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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Sam Wilson: Captain America #1
Marvel Comics’ Sam Wilson is bringing a piece of the MCU to the page ahead of his upcoming movie, Captain America: Brave New World (though there is a catch). As seen in his brand-new Marvel series, Sam Wilson’s Captain America is looking into a new organization that seemingly wants to improve the world, and their head of security is a pretty familiar, and red, face. That said, the issue confirms a twist in the new comic series, making Sam Wilson’s new showdown more distinct than what will be seen in the MCU’s next movie.
In Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 by Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse, Edar Messias, and Valentine De Landro, Wilson’s cousin convinces Sam to look into and consider becoming a spokes-hero for Eaglestar, a former paramilitary outfit that’s rebranded itself with a major land grant program, having created floating platforms in the sky containing over 6,000 acres of arable farmland and homes for its new workers and their families. That said, something sinister is going on, as evidenced when Sam Wilson ends up facing Eaglestar’s head of security, The Red Hulk:
Sam Wilson taking on the Red Hulk in the comics when his MCU counterpart is just over a month from doing the same is no mere coincidence. While it’s not the first time Marvel Comics has generated some clear synergy with the MCU, there is an important catch when it comes to this new series: it’s not the same Red Hulk.
Sam Wilson’s Captain America Is Also Fighting Red Hulk In The Comics
Just Not The Same Red Hulk
In Captain America: Brave New World, it’s been confirmed via trailers that Sam Wilson’s Captain America (Anthony Mackie) will have no choice but to battle President Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) who will transform into the Red Hulk. This will finally bring the origins of the original Red Hulk from the comics to the big-screen. However, he’s not the only Red Hulk who exists on the page, and the new Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 serves as a key reminder of that fact.
Rather than Sam facing down Ross, this new issue reveals that Eaglestar’s head of security is Robert Maverick, a former general who has a device known as a “Hulk Plug-In” which allows him to become the second Red Hulk for one hour every 36 hours. Maverick debuted as this new Red Hulk when he was recruited to be a member of 2017’s U.S.Avengers. While similar in both their appearance and military backgrounds, Maverick is a separate Red Hulk from Ross, having been created by Al Ewing and Pace Media for the 2017 series as a substitute when Ross was, at the time, unavailable.
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While Maverick’s Hulk Plug-In had been broken for quite some time following a battle with Bruce Banner’s Hulk, he reveals to Sam that Eaglestar helped “sort it out”. As such, it’s possible they made some improvements where he can be Red Hulk for longer without harming himself. However, it’s just as likely that they might have thrown in some sort of mental programming or mind control, considering how easily Maverick is convinced that Sam’s a traitor after Wilson started looking too closely at Eaglestar’s activities.
Will Ross’ Red Hulk Appear In Sam Wilson’s New Captain America Series?
Bring On The MCU Synergy
At any rate, it’s somewhat ironic that Ross’ original Red Hulk was presumably free to be used in this new series, and Maverick was chosen instead. After all, Ross was last seen in 2020’s Captain America series by Ta-Nehisi Coates where his ability to transform into the Red Hulk was restored. To that end, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Ross’ Red Hulk ends up being saved for future issues, perhaps even leading to a Red Hulk vs Red Hulk battle. With Brave New World‘s release just around the corner in February, it would be rather fitting if Ross’ Red Hulk made his debut the same week (though that’s just conjecture).
Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
“}]] Sam Wilson’s new series is going for that MCU synergy… Read More