Captain America: Civil War will be Avengers 2.5+ as heroes choose sides in an epic battle that disassembles Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
The government cracks down on costumed crime fighters. The Superhero Registration Act is passed. Heroes are ordered to reveal their identities, register and work for the government. Tony Stark sides with the government. Steve Rogers leads the opposition.
Who will follow Iron Man? Who will side with Captain America?
Here’s our breakdown:
Team Captain:
Black Widow – The world knows her dark past making her a target and a scapegoat. I think Natasha sees Steve’s goodness as an anchor lifting her out of her past.
Winter Soldier – Steve’s attempt to save his best friend is what will drive Bucky’s devotion once the condition breaks. Bucky’s role as the Winter Soldier will likely be a huge factor in the passing of the Act that starts the war.
Falcon – Sam Wilson fought with Steve during the fight with a Hydra infested S.H.I.E.L.D. so he knows the corruption behind the order. Sam is a soldier like Rogers and that bond can’t be broken.
Scarlet Witch – Wanda is heartbroken over the loss of her brother. She will still see Tony as the authority figure now asserting his authority. Wanda is known for her chaos magic. She’s the powerhouse Steve and his soldiers will need to survive as Tony’s overwhelming forces hammer down.
Ant-Man – Scott Lang will see Steve’s cause as the right thing to do. Lang risked all to fight corporate corruption before and he will see Stark as a symbol of the same corrupt corporate overlords he took down before. Lang will not only be the covert operative who can get in anywhere but he’ll be the brains to take on Tony’s tech.
Hank Pym – The genius inventor who left S.H.I.E.L.D. and Howard Stark will not like what Tony stands for. Pym could provide Steve with the brains, money, weapons and safe houses to rival Stark’s forces.
Sharon Carter/Agent 13 – Steve’s great love interest from the comics has only been a brief attraction on-screen. Like Wilson, Carter choose Steve over S.H.I.E.L.D. and was right. She will follow the Captain.
Team Iron Man:
War Machine – James Rhodes and Tony share a bond. Tony’s arrogance has tested Rhodey’s patience but he always has his back and his devotion to the law helps define him.
Vision – J.A.R.V.I.S. evolved but he is still Tony’s creation. The android with an Infinity Gem will be Tony’s right hand at creating the network to hunt renegade heroes.
Black Panther – T’Challa is a man of the world, a man of science and a man of order sworn to protect his people. T’Challa and Tony are kindred spirits who will share all these traits.
Spider-Man – Peter Parker may want to keep his identity secret to protect Aunt May but he will find a father figure and mentor in Tony Stark. Peter and Tony are both science nerd outsiders but Parker will see how Stark turned that cliche around on its ehad and he will want to follow.
Maria Hill – Nick Fury’s second in command took control in comics and proved a formidable director unleashing “Cape-Killer” units on renegade heroes.
The Wild Cards:
Hawkeye – If this was the comic book Clint Barton was be fighting with Cap. Given the cinematic background of Clint (a wife and kids) he will be the most conflicted of all. While Clint doesn’t have a secret identity he does have a secret family safely hidden away. He may agree with Steve on not refusing to register but may join Tony to protect them and keep order.
MIA:
Hulk – Bruce Banner was out of the picture and off planet during the comic book event. Tony and the Illuminati blasted Hulk into space but readers know how that turned out: Planet Hulk, World War Hulk!
Thor – The Odinson was busy with the Fall of Asgard but Tony co-created Ragnarok, a clone of Thor which went rogue. When Thor returned to Earth the hammer came down on Iron Man hard. Thor will likely be off-planet and preparing to save the Nine Realms in Thor: Ragnarok.
Nick Fury – S.H.I.E.L.D. was deep undercover during the comics Civil War readying for the threat that would become known as Secret Invasion. Fury knew aliens were infiltrating every team so he went underground and started the “caterpillar” program – the young heroes he could trust who would become known as the Secret Warriors – soon to be a major plot on this season’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
What do you think of our picks as alliances form and friendships are shattered?
Captain America: Civil War opens May 6, 2016.
By Editor