Captain America: Civil War made its debut a few months ago. While it hasn't broken too many records, it still made one of the biggest splashes in comic book movie history, having scored $181 million in its first weekend in the US, and an astonishing $678 million worldwide in its first week. It’s safe to say that this is a hit.
And it’s a hit with both fans and critics, as one of the most-praised Marvel flicks of the last years, being certified 90 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s loved by everybody. Civil War is basically the ending before the ending, the conclusion of two preview Phases before the Infinity War.
Also, since it features almost the entire Avengers team, it will almost certainly have a major impact on all of the MCU movies to come.
As you'd expect from a Marvel movie, there are quite a few questions left unanswered. However, as the Infinity War comes closer and closer, all of the seeds planted during the Civil War will bear fruit. So, which ones are the most important?
Most obviously, if you haven't seen Captain America: Civil War just yet, don’t read on - there are plenty of spoilers here!
Will Captain America give up his shield?
This was one of the biggest questions even before Civil War was released, given the fact that Crossbones was in the movie, along with the fact that Frank Grillo teased that epic scene from the comics (in which Steve Rogers dies). It didn't happen that way, though. However, in a way, Captain America gave up his shield after his disagreement with Iron Man.
What does that mean for the future? Well, it means that Steve Rogers will either come to good terms with Tony Stark once again, and retrieve his Frisbee, or he'll have to get another one. If it’s the latter, it won't be too difficult, given the fact that Steve made a friend in Wakanda, the only country in the world where Vibranium can be found aplenty.
And I suspect that this will happen, since there is still a long time until the Infinity War (when Tony and Steve will be forced to collaborate again), and Chris Evans will most likely pop up in several other movies until then.
And what is Captain America without his shield?
On the next page, what happens with the Winter Soldier?
The Winter Soldier
When being cast, Sebastian Stan said that he had signed a nine-picture deal with Marvel. Civil War was just his third movie, so he will certainly reprise his role as Bucky Barnes. But when will that happen?
In the credits scene, T'Challa, having realized that he almost killed an innocent man, decided to help Bucky. And so, using the superior technology developed in Wakanda, he froze the former Winter Soldier, until such time that a cure could be found. Basically, the entire Civil War led to this - helping Bucky Barnes overcome his brainwashing.
So the safest bet is that his next appearance will be in the Black Panther solo movie, which will lead directly into the Infinity War.
There are, nonetheless, several loose ends with his story. As seen during the Civil War, he wasn't the only Winter Soldier. And, even if the others died, who is to say that HYDRA didn't have any other bases of operations?
So Bucky will appear in the Black Panther solo flick - but will his past haunt him once again?
On the next page…Avengers: 2.75?
Avengers: 2.75
While Black Panther is still two years away from its release date, it’s one of the most anticipated movies of Phase III - thanks to Chadwick Boseman's portrayal of the character.
The fact that it’s the last film before the Infinity War arrives makes us even more excited about the project. Furthermore, Feige said that this movie will lead directly into the Infinity War, so there’s a lot riding on it.
We don’t know much about the Black Panther solo flick, other than the possible identity of a possible villain (Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue) and what was hinted at in Captain America: Civil War. So it is anybody's guess how it will connect to the Infinity War.
However, at this point, and given the fact that Captain America's team took refuge in Wakanda, I believe that a great number of superheroes is set to appear in the movie. Which is great - maybe it will be then when Tony finally calls Steve.
On the next page, probably the most successful villain in the MCU.
Zemo
As seen in Captain America: Civil War, a villain who relies on his wits rather than on his muscles has better chances of winning against the Avengers. And this is exactly how Zemo, the least spectacular of all the MCU villains, manages to disassemble the Avengers by using just his intelligence.
And he also lives in the end, which is something that cannot be said about the majority of the more spectacular villains.
But is his story over? As a matter of fact, no; it has just begun. And, as far as I’m concerned, I don't believe that the dissolution of the Avengers was his end game. First and foremost, when asked why he’s doing what he’s doing, the answer is served up by Captain America himself. I don't believe that he lost someone in Sokovia.
Of course, there are the messages. However, I believe that it is too simplistic a way of showing that the Avengers did him wrong, in the way he confirmed.
Zemo will appear again in the MCU, and I can bet that his master plan will be revealed. And maybe he is the missing link, the one who will connect Black Panther to the Infinity War.
