When Iron Man was released in 2008 there was no Marvel Cinematic Universe. Seventeen years and 34 films later, Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters with a template of how to make a superhero film and the importance of being a part of a larger narrative.

Captain America: Brave New World is the first Captain America film sans Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, who must investigate an evil global plot that threatens the stability of the world. And although that tends to be the plot of many of these films, creating a new spin on a familiar genre is what continues to drive the comic book / superhero story.

Let’s take a look at the who, what, where, why and how of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how you can use these tropes and concepts to write a superhero film or action blockbuster.

Who is the Hero?

The hero in a comic book movie is pretty obvious (it’s most likely in the title). However, the idea of a superhero has changed since the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008 or Batman Begins in 2005. Comic book heroes were a little more wholesome back in the day and didn’t have the complexities or depth of the original comic books.

The modern-day hero must be complex and have something more that drives them than truth, justice and the American way.

Regarding complexity, Sam Wilson seems pretty stable for a comic book hero so this must be matched with characters who lack that stability. One is President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) who struggles with a chaotic past and a bit of an anger issue. The other is the man behind the evil plot, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) a nefarious villain who hides mostly in the shadows.

The hero is thus defined by how he deals with the villains and those getting in the way of what he feels is right.

What Makes it a Comic Book Movie?

While the answer may seem obvious, the idea of the superhero movie is more than just a comic-book-turned-film. In fact, films like John Wick or Love Hurts show some version of a superhero carved from human form.

What makes a hero a comic book superhero is really just its origins – the comic book. Characters like Iron Man, Batman or Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star Lord, have no super powers. They’re merely humans in a superhero world.

So, what makes Captain America: Brave New World a superhero movie and not John Wick? For one, there is a fantastical element to it. John Wick doesn’t have super powers and the people he battles are human – then again, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), a human, battles Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), also a human, in the first Iron Man. But this was an origin story to a larger narrative.

Therefore, what makes the hero a superhero is their abilities that go beyond that of a human. Iron Man becomes a superhero via the suit that Stark creates and his ability to use technology to become super-human.

In Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson is the superhero despite having never taken the super soldier serum that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) took. Instead, Wilson relies on the technology of his suit (like Iron Man) and his training via Rogers.

One of the first scenes of the film is Sam proving his superhero capabilities by taking down a non-stop onslaught of bad guys with acrobatics kicks and flips as well as a shield and armor designed with Vibranium. This is not an origin story so Sam already has the ability to battle. This scene is important as it’s the first action set piece that will show Sam’s ability to fight, how he leads and his personality.

Where Does a Comic Book Movie Take Place?

Comic Book movies must be able to go anywhere and everywhere. And while it seems Batman is stuck in Gotham City, most superheroes travel around the world, if not the universe. And if it’s the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie can take place in any number of worlds, earths, timelines, realms – really anywhere.

However, Captain America: Brave New World stays on Earth. Rarely, though, does it stay in one place. If Sam isn’t chasing bad guys down to Mexico, President Ross (Harrison Ford) is hopping on a plane to Japan or there’s a military battle taking place in the Pacific. And while the number of locations is relatively low, there are key landmarks that add more intrigue to the action.

One scene involves some destruction around Washington D.C. where the Washington Monument and the White House are playgrounds for annihilation.

From Mission: Impossible to Marvel movies to James Bond films, big action calls for big locations.

Why Do We Care About the Comic Book Story?

It’s not enough for Captain America to face off against bad guys and expect the audience to enjoy it. A superhero needs to be human, even if they aren’t (see Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy). Sam Wilson is though, and must be three dimensional in this plot-heavy comic book story. How the audience engages  and relates with Sam is how he faces the barrage of conflicts and drama thrown his way.

After successfully completing his mission in Mexico, Sam along with sidekick Joaquin (Danny Ramirez) who has now become the Falcon, are invited to the White House. At this meeting, President Ross shares his desire to rebuild the Avengers, oh and that Sam is no Steve Rogers – but more on that in a moment.

They are joined by Isaiah (Carl Lumbly) who was a super soldier who was wrongfully sent to prison for 30 years. While at a White House ceremony, something causes Isaiah to snap and he attempts to assassinate the president. A handful of others in the room suddenly become in a state of hypnosis and they kill a few other VIPs.

And the film is off and running.

The audience now sees Sam determined to help someone who is a loyal friend and confidante as well as a desire to live up to the ideals of a Captain America. But Sam also must prove to himself, the President and the world that he is worthy of being part of the Captain America brand.

Loyalty to friends? We can relate to that. Desire to prove oneself? I’m sure most of us screenwriters are constantly trying to prove we are capable.

What gives the human aspect to the comic book superhero are these seemingly small personality traits, only they have it at a superhuman level.

Anthony Mackie in 'Captain America: Brave New World'

How Does the Story Unfold?

Comic book movies are more than just an action adventure extravaganza. The Batman (2022) was more of a detective story than the usual caped crusader vs. evil villain fare. Ant-Man was a heist movie. And now Captain America: Brave New World is akin to an international espionage thriller. In fact, there are some similarities to films like The Manchurian Candidate in which a group of brainwashed soldiers receive a code that makes them assassinate political figures without them consciously realizing it.

When it comes to writing a comic book movie, it’s okay to look at other genres that might help tell the story on a grander scale. It’s even acceptable to get inspired by other films.

--

Superhero and comic book movies and television shows are still incredibly popular and, while you might not be able to write your own Captain America film that gets made, you can write a spec script that gets noticed. Check out this Final Draft blog Five steps to writing your own superhero that shows how a screenwriter used a superhero spec to get writing jobs on high profile projects as well as how to create your own superhero.