Warning! This article contains major spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World
Doctor Samuel Sterns returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the Leader inCaptain America: Brave New World, though he actually crossed paths with one other Avenger before the events of the film – and it was not Bruce Banner. In the mainstream Marvel Comics universe,the Leaderis one of the most iconic members of The Hulk’s rogue’s gallery, and his MCU counterpart was set up 17 years ago. The MCU finally gave Sterns his long-awaited villainous debut inBrave New World, though he had one other appearance after the events of 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk.
In the MCU, Sterns is a professor who tries to help Bruce Banner rid himself of his Hulk alter ego. At the end ofThe Incredible Hulk, Emil Blonsky forces Sterns to give him similar gamma radiation-induced powers, resulting in him becoming The Abomination. Blonsky’s violent transformation leaves Sterns wounded and infected by one of Bruce Banner’s blood samples, transforming his cranium.Brave New Worldaddresses Sterns’s discovery and path to villainy, but one other story set afterThe Incredible Hulksaw Sterns meeting another MCU hero.
Samuel Sterns' First Encounter With An Avenger As The Leader Was Actually With Black Widow
Samuel Sterns’s first appearance afterThe Incredible Hulkis in the 2012 comic seriesMarvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week. Following The Abomination’s rampage through Harlem,Black Widow discovers Sterns in his laboratory. Thanks to his newfound abilities, Sterns recognized Black Widow’s Russian background from only the slightest indicator of an accent. Sterns attempted to recruit Black Widow, requesting her assistance in eluding potential pursuers, to which she responded by wounding him with a gunshot to the leg.
Samuel Sterns’s depiction inBrave New Worldresembles hisFury’s Big Weekappearance far more than his design in Marvel’s mainstream comic universe.
The Leader Was In SHIELD Custody Before Being Used By Thaddeus Ross
Fury’s Big Weekalso adds to Sterns’s backstory, revealing thathe was held in SHIELD custody following his brief encounter with Black Widow. Sterns was kept in a stasis tube and studied in what was known as “Project Mr. Blue,” which could fit into his established history inBrave New World. Seth Voelker – the leader of SERPENT who goes by the Sidewinder moniker – notes that he also discovered Samuel Sterns following The Hulk and Abomination’s battle in Harlem. Voelker and his US Army unit likely arrived with SHIELD forces to arrest Sterns after his encounter with Black Widow.
Captain America: Brave New World Ending Explained - What Happens To Sam, The Avengers, President Ross, The Leader, Serpent Society & More
Captain America: Brave New World opens a new chapter for Sam Wilson, Thaddeus Ross, the MCU’s Earth, and possibly the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Project Mr. Blue might also factor intoBrave New Worldas well– along with 2012’sThe Avengers. Black Widow implies that SHIELD kept General Thaddeus Ross from tracking down Bruce Banner, with SHIELD perhaps handing Sterns over to Ross to convince him to abandon his pursuit. Project Mr. Blue would have led SHIELD – and thus Ross to discover Sterns’ penchant for calculating probability, leading to his 16-year imprisonment and turn to villainy by the events ofCaptain America: Brave New World.
