It's frustrating to think that one of the best Easter eggs in Captain America: Brave New World has divided fans and critics, with the former praising its incredible action sequences and the latter criticizing its uninspiring plot. I would place myself in the former camp, and while I think the movie fumbled with the Leader - portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson - there's no denying that the fights were incredibly fun.

With that being said, a future MCU installment. This is because he harbors a lot of potential, exhibiting a level of intelligence that borders on clairvoyance, with which he is able to orchestrate a grand, if somewhat convoluted, plan from behind bars. Still, I think his return could have been vastly improved in what was ostensibly a Captain America movie if Marvel Studios had leaned into the movie's true nature, thus giving greater value to a fun Easter egg.

Captain America: Brave New World Is A Sequel To Hulk’s Only MCU Movie

It Continues The Arcs Of Major Characters In The Incredible Hulk

Despite what the title suggests, Captain America: Brave New World is, to all intents and purposes, a sequel to 2008's The Incredible Hulk. Audiences' suspicions were raised when the cast for Captain America: Brave New World was revealed, revealing that basically every main player in The Incredible Hulk would be returning for Sam Wilson's first solo movie, including Thunderbolt Ross, Betty Ross, and Samuel Sterns. These suspicions were vindicated, as now-President Thunderbolt Ross resumed the role of the villain - although this time unwittingly - and a key development for Samuel Sterns was finally paid off.

The Incredible Hulk debuted Samuel Sterns as a well-meaning collaborator with Bruce Banner, whose plans to cure disease with Banner's blood went haywire and ultimately caused him to mutate into the villain of Captain America: Brave New World. The fact that the movie continued his arc, something that fans had been anticipating for 17 years, made it clear that this was a continuation of The Incredible Hulk. It packed a sting to learn that Hulk would never materialize throughout the movie, and that sting was worsened by an extra Easter egg referencing Sterns' and Banner's working relationship.

The Leader’s Mr Blue Easter Egg Is The Most Personal Nod To The Hulk

The Leader Plays A Song Called "Mr. Blue" To Trigger Mind-Control

Samuel Sterns spends half of Captain America: Brave New World imprisoned at the behest of President Ross, with the latter reneging on a deal that prompts Sterns to enact his revenge. He begins baiting Ross into transforming into the Red Hulk in an effort to sabotage his political career and first attempts this by orchestrating an attempt on his life via mind-controlled assailants. Sterns uses a specific piece of music to trigger the mind-controlled attack, which he plays remotely through various devices. Namely, "Mr. Blue" by The Fleetwoods.

When collaborating with Bruce Banner in what Banner believed was a concerted effort to cure him of his condition, the two communicated anonymously via the internet, with Samuel Sterns adopting the moniker "Mr. Blue."

This is clearly an Easter egg that references The Incredible Hulk. When collaborating with Bruce Banner in what Banner believed was a concerted effort to cure him of his condition, the two communicated anonymously via the internet, with Samuel Sterns adopting the moniker "Mr. Blue." Banner, of course, adopts the moniker "Mr. Green." For Captain America: Brave New World to evoke this personal link between the two characters - a link that only Banner would be aware of - makes it feel as though Marvel is rubbing our noses in Bruce Banner's conspicuous absence.

I’m Still Convinced Bruce Banner Should Have Appeared In Brave New World

Bruce Banner's Appearance Would Have Made So Much Sense

There were myriad reasons why Bruce Banner should have appeared in Captain America: Brave New World. The third act of the movie, for example, establishes that news travels fast in the climactic moments that lead to Ross' transformation into the Red Hulk. It stands to reason that Bruce Banner would have quickly got wind of Samuel Sterns' exposure, while his character-defining mission to prevent Hulk and the aftereffects of his actions from harming innocents should have seen him burst onto the scene during the brawl at the White House.

Bruce Banner is confirmed to still be on Earth at the end of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where he reveals his son Skaar to his family in California - which is a stone's throw away from Washington D.C. to a character like the Hulk.

It's doubly hard to believe that Sam Wilson wouldn't call in a favor from a man he knew to be an expert on gamma after getting wind of Samuel Sterns' plan. On a deeper level, I find it difficult to stomach how the narrative couldn't have benefitted from Hulk's involvement on this occasion, with Captain America: Brave New World instead being the latest example of how the MCU has a habit of sidelining the character. I also believe it would have helped with Samuel Sterns' characterization to have him at least interact with his erstwhile collaborator.

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