How Marvel Could Improve The ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming' Sequel

You might not have noticed considering the hypestorm for Infinity War, but Marvel has already released a surprising amount of details about the as-yet-untitled sequel to Spider-Man Homecoming -- it drops in July 2019, opens up the next phase of movies, and, thanks to a recent interview with Kevin Feige, is about to start shooting in London.

Assuming that this isn't a fake-out to cover up Spidey's death in Infinity War, this is great news because it finally allows Marvel to introduce the greatest character in all their canon: Captain Britain.

Captain Britain first appeared in 1976, with an origin story that reads like a mash-up of Captain America, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and The Santa Clause. Whilst interning at a shady energy research facility, physics student Brian Braddock witnesses a group of armed mercenaries take over the facility, and so rides away to get help. On the way, however, he's involved in a terrible accident that leaves him at death's door...at which point Merlin, of Arthurian legend, appears and offers to heal him on the condition that Braddock becomes the defender of the British Isles forever.

So what makes this property the next big thing? Well, the MCU is probably going to need a replacement for Captain America considering that Chris Evans is leaving the franchise after Infinity War Part 2: Electric Boogaoverused Joke Sequel Name, and who better? Not only does he have the whole "Captain" thing going on, Captain Britain is imbued with superstrength, an energy field that protects him from harm, and the ability to fly, alongside the average, run-of-the-mill superintelligence that every Marvel protagonist has. He's Captain America v2.0, and he even comes complete with his own nemesis, in the form of the European Union.

The character also has a solid connection with Spider-Man that'd allow the MCU to explore a whole new genre of movie, just like how Ant-Man and Infinity War are superhero-powered homages to old heist movies.

In the comics, Braddock comes to stay with Peter Parker as part of an exchange program and, after they discover each other's identities, team up to kick major ass. By switching the locations around and leaning into the fact that Captain Britain is a dimestore knock-off of Captain America -- as well as introducing a subplot where Peter Parker is travelling the world to find a replacement for Captain America (out of the many, many imitators that would have sprung up) -- and you've got the MCU homage to Mystery Men.

There's another advantage to introducing this character. In the comics, Brian Braddock's sister is Betsy Braddock, aka Psylocke, aka holy sh*t a logical way to low-key (Loki?) introduce the X-Men to the MCU. It doesn't have to be a whole thing; it could be as simple as a throwaway line from Braddock about how his sister got powers and went bad and how he doesn't want to turn out like her, but once those seeds are planted...we don't need to tell you how good things could get.

Marvel, we have a whole treatment for this. Call us and do the right thing, and maybe we'll share our ideas for how to introduce Starfox, Eros of Titan.

Adam Wears is on Twitter and Facebook, and has a newsletter about depressing history that you should definitely subscribe to.

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