Hello, everyone! Welcome to Brave New Week!
What better way to kick things off than with a head-to-head comparison of two major superhero films with wildly different tones, characters, and—most importantly—third acts—-Captain America: Brave New World and The Batman (2022).
Last Saturday, I watched Captain America 4 with my dad, and for some strange reason—I found myself being reminded of the Batman (2022), specifically, the third act, which is much better (even though it has a couple of issues)—and not just because I polled online on this 2 days before posting across social media.
But why is this?
Well, let’s break them down.
In case you haven’t already figured it out by now, this will be a spoiler of both films. You’ve been warned.
Scope and Structure
Captain America: Brave New World aims for global stakes. The third act plays out in Washington D.C., in a Capitol-building showdown filled with conspiracies, transformations, and the usual CGI spectacle. But it all feels… scattered.
The beats are loud, but the rhythm is off.
The Batman keeps it personal. The Riddler is already caught, but his plan unfolds post-capture—flooding Gotham, targeting its leaders, and forcing Bruce Wayne to confront the limits of vengeance.
The result? An unexpected escalation that actually adds depth.
Character Payoff
Captain America 4 struggles here. Sam Wilson should be the star, but Red Hulk, Thunderbolt Ross, and other characters fight for the spotlight. Joaquin Torres, Isaiah Bradley, and others barely register in the chaos.
Sam deserves more.
The only payoff that’s satisfying—and I use that word extremely loosely when talking about Captain America 4—is Ross’s arrest by the end of the movie, but that’s for reasons that have nothing to do with the movie itself.
I’m going to expand on that on Saturday.
The Batman gives us payoff in spades. Bruce becomes more than vengeance; he becomes a beacon. His growth is visual, emotional, and thematic. Gordon, Selina, and even Alfred have their arcs acknowledged, if not closed.
Themes and Resonance
Captain America 4 talks a lot about what it means to be Captain America, especially as a Black man inheriting the shield. But the third act doesn’t show this clearly. Instead, we get a Red Hulk subplot that steals time and meaning.
The Batman? It lives and breathes its themes. Fear, hope, rebirth—they’re all there, crystallized in the image of Batman guiding flood survivors with a flare. Gotham’s fate reflects Bruce’s inner change.
COMING UP
Saturday June 21st: 2020s Sequel Curse: Captain America 4
Monday, June 23rd: The Batman (2022) Movie Review
Tuesday, June 24th: “How Captain America: Brave New World Could’ve Actually Worked”
Stay tuned for more!
And again, welcome to Brave New Week.
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