Walking out of “Captain America: Brave New World”, I had one immediate reaction. I didn’t like it. And before anyone assumes otherwise, no, it’s not because Anthony Mackie is leading the franchise. In fact, Mackie has spent the last four years proving he can step into the red, white, and blue suit with confidence. For me, the problem isn’t him—it’s the movie itself. 

Howard has a vested interest in Black superheroes, namely because our own Chadwick Boseman set the standard for Marvel heroes. We even named the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts after our very own hero. So is Mackie the beacon of hope that we needed in this era, similar to the Boseman effect in 2022?

"Captain America: Brave New World" has grossed more than $370.6 million in the box office world wide so far. This sounds great to the average person until you stack it against Marvel's highest grossing movies like Avengers: Endgame (2019) which made $2.79 billion, and Avengers: Infinity War (2018) which made $2.04 billion. 

To be fair, “Brave New World” delivers on spectacle. There are plenty of high-flying stunts, explosive action sequences, and obligatory shield-throwing moments. But when it comes to heart? That’s where it falls flat. 

Now listen, there are various opinions on the quality of the movie, a topic explored by Dr. Edwin Brown, Theatre Arts faculty member and co-coordinator of the acting program in the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. 

"I asked my brother-in-law what it meant to have a Black Captain America," said Dr. Edwin Brown, Theatre Arts acting faculty member and co-coordinator of the acting program in the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. "He compared him to 2008 President Obama. Nothing Mackie does will be fully appreciated. He will operate with half the power while fighting the same enemies."

"I had to agree with him," Brown continued. "The Falcon literally has half the power because he will not take the super soldier serum. Moreover, he will face double what other Captain America's had to face and work twice as hard." 

Mackie’s Sam Wilson officially took up the mantle of Captain America in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” a Disney+ series that tackled race, legacy, and what it means to wear the shield. 

"There, too, is a correlation between the popularity of a Black hero (real or imagined) and the real-world racist backlash for de-centering whiteness," said Brown.  "For example, the community enjoyed only the conversation of a Black James Bond before Idris Elba dropped out of the campaign because of all the online bigotry. Anthony Mackie undoubtedly will face some of the same unjust scrutiny."

The story arc of the Falcon's transition to Captain America was compelling before the latest movie installment. He wasn’t just handed the title; he had to wrestle with it, proving himself as the right successor to Steve Rogers. That was interesting storytelling. But in “Brave New World”, the depth we saw in the Disney+ show seems lost under layers of CGI-heavy action and a script that doesn’t quite know what to do with its protagonist.  

"This film will not touch the might of Black Panther," said Brown. (There's no doubting this fact!) "The glory of Wakanda was to witness an Afrocentric world untouched by colonialism. I suspect Captain America: Brave New World will be just "woke" enough like Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show. The image of an American flag made of an all-Black male dance team reminds me of Anthony Mackie in this superhero role. He is a reminder to the country that ignores whose back this country was built on. That deserves celebration. Nevertheless, we can expect the masses won’t embrace the film because this country proves again and again its disdain for Black power," he said.

Let’s talk about Marvel fatigue for a second. Even during Chris Evans’ run as Captain America, fans started to feel it. The character itself—despite Evans’ undeniable charisma—was beginning to lose steam. Now, with Mackie at the helm, the challenge isn’t just proving he belongs in the role (which he does), but is the series making Captain America feel relevant again? Especially considering the current climate of the country?

And if we’re being completely honest, we might wonder if Black audiences have ever really been attached to Captain America as a symbol. Even though Black Americans are just as American as anyone else, what it means to be a Black American is a nuanced thing. Even with a Black man now holding the shield, the connection might still feel tenuous. Representation matters, absolutely—but representation alone isn’t enough. 

On one hand, I want the character to evolve beyond just being a Captain America who happens to be Black and acknowledge what it means to be Black and American. On the other hand, I wonder if Black Americans are too conditioned to look for a hero that resonates, that inspires, that moves us? Maybe “Brave New World” is simply a continuation of a story that is not aimed at Black America. Maybe it's a story that tries to assert that Captain America is an ideal that is beyond constructs of race and skin color. 

This isn’t to discredit the effort put in by Mackie, director Julius Onah, or the many talented Black creatives working to push Hollywood forward. The problem isn’t a lack of effort — it’s a lack of engagement. A lack of well, entertainment, to be honest.

One thing Brown and I can agree on is the impact of what I would consider to be the iconic cultural hit "Meteor Man" on Black culture. Meteor Man was never-before-seen footage of a Black Superhero in a Black neighborhood, saving black people from very real problems.

(See? Very relatable.)

"Over a decade ago, when the American Empire was not in full decline, Robert Townsend gave the world Meteor Man," said Brown. "Our first Black superhero with a Hollywood budget. Every Black superhero movie since stands on Meteor Man's shoulders. Meteor Man protected his neighborhood from the Goldenlords, a gang backed by corrupt politicians. The main villain for the new Captain America is a Red Hulk. The metaphor couldn't be clearer, in the current political climate, with tariff threats, lack of BYD electric cars, and BRICS's continued expansion."

(Dr. Brown is positing that the Red Hulk symbolizes industrial and economic activities by Chinese and South American governments and companies to become less reliant on the United States.)

Marvel’s best moments came when the storytelling was sharp, the stakes felt personal, and the action wasn’t just big, but meaningful. 

“Brave New World” could have been that film, but instead, it ends up being another installment in a franchise that’s starting to feel like it’s running on autopilot, no matter the race the of the lead actor.

Agree with me?