#see also: flag smashers and the vulture

[commanderogerss]

GET TO KNOW ME MEME: favourite villains

↳ erik killmonger black panther (2018)

[spideyykid]

Hi this post makes no sense and I’m gonna talk about it:

The Vulture: So - out of all of them I will say this is the most valid criticism of Tony, but not by much. I don’t think Tony set the clean up crew up because he wanted more money- in fact, it’s probably the case that he loses money providing a way to have everything taken care of without the city having to pay for it. Tony did his job protecting the world- hell, he was ready to sacrifice himself to stop New York from being nuked. You don’t see any other Avengers putting money to clean up the mess they made- and Tony, someone who can afford it- does. Is it flawed? Yes- and Toomes has every right to be angry, but saying it’s cause Tony wants to “look better” is a dumb argument- why does he need to look better? Did you watch the end of the Avengers? The world loves him- public opinion doesn’t start tanking until Civil war, and Tony is going above and beyond here to use his resources to clean up New York.

Mysterio: uhm- what? Let me get this straight. A worker at his company helps in the creation of a piece of technology (one that Tony OWNS because it’s his company) and Tony decides to use it for therapy and helping people, INSTEAD of weaponizing it (because, you know- the whole plot of Iron Man was him shutting down the weapons division of his company). Also- Mysterio is on crack, he imagines the audience laughing at him, who knows how much he actually had to do with Barf, I seriously doubt it was his own creation (and even if it was, it was still developed for SI, and Tony would still have complete ownership of it). I don’t know in what situation Mysterio could be seen as in the right here- even the rest of his crew (like the guy who got yelled at by Obie and now hates tony? How in the HELL is that Tony’s fault?

Flag Smashers: I’m not gonna spend my energy on explaining how this one is dumb. Sorry Tony couldn’t tell the future/ didn’t intuitively know Scott was in the quantum realm so he could pull him out early and invent time travel sooner.

adrian toomes: tony stark put me out of an honest job simply because he wanted more money for himself and to make himself look better

quentin beck: tony stark stole my life’s work and passed it off as his own, never even using it for its intended purpose - plus he stole the work of countless others as well

the flag smashers: we’re just trying to provide refugees and impoverished people with food and medical supplies in a world left in shambles after the snap - which could have been significantly prevented if tony stark didn’t selfishly wait five years to invent time travel and do anything about it

the mcu: RIP tony stark. Legends never die. #EvenInDeathImTheHero

[wazafam]

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

In a twist that many saw coming, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's season finale confirmed that Sharon Carter is actually the Power Broker. As the kingpin of the criminal haven of Madripoor, Sharon was responsible for funding the development of the super soldier serum used by the Flag Smashers, who were actually her personal paramilitary force before they abandoned her to pursue their own goals.

In "One World, One People," Sam Wilson comes through on his promise to get Sharon pardoned by the U.S. government, but she isn't at all interested in returning to her old law-abiding life. Instead, Sharon intends to use her newly recovered access to put "government secrets, prototype weapons, you name it" on the black market for anyone to buy. Optimistically, that could mean more superpowered vigilantes using their Power Broker-bought abilities for good. More realistically, it means the bad guys of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are about to become even more dangerous.

Related: US Agent Explained: John Walker’s New Superhero Name & Costume

In Marvel Comics, the Power Broker is a mantle belonging to different characters who all play the same role: selling superpowers to the highest bidder. It was from the Power Broker that the comic book version of John Walker obtained his super soldier serum. But why would a character like Sharon Carter, who has previously been on the side of the good guys, become the MCU's newest villain?

Sharon Carter's evolution into the Power Broker unfortunately feels a bit underwritten, in large part because of the decision to make it a post-credits twist rather than something that was known throughout the series. But Sharon did actually lay out her reasons for becoming the Power Broker to Bucky and Sam, even if she didn't tell them the full story. When Sam made the observation that "it looks like breaking all those laws is treating you well," Sharon replied, "At some point I thought if I had to hustle I might as well enjoy the life of a real hustler." Though it seemed she was only referring to stolen artwork, Sharon's hustling actually involves far more expensive and dangerous products.

