Thanks to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a new Captain America, and that means heaps of merchandise featuring Sam Wilson's new persona will soon start arriving in stores.
We've already shared some cool Marvel Legends action figures and Funko Pops, but thanks to some badass t-shirt designs, we have more shots of the Star-Spangled superhero.
This is a sight we'll be getting used to over the next few years, and despite those rumours about Chris Evans' return to the MCU, it's clear that Anthony Mackie's Captain America is here to say.
This is a big step forward for Marvel Studios and the MCU, and it's hard not to be inspired seeing some of the Halloween costumes Marvel.com has shared featuring young children suited up as the new Captain America. Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther became iconic, but a Black superhero wearing the stars and stripes is jusy as significant, especially in today's America.
In our full review of the first season of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, we concluded by saying "Inconsistent storytelling and weak lead villains aside, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a hard-hitting and action-packed new chapter in the MCU mythos which delivers an insightful and impactful exploration of what it means for a Black man to be Captain America."
Check out this new Captain America promo art based on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier below:
Click on the "Next" button below to check out 8 unanswered
questions from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier!
8. Will Eli Bradley Become Patriot?
Sam Wilson makes peace with Isaiah Bradley in the season finale of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, honouring him with a place in the part of the Smithsonian exhibition dedicated to Steve Rogers. It's a beautiful moment, and the perfect way to end that character's story arc in the MCU.
However, what about Eli Bradley? He's clearly a kid with an attitude, but there are no signs throughout this series that he's inherited his grandfather's superhuman abilities.
Still, he seemingly takes a liking to Sam Wilson, and definitely looked inspired when he saw that statue of his grandfather. The question is, will that lead to Eli suiting up as Patriot, the leader of the Young Avengers? If that is the plan, Marvel Studios is clearly taking a slow-burn approach, and it might not be something that pays off until an eventual season two. We're rooting for it to happen, though.
7. Who Does This Captain America Work For, Anyway?
Steve Rogers "disgraced" the Captain America mantle by becoming a war criminal and breaking the Sokovia Accords. The world has clearly come to understand that he was still a hero, though, and it does appear he's being mourned as a legend following the events of Avengers: Endgame.
John Walker, meanwhile, was given the mantle by the GRC and the United States Government. Where does that leave Sam Wilson? Is he a free agent, or does he too report to a higher power? We have a feeling it's the latter, though it would have been interesting to see this finale devote some time to exploring how those in power have reacted to him wielding the shield.
Marvel Studios has yet to establish the place of the Avengers in the MCU following Thanos' attack on Earth, but we have no reason to believe Sam won't end up leading that team one day.
6. Is That It For The Flag Smashers?
The remaining Super Soldiers are blown up in the closing moments of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, so that's the end of them (they won't be missed). However, what about the concept of the Flag Smashers?
Karli Morgenthau is no more, but there are clearly still those who support the movement. Ultimately, the GRC decide not to move forward with their plans to uproot those affected by The Blip; that doesn't mean there won't always be people who want to fight back against anyone who holds power.
We're sure there are plenty of villains who might want to twist the Flag Smashers' intentions for their own means, but aren't banking on this group continuing in any way. Their logo might pop up now and again, but without the Super Soldiers, there's really not much they can bring to the MCU.
5. Is Zemo's Story Over?
Zemo's arc in the series came to an abrupt end in the penultimate episode when the Dora Milaje decided to take him to The Raft. That was a little weird when it seemed like they were intent on making him pay for his crimes in Wakanda, but at least the finale rectifies that to some extent.
Despite being behind bars, Zemo was still able to manipulate events to the point where those remaining Super Soldiers are killed. That proves the Baron is more powerful than we realised, and something tells us he won't be training behind bars for too much longer (he has no desire to target Bucky, but there are plenty of other superpowered individuals he'd surely like to dispose of).
So, no, we don't think Zemo's story is over...we just don't know where it will go next (or when it's going to continue). We do wish Marvel Studios had laid the groundwork for him to assemble the Thunderbolts in this series, but as of right now, there's no indication that's what they have planned.
4. What Is Cap's (And U.S. Agent's) Place In The MCU?
The GRC's Captain America was clearly meant to be someone they could send on missions to further their own means; he was a soldier who could wield an iconic weapon and represent his country in a way those in charge wanted. As for Sam Wilson, his place in the MCU is a little harder to figure out.
He willingly helps the authorities in the closing few minutes of the finale, but is he a free agent? Steve Rogers immediately started working for S.H.I.E.L.D. upon his return, and only stopped doing so when they fell. Now, it remains to be seen whether Sam will continue working with the military or be his own man, fighting the good fight and stepping in where he's needed.
Like Walker (at least at first), he doesn't have any superpowers, so that could limit what he's able to do. Then again, he tackled an alien invasion as The Falcon, so there's no real reason to suspect he'll be handling "smaller" threats. Either way, both Sam and John are on vastly different paths now.
3. What Endgame Does "Val" Have?
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine appears to be on the side of the angels, but we still know very little about her motivations. Like Nick Fury, it seems like she has a lot of power and operates from the shadows. That's not to say we won't eventually learn that "Val" serves Leviathan or HYDRA, but right now, it looks like she legitimately wants to use U.S. Agent on behalf of the country.
Val isn't the Power Broker and, as of right now, there's no reason to suspect they're working together (to put it bluntly, there's no reason to believe this mysterious character would need Sharon).
We can't help but wonder whether Val is someone looking to put together her own Avengers - either the Dark Avengers or Thunderbolts - and if that's the case, it would explain those rumours about her appearing in Black Widow. If she recruits Yelena Belova there, she already has a Captain America and Black Widow...who's next? We'll obviously have to wait and see.
2. What's The Deal With Sharon Carter?
Sharon Carter being the Power Broker wasn't exactly a shock, and actually proved to be something of a predictable twist. It's easy enough to understand why the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent might be angry with the world, but her heading to Madripoor to create a criminal empire...well, it's a little weird.
This is also a huge departure from the comic books, where Sharon is Steve Rogers' primary love interest and a hero through and through. So, why have things changed so drastically for her?
Sharon is quite clearly excited to use the information being part of the C.I.A. affords her to further her cause, but what that cause is...we don't know. It could be as simple as a desire to get rich, but what if she's a Skrull? Those shapeshifting aliens would definitely want to create a super soldier army and access government information, so here's hoping this pays off in Secret Invasion.
1. Where Is Steve Rogers?
This is, without a doubt, the biggest unanswered question The Falcon and The Winter Soldier leaves us with. There have been jokes about Steve Rogers being on the moon, but it's clear now that the world hasn't been led to believe the former Captain America is dead...he's just vanished.
It makes sense that the rest of the Avengers would want Steve to live out his final years in peace, but both Sam and Bucky have alluded to him being "gone" and neither of them reaches out to him here.
The fact Marvel Studios wouldn't address this is pretty damn weird, and it feels like they're maybe still weighing up their options when it comes to what to do with the character. Reliable sources have reported that Chris Evans will return as Captain America, so perhaps the plan is to de-age him.