-threatening scope expected of a mastermind villain. His motivations appear limited to personal revenge against President Ross, neglecting the larger implications of his actions.

Red Hulk's Inconsistent Depiction: The MCU's Red Hulk lacks the tactical brilliance and intelligence showcased in the comics. Instead of a cunning and ruthless strategist, the film portrays him as an uncontrollable rage monster, similar to the early Hulk. This missed opportunity to present a unique Hulk variant is disappointing.

Inconsistencies in Red Hulk's Vulnerability: Red Hulk demonstrates invulnerability to bullets, yet Cap's vibranium blades easily pierce him. This raises questions about the consistency of his powers and the unique properties of vibranium.

Bucky's Unexpected Political Career: Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes' sudden emergence as a political candidate feels jarring and unexplained. His past actions and personality seem ill-suited for a political career.

Sidewinder's Unexplained Grudge: Giancarlo Esposito's Sidewinder harbors a deep-seated hatred for Captain America, a motivation left entirely unexplained. This unresolved conflict hints at potentially cut content or future storylines.

Sabra's Unclear Purpose: Shira Haas' Ruth Bat-Seraph, adapted from the Sabra comic character, feels underutilized. Her role as a minor obstacle turned ally lacks depth and significance to the overall narrative. The adaptation of the character, stripped of her original traits, raises questions about the necessity of using this particular character.

Adamantium's Significance: The introduction of adamantium serves primarily as a plot device, driving conflict between global powers. Its long-term implications and impact on the MCU remain unclear.

The Absent Avengers: The film hints at the need for a new Avengers team, yet fails to lay the groundwork for its formation. The lack of significant progress towards reassembling the Avengers, despite the introduction of numerous new heroes, is a notable omission.

The film's numerous unanswered questions and underdeveloped plot points leave viewers wanting more. The lack of a cohesive narrative and the underutilization of established characters detract from the overall experience. The question remains: should Brave New World have included more Avengers? The answer is subjective, but the film's shortcomings are undeniable.