Black Panther Theory Reveals The Truth Of Cap’s Super Soldier Serum

A fan theory gives a whole new origin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Super Soldier Serum, connecting it to a key object from Black Panther: the Heart-Shaped herb. Through over 20 movies and a couple of TV shows, the MCU has introduced a variety of objects and more that have helped its heroes in their journeys in different ways, and some of them have even made way for the creation of some villains. One of the most notable ones in Phase 1 was the Super Soldier Serum, which created none other than Captain America (Chris Evans).

Captain America made his MCU debut in Captain America: The First Avenger, which told his origin story from his days as a skinny boy from Brooklyn trying to get into the army, to becoming a war hero and a worldwide symbol of hope and bravery. What turned Steve Rogers into Captain America was the Super Soldier Serum, and he’s the only successful test subject from that program, but naturally, there have been different failed attempts at replicating it since the 1940s. The MCU has shown some of the failed experiments, with each of them having terrible consequences, but for some time, the Super Soldier Serum was left aside to focus on bigger, and at the time most important stories.

The MCU’s Phase 4 has brought the Super Soldier Serum back through variants seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, making viewers realize that not much is known about the serum and its origins. This has made way for a couple of theories on how the Serum was made and what it’s made of that has made it so hard to replicate, and one theory links it to the Heart-Shaped Herb that can only be found in Wakanda, thus linking Captain America to Black Panther.

Black Panther’s Heart-Shaped Herb Explained

Black Panther took the audience to Wakanda, where they not only met T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and many other notable citizens of Wakanda but also learned more about this country’s history and what makes it so special. Among the most notable things that can be found in Wakanda is the Heart-Shaped Herb, a plant native to Wakanda that was traditionally consumed by the new ruler and thus heir to the mantle of the Black Panther. The herb gives those who consume it enhanced physical abilities, such as strength, speed, stamina, durability, reflexes, agility, and instincts. The herb also allows the user to enter the Ancestral Plane, where they can commune with the dead.

It’s explained in Black Panther that millions of years ago, a meteorite composed of vibranium crashed on Africa, and its massive amounts of radiation changed the plant life around it, making way for the appearance of the Heart-Shaped Herb. Years later, several tribes started to fight over the vibranium, so the panther God Bast told a warrior shaman to consume the herb, transforming him into the first Black Panther, who then united the tribes into what’s now known as Wakanda. The powers of the herb are strongly linked to vibranium, and the use of this herb is seemingly limited to the royal family so they can protect themselves and Wakanda as well. Unfortunately, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), after obtaining the powers of the herb, ordered the rest to be burned so no one could use their powers against him, but Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) was able to steal one. Since then, Shuri has tried to find a way to recreate the Heart-Shaped Herb, even considering adding some vibranium into the mix, but so far, she has been unsuccessful.

Erskine’s Super Soldier Serum Could Never Be Fully Replicated

As mentioned above, what turned Steve Rogers from a fragile kid into Captain America was the Super Soldier Serum, created by Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci). He started developing the serum in 1930, and the following year, Wilfred Malick delivered the key ingredient to HYDRA. In 1940, Johann Schmidt started injecting himself with the serum, but the formula was imperfect, and it turned him into the Red Skull. Erskine later escaped the US and joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve, where he started Project Rebirth. Through Vita Radiation and other experiments, Erskine perfected the Super Soldier Serum and later used it on Steve Rogers as part of the Super Soldier Program. Sadly, Erskine was killed and the last vial of the original serum was destroyed by HYDRA, so the only hope to recreate the serum was through Captain America’s blood as the formula would be locked in his genetic code, but that hasn’t been enough.

Since Erskine’s death, there have been various attempts in the MCU to replicate the Super Soldier Serum but none of them have been successful, and among the most notable ones are the variant given to Isaiah Bradley (who was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), that of the Winter Soldier Program (which turned Bucky Barnes into the Winter Soldier), the gamma radiation variant that transformed Bruce Banner into the Hulk, and the imperfect one by Wilfred Nagel that was taken by John Walker (Wyatt Russell). It’s unknown exactly what Erskine used to create the Super Soldier Serum aside from Vita Radiation that has made it so hard to be fully replicated, and some fans believe he could have used the Heart-Shaped Herb.

Theory: The Super Soldier Serum Was Made Using The Heart-Shaped Herb

A theory posted on Reddit suggests the Super Soldier Serum was made using the Heart-Shaped Herb that can only be found in Wakanda, and Erskine got a sample of it thanks to Howard Stark. Tony’s father comes into play in this as he not only worked alongside Erskine in Project Rebirth but he had also been working on new technology and more using vibranium, which was discovered by Stark Industries researchers in Wakanda. The author of the theory explains that Stark could have gotten some of the Heart-Shaped Herb as well after learning about the Black Panther and the abilities he acquired through the herb, which could be useful in the US.

The author supports the theory by explaining that Black Panther and Captain America have similar powers and they’re not exactly superhuman but more like enhanced humans. Now, the Heart-Shaped Herb could have been what made Erskine’s Super Soldier Serum so successful, as it could have been the stabilizing agent it needed to prevent mutations, like what happened to Schmidt.

Could The Super Solider Serum Be Linked To Vibranium Instead?

An alternate theory to Erskine using the Heart-Shaped Herb is that the Super Soldier Serum contained vibranium. It has been established in the MCU that vibranium is more than an indestructible material used for weapons and more, as it’s an element that can be used for a variety of things, including medical purposes. As Howard Stark already had samples of vibranium to work with, Erskine could have easily taken some of it in hopes that it would give the Super Soldier Serum what he needed, and it turned out to be the missing ingredient in the mix. This would also explain why the serum hasn’t been successfully recreated, as getting vibranium was very difficult before Wakanda opened its borders, and as it’s a very rare material, those looking to recreate the serum would have never known Erskine used this element in the formula.

The Problems With The Black Panther/Captain America Theories

Both theories about the ingredients of the Super Soldier Serum would link Black Panther and Captain America beyond them being some of Earth’s biggest superheroes, as it would mean that they have a common bond in their blood, which explains why their abilities are so similar – however, there are a couple of questions and problems around them. Many fans have pointed out that it would have been very difficult for Howard Stark to get some of the Heart-Shaped Herb because not only was it reserved for the Wakandan royal family but it was also heavily guarded, and not even someone as charismatic and influential as him could have had access to it. However, others point out that Howard could have lied about his methods to get the herb, yet it’s still unlikely that the Wakandans would have let a complete stranger take a piece of one of their most treasured elements. Others have pointed out the herb’s connection to the Ancestral Plane and that Captain America never had access to it, though that could be explained with the rest of the serum’s ingredients neutralizing that part of the herb’s effects.

While both theories are interesting and could work in some way, in the end, it’s unnecessary to link Captain America and Black Panther through the source of their abilities, more so as Steve Rogers is now retired. With the Flag Smashers defeated, Nagel killed, and John Walker as the possible last Super Soldier, it seems unlikely the MCU will continue exploring the origins and ingredients of the Super Soldier Serum, so any possible links between it and Black Panther (or any other character) will live in the audience’s imagination – unless Marvel decides to expand on it as a complement to the story of another superhero.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3288 Articles Published)

Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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