Who Are Sidewinder and the Serpent Society? New MCU Villains Explained

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As a long-time Marvel enthusiast with memories of flipping through comic books under the dim light of my bedroom, I find myself intrigued by the new take on Sidewinder in the upcoming “Captain America: Brave New World.” Giancarlo Esposito, a seasoned actor known for his captivating performances, brings a unique charm to this iconic Marvel character.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sinister group known as the Serpent Society is set to appear for the first time in the upcoming film, “Captain America: Brave New World”. This organization, consisting of characters with snake-themed personas, is led by Sidewinder, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito. The Serpent Society has a rich history within Marvel Comics. Back in 2015, the MCU’s head, Kevin Feige, playfully announced that the title for Captain America 3 would be “Captain America: Serpent Society”, only to reveal later that it was actually “Captain America: Civil War”. However, the joke is no longer funny as the Serpent Society is now making their legitimate debut. As you eagerly await “Captain America 4” in theaters on February 14, 2025, here’s a rundown of Sidewinder and the Serpent Society to help you get ready!

What Is the Serpent Society? 

Ever since they first appeared in the Marvel Universe as a team of menacing snake-themed villains, the Serpent Society has left an indelible mark. With their intimidating physiques and an array of crushing, paralyzing, and poisoning abilities, they’ve proven to be formidable foes. But what truly sets them apart is the vision of their leader, Seth Voelker, aka Sidewinder. He didn’t just create a gang of snake-themed bad guys; he built a union-like organization with benefits like profit sharing, health insurance, and a knack for keeping its members out of prison, thanks to Sidewinder’s teleportation powers. This unique structure has made them a persistent threat to heroes like Captain America and the rest of Marvel’s superheroes. They’ve even been dubbed the “Avengers of the Underworld” and have provided muscle for notorious figures like the Kingpin, the mafia, and HYDRA over the years.

The Serpent Society’s Comic Origins and Evolution

To understand the roots of the Serpent Society, let’s first discuss its precursor, the Serpent Squad. This group made its debut in Captain America #163 (1972). The antagonist Viper formed it as retaliation against Captain America and Falcon for capturing his criminal brother, the Eel (even though eels aren’t snakes, they fit the theme well enough). The Serpent Squad also received assistance from Cobra, a former adversary of Thor.

Originally defeated, the team later transformed, incorporating members adorned with snake motifs over time. Initially, they were essentially a troupe of discontented criminals dressed as snakes. However, they evolved into something much greater when they integrated into the Serpent Society. They first appeared in 1985’s Captain America #310. Led by Sidewinder, they developed into a powerful evil organization with a structure reminiscent of a labor union. In the 2014 reboot of Captain America, where Sam Wilson assumed Steve Rogers’ shield, the Serpent Society was rebranded as Serpent Solutions. The new Viper (formerly Madame Hydra) renamed the team. This version of the Serpent Society offered their services to large corporations for underhanded tasks, leveraging legal loopholes to avoid accountability for any misdeeds.

Sidewinder’s Origins

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, I had the chance to spill some exciting beans about my character in “Captain America: Brave New World” – none other than Seth Voelker, famously known as Sidewinder. In the original storyline, Seth was a humble economics professor from Kenosha, Wisconsin, who found himself on an unexpected career path when he missed out on tenure. Instead, he took a job with Roxxon Oil Company, a shady outfit if there ever was one. The twist came when he uncovered their illegal activities and agreed to undergo a mutagenic experiment that transformed his body into that of a snake. Talk about a life-changing decision!

In 1980’s Marvel Two-in-One issue #64, Sidewinder made his debut appearance as a villain for hire. He was tasked by Roxxon Corporation to execute a surprise assault on the Thing and Triton, allies of the Fantastic Four, with the aim of stealing the mystical artifact known as the Serpent Crown. Following this job, Sidewinder employed his business acumen and tactical prowess to establish and command his own criminal syndicate, the Snake-like villains’ group named the Serpent Society.

