Discover 7 Hidden Easter Eggs in Captain America: Brave New World You Never Noticed!

Attention: This article reveals key plot points from Captain America: Brave New World. It has been seventeen years since Samuel Sterns was contaminated with Bruce Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood in The Incredible Hulk (2008) and four years since the Celestial being Tiamut rose from the Earth in Eternals (2021). These unresolved storylines are finally wrapped up in Captain America: Brave New World, but it also introduces new threads that will be further explored in Thunderbolts (May 2) and the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga – Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

In the story of “Brave New World,” Captain America, portrayed by Anthony Mackie, and the Falcon, played by Danny Ramirez, expose a plot devised by Sterns, a powerful gamma-altered individual with an expanded brain and intellect to match. This mastermind’s mental abilities allow him to predict various possible outcomes, even his own downfall, following the orchestration of a global conflict between America and Japan and the subsequent transformation of President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) into a destructive Red Hulk.

The central plot revolves around key figures such as Isaiah Bradley, the first Black Captain America (Carl Lumbly), who made an appearance in last year’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Black Widow (Shira Haas). This intricate storyline stretches from Washington D.C., to locations like Japan and the Indian Ocean. Alongside notable references to previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films and brief appearances by characters like Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and political candidate Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), there are also less conspicuous links and character interactions that may have gone unnoticed.

Copperhead

In Oaxaca, Mexico, Captain America rescues hostages as Falcon retrieves the stolen adamantium from the mercenary group called the Serpent Society, also known as the Serpents. The large adversary Cap battles in a church is identified as Copperhead (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), who allows Seth Voelker/Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) to flee.

In comic books, the character known as Copperhead is actually Davis Lawfers, a former member of the Serpent Squad – a group of villains themed around snakes that includes Puff Adder, Black Racer, and Fer-de-Lance. Copperhead was first introduced in Captain America #387, published in 1987, where Steve Rogers, Falcon, Nomad, and D-Man (who will be discussed further) worked together. Sidewinder, who had the ability to teleport, brought the four into the Serpent Society, but Copperhead remained loyal to Madame Hydra/Viper, who was planning a malicious takeover of Sidewinder’s snake pit.

Dennis Dunphy

Navy SEAL Commander Dennis Dunphy (played by William Mark McCollough) shares with Captain America details about the escalating tension between American and Japanese naval forces near Celestial Island in the Indian Ocean. As the lead investigator, Dunphy examines the pills discovered by Cap, as well as President Ross’ medical records, at Camp Echo One – a covert facility where Ross kept Sterns as his personal intellectual powerhouse. Later, Dunphy discloses that Ross’ heart medication contains gamma radiation, which then prompts Sterns to employ a device to halt Dunphy’s heart.

Dennis Dunphy is known by his stage name, Demolition Man, within the U.C.W.F., or Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. In his initial wrestling match in issue #28 of The Thing comic book series from 1985, he faced off against Ben Grimm, a member of the Fantastic Four. This was Grimm’s ringside debut, and he emerged victorious. Over the course of the series, Dunphy developed a friendship with Grimm and continued to appear as a supporting character until the final issue, Thing #36.

Demo’s power was enhanced through pills given to him by an organization called Power Broker, which was later revealed to be Power Broker Inc. in the series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” This same organization granted abilities to John Walker/U.S. Agent and Lemar Hoskins/Battlestar. In Captain America #328, Demo adopted a costumed persona modeled after Daredevil’s yellow suit and took on the name Demolition Man, often referred to as D-Man.

In this team, the new superhero worked alongside Steve Rogers, who was known as the black-suited Captain at the time, Falcon (Sam Wilson), Nomad (Jack Monroe), and Vagabond (Priscilla Lyons). Demo functioned as Cap’s partner until the fateful incident in Captain America #349, where he was believed dead on an exploding Quinjet. This apparent demise echoed that of Cap’s first partner, Bucky Barnes. However, Demo managed to survive and later joined forces with Cap when he stood against the Superhuman Registration Act during Civil War.

