Summary

• Captain America: Brave New World
  will introduce the Serpent Society to the MCU, led by Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder.
• The debut of The Serpent Society offers Viper the opportunity to redeem himself after a disappointing performance in Fox’s
  Wolverine – Way of the Warrior
  .
• Viper could be touted as the MCU’s Madame Hydra in
  Captain America: Brave New World
  and makes connections to Captain America’s MCU story.

The new supervillain group is set to appear in Captain America: Brave New World has the perfect opportunity to redeem a Marvel villain who was wasted in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men Franchise. After Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was completed in 2019, some of the most wasted characters from Fox’s two-decade-long X-Men Franchise were given the chance to seek justice in the MCU. Not many characters have seen this treatment yet, but the upcoming Phase 5 Captain America: Brave New World has the chance to change this.

Captain America: Brave New World Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson will make his big screen debut as Captain America, facing off against several powerful new villains. Alongside Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk and Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader, Giancarlo Esposito will also be introduced as Seth Voelker, aka Sidewinder, the king of the Serpent Society. The appearance of the Serpent Society in the MCU is very exciting, especially since several minor villains could be members of the groupincluding a wasted villain from 2013 Wolverine – Way of the Warrior.

Fox’s Wolverine movie completely misrepresented Viper

Svetlana Khodchenkova portrayed Viper in The Wolverine

The admission of Svetlana Khodchenkova in Wolverine – Way of the Warrior as Viper was unusual, especially since the villain in Marvel Comics has little to do with Wolverine. Viper did have run-ins with the X-Men and was associated with the Silver Samurai, but this was as his employer and not as his employee. Wolverine – Way of the Warrior turned Viper into a mutant, which was an interesting development, but She contributed to some of the film’s weakest moments as she had little motivation other than just being evil.

Although he is a long-standing villain in Marvel Comics, he made his debut in 1969 in Captain America #110Viper was summarily killed in Wolverine – Way of the WarriorThis meant that she never had the opportunity to develop beyond the role of Yahsida’s toxic assistant. The audience didn’t even have a chance to learn Viper’s real name. Wolverine – Way of the Warrioras she was only called “Dr. Green”, and was deprived of any personalityHowever, Marvel Studios has created the opportunity to redeem Viper.

In Marvel Comics, Viper’s real name is Ophelia Sarkissian. A version of this character was voiced by Mallory Jansen in Marvel Television’s
Agents of SHIELD
although she never adopted the nickname Viper.

Viper’s history with the Serpent Society means she could appear in Captain America: Brave New World

Sidewinder will lead the Serpent Society in Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brave New World would be the perfect place for Viper to seek redemption in the MCU, as she is one of the most notable snake villains in Marvel Comics. Viper’s immunity to toxins and poison weapons contributed to her fitting nickname as a supervillain and secured her a place in the second Serpent Squadconsisting of herself, the Eel, Princess Python, the Cobra and the Atlantean Krang. Sidewinder led the third Serpent Squad and transformed the team into the Serpent Society.

This became a sort of union for snake villains, allowing them to protect each other and share in the profits. Giancarlo Esposito’s debut as Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World probably means that more snake-themed villains will follow suit, and Viper would be a fantastic addition. The MCU’s new Viper could show more of her human personality instead of just portraying her as a mindless and evil drone working for the Silver Samurai. Viper even led the Serpent Society, so it would be great to see her in Captain America: Brave New World.

How Viper Can Connect ‘Brave New World’ to Captain America’s Original MCU Villain

Viper was first known as Madame Hydra in the Marvel comics

Captain America: Brave New World marks the beginning of a new era for the MCU’s Captain America, as Sam Wilson takes over the role from the retired Steve Rogers. The Phase 5 film will certainly draw on Captain America’s previous adventures and continue the franchise’s legacy and themes, meaning Steve Rogers’ original villains could be addressed. Introduction of Viper in Brave new world would not only flesh out the history of the Serpent Society, but could also create a connection to HYDRA in the MCU.

Before becoming the second Viper in Marvel Comics, Ophelia Sarkissian was a high-ranking member of HYDRA, operating under the moniker Madame Hydra. Sarkissian was taken in by HYDRA as a young orphan and raised by Daniel Whitehall, aka Kraken. As Madame Hydra, she took on Captain America and the Avengers, but eventually broke away from HYDRA and became the ViperHowever, her connection to HYDRA and Captain America means that her debut in Brave new world would make perfect sense and connect Sam Wilson’s new story with Captain America’s MCU story.

What other snake-themed villains have been seen in the MCU?

Captain America: Brave New World could introduce many more snake-themed villains as the Serpent Society

While Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder brings the Serpent Society into the MCU for the first time, Versions of several members of the team have already been seen in the MCUThis means that these villains could return in Brave new world. Although not yet seen in the MCU, set photos from Captain America: Brave New World have confirmed that pink-haired Diamondback will also appear. She was originally a villainous member of the Serpent Society in Marvel Comics, but eventually became an ally of Captain America, so the same could happen in the MCU.

Marvel Television Agents of SHIELDAlthough not considered canon to the MCU, a version of Madame Hydra debuted who was actually the Life Model Decoy, AIDA. Netflix Luke Cage also introduced versions of Cottonmouth and Bushmaster, though not the iterations normally associated with the Serpent Society in Marvel Comics. In Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Crossbones leads a version of the Serpent Society known as the Serpent Skulls, so it would be great to get a callback to Frank Grillo’s wasted MCU villain in Captain America: Brave New Worldalthough this seems unlikely.

Upcoming MCU Movies