Episode 3 of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, "Power Broker," was a fight-filled good time,
packed with plot and globetrotting galore. It also had its share of Easter eggs. Here
are a few you may have missed.
In "Power Broker," we finally get to see Helmut Zemo, whose return has been looming since
the series began. Knowing that the villain is the only way to help track down the origin
of the new Super-Soldier serum, Bucky helps him break out of a high-security prison with
ease. After getting the kinda-sorta approval from Sam, the three men are treated to a private
plane ride across the globe.
It turns out that Zemo is rich — really rich — and there's a reason why. Finally,
we hear this classic Marvel villain note that he is a baron, a title that's long been associated
with Zemo in the comics, but never yet uttered in the MCU, until now. Zemo was a member of
the Sokovian aristocracy, but that was all taken from him when Ultron decimated the country.
In the comics, the Zemos are actually of German descent. There have been 13 barons in total,
with Helmut being the most recent. In 1973's Captain America #168, we learn that Helmut
and his father were both disfigured by Adhesive X, the most powerful adhesive ever invented,
and thus later donned masks to hide their faces. There's no instance of Adhesive X or
any kind of disfigurement of Zemo in the MCU, so his mask-wearing is likely just an homage
to the character and his father.
Most Marvel Comics fans are well aware of Madripoor, a fictional Southeast Asian island.
While a lot of exciting stories have gone down here, Madripoor is most closely associated
with something we've yet to see in the MCU: mutants. Namely, Wolverine.
Madripoor is first mentioned in 1985's New Mutants #32. Wolverine spends a decent amount
of time here, going by the name of Patch. Even beyond Wolverine, though, the X-Men's
connections to Madripoor are endless. We learn that Mystique wanted to set up an X-Men haven
there in 2015's All-New X-Men #37. Magneto uses the island as a temporary holding zone
for time-displaced mutants in 2017's X-Men Blue #1. With Madripoor now canon in the MCU,
we can expect several visits to the island moving forward — possibly led by mutant
characters.
"Power Broker" also contains subtle nods to Madripoor's Lowtown, including brief shots
of local businesses made famous in the comics. The Princess Bar and the Brass Monkey (also
known as the Bronze Monkey), where Sam, Zemo, and Bucky meet Selby, are iconic Lowtown hotspots.
In the comics, the Princess Bar is owned by a man named O'Donnell, and offers entertainment
to residents of both Hightown and Lowtown. But O'Donnell doesn't run the show on his
own: He has help from his silent partner, Wolverine. Given Wolverine's stature in Marvel
canon, this is an homage that shouldn't be taken lightly.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has done a fabulous job so far referencing fan-favorite
scenes from prior MCU projects. In "Power Broker," we get a playful throwback to a scene
from Captain America: Civil War, in which Sam refuses to move his seat up for Bucky
while they wait for Steve to talk to Sharon Carter.
"Can you move your seat up?"
"No."
After Sam and Bucky meet Doctor Nagel in the shipping containers and all hell breaks loose,
they jump into a swanky convertible which Zemo has been hiding. Sam takes the back seat,
which offers little leg room, and a callback to the beloved moment follows.
“You're not gonna move your seat up, are you?"
"No."
Just before diving into Lowtown, Sam is given a very brief history of the man he is supposed
to be impersonating: Conrad Mack, AKA the Smiling Tiger. Luckily, Sam resembles Conrad,
whom he notes has a "bad nickname." First appearing in 1992's New Warriors #19, Conrad
is the son of a Vietnam veteran and a cult member who deals in magic.
Conrad is also affiliated with the Thunderbolts, a team of reformed criminals led by Helmut
Zemo himself. Smiling Tiger doesn't have an extensive history in the comics, and we likely
won't see much more of him moving forward in the MCU.
But his mention does open the door for the Thunderbolts, also occasionally known as the
Masters of Evil, who have a long and fascinating history. The group has further ties to the
Winter Soldier and Black Widow, who have both led the team during different moments in its
history.
In "Power Broker's" final moments, we get a shocking cameo from Ayo, a member of the
Wakandan Dora Milaje. We first meet Ayo in Captain America: Civil War, when she tells
Natasha Romanoff to move so T'Challa can enter his car. If Natasha refuses to comply, Ayo
makes it clear that she "will be moved" by force. She reappears in Black Panther and
Avengers: Infinity War, serving under General Okoye.
Ayo is here for one purpose, and one purpose only: To collect Zemo, the man responsible
for the death of King T'Chaka. Many unanswered questions linger: Namely, how the meeting
between Bucky and Ayo came to be, and how the latter knows Zemo is out of prison and
ready for the taking. Nevertheless, Ayo's appearance officially ties Wakanda into the
events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
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