Since the events of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU was haphazardly divided and saw many changes, with the death of major characters Iron Man and Black Widow, and of course, the retirement of Steve Rogers. Resuming the narrative from that point, Phase 4 was announced to be a series of films and TV shows, most of which will be standalones focusing on sidelined characters from the MCU.
After WandaVision came to an end earlier last month, it was a two-week wait until The Falcon and The Winter Soldier dropped. Picking up from where Rogers passed his Captain America mantle to Sam Wilson, the pilot started with a haunting reminder of events passed by and the present reality of the MCU setting in.
Irrespective of the new developments and halfway down its run, the show has already garnered the avid attention of fans. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier delves into the titular duo’s relationship as they venture on a global adventure to hunt down enemies wreaking havoc.
With the third episode’s release last week, many secrets have been uncovered, and characters both old and new have been brought in. Most notable among them is the mention of the Power Broker.
For those who might not be aware, the character plays a significant role in the comics and has made many appearances. But precisely who is the Broker, and what role could he hold in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier? Let’s take a look.
1. Who Is the Power Broker?
Created by Roger Stern and Sal Buscema, the Power Broker first appeared in 1978 in Marvel’s Machine Man series. Throughout the comics, the Power Broker title has been assumed by different characters.
The first and longest-running of them being Curtiss Jackson, who also established the infamous Power Broker, Inc. Along with mad scientist Dr. Karl Malus, who was featured as the main antagonist in season 2 of Jessica Jones, Jackson worked on numerous experiments to grant ordinary people superhuman abilities.
However, unlike his associate, he has never been featured in the MCU before, but it seems that is about to change.
A. Is He Evil?
The Power Broker was portrayed as an antagonist to the Marvel heroes, specifically to Captain America.
Jackson helmed a group of criminals known as The Corporation. Later, he established Power Broker, Inc. to administer people with superhuman advancements at a hefty price.
However, the experiments done on the clients were hazardous, and many even died. His manipulation of his clients to take highly addictive drugs was another ploy to make them reliant on him afterward.
Ultimately, in an attempt to gain his own developed powers, his experiment goes awry and he instead ends up a muscularly grotesque figure, even unable to move his limbs.
B. Relation with Super Soldiers
Throughout his tenure in the comics, the Power Broker has granted powers and abilities to many, especially to supervillains. Among them is none other than U.S. Agent John Walker.
In the second episode, while being interviewed by a reporter, Walker admits he doesn’t possess “any superhuman abilities” but instead takes inspiration from Rogers, with the same intention to defend the country.
Walker was first introduced in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s pilot episode and seems to have become the MCU’s new Captain America. However, whether Walker is a Super Soldier (or becomes one) remains to be seen.
2. Conspiracy Theories
Even though in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the Power Broker is referred to using male pronouns, it doesn’t necessarily solidify his identity as a man. Soon after Jackson’s augmentation in the comics, he is killed.
Following his death, the Power Broker title has been passed around, and its present holder remains unknown. However, following this week’s episode, many have come up with their theories about who the Power Broker could be in the series.
A. Sharon Carter
Carter’s reappearance in the last episode was met with hurrahs as she comes to Barnes and Wilson’s rescue in Madripoor. However, many have also been suspicious of her sudden return and think she could be the new Power Broker.
Sharon, who, following the events of Captain America: Civil War, became a fugitive, has been living an embittered life since. Going so far as to condemn superheroes for their “hypocrisy,” she clearly seems to hold a grudge for not being pardoned like the others.
Emily Vancamp, who plays the character, has also noted that Carter is in a “pretty dark place” and wishes to explore the new side of her anger. Based on this, there is a possibility that Carter could be the MCU’s new Power Broker as a means to act out against the discrimination she faces.
Not only do her movements seem to be very shady, but her knowledge of Dr. Nagel’s laboratory is also suggestive of who she actually might be.
B. Baron Zemo
The obvious and more straightforward theory is that it’s Zemo. As an established supervillain in the franchise, he could have adopted the title to exert his influence globally.
Furthermore, his wealth is another similarity he shares with the Power Broker, making him a clear suspect. The Broker, who acquires clients at the exchange of an expensive cost, is bound to be rich.
Despite being imprisoned, considering Zemo’s stashed coffers and intelligent mind, he could very well have become the notorious dealer. His interest in meeting Morgenthau also gives away a potential clue to him being the Broker, since, in episode 3, we saw his men chasing after the Flag-Smashers.
C. Curtiss Jackson
Many are of the opinion that the Power Broker could be Curtiss Jackson from the comics. In that case, the show might introduce him as a new character. Not only is he the first to hold the title, but his influence over it is known throughout the Marvel Comic Universe.
His appearance could paint him as an antagonist new to the franchise. Furthermore, we could also get a peek into his relationship with Walker if the show chooses to follow the comics’ original narrative.
D. Thaddeus Ross
As a hypothesis, this one seems most unlikely. But there is substantive evidence to prove that Thaddeus could be the one behind the mask.
Let’s not forget he recruited Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk to create a form of the Super Soldier Serum. Moreover, Dr. Nagel also recounted that he was developing the serum for the CIA at one point as well.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which is loosely based on the comic miniseries Truth: Red, White and Black, follows a similar narrative of the US Government issuing super-soldier experiments and covering them up. In line with that, who’s to say they didn’t extend their projects to the lawless city of Madripoor to carry them out without ever being revealed? And who better to oversee an operation like this but the Thunderbolt himself.
E. Arnim Zola
Since The Falcon and The Winter Soldier deals a lot with the past and present of the Captain America title, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the show brings back a villain from the Rogers-centric movies.
In which case, the best bet would be German scientist Arnim Zola. A former member of HYDRA, Zola wanted to create an army of Super Soldiers (Bucky being one of his experiments).
As for him being alive, Zola’s last appearance was in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where Natasha and Rogers discover that the scientist has evaded death by projecting his consciousness through a set of computers and hard drives.
Enraged, Steve did destroy the computer Zola used to communicate with them but considering Zola’s genius for which he was kept alive, it would make sense if he were kept saved as a backup somewhere. This would make the chances of him being the Power Broker all the higher to fulfill HYDRA’s evil goals.
3. When Will the Power Broker Appear?
There hasn’t been any information regarding when the Power Broker might appear in the series yet. However, following the name-dropping since the second episode, the Broker might be making his grand entry soon, with the show approaching its end.
But, given his hidden identity for so many years, the MCU might also not just reveal his identity to keep up with the suspense.
4. About The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is an American television miniseries created by Malcolm Spellman for Disney+. It is based on the titular Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson aka. Falcon and Bucky Barnes aka. The Winter Soldier.
Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their roles as Falcon and Winter Soldier respectively. They are joined by an ensemble cast including Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Danny Ramirez, Georges St. Pierre, Don Cheadle, Daniel Bruhl, Emily VanCamp, Florence Kasumba and guest star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam and Bucky team up in a global adventure to fight an anarchist group called Flag-Smashers while setting to protect the legacy of Steve Rogers (Captain America).
Source: Hotstar
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