Sidewinder’s Powers and Abilities

Despite undergoing a transformation into a snake-man, Voelkner didn’t acquire any special powers. Instead, Sidewinder’s abilities stem from the gadgets provided by Roxxon. A high-tech cape allows him to teleport, while his bulletproof armor provides durability in battle. Sidewinder effectively employed his teleportation skill multiple times to free his teammates from captivity. Voelkner stands out with his strategic intellect and tactical prowess, which he utilized to transform the Serpent Society from a disorganized gang of criminals into a long-lasting alliance of supervillains.

Other Sidewinders

Seth Voelker was initially known as the Sidewinder, a character whose role has been assumed by others in the Marvel universe over time. For instance, there was a short-lived individual who donned the mantle and perished during his first mission to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D., leaving his real name unknown. Another Sidewinder is Gregory Bryan, who joined the Serpent Society and took over the teleportation duties when the original retired. Unlike Voelker, Bryan didn’t aspire to leadership within the group. Instead, he worked under Viper when she rebranded her operation as Serpent Solutions.

Members of the Serpent Society

It’s not surprising that the Serpent Society consists of numerous villains who have themes based on snakes. Each member gains their abilities from a specific snake they are associated with. The initial team comprised Sidewinder, known for his teleportation skills; Anaconda, incredibly strong; Asp, capable of releasing venomous blasts; Black Mamba, endowed with telepathic powers; Bushmaster, equipped with cybernetics; King Cobra, exceptionally fast; Cottonmouth, possessing a powerful bite; Death Adder, highly poisonous; Diamondback, an agile acrobat; Rattler, able to emit shock waves; and Princess Python, who can generate electricity. It’s important to mention that Sidewinder had Tanya Sealy, also known as Black Mamba, as his love interest. Viper later joined the society along with her crew which included Black Racer, Boomslang, Coachwhip, Copperhead, Fer-de-Lance, Puff Adder, Rock Python, and Slither.

The Serpent Society’s Beef with Captain America

Originally, the Serpent Squad functioned as adversaries for Captain America, harboring a longstanding feud with the Sentinel of Liberty. Despite expanding into a menace across the Marvel Universe, their conflicts with Captain America remained deeply personal. Sidewinder frequently clashed with Cap, but when the power-hungry Viper orchestrated a coup and seized control from Sidewinder, he was left without any other options. In response, Sidewinder chose to align with Steve Rogers (then called Captain) to retaliate against Viper. Following the resolution of the Viper situation, Sidewinder departed from the Serpent Society and accepted Captain America’s assistance in fundraising for his daughter’s cancer treatment.

Initially, Serpent Solutions posed a significant challenge for Sam Wilson when he assumed the role of Captain America. Later on, in the debatable 2016 “Captain America” narrative where Steve Rogers pledged loyalty to HYDRA, Serpent Solutions contributed to HYDRA’s ascent and eventual control over the planet. This series of events unfolded during the comic series known as “Secret Empire”.

Giancarlo Esposito’s New Take on Sidewinder

Brave New World’, as revealed at San Diego-Comic Con 2024. Fans have noticed his orange jacket collar resembling his comic book costume, but so far, Esposito’s character doesn’t seem to embody much of the snake-like traits from the trailers.”

In the film, Esposito doesn’t have any prosthetics on, giving him a regular human appearance instead of a man-snake hybrid. However, it’s possible that he may develop more reptilian features later in the movie. The character portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson as the Leader, who was previously seen in The Incredible Hulk, certainly seems capable of such transformations. Similarly, we know that President Ross, played by Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World, will become the Red Hulk. So, it’s not impossible that Sidewinder could also undergo a transformation into a snake-man.

As a gamer stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’m not just a strategic mastermind like my comic book counterpart; I’m also getting to show off some serious physical skills. In this role, I’ve got the tools and the know-how to use them effectively in the field. You haven’t seen Sidewinder like this before, trust me. That’s what Esposito shared with Total Film. Unlike the comics where Sidewinder was more of a behind-the-scenes strategist from Serpent Society headquarters, my character is out there, using guns and knives in the heat of battle. Even more intriguingly, Esposito referred to his character as the “King” of the Serpent Society, a title that wasn’t associated with Sidewinder in the comics. It’s fitting for a snake villain, as it brings to mind the deadly king cobra.

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2024-08-09 00:33