Summary
In the eight years since the release ofCaptain America: Civil War, Marvel Studios has proven in the worst way possible that Team Cap was actually the winning team. Steve Rogers' Captain America and Tony Stark’s Iron Man never exactly saw eye-to-eye in theMCU, but their tension came to a head inCivil Warfollowing the implementation of theSokovia Accords, which would restrict the actions of the Avengers. This culminated in an epic battle between the divided Avengers, and while Team Iron Man came out on top, Marvel Studios has flipped the script.
FollowingCaptain America: Civil War, several members ofTeam Capwere branded fugitives from the United States, while Scott Lang and Clint Barton agreed to house arrest to allow them to remain with their families. This ultimately proved meaningless, asthe Avengers reformed to take on Thanos only two years later, but the impact of their battle at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany is still being felt today. WhileTeam Iron Manmay have been successful inCivil War, their fates following the Phase 3 movie prove that Team Cap actually won the greater battle.
The MCU Reviving An 8-Year-Old Story Would Solve Major Post-Endgame Problems
Major criticisms with the MCU’s Multiverse Saga can be solved if Marvel Studios decides to repeat one Captain America story in the MCU’s Phase 5.
Peter Parker’s Spider-Man
Tom Holland
Despite being the winners of the battle, Marvel Studios has since proven thatTeam Iron Man were the real losers ofCivil War, aseach member of Team Iron Man has suffered a tragic fate. Most notably, Tony Stark sacrificed his own life during the Battle of Earth to eliminate Thanos and his armies, while Romanoff also sacrificed herself inAvengers: Endgame, allowing Hawkeye to claim the Soul Stone. Tragically,Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverexplored T’Challa’s mysterious death in response to the sudden passing of beloved actor Chadwick Boseman.
Back inAvengers: Infinity War, Vision lost his life twice, first killed by Wanda Maximoff, and then again by Thanos. Vision has since returned, but is completely changed after being rebuilt by SWORD and having his memories corrupted, which will likely be similar to Rhodey’s War Machine, as he spent an indeterminate amount of time unconscious after being replaced by a Skrull long beforeSecret Invasion. Additionally,Spider-Man: No Way Homeended with everyone in the world forgetting Peter Parker, leaving him completely alone as the final casualty of Team Iron Man.
All The Ways MCU Proved That Iron Man Was Right In Civil War
Years after the release of Captain America: Civil War, Marvel Studios has proven that Iron Man was ultimately right about the Sokovia Accords.
Sam Wilson’s Falcon
Anthony Mackie
While every member of Team Iron Man has met a tragic fate in the years sinceCaptain America: Civil War, the members of Team Cap have been considerably more lucky. Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson became better-established heroes inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and will be returning to the big-screen in the MCU’s Phase 5, while Ant-Man managed to defeat Kang the Conqueror, and Hawkeye has taken a new hero under his wing. Even Steve Rogers, despite retiring as Captain America, has seen a happy ending, though one member of the team hasn’t been so lucky.
In fact,Wanda Maximoff perhaps has enough bad luck to make up for the rest of Team Cap’s good. FollowingCivil War, Wanda was forced to kill Vision, and then watch him die again at the hands of Thanos. She then lost Vision once again, as well as her illusory children, inWandaVision, and became a villain inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessbefore sacrificing herself. Despite her confirmed death, however, speculation suggests theScarlet Witch will return to the MCU, so even the one death of Team Cap could be reversed.
Captain America 4 Will Continue The MCU’s Civil War 5 Years After Iron Man Died
Captain America: Brave New World will see Sam Wilson revisit Civil War’s main conflict, this time with President Ross as the antagonist.
Steve Rogers Got His True Happy Ending, While Tony Stark Paid The Ultimate Price
The winners and losers ofCaptain America: Civil Warare further cemented by the fates ofTony Stark and Steve Rogersthemselves.Avengers: Endgamesaw Stark sacrifice himself, using the Infinity Stones to destroy Thanos at the cost of his own life. Conversely, Rogers retired as Captain America and traveled to an alternate timeline to spend the rest of his days with the love of his life, Peggy Carter.This may have made sense for their overarching storylines, but underlined the heartbreaking fates of all the members of Team Iron Man.
Tony Stark sacrificing himself completed his decade-long redemption arc, as he went from egotistical and self-obsessed weapons dealer to selfless and dedicated superhero. For Steve Rogers, all he had ever wanted was a normal life with Peggy, so this was the perfect ending for his story. However, the fact thatSteve Rogers got his happy ending inAvengers: Endgame, while Tony Stark and his family certainly did not, proves that Rogers and Team Cap were the true winners ofCaptain America: Civil War.
