Captain America: Brave New World Wastes the Serpent Society

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  • The Serpent Society in Marvel Comics
  • Marvel Wants to Recapture ‘The Winter Soldier’ Vibe
  • The Serpent Society Could Have Been the Primary Villains

In contrast to Marvel Studios’ expectations, the release of “Captain America: Brave New World” hasn’t been met with the usual enthusiasm. The movie currently holds a 51% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes and garnered the poorest CinemaScore within the MCU with a B- minus. While Anthony Mackie delivers a solid performance as Captain America, strong acting from veterans like Carl Lumbly and Harrison Ford, and a breakout role for Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres are commendable aspects, the film encounters several problems.

The remodeling work on certain scenes during reshoots was subpar, and even entire sequences were discarded, including the initial concept of The Leader – making Captain America: Brave New World one of the most chaotic Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions in recent memory. Unlike Iron Man 2 or Thor: The Dark World, where problems seemed isolated, Brave New World appears to contribute to the growing sentiment that the MCU is losing some of its shine and brilliance.

One concern I have about “Captain America: Brave New World” revolves around the portrayal of The Serpent Society. Initially, they were supposed to be part of the movie, but then there were whispers they would be left out, only for them to reappear when Giancarlo Esposito joined the cast during reshoots. This change led to the exclusion of two other actors, Seth Rollins and Rosa Salazar, who were originally slated to play Serpent Society members. The transformation of the team into a military unit called “Serpent” feels like a missed chance for the MCU to expand. Although it may appear minor at first glance, it’s an indication of a broader problem within the MCU—one that sees the franchise looking back instead of forward.

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The Serpent Society in Marvel Comics

The Serpent Society, a band of snake-themed villains, debuted in Captain America #310 from October 1985. This group was conceived by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Paul Neary. They are the evolution of the Serpent Squad from the ’70s. The original members include Sidewinder, Anaconda, Black Mamba, Cobra, Death Adler, and Princess Python, along with newly introduced characters such as Diamondback, Cottonmouth, Bushmaster, and Asp. This vibrant team doesn’t usually seek world domination but instead acts as henchmen for larger villains, prioritizing the protection and financial well-being of each member.

In the world of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I’ve always seen the Serpent Society linked with Captain America, specifically Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. So, it was logical for them to appear in “Captain America: Brave New World”. However, instead of the traditional comic book version, they were reimagined as a former black ops team turned mercenary group known simply as Serpent. The vibrant costumes and special powers associated with their snake-themed identities are replaced by call signs now.

Director Julius Onah explained this shift when he spoke to Comic Book, stating that “when you’re adapting characters like the Serpent Society from comics, who are known for wearing snake costumes and possessing powers related to snakes, you’re constantly trying to find the iteration that fits perfectly in a movie like this.

In a different rendition, it could be said: There’s ample opportunity to revamp The Serpent Society, but unfortunately, the MCU may have chosen the least imaginative approach, one that appears rooted in a time when superhero films were more cautious about incorporating comic book aspects.

It’s been commonly exaggerated that the MCU strictly adheres to comic book accuracy compared to other movies not produced by Marvel Studios. Instead, they focus on preserving the spirit of the source material, even if it doesn’t always involve a literal translation. However, deviating from the original path, such as in the case of the Serpent Society, appears to be more about business decisions, aiming to replicate the success of Captain America: The Winter Soldier with Captain America: Brave New World, rather than forging its own unique identity.

Marvel Wants to Recapture ‘The Winter Soldier’ Vibe

In the movie “Brave New World,” the Serpent Society is used as a device to follow the pattern established in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Captain America: Civil War.” This means they initially engage Captain America in a combat sequence with one of his comic book villains, serving as an opening action scene. In “The Winter Soldier,” it was Batroc the Leaper, while Crossbones took this role in “Civil War.” Now, Sidewinder and Copperhead from the Serpent Society are stepping into these shoes for “Brave New World.

In a bid to mimic the structure of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Brave New World” seems to be struggling, as it shares similarities that may not always work to its advantage. Both stories start with Captain America assaulting a facility where a comic book antagonist has been reimagined as a real-world mercenary (Batroc/Sidewinder) who’s holding hostages, hired by a shadowy figure (Nick Fury / The Leader), to kick off an intricate plot about a larger villain played by a renowned actor from the 1970s (Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce/Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross). In both narratives, the second act reaches its climax in an underground bunker where Captain America faces the true antagonist (Arnim Zola / The Leader).

The issue here is that instead of allowing Sam Wilson’s Captain America to establish his own distinct style, he seems to be replicating Chris Evans’ Captain America from his best film. This is concerning because the Serpent Society appears to be mimicking what was successful with Batroc the Leaper in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, suggesting a pattern in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) where they rely on rehashing past successes to regain audience favor after perceived letdowns. In contrast, MCU Phases 4 and 5 have shown a willingness to experiment, such as tying television series directly into the movies to give directors like Sam Raimi, Taika Waititi, Ryan Coogler, Chloe Zhao, and James Gunn more creative freedom. This experimentation sometimes yielded positive results, but other times it didn’t. As a result, discussions have arisen about whether the MCU isn’t as strong as it once was.

It appears that following some significant setbacks, such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “The Marvels”, Marvel Studios may have learned a lesson they shouldn’t have – one that Lucasfilm learned with Star Wars. Instead of continuing to innovate like they used to, they seem to be just rehashing their greatest successes. In simpler terms, it seems they are now caught in a loop, repeating the same patterns over and over again.

