The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is one of the largest film franchises in the world and has existed for quite some time. As of the writing of this article, the superhero universe has been active for 13 years and has released a total of 28 projects in the form of films or series. This has introduced us to many different stories from various Marvel superheroes.
However, despite this, there are still many narrative gaps in some of Marvel’s films that remain as unanswered mysteries, often referred to as plot holes. Some of these mysteries have yet to be resolved as of now. This surely leaves many fans puzzled.
1. Did Captain America really need to crash the Hydra plane?
At the end of the film Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Steve Rogers is believed to have had to crash the Hydra plane he was piloting. This was due to a powerful bomb on board that could potentially destroy New York. The result is that Rogers crashed along with the plane and was not found until 70 years later.
The question arises as to whether Captain America had to stay on the plane as it crashed to the ground? Because, perhaps he only needed to make the plane dive and at the moment of impact, he could jump out or protect himself with his shield. If this were to happen, he surely wouldn’t have been frozen for 70 years and could have returned to Peggy Carter.
Interestingly, this plot hole was discussed by James Rhodes in a deleted scene from the film Avengers: Endgame (2019). In this scene, Rhodes asked Rogers why he didn’t jump or run before the plane hit the ground. Rogers didn’t even respond to the question, suggesting he truly wanted to turn that moment into a mystery in the MCU.
2. Do the Avengers know that Phil Coulson is alive?
Phil Coulson is one of the key characters in SHIELD who played an important role in the formation of the Avengers in the MCU’s first film. He is also well known to all the founding members of the superhero group. Unfortunately, in the film The Avengers (2012), Coulson is believed to have died at the hands of Loki through a deceitful method.
However, if you’ve watched the series Agents of SHIELD, you would know that Coulson eventually was “resurrected” through a special program of the organization. However, it remains unclear if the Avengers know for sure whether Coulson is actually still alive or not. As you can see, Coulson’s existence hasn’t been discussed again in some of Marvel’s films after The Avengers.
In reality, Coulson still plays a significant role in the Avengers, especially in the Helicarrier used to evacuate civilians during the Sokovia incident in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Not only that, Coulson also had the chance to meet several other Marvel characters who appeared in the MCU. Starting from Lady Sif, Maria Hill, to Nick Fury. It is touching to see the Avengers’ reaction when they discover that Coulson is still alive.
3. Why did Hydra consider Doctor Strange a potential threat?
The character of Stephen Strange, also known as Doctor Strange, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, first appeared in the MCU through the solo film released in 2016. However, the name Stephen Strange was mentioned in the Marvel film released in 2014, which is Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).
This occurs when Agent Sitwell, a member of Hydra, explains the Insight program to Captain America and Black Widow. Although it is operated by SHIELD, Insight is a program aimed at eliminating individuals on a global scale who are considered threats to Hydra. Sitwell even mentioned several names, one of whom was Stephen Strange.
The question arises as to why Hydra considered Stephen Strange a potential threat at that time? In fact, at that time, Strange was still just an ordinary surgeon and had not yet become the Sorcerer Supreme as he did in his solo film. Could the Insight program of Hydra predict the future? No, it remains a mystery to this day.
4. What happened to Samuel Sterns?
In the film The Incredible Hulk (2008), we were introduced to the character Samuel Sterns, who is a scientist responsible for transforming Emil Blonsky into the Abomination. However, Sterns’ fate in the film is quite ambiguous. As you can see, we only see a scene in which the scientist starts to mutate due to exposure to gamma radiation.
After that, we never see Samuel Sterns again in any of Marvel’s films. In fact, in the comic version, the accident that Sterns underwent led him to become a villain known as the Leader. However, there remains speculation that Sterns may have gone into hiding after The Incredible Hulk ended.
Considering that the Abomination also vanished from the MCU after it was confirmed that The Incredible Hulk would return in the film Shang-Chi, it’s very possible that Samuel Sterns could share the same fate. Perhaps Sterns will reappear by utilizing a variant in a future MCU project, one of which is the upcoming She-Hulk series.
5. How did Howard Stark acquire Vibranium to make Captain America’s shield?
Captain America’s iconic shield was crafted by Howard Stark, created from the rare material Vibranium. In the film, Stark also explains to Steve Rogers that the shield he is holding is made from a rare metal and is the only one of its kind in the world. However, in some subsequent films, it was revealed that Vibranium is a material sourced from the secluded nation of Wakanda.
The question arises as to how Howard Stark obtained Vibranium? Because Wakanda is known to be a very secretive nation and would not allow Vibranium to leave as it has the potential to be used for evil purposes. This is actually a topic that has often been debated among MCU fans and has created several theories.
One theory suggests that Howard Stark made a magnificent deal with Wakanda, where King T’Chaka gifted him Vibranium as a form of tribute. Still, there are those who suspect that Stark acquired Vibranium through theft from Wakanda or purchased it in an illegal market.
Above are some mysteries surrounding Marvel films that remain unresolved to this day. Among these questions, which one has left you the most puzzled? Or do you have other questions? Feel free to share your thoughts so we can discuss them together!