After helping out Captain America, the Falcon and the Winter Soldier while they were fugitives in Captain America: Civil War, Sharon herself was made a fugitive and - unlike the others - was never pardoned. She fled to Madripoor, which doesn't allow extradition, and used her Carter wiles and adaptability to rise to the top of the ladder as Madripoor's new pirate queen. Her experience as a spy taught her the value of secrecy and protecting her true identity, so she began operating under the alias of Power Broker and pursued a growing market: superpowers.

Though it might seem surprising that Peggy Carter's niece and an important ally to Captain America is now a villain planning to sell government secrets to the highest bidder, Sharon becoming the Power Broker does fit with her story arc in the MCU. Sharon made her first appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as a friendly and flirty neighbor who seemed innocent enough - until she came bursting into Steve Rogers' apartment armed with a gun. Steve then learned that "Kate" was actually Agent 13, and had been planted in his building by Nick Fury to spy on him. In hindsight, this introduction works as foreshadowing for Sharon's heel turn in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Related: US Agent Explained: John Walker’s New Superhero Name & Costume

Sharon's appearances in the MCU have also offered up plenty of reasons why she would become disillusioned with her work for the U.S. government. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier it was revealed that SHIELD - the agency co-founded by Peggy Carter, where Sharon had been a loyal agent for years - had actually been corrupted by HYDRA from the very start. Then, in Captain America: Civil War, Sharon took a risk to do the right thing and retrieve Captain America's shield and Falcon's wings for them. She was rewarded for this bravery and altruism by being made into a fugitive. This left her jaded not only towards her government, but towards superheroes as well. Sharon offered a glimpse of this new outlook when she challenged Sam: "You know the whole hero thing is a joke, right? I mean, the way you gave up that shield, deep down you must know it's all hypocrisy."

Sharon's villain turn could also be attributed to Steve Rogers kissing her and then apparently forgetting about her completely and leaving to go back in time and marry her aunt. However, there's little to indicate that Sharon was actually in love with Steve. The truly bad break-up was between Sharon and the government that betrayed her twice. It's little wonder that she has no interest in returning to a straight-laced government job, and no longer regards state secrets as sacred. After all, Sharon witnessed Project Insight - a surveillance operation developed by SHIELD - being weaponized as part of a HYDRA plot to slaughter 20 million people. She may well have come to the conclusion that cutting-edge weaponry is no safer in the hands of the military than it is in the hands of black market bidders, so she might as well get rich off it.

Like the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the Power Broker sees the current state of affairs in the MCU - with superheroes and supervillains popping up left and right - as an opportunity to make money. Sharon's intention is to sell prototype tech and weapons developed by the government, and WandaVision demonstrated just how advanced some of that tech is when SWORD unleashed White Vision in an attempt to end Wanda Maximoff's takeover of Westview. SWORD (which stands for Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division) has graduated beyond simply observing weapons and into creating them, and Sharon's restored access could very well lead to SWORD tech ending up in the hands of supervillains.

Sharon's new role means that she could effectively pop up in any number of upcoming MCU movies and TV shows as a black market hook-up for those seeking to either fight superheroes, or become them. While she's unlikely to be the main villain in any stories, expect to see her again as a recurring character providing a shortcut to tech and weaponry for anyone who can afford her prices.

More: Falcon & Winter Soldier Ending Explained & MCU Future Setup

Power Broker Twist: Why Sharon Carter Is An MCU Villain Now from https://ift.tt/3sLT9LW

[dailybuglenow]

TUESDAY, 1 JUNE 2025. EDITED BY J. JONAH JAMESON

S.H.I.E.L.D. UNDER FIRE: WHAT IS PROJECT KOBRIK?

Two hours ago, a mysterious hacker known as the WHISPERER leaked files exposing a top secret S.H.I.E.L.D. security program, nicknamed KOBIK, which would allow authorities to use reality warping Infinity Stones to make changes in the fabric of reality without public knowledge. Here is an abridged version:

FOR AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY, COMPLIMENTARY OF THE WHISPERER:  

Confirmed: The Infinity Stones used by Thanos in Earth-13130 (main designation) were destroyed 26 / 4 / 2023.