Fans adored “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” as it offered a fresh twist to the “Captain America” series, setting it apart from “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Unlike other superhero films, this installment had a distinctive spy-thriller feel that set it apart. Instead of venturing into a new genre or style for “Captain America: Brave New World,” they opted to revisit what had worked in the past, which often leaves fans wanting more. The standout moments in “Captain America: Brave New World” are not when it pursues “The Winter Soldier,” but rather exploring “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” or featuring Sam Wilson in “The Incredible Hulk 2.”

The Serpent Society Is Wasted in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

In the initial version of “Captain America: Brave New World,” Seth Rollins was cast as Sidewinder and Rosa Salazar was scheduled to play Diamondback. However, Rollins later confirmed that he was removed from the film when Giancarlo Esposito joined the cast. Salazar, on the other hand, seemed to be involved in the initial reshoots and may have had a significant part in the movie as she was linked with the original Happy Meal toy line from McDonald’s, which was released a year before the film came out. Unfortunately, her character and role were completely eliminated from the final cut. Her character was set to retain the iconic pink hair from the comics, but this might have clashed with the more realistic and grounded portrayal of the Serpent Society that Marvel possibly transformed it into.

In the completed movie, the Serpent Society doesn’t seem to be utilized effectively. The fight scene featuring Copperhead, portrayed by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, is disappointing to observe. There’s nothing about this character that clearly indicates him as Copperhead. He appears more like a standard powerful minion, who could have been anyone. If Batroc hadn’t perished in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier“, it might just as well have been him. The portrayal of this character doesn’t evoke the Serpent Society at all.

Giancarlo Esposito’s appearance in the film seems underwhelming due to his significant presence, yet it appears more like an extended guest role rather than a substantial character development. The marketing materials featuring him might lead viewers to expect a larger part, but unfortunately, he mainly serves as a henchman for The Leader. Since his role was added during reshoots, whenever he appears on screen, the audience is aware that these scenes weren’t initially planned for the original movie. This knowledge provides insight into how the film evolved throughout production.

It appears that his assault on Sam’s vehicle mirrors an attack seen in The Winter Soldier on Nick Fury’s truck. Simultaneously, his subsequent scene in the film, following his capture, provides Sam Wilson with information about The Leader, serving as a refresher for the audience about this character, possibly due to audiences not recalling The Incredible Hulk. Although the movie hints at Esposito’s Sidewinder potentially returning to battle Captain America, the primary emphasis is on the Multiverse Saga, meaning it may take some time before this plot point is fully realized.

A more significant concern arises from the fact that The Serpent Society is being reimagined in the film and the MCU, which could potentially deprive us of an intriguing group of antagonists. Instead of being portrayed as a predictable band of mercenaries armed with guns and knives, they could have been more complex, serving as a formidable challenge for Sam Wilson’s Captain America. This shift in focus could have connected to a broader aspect of Marvel lore, establishing a fresh direction for the Captain America film series and echoing back to the early days of the MCU.

The Serpent Society Could Have Been the Primary Villains

Back in 2014, the title Captain America: Serpent Society was jokingly suggested as a precursor to Captain America: Civil War. Looking back now, it would have been fascinating to see how this concept could have shaped Sam Wilson’s Captain America movie. Characters like Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder might have had more substantial roles rather than just brief appearances for exposition purposes. Rosa Salazar’s Diamondback could have transitioned from a villain into an anti-hero, potentially becoming a romantic interest for Sam Wilson, as was the case with Steve Rogers’ Captain America in the comics. This role change might also have helped to steer clear of the controversy surrounding the character of Ruth Bat-Seraph.

Redesigning Captain America’s battle against a squad of serpent-themed antagonists might initially appear unfit for a blockbuster film, but in the comic books, they are on a mission to retrieve an enchanted artifact called The Serpent Crown. In the comics, The Serpent Crown is linked to the Egyptian god Set and possesses magical properties. Within the MCU, this cult-like group could be portrayed as seeking the mystical treasure of the Serpent Crown, believing it would summon a powerful entity on Earth. This plot shift alters the film’s atmosphere from its Tom Clancy-inspired tone to a quest for a mysterious artifact, resembling the chase for a mystical object in a Dan Brown novel but within the MCU instead.

The notion of Sam Wilson pursuing a magical item linked to a deity is reminiscent of the Red Skull’s quest for the Tesseract in Captain America: The First Avenger, but it wouldn’t simply echo the same narrative structure as The First Avenger did. Instead, it would draw inspiration similar to how Brave New World aims to reinterpret The Winter Soldier.

Instead of connecting The Serpent’s Crown directly to Set and potentially linking The Serpent Society with Moon Knight, an Asgardian character named Col Borson, who is known as The Serpent, offers a more coherent connection. Similar to how Captain America: The First Avenger integrated elements from the main storyline, they could have also linked the Serpent Crown to Asgard and Thor’s mythology. If the objective of the Serpent Society was to acquire the Serpent Crown, which serves as the avatar for awakening the Serpent, this would unify these three distinct comic book elements while blending aspects from Captain America: Brave New World with elements from the Thor franchise.

In a twist as unexpected as bringing Red Hulk into the fray, Captain America’s battle against an Asgardian like the Serpent could occur without Thor’s involvement. This is due to the fact that in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” it was revealed that Thor was off-world. On the other hand, the absence of The Hulk in “Brave New World” seems striking. However, this scenario paves the way for Sam Wilson to pay a visit to his friends in New Asgard, gather some information, and broaden our understanding of the diverse powers at play within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2025-02-17 05:05