How Does Arnim Zola Fit?

How Does Arnim Zola Fit?

What part will Holographic face-chest villain, Arnim Zola, play in the upcoming Captain America film?

Editorial Opinion
By contrast - May 14, 2010 12:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Captain America

With the release of the Iron Man 2 Avengers Easter Egg screencaps, specifically the strategically marked maps, I began to wonder about the significance of the designated locations. We have one in the ocean, which is almost definitely the assumed location of Namor, and the marker in Africa is most certainly where we'll find the Black Panther, but the most puzzling one is located in Europe.

I can't seem to locate these images, as they've been removed from the site, but from what I recall, the European marker was placed somewhere in Germany, and it was assumed that the marker was pointing to Captain America's arch-enemy, the Red Skull. But why? Why would S.H.I.E.L.D. be looking for an aged (possibly dead) Nazi Supervillain at the same time that they are looking for possible Avengers members? I propose that not only are they not looking for Red Skull, but they aren't looking for any other Avenger or possible Avenger either. They're looking for (in a manner of speaking) Captain America.

To shift gears for a moment (I promise, we'll get back to my explanation, and this is all a major part of that, so stick with me...) We recently learned that British actor Toby Jones was possibly in negotiations to play Captain America foe Arnim Zola. Zola, for those not familiar, was a brilliant biochemist who worked for the Nazis. His most successful experiment came when he transplanted his consciousness into a robotic body.

So, what is Arnim Zola doing in Captain America: The First Avenger, and what does that have to do with my above claim that Captain America was (sort of) in Germany, even though the S.H.I.E.L.D. map has a marker over the Arctic, where Captain America was traditionally found? Turns out, possibly everything. A major part of Captain America's origin has always been sort of problematic. I am, of course, referring to his being frozen, then revived years later, with no brain damage whatsoever. As I understand it, that (the brain damage caused) is the primary reason Cryogenic “storage” of a human being is not viable, so how do we explain Captain America's undamaged brain in The Avengers without relying on the cop-out answer of “The Super Soldier Serum protected him.”? Well, That's where Arnim Zola comes in.

I believe that Zola will be working on some sort of a “brain pattern-capturing program” throughout the movie, and towards the end, Captain America will sacrifice himself to stop the Red Skull, but in the process, will end up falling right into the Nazi's backup plan, which is to say, Zola captures Captain America's brain patterns and digitizes it moments before his lifeless body is tossed into the ocean, where it floats up to the Arctic. Before Zola and the Nazis can do anything with his mind, they are overtaken by The Invaders and The Howling Commandos.

If I'm right about this, that means that the mark in the Arctic is where Captain America's body is, and the marker in Germany is where his mind is, and since the Commandos were there, Fury would know exactly where to find him.

Now, again, this is complete conjecture, but I thought it was an interesting enough theory to share with all of you.

Comments are always welcome,

Excelsior!

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Vafrous
Vafrous - 5/14/2010, 7:45 AM
Very logical idea...I WANT HAWKEYE!
imnotwearinghockeypants
imnotwearinghockeypants - 5/14/2010, 9:44 AM
That's a pretty cool theory, man, whether it's right or not. Good work.
superotherside
superotherside - 5/14/2010, 10:03 AM
idk the theory might or might not work in a film... still it's an interesting theory... only if the super soilder serum saved him from brain damage i wouldn't mind...
REAL213
REAL213 - 5/14/2010, 10:04 AM
nice but how can captain america fall into the ocean if he has no mind?
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 5/14/2010, 10:15 AM
No, I don't like that at all. Sounds like some sh!t Fox would do.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 5/14/2010, 10:27 AM
It's well thought out, but I think they should just say that the serum protected him. The serum is fictional so if they say it can keep his mind and body functioning through freezing, then the audience will buy it.
contrast
contrast - 5/14/2010, 12:13 PM
The Super Soldier Serum is an easy explanation that I think will probably be what we get, however, a bit of (sort of) support for this is the fact that for some reason, it seems that every film villain has to be connected to the hero in some way. If Zola appears as he does in the comics (a "holographic face-chest villain") then, that transformation will most likely be connected to Captain America at some point.

@REA213-- He would be dropped into the ocean by the Nazis...

