Captain America vs. Iron Man?
How did the Marvel Cinematic Universe lead to this superhero showdown?
Captain America: Civil War is the climax of what’s been set up in nearly every Marvel movie before. With so many heroes fighting heroes you could call this Avengers 2.5.
What do you need to know before you?
Back by popular demand, our series that began with Avengers for Virgins, here’s the rundown to get your ready for the clash of shield vs blaster. If you’re a newcomer (welcome!) just follow the movies or you’re a longtime comic book consumer, this is the road map to war, this is Captain America: Civil War for virgins.
The situation:
The Avengers saved the planet several times from evil forces but there was still massive damage and innocent lives caught in the crossfire. New York City was attacked by Loki’s alien army in The Avengers, Washington, D.C. took a beating as Cap stopped a Hydra infected S.H.I.E.L.D. in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sokovia was devastated and turned into a “nation bomb” by capable of wiping out humanity by Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Avengers came to the rescue but in some way, the evil wave of destruction was caused in part by a hero’s actions.
The Sokovia Accords have been enacted by the world governments. In the comic books, it was called the Superhero Registration Act. All heroes were required to give up their secret identities, register, train and work for the government…which are always filled with officials who are truthful, right?
The players:
Captain America (Chris Evans) believes in Democracy but is tired of marching to the orders of government leaders he can’t trust. Steve knows the hard truth that officials can be corrupted and believes sometimes doing what’s right in his direct conflict with a political agenda. Steve Rogers feels responsible for Bucky Barnes. Steve’s best friend was turned into an amnesiac assassin, and Rogers goes against his allies to save his oldest friend from a new conspiracy.
Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) believes heroes “need to be put in check” and the former rebel believes it’s better to work with the government than against it now. Tony Stark is feeling guilt over his role in creating Ultron, the artificial intelligence which evolved into a monster machine. He no longer trusts himself.
Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) is at the heart of the conflict. Bucky was Steve’s best friend who “died” in World War II but was actually transformed into a brainwashed cyborg assassin. Steve broke through Bucky’s programming. The Winter Soldier has a lifetimes of crimes to answer for and is set up for an act of terrorism in this film.
Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) makes his first appearance in the Marvel films but you may remember his homeland was referenced in Age of Ultron. T’Challa rules an African nation called Wakanda, the only source of vibranium on the planet. The mysterious metal was used to make Cap’s shield so S.H.I.E.L.D. must have found a way in as far back at World War II and Ultron used a stolen cache of the metal to build himself a stronger robot body. T’Challa is driven by vengeance at devotion to his country leading him to ally with Stark.
Falcon (Anthony Mackie) is loyal to Cap after fighting with him against Hydra traitors in in Winter Soldier. If you remember in the post-credits scene of Ant-Man, Falcon and Cap find a trapped Bucky, they can’t turned to other Avengers for help but Sam “knows a guy” after Lang and Wilson clashed when Ant-Man needed to “borrow” rare technology from the New Avengers base.
Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is an outlaw hero. Scott Lang is an electronics genius, master thief and Robin Hood who stole from a corrupt corporation. Henry Pym recruited Lang to steal his technology before it could fall in Hydra’s clutches. Lang is recruited to help Cap and Sam save Bucky but will join Cap’s cause.
Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is a mystery. Natasha was raised to be KGB assassin then was an unwittingly pawn of Hydra. She doesn’t trust authority but sides with Stark. Perhaps Natasha is still feeling guilt for her past or is she Cap’s wild card? Natasha’s played the role of double agent before.
Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) was revealed to have a wife and kids. Clint Barton wants to retire but his anti-authority streak will lead him to Cap’s side when his friends become targets.
War Machine/Iron Patriot (Don Cheadle) is Tony’s best friend. Colonel James Rhodes is a career soldier who believes in duty and law.
Vision (Paul Bettany) will make a logical choice. The synthezoid hero will calculate that following the Accords will lead to the greater good and side with Tony.
Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) is a wild card. She’s still learning how to use her mystical powers. Could Wanda’s powers be manipulated by the mystery villains of this new drama? She’s on Team Cap but why?
Spider-Man (Tom Holland) makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Peter Parker is the young fanboy in all of us who loves all the heroes and is hurting as they fight. Parker sees Stark as a mentor but will film imitate comics? Peter Parker famously unmasked before the world but ultimately regretted his decision to follow Stark and joined Captain America’s resistance.
Who else to watch?
Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) is the mystery villain manipulating the heroes vs. heroes conflict. In the comics, Baron Helmet Zemo is a classic Cap villain, the son of a Nazi/Hydra overlord who lead the Masters of Evil (think an evil Avengers super group) and later the Thunderbolts (villains posing as heroes.)
Brock Rumlow/Crossbones (Frank Grillo) is a ruthless Hydra agent who once served under Rogers. Rumlow survived the fiery destruction of the S.H.I.E.L.D./Hydra HQ and will emerge as his comic book counterpart, the masked terrorist known as Crossbones.
Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) is a career diplomat with the U.S. State Department and ally of Black Panther.
General Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) is now Secretary of State. The former father-in-law of Bruce Banner was leader of a covert military unit hunting the Hulk. “Thunderbolt” Ross has a long professional alliance with Stark but returns to the Marvel Universe leading the charge to corral superheroes.
Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) is a devoted S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. There were sparks between Carter and Cap in the last film but in the comics they are full blown lovers with a tragic twist. Will comics canon repeat itself?
Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, return for this follow-up then start prepping for Avengers: The Infinity War, Part One & Two.
Captain America: Civil War opens May 6th. Whose side are you on? Who will survive or be a casualty of war?
By Editor