Warning! This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.
Captain America: Brave New World
brought back some old faces to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
, as well as introducing new villains like Sidewinder, though this iteration is very different from his comic book origins. Giancarlo Esposito is an incredible actor who has proven his talents for playing intense and strategic villains in projects like Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian. Now, he steps onto a much larger stage with the MCU, as he steps up to become the villain Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World.
And while that name may be unfamiliar to even most comic book fans, the character actually has an extensive history in the comics. This is promising for Esposito, as it suggests the character may only be a the beginning of their time in the MCU, with plenty of potential for their story to expand and grow over time, potentially beginning to reflect his comic book counterpart more as time goes by. However, as it stands, the representation of Sidewinder in the Brave New World is a significant departure from the character as seen in Marvel Comics.
Sidewinder’s Marvel Comics History Explained
Sidewinder Goes Way Back In The Marvel Comics
Sidewinder first appeared in Marvel Comics back in 1980 in a special double series тιтled Marvel Two-In-One #64. Seth Voelker came from humble beginnings, and before any criminal dealings, he was an economics professor. However, when he lost his position, Seth relocated to work with Roxxon as a financial analyst. Wary of his precarious position and unwilling to let others control his future, Seth decided to undergo an experimental surgical procedure to grant him powers such as teleportation.
With his new gifts, Seth took on the name Sidewinder, and he continued to grow in power and influence, rallying an army of followers. Sidewinder then established the Serpent Society, a group of snake-themed villains and ᴀssᴀssins, in order to carry out contracts and acquire even more power and influence. Sidewinder may not be one of the best known villains, but he is a resourceful and powerful threat who has fought against heroes like the Thing, Tony Stark, and Captain America.
How Sidewinder Fits In Captain America: Brave New World
Sidewinder Was Not Meant To Be A Part Of The Story In Brave New World
For some, Sidewinder may feel like a somewhat out of place character in Captain America: Brave New World, and there is a clear reason behind that. Giancarlo Esposito was not added to the cast until reshoots, when the actor was finally added to the MCU in this role. As a result, the character clearly had their story layered on top of the preexisting script, and were crammed into spaces that were previously otherwise occupied, or entirely absent from the film. That being said, Esposito’s star power and talent for playing a villain suggests that Marvel Studios were keen to set the character up for future stories.
With that in mind, Sidewinder appears as the leader of the organization hired by Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader. Retroactively, this group appears to have been made more important, calling these largely ordinary terrorists the Serpent Society. Sidewinder is a mercenary for hire, with several agents working under him. However, as a villain in Brave New World, Sidewinder’s motivations are primarily driven by money, before he has direct personal brushes with Sam Wilson’s Captain America. After that, Sidewinder develops a personal grudge against Cap, and he sets out to kill him.
How Sidewinder Was Changed For The MCU
This Isn’t The Same Sidewinder From The Marvel Comics
The single biggest change in Brave New World when it comes to the portrayal of Sidewinder is the fact that this character bears no resemblance to a snake, and he possesses no superpowers. The character is stripped back to the bare basics, as a highly intelligent mercenary. He leads a group of criminals, and works on contracts for shady clientele who need to get messy jobs handled. This depiction of Sidewinder is a clear departure from the comics, though as mentioned above, it does potentially set up some interesting developments for the character in the future.
Captain America: Brave New World also positions the Serpent Society as a new antagonistic force that will likely cause trouble for the Avengers. While the movie did not reference specific members of the group by snake-related code names, the potential for this to develop is present. It also appears as though Sidewinder has had a very different career path from his comic book counterpart, with no clear links to academia or Roxxon, though both of these details may be included in the future. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at where the character ends up at the end of the movie to try and predict what comes next for the dastardly villain.
Will Sidewinder Return In The MCU
Giancarlo Esposito Is Worth Bringing Back In The MCU
After his final encounter with Sam Wilson, Sidewinder attempts to strike a deal with Sam to get a less harsh prison sentence. This shows that he has resigned to his fate of being captured and detained. However, undeterred by the consequences of his actions, he boldly tells Sam that he will escape. This could serve as a hint about the character undergoing experimental treatments, like in the comics, in order to alter his appearance, and develop the power to teleport, and thus get out of prison. This would be the ideal way to continue his narrative, and make him an even more formidable foe down the line, who is also much more faithful to the comic book character.
Captain America: Brave New World was just a taste of what Esposito is capable of when playing the villain.
It appears as though the Serpent Society could become a threat to the heroes in the MCU, similar to HYDRA, though it is hard to predict the scale of their operation. In the comics, the group was relatively small, though thanks to their high levels of training and abilities to achieve excellence, the Serpents proved to be a formidable force. Otherwise, the villains could become a targeted threat appearing opposite Sam Wilson in future entries to his Captain America saga. However, it would be a huge mistake to get rid of Esposito, and not provide him with the space and time to really explore Seth Voelker. Captain America: Brave New World was just a taste of what Esposito is capable of when playing the villain.
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