Marvel reveals horrifying first look at its new big villain

Things are back on track for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The beloved franchise has delivered some of its strongest outings in recent memory over the course of the past year, with the box-office sensation Deadpool and Wolverine and the universally-adored Agatha All Along all helping it climb back up to the top of the mountain.

It hasn't been an easy ride for the film series. Ever since it started the Multiverse Saga, its audience has questioned it, with some fearing that it shouldn't have carried on after the loss of multiple main characters in Avengers: Endgame and others feeling its was spreading itself too thin as it reached across film and television. But it has endured, and now it looks ahead to finishing the Multiverse Saga on a strong note, with some major comebacks planned for the occasions.

Speaking of comebacks, Marvel has officially unveiled the first look at its upcoming villain. We'd say it's a familiar face but there is nothing familiar about that returning character. Nothing familiar at all.

First official look at The Leader unveiled

Marvel Studios has released the first official look at Samuel Sterns, a.k.a. The Leader, who will serve as the villain of Captain America: Brave New World. Tim Blake Nelson reprises the role for the first time since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, making his return one of the longest gaps between playing a role in comic book movie history. And to say that the character looks different from his previous appearance - well, that would be an understatement.

The first look comes in the form of official concept art, which of course spotlights the character's enlarged head. This image had been released by Marvel just a few days prior for some artistic key art for the upcoming film, but the full concept art gives us a much fuller glimpse of what The Leader will look like when on our screens.

Wearing a long brown coat and adopting a look and style that wouldn't be at all out of place on Doctor Who, The Leader certainly looks sophisticated. That's a good thing, because you want your first look at the character to be convincing, and that's what this is. And it's also a lot better of a first look than the Funko Pop figure that fans thought to be somewhat underwhelming.

Sterns' return was teased in the first trailer for Brave New World. All we saw was the back of his trench coat and a brief glimpse of his green skin, setting the stage for the grand reveal at another time. Although there have been more hints and references to his actual new look (the Pop figure, the posterized artwork), it wasn't until this concept art made its way online that fans have had a true idea of what to expect from that new look for The Leader.

The professor's only appearance in the MCU thus far came in 2008's The Incredible Hulk when, after turning Emil Blonsky into The Abomination, he suffered a head injury and a sample of Bruce Banner's blood dripped into the wound. It caused his head to expand, and eventually resulted in his transformation into The Leader that we will meet in Captain America: Brave New World.

Sterns' arc was one of the MCU's great unresolved plot threads - of which there are very few - so it's going to be a big moment when the character finally returns - especially since most fans weren't sure the story would ever be revisited. Hopefully he will catch us up on what he has been up to for the past 17 years. He certainly looks the part as The Leader, that's for sure!