Who Is The Power Broker in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier?

Episode three of Marvel Studios The Falcon and The Winter Soldier have both Sam and Bucky taking huge risks in order to continue their mission in finding the new super soldiers, The Flag-Smashers. They start the episode off by visiting Baron Zemo, the man who controlled Bucky in Captain America: Civil War.

Many fans expected Baron Zemo would become the main villain of the show and while there is still time for that twist to happen, instead we see Sam and Bucky teaming up with Zemo. It's not a stretch seeing this partnership come together as Zemo's main mission has always been one of anti-superheroes.

While it's true that Sam Wilson is an Avenger and as such a superhero, he's doesn't actually possess any superpowers. Bucky, on the other hand, is a super soldier but he's worked with Zemo before. It's an unlikely team-up, but one that will entertain fans from start to finish.

The episode revolves around Sam and Bucky using Zemo to find leads on Karli Morgenthau, the leader of the Flag-Smashers. Their quest for information takes them to Madripor, a city ran by a person or entity known only as The Power Broker.

So who exactly is the Power Broker? Or what is the Power Broker? We'll start by checking out the comic history, the Power Broker is pulled straight out of Marvel comics and could give us a clue as to what to expect from the last three episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

In the comics, the Power Broker isn't one single person, but rather a corporation that specializes in superhuman experimentation. They use these experiments and findings to create technology that will augment the strength of customers to superhuman levels. In the comics, this process was very risky, it often led to death or even subjects becoming deformed.

In the comics, many wrestlers in the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation, which was only open to those with superhuman strength, employed the services of the Power Broker.

Like all organizations ran by mad scientists, there were more nefarious means behind them than just capitalism. The Power Broker and Dr. Karl Malus used highly addictive drugs that they claimed were necessary to stabilize their customers' powers. Once they were hooked, they used this drug to force them to work for them.

How exactly does the comic history of the Power Broker fit into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? Both John Walker aka US Agent and Lemar Hoskins aka Battlestar were clients of the Power Broker.

We've seen in the show that the Flag-Smashers are doing what they think is right. Though Karli has claimed that violence is the only language anyone understands, she just wants to help those displaced by the events of Avengers Endgame. The show is setting up a collision course with the Flag-Smashers and Sam and Bucky that will happen very soon. It's possible, that despite their differing views in ideology, they may be able to work together for a similar end goal. The same way Sam and Bucky are currently working with Zemo.

On the other side, we have John Walker and his partner, Lemar Hoskins. They're one step behind Sam and Bucky and they have no leads to go on. In Walker's eyes, Sam and Bucky are beginning to cross some lines with breaking Zemo out of prison. It's very likely that they will end up coming across the Power Broker and though they may have differing points of view, come to an understanding and team up.

It's highly possible that Walker and Hoskins will be offered their own super-soldier formula in order to take down the Flag-Smashers and the rogue former Avengers of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. After their tussle in the bar, we saw multiple on-lookers recording videos. So to the world, it looks like he's returned to his old ways as he was originally revealed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

It will be interesting to see how Marvel has it all play out. In the past, Kevin Feige has said they pay attention to fan theories and take them into account. They want fans to surprised and in the past have changed what happens in the comics for the Marvel Cinematic Universe so that no one can guess what is going to happen next. When you factor in other variables such as Sharon Carter, or someone showing up from Black Panther, the possibilities are endless.

Marvel’s The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is director by Kari Skogland. New episodes premiere every Friday on Disney Plus. It stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russel, Erin Kellyman, and Emily Vancamp.

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Feature Photo by Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios