Sidewinder

Sidewinder
Real Name	Seth Voelker
Aliases	Codenames Sidewinder
Species	Human
Citizenship	American
Gender	Male
Date of Birth	May 2, 1969
Affiliation	United States Army (formerly) SERPENT
Status	In Custody
Appearances
Movies	Captain America: Brave New World
Actors/Actresses
Portrayed by	Giancarlo Esposito

"When I break out, Captain, you won't walk away alive."

―Sidewinder to Captain America^[src]

Seth Voelker is a former member of the United States Army who became an assassin and the leader of SERPENT and assumed the moniker Sidewinder. In 2027, Sidewinder and SERPENT were hired by Leader to steal adamantium from Japan so that Leader could frame U.S. President Thaddeus Ross for the illegal sale in Oaxaca, Mexico. However, the sale was stopped by Captain America as Sidewinder escaped the premises. Sidewinder later attempted to kill Captain America but was ultimately defeated and arrested, where he offered information about Leader's plan in exchange for a lesser sentence.

Biography

This is an in-depth biography of Sidewinder. For an abridged overview, see Marvel Database's article on the same character.

Early Life

Capturing Samuel Sterns

"You know, it was my old unit that found Sterns in the wreckage of Harlem."

―Sidewinder to Sam Wilson^[src]

Seth Voelker was born on May 2, 1969, and when he was older he joined the United States Armed Forces. In the aftermath of the Duel of Harlem, Voelker led his unit into the wreckage of Grayburn College, where they found the injured Samuel Sterns, whose blood had been tainted with gamma radiation, due to the actions of Abomination.

Leader of SERPENT

Skirmish at Catedral de Santo Ramos

Sidewinder takes hostages in the church

"Buyer didn't show. Looks like you need better clients."
"You don't need to worry. I'll find whoever wasted my time. You have bigger concerns."

―Captain America and Sidewinder^[src]

Voelker left the United States Armed Forces and formed a mercenary group known as SERPENT, operating as its leader, known as Sidewinder. In 2027, SERPENT were hired to steal adamantium from a Japanese mining site on Celestial Island and meet up with the buyer at Catedral de Santo Ramos. However, the buyer did not show, so Sidewinder took hostages and waited for their arrival.

Sidewinder asks a priest about the buyer

As Sidewinder cleaned his blades, he noticed the priest praying, so he approached him and told the priest that he was not leaving until he was given what was owed to him. Sidewinder sliced the priest's face and taunted him, before asking where the buyer was. The priest did not know, so Sidewinder ordered for the hostages to be executed one at a time. They were interrupted when Captain America arrived, so he told SERPENT to disperse and to get the adamantium away from their location.

Sidewinder is stopped by Captain America

Sidewinder headed to the chapel, where he was confronted by Captain America, who commented on the buyer not showing up. Sidewinder assured Captain America that he would find whoever wasted his time. Copperhead attacked Captain America, allowing Sidewinder to escape from capture. Sidewinder tracked down the buyer, who turned out to be Samuel Sterns. Sterns revealed everything to Sidewinder about what happened to him and his plot against Thaddeus Ross, and offered to pay him double to kill Captain America. Sidewinder accepted, and was informed by Sterns on probabilities that could occur during the job.

Attack on Sam Wilson

Sidewinder shoots at Sam Wilson

"You must have made up with the buyer. Get him on the phone, let me see if I can resolve this."
"Resolve this? The buyer told me everything. He mentioned that if you survived the grenade there was a seventy-seven percent chance you'd try to talk me down. Hmm, look at that."

―Sam Wilson and Sidewinder^[src]

Sidewinder tracked down Sam Wilson to Washington, D.C. and ambushed him by opening fire upon his vehicle. Sidewinder threw a grenade at Wilson's truck, destroying it, and assumed that he had killed his target. Before Sidewinder could uncover a body, he was stopped by the police, prompting Sidewinder to shoot at them.

Sidewinder stabs Sam Wilson

Sensing Wilson coming up behind him, Sidewinder turned around and went to shoot him. Wilson managed to disarm Sidewinder's rifle, leaving him to use his blades. Sidewinder was able to stab Wilson in the chest with a knife and in the abdomen with an axe, but it did not stop him, as he was able to knock Sidewinder down. Wilson deduced that Sidewinder made peace with the buyer and asked to contact him so he could resolve their conflict.

