Who is The Leader?

Captain America Brave New World is set to premiere February 14th, and nothing says I love you quite like Marvel Studios giving us our first MCU film of the year! The previews have shown that Anthony Mackie is set to square off quite a few formidable foes, so we figured we would help you dive into some history behind some of these characters!

First up on our list is Samuel Sterns, AKA The Leader. He first appeared in the MCU in the severely underrated 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, played by Tim Blake Nelson. In that film, Samuel was virtually assisting a fugitive Bruce Banner to find a cure. Unfortunately for him, however, Blonksy attacks him to inject some of Banner’s synthesized blood, and as a result, some of that blood finds its way into an open wound on his head.

While Bruce and Sam’s relationship was a friendly one in the film, their relationship is not so kind in the comic books. The Leader first appeared in Tales to Astonish #62 December 1964 where he was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Sterns worked as a janitor in Boise, Idaho, where he was exposed to gamma radiation as he was transporting radioactive materials that turned him into a green-skinned, super intelligent being. In the comics, Leader and Hulk often go toe-to-toe as Stern’s goal of world domination is foiled repeatedly even with the help of his artificial army known as the Humanoids.

While The Leader cannot fight hand to hand, he does have limitless intelligence, which, as we have seen across comics, has proven to be an often equal match. He has been affiliated with various teams over time, such as Intelligencia, Riot Squad, Lethal Legion, and the Thunderbolts.

So, how does he fit into Captain America Brave New World? The promotional materials have kept that a well hidden secret, but it seems there are factions at work fighting over power and a certain material that our fallen Celestial may hold. With rumors of a Hulk film being wanted by Marvel Studios, perhaps his introduction is setting up for a future showdown with our big green friend.

Are you excited about Captain America: Brave New World? Let us know, and be sure to grab tickets to see it everywhere in theaters on Valentine’s Day!