One of the elements I’ve most appreciated about Phase I of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the embrace of earnestness and sincerity that has imbued the characters throughout. It’s a common element of superhero comics. Doing good often means living forthrightly, and like all good Whedon stories, there’s a sincerity of purpose inherent in the choice to be a hero.

This sincerity peaked in Avengers, when a dose of old fashioned patriotism and a team of heroes was exactly what the world needed in a time of alien invasion.

But now, we’re in Phase II, and things are looking to get more complicated. What does it mean to build a better world? Better is always a complex notion.

Enjoy the first trailer for Captain America: Winter Soldier.