@Gmoney84-- Even if you don't like it, you've got to admit, it doesn't sound like something Fox would do, simply because even thought it may be a bad idea, it doesn't ruin the character, as all of Fox's ideas do.
SuperLuchador
SuperLuchador - 5/14/2010, 12:13 PM
Interesting theory but frankly super soldier serum is good enough to explain everything. Trying to put too much science in super heroes/fantasy/sci fi genre movie just never works. It's fun from time to time but when the movie become a long science expose...that's when everything goes wrong.
contrast
contrast - 5/14/2010, 12:17 PM
@SuperLuchador-- I totally agree (about a movie becoming a "science expose") but the reason I think it could work is because instead of taking time out to explain how everything worked simply to capture Cap's mind, you could introduce it when Zola is about to test it on himself, and have him (very) briefly describe it to the lab assistants who are helping him.

But as I said in the above comment, I do think that the Super Soldier Serum will most likely be the explanation we get.
surtur
surtur - 5/14/2010, 2:47 PM
Some small animals can be frozen and thawed alive because their blood actually protects their cells from damage from being frozen. Frogs do it: http://www.blurtit.com/q476575.html

I don't see the reasoning, "the super soldier serum did it" as being a cop out.

I could see marvel changing some cosmetic/minor things regarding Caps origin story, some other northern location - greenland, norway, iceland, instead of the arctic - same way they did with Stark in Iron Man, but not so drastic as to actually ADD elements to it, like having Caps mental pattern stolen.

I think they'll stick to the essence of the origin story. 1) He goes on mission to stop a Nazi(skrull/alien, whatever) attack. 2.) People think he dies, but he doesn't, and falls/gets thrown into the ocean/sea. 3.) He gets frozen alive. 4.) SHIELD/The Avengers thaw him.
topgooner187
topgooner187 - 5/14/2010, 3:01 PM
isn't zola the sacked manager of west ham united?
BigBossZombie
BigBossZombie - 5/14/2010, 3:19 PM
I like your theory, but i can see the masses becoming confused.
Fabs
Fabs - 5/14/2010, 3:23 PM
Interesting article but I'd have to disagree: The super soldier serum ISN'T a cop out! It's the reason HE survives without damage when normal people wouldn't. Adding more unnecessary justifications wouldn't help the story in this case.
The shield bouncing back into his hands on the other hand (pun not intended) could do with a better explanation than 'because it's made of a material that doesn't lose kinetic energy'... If it really didn't lose any energy then it also wouldn't cause any damage and you wouldn't even notice it hit you...
Damage = transfer of energy.
No loss of energy = no damage... :/
It's ability to absorb/diffuse impact energy on the other hand is plausible and obviously desirable property on a shield.

At the moment though, I just can't wait for THOR!! :)
jusme6
jusme6 - 5/14/2010, 3:32 PM
Great theory. Seems a little TOO far fetched though. I think they're trying to make these movies as believable as possible.
comicb00kguy
comicb00kguy - 5/14/2010, 4:22 PM
I agree with others here: just let the Super Soldier Serum be explanation enough for how Cap survives in suspended animation.

And why can't Zola or one of the Nazis have a freezeinator ray that freezes Cap in a block of ice? That would also work.
TheAmazingSmitty
TheAmazingSmitty - 5/14/2010, 4:38 PM
@comicb00kguy
I can't really see the Nazis only freezing Captain America as an option, especially after all he's done to them. I would think that the Nazis would have killed him then completely destroyed his body instead of leaving him to freeze and risking the possibility of him returning.
MONTEZ
MONTEZ - 5/14/2010, 5:08 PM
thinking outside the box, makes a lot of sense. imo i would hope they do not do that, but i do like how you are thinking outside the box.
BubbaDude
BubbaDude - 5/14/2010, 10:12 PM
The one in the Ocean is Cap. The one in Germany is very likely Thor.

However, I do see a Zola connection here. He uses his cloning tech to make a body for the Red Skull, who would be 90 years old now. In the comics the Skull was said to have a version of the super soldier serum that kept him young. I think it'd be simpler to have his brain, brainwaves, whatever placed into a clone of Rogers body by Zola. (they did this in the comics too, it just took them a long time to get around to it).
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 5/14/2010, 10:51 PM
Interesting. But I gotta agree with comicbookguy and the others. If the super soldier serum can prevent him from aging, and keep him at peak human perfection at all times, then why not throw in preserving his nervous system while in cryo? It's already major sci fi anyway.

The whole concept of Cap's power is anyway when you analyze it.
contrast
contrast - 5/15/2010, 12:43 AM
@BubbaDude-- but there is also a marker over New Mexico, which is where we know Thor is...
marz66
marz66 - 5/15/2010, 10:16 AM
interesting theory,but again,I think the super solider serum is good enough.It will keep it simple and there's always the good ol',"suspension of disbelief" for the audience anyways.
Spectre94
Spectre94 - 5/15/2010, 11:07 AM
That is an interesting idea. It actually makes sense, somewhat.
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