Sidewinder mocks Wilson

Sidewinder acknowledged how Sterns had told him that Wilson would try to talk him down if he survived the explosion. Secretly equipping his revolver, Sidewinder pointed it behind him and shot at Wilson through his coat. Sidewinder chased after Wilson, firing multiple shots at him, forcing him to take cover. Wilson then threw Sidewinder's axe at him so he could escape, but Sidewinder was able to shoot the weapon in mid-air before it hit him.

Sidewinder is defeated by Sam Wilson

Sidewinder pursued Wilson into Aaron's Salvage Yard. As Sidewinder searched for his target, he divulged that Sterns had paid him to kill Wilson but that he would have done it for free, as he wanted to be the one to kill Captain America. Sidewinder noticed acidic fumes rising around him from a car's battery, due to a bottle of bleach having been poured on it by Wilson, and commented that Wilson's actions were more desperate when he did not have his gear. Wilson then threw the knife into Sidewinder's chest and kicked him into a car, knocking him out.

Interrogated by Sam Wilson

Sidewinder speaks with Captain America

"You heard what he did to those shooters. Guy like Sterns doesn't like loose ends alive."
"Reduced sentence. Allenwood. My own cell."
"Let me hear what you got first."

―Captain America and Sidewinder^[src]

Sidewinder was taken into the United States Armed Forces' custody, and was later visited by Captain America. Sidewinder was impressed that he was still alive after their fight. Captain America asked what Sidewinder learned from meeting the buyer, so Sidewinder revealed that it was Samuel Sterns. Sidewinder asked for full immunity in exchange for his intel, but Captain America refused, so he settled for a reduced sentence at Allenwood.

Sidewinder gives intel to Captain America

Before agreeing, Captain America asked to hear what he had to offer first, so Sidewinder explained Sterns' history, revealing how Thaddeus Ross used his mind for years. Sidewinder concluded that Sterns was promised a full pardon when Ross became President, and when that did not happen, Sidewinder was tasked with helping ruin Ross' legacy. Captain America told Sidewinder that he would stop him if he broke out of prison, but Sidewinder stated that when he broke out, he would kill Captain America.

Personality

"The Buyer told me a lot actually. After he didn't show in Mexico, he agreed to pay me double to take you out. What he doesn't know is that I would kill you for free. How often do you get a chance to kill Captain America?"

―Sidewinder to Sam Wilson^[src]

A ruthless mercenary, Sidewinder is a merciless individual with no qualms with killing innocent civilians and cares little about who he works for as long as they offer him a bigger paycheck. Sidewinder was infuriated when "The Buyer" did not appear in Mexico to buy the adamantium they had stolen from Japan and set out to find out his identity so he could get revenge, instead he agreed to work for Sterns again when he was offered double the previously agreed payment if he killed Captain America.

Sidewinder enjoys the thrill of hunting as demonstrated in his fight against Captain America, where he repeatedly taunted Wilson while visibly having fun gunning him down with every weapon in his arsenal. Sidewinder also admitted that he would have gladly attacked Wilson without needing to be offered money simply for the excitement of potentially being the one to kill Captain America. Sidewinder however was overconfident in his battle, thinking Wilson was helpless without his Captain America equipment and understimated his opponent which resulted in his defeat.

Upon being defeated and Imprisoned, Voelker did not seem particularly angered by Wilson when he resorted to asking him for intel regarding Samuel Sterns, instead Voelker was amused casually asked for a lesser sentence in exchage for his information and considered Wilson to be a worthy oponent to hunt down once more when he escapes prison.

Abilities

"Sidewinder tracked me down."
"Well, it looks like he did a lot more than that."

―Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres^[src]

• Expert Combatant: Voelker is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, capable of challenging Captain America despite their age difference.
• Knife Mastery: Voelker is very good with knives, as he managed to launch one into Captain America's chest.

Sidewinder firing at Wilson

• Expert Marksman: Voelker is proficient with firearms, and is very precise; after shooting a hole in Captain America's windshield, he tossed a grenade through it from a medium distance. While facing away from Wilson, he fired his revolver at him from under his coat, and shortly afterwards shot away his own tomahawk thrown at him by Wilson.
• Expert Tactician: Voelker is the leader of SERPENT, an organization of mercenaries. Leader hired him to steal adamantium to frame Thaddeus Ross. He also led the military unit sent to clean up the Duel of Harlem.
• Bilingualism: Voelker is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Equipment

Weapons

• Glock 17: While attacking Sam Wilson, Voelker draws and attempts to make use of his primary sidearm, but Sam is able to grapple and disarm the pistol before it can be fired.

