10 Years Later, Is The MCU Setting Up A Brand-New Civil War?

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Marvel’s Wonder Man

Ten years after Captain America: Civil War broke up the Avengers, the MCU may be headed for similar territory. After all, the last few years have seen renewed government oversight, public fear, and heroes being quietly categorized as assets or threats, including Marvel Studios’ most recent release.

It may seem like an unlikely catalyst, though Wonder Man’s ending could very well put him at the center of the MCU’s next big conflict between heroes. Combined with other recent MCU projects, it’s possible that we could be circling a new version of Civil War.

Will Wonder Man Work For The DODC In The MCU? (How It Connects To Civil War)

In the ending of Wonder Man, the Department of Damage Control’s Agent Cleary openly states that Simon’s ionic abilities could make him either a massive threat or a valuable asset to the DODC, a line that feels quite intentional in reference to Wonder Man’s potential MCU future.

If Simon cuts a deal with the DODC, it would certainly echo his arc in Marvel Comics’ original Civil War event, where Wonder Man registered as a sanctioned government operative of SHIELD.

As a result, a future where Simon helps contain other enhanced individuals that the DODC considers to be threats does feel like a genuine possibility. However, that’s not the only way the MCU is perhaps building to an all-new Civil War-esque conflict.

The MCU Feels Primed For New Civil War-Type Conflict

Charlie Cox's Daredevil listening with his powers in Daredevil: Born Again — Charlie Cox’s Daredevil listening with his powers in Daredevil: Born Again

Over the last few years, the MCU has steadily reintroduced various anti-superhero tensions.

Most recently, Wonder Man’s Doorman clause openly bans powered individuals from working in Hollywood. Furthermore, Daredevil: Born Again saw New York’s Mayor Wilson Fisk creating the Anti-Vigilante Task Force, teeing up major conflict with Matt Murdock and other like-minded heroes operating in the city. Likewise, Secret Invasion set up widespread anti-alien sentiment and paranoia.

Although Civil War’s Sokovia Accords may have been repealed, these anti-hero sentiments and policies have begun to rise in their place. After all, the DODC is no longer doing clean-ups alone, having evolved into a full-blown watchdog organization when it comes to those with powers, complete with their own Supermax Prison.

Add the imminent debut of mutants and the X-Men into the MCU, and the tensions we’re seeing now will likely get even higher. As such, the potential for heroes having to choose sides and/or being at war with the government feels quite likely a decade after Captain America: Civil War.

All episodes of Marvel’s Wonder Man are now streaming on Disney+.

Release Date: May 6, 2016
Runtime: 147 minutes
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producers: Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Alan Fine