One forgotten Captain America story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe may lend additional meaning to Baron Helmut Zemo’s hatred of Hydra. The MCU’s iteration of Zemo played key roles in Captain America: Civil War and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, turning The Avengers against each other in the former and having a shaky alliance with the heroes in the latter. Unlike his comic counterpart, the MCU’s Helmut Zemo notably loathes Hydra as much as he does The Avengers.
In the Earth-616 Marvel Comics universe, Baron Helmut Zemo has an inconsistent relationship with the Hydra terrorist group. Zemo has worked with Hydra, opposed Hydra and even led Hydra at different points in his history, generally treating the group as a means to an end. In the MCU, Zemo (who led a Sokovian military death squad) was said to have an obsessive hatred of Hydra, who he fought for years. Given Hydra’s sinister activities in Sokovia in the MCU, this makes sense, but a Captain America property from 2011 may provide an additional reason.
Hydra Betrayed Helmut Zemo’s Ancestor During WWII
The Previous Baron Zemo Attempted To Overthrow Red Skull
The 2011 video game Captain America: Super Soldier takes place during the montage in Captain America: The First Avenger, depicting one of Captain America’s many missions during World War II. Nearly the entire game is set in Castle Zemo, the ancestral home of Baron Heinrich Zemo, who is presumably a direct ancestor of Helmut Zemo. While Heinrich Zemo himself does not appear in the game, his history with Hydra is revealed through journal entries.
Chris Evans and the Russo Brothers appreciated Captain America’s martial arts and acrobatics in Super Soldier and used the game as inspiration for some of Steve Rogers’s moves in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Baron Heinrich Zemo was not loyal to the Nazi regime or Hydra, but eagerly partnered with the latter to serve his own ambitions. Over time, the Red Skull and his underlings – Arnim Zola, Baron von Strucker (likely an ancestor of the Strucker seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron), and the original Madame Hydra – gradually ᴀssumed control over Castle Zemo, much to Heinrich’s disdain. The power struggle eventually led Zemo to turn on Hydra and attempt to kill Red Skull. While Zemo’s attempt failed, his journal would prove invaluable to Captain America’s mission to defeat Hydra in Castle Zemo.
Helmut Zemo Had Multiple Reasons To Hate Hydra
The Zemo-Hydra Feud Spans Generations
Like Heinrich, Helmut Zemo likely felt that Hydra’s occupation of Castle Zemo defiled the Zemo family’s ancestral home and tarnished their legacy. Hydra’s battle with the Invaders resulted in Castle Zemo being destroyed, likely resulting in the Zemo family relocating from Germany to Sokovia (which Helmut described as a “failed state”). This obscure MCU Captain America property reveals that Helmut Zemo’s hatred for Hydra is not only personal but also intergenerational.
Captain America
- Created by
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Kevin Feige
- First Film
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Captain America: The First Avenger
- Latest Film
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Captain America: Civil War
Summary
The Captain America franchise is a crucial pillar of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), chronicling the journey of Steve Rogers, a frail young man transformed into the super-soldier Captain America during World War II. The franchise follows his battles against HYDRA, his adaptation to modern times, and his leadership in the Avengers. The trilogy is praised for its political intrigue, character development, and significant contributions to the overarching MCU narrative.
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