For much of the history of the M.C.U., Captain America was synonymous with Steve Rogers, the frail but big-hearted young man who transformed into one of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes when he received a super serum and an indestructible shield.

“Brave New World” is a serious, plodding exercise in continuity extension, without any real-world resonance even when placing a Black man as the human embodiment of the United States. It represents the MCU on autopilot, and while that means everything runs smoothly, it never goes anywhere particularly interesting.