Voelker hunting for Wilson

• Chiappa Rhino 50DS: While attacking Sam Wilson, Voelker utilizes a backup revolver in a cross-draw holster under his shoulder. He uses this weapon to catch Sam off guard and runs the weapon dry. After reloading, Voelker attempts to stalk Sam with the revolver but is caught off guard himself and knocked out before another shot can be fired.
• AK74M: Voelker led the attack on Sam Wilson by firing a full magazine from this weapon into Sam's vehicle, nearly killing him. After throwing a grenade and reloading, Voelker also uses the rifle to kill several police officers before being disarmed of the rifle by Sam. The rifle is briefly used by Sam as a means of gaining leverage in their melee skirmish before he performs a routine field strip of the weapon and throws its components across the ground.
• High Explosive Grenade: During his attack on Sam Wilson, Voelker utilizes a high explosive grenade to destroy Sam's personal vehicle. Voelker assumes this explosion is fatal to Sam, much to his detriment.
• Adamantium Throwing Knives: While at Catedral de Santo Ramos, Voelker can be seen wearing 6 adamantium throwing knives on his tactical vest, brandishing one to threaten and intimidate a priest, however, these knives are not used during the following skirmish. When Voelker later reappears to attack Sam Wilson, he wears 3 in a different tactical vest, this time using all three offensively. Sam would later use the knife successfully thrown into his shoulder to injure Voelker and catch him off guard.

"I'm amazed you're still standing. Most men don’t survive an axe to the gut."

―Sidewinder to Captain America^[src]

• Adamantium Tomahawk: Voelker wears an adamantium tomahawk on his belt to attack Sam Wilson and uses it to deal a substantial injury to Sam's side during their melee. Sam makes an attempt to throw the weapon back at Voelker, but he is able to deflect it with a shot from his sidearm.

Relationships

Allies SERPENT - Teammates and Subordinates Davis Lawfers/Copperhead

Enemies Sam Wilson/Captain America - Attempted Victim and Situational Ally United States Armed Forces Dennis Dunphy † Metropolitan Police Department Samuel Sterns/Leader - Former Employer

Trivia

• In the comics, Seth Voelker was a professor who was mutated by the Roxxon Oil Corporation and was given the power to teleport. He then began a criminal career as Sidewinder and organized the Serpent Society into a union-like structure. He eventually retired and the Sidewinder name was taken by two other individuals; the former was killed by S.H.I.E.L.D. while the latter, Gregory Bryan, succeeded Voelker as a member of the Serpent Society.

Behind the Scenes

• Sidewinder was not in Matthew Orton's original script and overall shoot for Captain America: Brave New World but was instead added in during the film's reshoots to replace Seth Rollins' role as the leader of the Serpent Society.
  • Esposito was originally cast to take over Rollins' character of Klaus Voorhees/King Cobra as producer Nate Moore originally told Esposito he would do, which Esposito liked as he felt it would be cool to be called "King" as an African-American man. However, his character was ultimately changed to Seth Voelker/Sidewinder because he is the Serpent Society's founder in the comics although some of King Cobra's characteristics were implemented within Sidewinder's characterization nonetheless.
• Captain America: Brave New World director Julius Onah cast Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder due to finding him available during the reshoots, in addition to being one of his favorite actors since working with him as Spike Lee's intern in Do the Right Thing, his eagerness to work with Anthony Mackie and online fancastings of him. Onah felt Esposito's ability to make things feel less fantastical and more grounded helped to adapt SERPENT to the big screen.

Continuity

• Sidewinder revealed that his group was among the people to find Samuel Sterns in the wreckage after the Duel of Harlem. In The Avengers Prelude: Fury's Big Week, Sterns is found by Black Widow, who incapacitates him before sending in a cleanup crew. Later, Sterns is seen being held in containment by S.H.I.E.L.D.
• In Captain America: Brave New World, Sidewinder's file says that he was born May 2, 1969. It also erroneously claims he is 55 years old, which is impossible since the film is set in 2027, with the math still being off when the Blip is taken into account.

External Links

• Sidewinder on Marvel Database
• Sidewinder on Wikipedia