Confirmed: Infinity Stones of Earth-616 have crossed over via human hosts. Known hosts are H. Bautista (Time) and R. Ryan (Reality). Task Force IS set to track down the other four.

Project Goals: Renewal. Rehabilitation. Restoration. KOBIK is a solution to a never ending problem and can happen quietly without notice of the general public. Government approval is currently pending but trial phase is authorized in a sealed off space.

Agents signed off: A-13, A-19, A-26, A-27, A-32 (view ten more)

Timeline: <data compromised>

Location: Pending, but aimed towards <data compromised>

WHAT THIS MEANS:

Data analysts have been reviewing the encrypted files and are still working to make a full report. After the danger of Thanos and the genocide he caused, the public is rightfully unsettled by the idea of the government relying on Infinity Stones to solve problems. Former Assistant Director Maria Hill recently took on the mantle of Director from acting leader Alphonso Mackenzie. When asked for a statement, Hill responded strongly:

These accusations have gotten completely out of hand. First of all, Kobik was a proposal, nothing more. I have a lot of proposals on my desk. It doesn’t mean they become reality, if you’ll excuse my choice of words there. Beyond that, for those criticizing even the intent of the proposal -- given what just happened to us -- the recent Thanos “Cleanse” Crisis -- If we could prevent that kind of tragedy -- or worse -- with a minor, carefully considered use of this program, shouldn’t we? Isn’t that our obligation? What we should be discussing today is the criminal who leaked classified intelligence, and in doing so, put lives at risk. Because, rest assured, finding out whoever did this just became my favorite priority.”

The closest S.H.I.E.L.D. has gotten to arresting the Whisperer was this morning in New York City, but former Captain America Sam Wilson stood in the way. Why the Falcon would work with the hacker is unknown, but the Avengers declined a comment. C.I.A. Agent Sharon Carter spoke for the government via Zoom this morning, citing the entire leak as “an unfortunate slip-up, but as the reports say, the government has not approved of this method.” With the Whisperer still on the run, we’ll continue to check for any updates on Project KOBIK and its validity.

— Ben Urich, Daily Bugle News Senior Reporter

CRIME RATES PLUMMET: A BLESSING OR A CURSE?

As recently reported, major crime rates across the country have declined by 30% in the last thirty days. In this case, major crimes pertains to those being caused by higher tiered criminals, like the kind you’d see in a costume squaring up against the Avengers. This change began with no warning and the Avengers have not commented, instead remaining divided over conflicts like Wanda Maximoff’s hostile takeover of Westview, NJ, the governments continued support of Law S.315, the Underage Superhuman Welfare Act and the now disbanded terrorist organization the Flag Smashers following the death of their leader, Karli Morganthau.

While it seems like we may finally be getting a reprieve from the danger that’s been so prevalent ever since the Avengers officially banded in 2012, some disturbing rumors have also come to light. The Bugle received an insiders tip that inmates have been disappearing from their cells across the country. As you may remember, former President turned Green Goblin Norman Osborn did a disappearing act five months ago and has not been seen since despite having an active warrant out. Osborn had been telepathically lobotomized by Emma Frost (for more info on mutant amnesty, check out Irene Merryweather’s Krakoa column), leading some to wonder how he would have been able to escape the Raft without a trace or apparently any aid. Others inmates whose statuses are unknown include Adrian Toomes/The Vulture (Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane), Agatha Harkness (Westview resident), Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye (Ravencroft), Georges Batroc/The Leaper (the Raft), and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Ravencroft). Our insider was able to confirm others have also been reported but could not provide names.

