Captain America: Brave New World may have sidestepped a power issue but created a problem for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU timeline is known for its interconnected storytelling, but sometimes, continuity decisions create unexpected problems. With Black Panther’s legacy and Sam Wilson’s evolution, the MCU has inadvertently created a major power loophole that will need to be addressed in the MCU’s future.
Captain America: Brave New World continues Sam Wilson’s journey in the MCU, donning the star-spangled suit as the MCU’s new Captain America. Unlike his predecessor Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson was not given the Super Soldier Serum. This created a problem in setting the stage for Cap to face the mighty Red Hulk. While the movie solved this with a tech upgrade, this solution has itself created a problem for subsequent movies.
Sam Wilson’s Power Upgrade In The MCU Was Thanks To Wakanda
Sam Wilson Received Upgraded Vibranium Wings
In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam struggled with his new role as Captain America, facing criticism for not having the super-soldier serum. However, when his old wings were destroyed, Wakanda stepped in to provide a new vibranium-enhanced suit. This upgrade was a game-changer. As seen in Brave New World, Sam’s new wings weren’t just a mode of flight; they could release shockwaves, slice through objects with ease, and even act as a defensive shield.
This instantly elevated Sam from a regular human with an advanced jetpack to a legitimate powerhouse. The vibranium suit not only increased his durability but also allowed him to compete against enhanced enemies far more effectively than before. While this makes Sam a more formidable Captain America, it raises a significant question: if Wakanda is now providing their unparalleled technology to Avengers in need, shouldn’t this extend to others?
The Avengers Should Surely All Get OP Upgrades In The Next Event Movies
Will Other Avengers Receive A Wakandan Update?
Before Wakanda opened up to the world, its vibranium technology was a secret, limited only to those within the African nation. Black Panther (2018) changed that, ending with T’Challa announcing Wakanda’s outreach program. This initiative was meant to provide technology and knowledge to the world, which is now beginning to manifest in various ways across the MCU.
Wakanda’s outreach program suggests a major shift in how superhero technology is distributed. If Sam, a non-enhanced human, can receive a vibranium suit that makes up for his lack of powers, there’s no reason other Avengers shouldn’t receive similar upgrades. Characters like Hawkeye, Yelena Belova, and even Spider-Man could mᴀssively benefit from vibranium gear.
Hawkeye could receive enhanced arrows and armor, Yelena could wield vibranium weaponry, and Spider-Man could get an even stronger vibranium suit to rival his nanotech suit from No Way Home. More importantly, as the MCU gears up for multiversal threats, it seems irresponsible for the Avengers not to be fully equipped with the best technology available. If the next major event film (Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars) doesn’t address this inconsistency, it risks making the Wakandan tech distribution feel arbitrary rather than a logical progression.
Iron Man Not Giving All Of The Avengers Big Upgrades Made More Sense Than The Wakandan Issue
Tony Stark Considered The Dangers Of Technological Proliferation
A counterargument could be made that Tony Stark had the resources to upgrade all Avengers but didn’t. However, Stark’s reluctance made far more sense than the Wakandan situation. Tony was deeply paranoid about his technology falling into the wrong hands, and Iron Man 2 even showed him rejecting the idea of mᴀss-producing his armor due to concerns about its potential misuse.
When Stark did share his tech, it was in specific, controlled ways—like providing Spider-Man with the Iron Spider suit or designing nanotech armor for himself. Even then, his technology had limitations, as seen when War Machine’s armor was hacked in Iron Man 3 and when Ultron turned against him. Tony was always careful to ensure that his technology didn’t create unintended consequences.
Wakanda, on the other hand, has already committed to global outreach, and their vibranium technology isn’t restricted by the same fears. They willingly gave Bucky a new vibranium arm and Sam an entirely new combat suit. This suggests that they are open to empowering allies, which makes it difficult to justify why every Avenger wouldn’t receive similar treatment.
Ultimately, the MCU’s current approach to Wakandan technology creates a significant narrative inconsistency. Either Wakanda should start providing upgrades to all heroes, or the MCU needs to establish stricter boundaries around who receives these enhancements. Otherwise, the next big crossover event will have a major believability issue when some heroes are left vulnerable while others get vibranium-powered upgrades as seen in Captain America: Brave New World.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027