Mr. Blue

The tune that the Leader employs to set off his mind-manipulated killers is known as “Mr. Blue” by The Fleetwoods. This song serves as a coded reference, reminiscent of the alias Sterns adopted when communicating with Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. It was during this time that Sterns obtained samples of Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood.

The name “Mr. Green” was first introduced in the Incredible Hulk comic book issue #34 from 2001. In this story, Bruce Banner, a fugitive, adopts the alias to secretly communicate with someone known as “Mr. Blue.” It wasn’t until issue #62 from 2003 that we learn the true identity of “Mr. Blue” – Betty Ross, who had previously been believed to be dead and was Bruce Banner’s wife.

Adamantium, America, and Japan

A significant part of the story revolves around President Ross’ treaty concerning the “millennium discovery” found on Celestial Island, which is actually adamantium.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the nearly indestructible metal alloy known as adamantium. It’s not just Wolverine’s signature armor; it’s also been used to amplify the strength of his adversaries like Sabretooth, Cyber, and Lady Deathstrike. In the comic books, this innovative material was first developed by an American scientist named Dr. Myron MacLain. However, it was a Japanese scientist, Kenji Oyama, also known as Lord Darkwind, who pioneered the process to bond adamantium with human bone. It was later Dr. Abraham Cornelius who integrated this material into Logan’s skeleton, thus creating the metal-clawed mutant for the Weapon X program.

A fun tidbit: The very first time adamantium was mentioned in a comic (in 1969’s Avengers #66), Dr. MacLain exclaimed, “The military must understand the potential of this new adamantium immediately! Even the president is waiting!

Camp Echo One

The secret facility located in West Virginia, often referred to as a “black site,” is modeled after Camp Echo-1, an establishment previously used for relocating Inhumans. This facility was initially constructed by the young genius Amadeus Cho, who had a brief appearance planned in Brave New World, along with S.H.I.E.L.D., to house the Hulk.

After becoming friends with Banner (the scientist who transforms into the Hulk) and the Hulk themselves, Cho transformed an abandoned town into a place where both could feel safe and pose no threat. However, in the comic book series Champions #10 from 2017, Cho and his companions found out that Hydra had converted this peaceful town into a prison, housing hundreds of powerful Inhumans instead.

Leader and Red Hulk’s Origin

In the story of Brave New World, a nod is made to Red Hulk’s comic book roots as it is unveiled that the drugs used to save Ross’ life, prescribed by Sterns, contained gamma radiation.

2010’s “Hulk” issue 23 unveiled that the Leader and M.O.D.O.K., masterminds of the Intelligencia, seized gamma energy from the Hulk (Bruce Banner) to metamorphose General Ross into the Red Hulk, employing a contraption known as the Cathexis Ray. This device mirrors its comic counterpart by transforming Doc Samson, Betty’s lover in “The Incredible Hulk,” into a gamma-enhanced being. However, unlike his comics version, MCU General Ross did not willingly agree to be transformed into a Hulk. As a cinema enthusiast, I find it fascinating how the Marvel Universe continues to unfold these intricate narratives!

Octavia Spencer

Those who stayed until the closing credits might have spotted a name credited under “Special Thanks”: Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer from The Help.

In the 2019 movie “Luce,” which was directed by Julius Onah, known for his work on “Captain America: Brave New World,” Spencer played a leading role. Mackie shared in an interview with Black Film and TV that it was Spencer who reached out to recommend Onah for the director’s position.

Mackie stated that Octavia contacted him, and when Octavia calls, it’s usually important, so he replied, “What’s happening, girl?” She told him that her friend is up for his movie role, and he should ensure the friend gets the job. Otherwise, she threatened to travel to New Orleans.

Interesting tidbit: Before becoming the Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer, she made a screen appearance in another Marvel film. In the year 2002’s “Spider-Man”, she played the character of a ringside check-in girl.

The live-action film “Captain America: New World Order,” featuring Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford, is currently showing in cinemas.

2025-02-17 16:11