S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently in hot water due to the KOBIK Report that also dropped this morning (see page one) and we are left to wonder if security has dropped or the agency has something to hide. S.H.I.E.L.D. officially disbanded in 2014 after it was revealed that they had been infiltrated by H.Y.D.R.A. all the way up to the highest levels. The reemergence of S.H.I.E.L.D. comes right as Maria Rambeau’s agency S.W.O.R.D. has gained more attention due to their work with the Maximoff Anomaly. S.W.O.R.D. Director Abigail Brand went on the record saying she knew nothing about Project Kobrik or the escaped inmates because “That’s simply not my job. We focus elsewhere.”

Be it the eye of the storm or something more sinister is yet to be seen. If we are experiencing a mass outbreak of our most dangerous supervillains, the Avengers are going to need to find a way to get their heads on straight once more. As you may remember, the team is currently without a Captain America after Sam Wilson chose to step down and his replacement John Walker was stripped of the title and dishonorably discharged. With luck, all the convicts are in Bermuda drinking Pina Colada’s and retiring from crime. It seems unlikely, but it remains better than the alternatives.

Like always, the Bugle will report on any updates.

— Christine Everheart, Daily Bugle News Senior Reporter

IN OTHER NEWS:

WEDDING BELLS ARE RINGING! After rumors placed Inhuman Princess Crystalia Amaquelin and Pietro Maximoff  (the recently deceased brother of Avenger/Baddie Wanda Maximoff) together, the Inhuman Royal Palace confirmed the news along with Amaquelin’s pregnancy. Although our gossip columnist Miriam Birchwood called the baby long before, it wasn’t until five months after the suspected birth that the Palace commented. This comes on the heels of Amaquelin and Maximoff’s April 19th wedding, where civilians stood at the Hudson to try and catch a glimpse of the many heroes, mutants and royals who were welcomed in New Attilan. Princess Amaquelin was reported to be a victim of Maximoff’s Westview, so it’s likely the Inhumans shared the good news officially since a little time has passed. Congratulations to Crystal, Pietro and baby Luna! Hopefully ex-boyfriend Johnny Storm isn’t too heartbroken. There’s a long line of ladies ready to let the Human Torch warm them up.

TIME TO MIX IT UP! The Avengers recently updated their website to show new teams and rosters. Notably, Wanda Maximoff has retained her Avengers spot despite being called a terrorist by some due to recent actions (for more, check out our annual biyearly special).

LET’S LET LOOSE! The mutants of Krakoa have apparently announced that they will be holding a celebration known as the Hellfire Gala on Krakoa and allowing homosapiens onto the Island for the first time. The name Hellfire Gala sounds little ominous, but I’m there! Who wouldn’t want to see Cyclops rocking some formal wear? Hopefully Magneto breaks out the good cape for this one!

[wazafam]

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier returns viewers to the MCU post-Blip, and demonstrates that the world after Avengers: Endgame has some significant problems - problems which could lead to all-out anarchy. A scene where Sam Wilson is attempting to help his sister acquire a loan mentions that the concept of a credit history isn't designed to accommodate a five-year absence from existence. Although this would be bad enough by itself, it's safe to assume that if commercial banking can't make the arrangements that would allow it to survive the changes that have wracked the world, other systems might similarly lack that kind of flexibility.

Spider-Man: Far From Home mentioned the problem of housing in passing, with Aunt May running charitable events to help with the housing crisis once the world suddenly regained billions of people. It might be a good thing that the MCU skipped 2020, but problems like employment facing the world are still fairly desperate - those businesses that survived would have hired additional staff to replace their losses after five years. New businesses could and likely would spring up, but without the ability to secure loans, they would have difficulty competing. Personal property would have passed along through inheritance, or been sold or junked.

Related: Falcon & The Winter Soldier: Every MCU Easter Egg In Episode 1

The Blip may also explain the appearance of familiar faces in new projects as well. While the MCU doesn't have a huge history of imprisoning villains, with most lead villains failing to survive their film debuts, prison sentences would likely be appealed en masse, with prisoners making the reasonable argument that five years have passed without their involvement in society. Whether this grievance was treated as legitimate or not, the courts would be packed for years. This may explain Vulture's role in Morbius; whatever could be proved about his actions might not have more than a five-year sentence, or his case might not yet have gone to trial.