On the next page, the missing heroes.
Hulk, Thor, and Nick Fury
Where are Hulk and Thor? The end of Age of Ultron revealed that Hulk was on Earth (or at least this is what Nick Fury said), while Thor went on a quest to find out more about the Infinity Stones.
Their names are dropped in the movie. Apparently, the romance between Black Widow and Bruce Banner was real. And this is something that seems off to me, especially after the great chemistry displayed between Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff during Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
They have no idea where these heavy hitters are.
And, apparently, Nick Fury is tired of watching over the kids as they argue and bicker. Which is pretty weird, given the role he had during Age of Ultron. I get it - the world believes that he’s dead. However, a subtle hint about his whereabouts could have been dropped. After all, they did it for Pepper Potts.
What happens with Black Widow?
Black Widow
At the end of Captain America: Civil War, Iron Man forms his Avengers team, while Captain America is on the run with his. There is one hero that isn't accounted for - Black Widow. While she stood by Tony Stark's side, she helped Steve Rogers flee with Bucky Barnes. Which makes her a traitor - however, she didn't run away in Wakanda, like the rest of the outlaws.
So what will happen next with her?
A couple of years ago, the Marvel powers that be said that a Black Widow movie is out of the question. The tune has changed now (although I don't see why), with interviews suggesting that Black Widow may finally get her chance to shine in a solo flick.
I don't know if this is real or just a marketing ruse. But one thing is certain - Black Widow is now all on her own, after refusing to take any sides at the end of the Civil War (Basically, this is what she did when betraying Tony and staying away from Steve).
On the next page, romancing the stone (poor pun).
Vision and Scarlet Witch
Yes, this will be a couple - and not just because it was recently admitted. It is also something seen during the Civil War. Leaving aside the scene in which Scarlet Witch puts Vision on his knees (you can see it as a metaphor, as I did, since there were plenty of other ways she could have handled him), there is one more scene in which Vision tells her that he wants the world to see her as he does.
He is a robot - but he does have emotions. And the best example here is the way he is influenced by them. He is distracted by the way he feels and Rhodey (and Tony, for that matter) learns it the hard way.
There is no hint that these two powerhouses will appear together on screen in the near future. Most likely, and seeing that Scarlet Witch retreated to Wakanda, they will be featured together in the Black Panther solo flick.
Just in time for the Infinity War.
Swinging by on the next page"¦
Spider-Man
Yes - Spider-Man was perfect, even if many say that his alter ego Peter Parker wasn't.
The biggest question about Spider-Man is whether he signed the Accords or not. It is pretty obvious that he did, even if it isn't explicitly stated. The fact that Robert Downey Jr. will appear in Homecoming seems to support this theory even more. And this relationship between Peter and Tony is more than welcomed, even if it seemed (at times, during Captain America: Civil War) that Tony Stark shamelessly manipulated the teenager.
The Spider-Man solo flick will arrive next year, on the 7th of July, and there are few things known about it other than the name and a possible first appearance in the MCU of the symbiote suit. And, if that is true, I have no idea how the alien organism will arrive on Earth.
Most recently, it was revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. II will feature Nathan Fillion as Simon Williams - this time just as an actor. Is this a hint that the Guardians will visit Earth? If so, then maybe we know how the symbiote arrives on Earth.
Speaking of Spider-Man, and how he was co-opted on Team Iron Man, what about all the other street-level heroes?
The Defenders
Why didn't Tony Stark try to contact the likes of Daredevil and the other (already revealed) Defenders? Daredevil has been in the spotlight from the first season (more than Spider-Man, who swung into action about six months ago), with the newspapers following all of his exploits closely. Why didn't Tony Stark see it?
Well, I believe that he is aware of the existence of these vigilantes. However, they are of no interest to him. And that is because, unlike Spider-Man, Daredevil doesn't show any superhuman abilities - he may have them, but they aren't obvious. Whereas everybody saw Spider-Man (on YouTube) stopping a car, nobody knows that Daredevil is a blind guy, with super-enhanced senses.
So, naturally, Tony Stark went to recruit just the one guy who seemed enhanced.
What does that mean for the Defenders? Basically, since their biggest and most well-known asset wasn't even mentioned, this means nothing at all, except for what we already knew - there are no chances for the Defenders (or any of the solo superheroes) to join the Avengers on the big screen.