Although the Sokovia Accords don't guarantee a right to trial for "enhanced individuals" using alien technology, and they can be held indefinitely, there's the very real possibility that individual nations would wish to apply civil rights within their borders. If this is the case, supervillains who did end up imprisoned but who had not yet enjoyed a trial might need to be released on the basis of being imprisoned for five years without due process. Certainly, non-supervillain prisoners would be entitled to appeal for having served their time, and while the appeal could pass or fail, it would be a protracted case, with no real precedent. Vulture might not be subjected to the Sokovia Accords since he doesn't have superpowers, only operates a flight suit similar to Falcon's.

Depending on the populations affected by the Blip, other legal issues for imprisonment might have arisen - selected at random, it's entirely possible that prisoners remained but prison staff vanished, or other logistical issues pertaining to the penal system. While the MCU's treatment of prisoners with potential super-abilities is definitely harsh, their imprisonment was not intended to be a death sentence. Adding in that it would be difficult to distinguish between prisoners that had been snapped out of existence from prisoners that had taken advantage of the chaos to escape, and it's not hard to see why the remaining Avengers were working hard to keep up in Avengers: Endgame.

The charity that Aunt May was heading in Far From Home was intended to provide shelter and housing for the displaced - domestic strife accompanying global political shifts and allies becoming enemies. With massive international chaos, governments may have had a great deal more difficulty taking on the housing issue, requiring this kind of charitable intervention. It's far from the only problem of inheritance though; even if those who received goods as part of an inheritance from vanished family members or benefactors wanted to return them, those resources might not still exist. With the questions of criminal jurisprudence tying up courts, this kind of legal debacle would only add fuel to the flames.

Related: The MCU Finally Explores How Dark Avengers: Endgame's Blip Really Was

Displaced and disaffected Blip-returnees might find themselves not a little disillusioned by their government's failure to act on their behalf, which could give rise to support for groups like the Flag Smashers. National affairs could also hinge on the vanished - Wakanda's seat of power clearly went to Shuri, and while she might be willing to return it, power-struggles could give rise to internal wars. Iceland in the real world only has a little under 360,000 residents - entire nations of a similar size could have lost most or even all of their populations, which would make it next to impossible to repatriate lost goods if other nations took over the leaderless areas.

While Sam Wilson's sister has maintained their family business during the Blip, it's reasonable that a great many businesses would have gone under entirely. Those that did not - whether through luck, business acumen, or simply being large enough that their workforce was not entirely destroyed by the Blip - would have hired new workers in the interim. Some jobs might have become entirely obsolete, as five years of adjustment and upgrades might have rendered them unnecessary. The creation of new jobs would be a priority for almost any nation, but this would take time which the displaced would reasonably resent. Rallying to the Flag Smashers and their super soldier leader could be a reaction taken by those who feel left behind in their five year absence.

Reasonably employing even a significant percentage of the returned people would be a tremendous task. New businesses would take money to establish, for which loans are not available - even for superheroes like the Falcon. Some industries like construction might experience a boom - new buildings being needed, or old buildings being repaired up to a standard of habitability. Other industries would likely lag behind; entertainment and hospitality, chief among equals, would require a disposable income among the majority of its patrons. This would still be available to those that had survived the Blip, but likely beyond the reach of the returned.

These are only a few of the issues that a post-Blip world would encounter, but they're significant ones. Whatever positives the Blip might have had for the MCU, and whatever the Flag-Smashers might hope to see returned on the geopolitical landscape, the personal human cost would be high. Without significant intervention on a level that superheroes alone simply are not capable of providing, the world will likely slip into chaos, which helps to explain the focus on symbols like a new Captain America. Because of the scale of the problem, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier isn't likely to touch on all of these issues, but they've already shown, they're willing to at least address some of them.

Next: MCU's New Captain America Explained: Falcon & Winter Soldier Twist

Falcon & Winter Soldier Scene Hints At Post-Blip World Crisis from https://ift.tt/2NLJTcq