As a side note, will the Accords have an effect on the Defenders as well?
On the next page, another small hero.
Ant-Man
Wasn't Ant-Man amazing? Yes he was - the airport scene wouldn't have been as exciting as it was if he hadn’t been there. Which raises a question: where and when did he try the suit's new capabilities? As he said, he became a giant only once, when he immediately fainted?
And there is something else as well. At the end of his solo movie, Scott Lang is finally in the clear, with both his family and the law. However, in Civil War, it appears as if he’s being smuggled, and he’s on the run again.
Then, there is also his answer when Steve Rogers tells him that he will be a fugitive - what else is new? So what’s Ant-Man up to, besides coming up with an uglier helmet? And, since Scott was trained by Hope van Dyne, where is she during the Civil War? Why isn't she at least mentioned?
Ant-Man and the Wasp will be released in 2018, right after the first Infinity War. Will some answers be provided at that time?
Most recently, Sharon Stone teased a small appearance in an upcoming Marvel flick. If she will indeed portray Janet van Dyne, can we expect for Hank Pym to improve the Ant-Man technology even more and allow Scott and Hope to become subatomic?
Now, returning to the origin story from the Civil War"¦
Black Panther
Some say that Spider-Man is the best character from Civil War. I say that it’s Black Panther, also known as T’Challa, the mysterious prince who can stand on his own against the likes of Captain America and Winter Soldier. Basically, Civil War is his origin story - his father has been killed, and he becomes king and protector of Wakanda.
However, since he is a newly introduced character, maybe the future movies will explain how he was able to match (and even defeat) more experienced and enhanced superheroes. It is obvious that he is enhanced as well, since he didn't need his suit in order to fight Bucky.
In the comics, he is a trained warrior and his superhuman powers come from ingesting the Heart Shaped Herb, which also establishes a connection with the Panther God of Wakanda. I doubt that this is also the case with the MCU.
Most likely, T'Challa's powers come from experimenting with Vibranium, which (as seen in Age of Ultron) can be used for much more than just Frisbees (creating God-like beings such as Vision).
Next, jumping back in time.
The super-serum
Leaving aside the fact that the Winter Soldier (who was, basically, a ghost) didn't disable the camera before killing the Starks, there is a bigger question at hand: did Howard Stark develop the super-serum on his own? And, if so, did he intend to create some other super soldiers?
Or was it something else?
As I understand it, it wasn't exactly the serum used on Steve Rogers, but rather the result of another attempt to recreate it. The reason for this belief is that the soldiers it has enhanced seem pretty unstable from a psychological point of view. They were, to some degree, in the same state as Emil Blonsky.
If I’m right, is this another connection to the Incredible Hulk? And if it is, can we expect the serum to pop up in other movies, as well?
Next, Hawkeye and Sharon Carter…
Hawkeye and Sharon Carter
For me, the best scene in the movie is the vs. between Hawkeye and Vision, because it shows the determination of the former and the intangibility of the latter. It’s awesome (and yes, I do believe that Vision was criminally underused in the movie)!
But the biggest question is this - why does Hawkeye return, when he retired at the end of Age of Ultron? What convinces him to side with Captain America and enter a war, when he’s so happy with his wife and kids? Furthermore, what happens to him next? Is he hiding in Wakanda as well? Or is he back with his family?
As far as Sharon Carter is concerned, she is basically a traitor now, after stealing the shield and the wings and delivering them to Steve and Sam. So what happens to her next? Civil War makes me believe that she will have a role to play in the future of Steve Rogers - after all, she is the only girl Captain America has kissed in a very long time (Black Widow doesn't count, because he was, basically, forced to kiss her).
Lastly, the fallen heroes.
Civil War - the fallen heroes
Yes, it’s just one, and he doesn't even die - James Rhodes, also known as War Machine. The trailers left the impression that he will die, after his arc reactor has been shot. He doesn't die, but now he has to cope with his new condition, paralysis from the waist down.
What does the future hold for War Machine? Will he return in subsequent Marvel movies? Will he appear in the Infinity War? Least likely. And, even if I am a fan of Don Cheadle, maybe his character should be retired.
What other teases about the MCU’s future did you spot in Captain America: Civil War?
