Bacterial Influence on MCU Transformations

The difference in transformation outcomes between Red Skull and Captain America in the MCU, according to a fan theory, can be attributed to the role of bacteria. During Captain America's transformation, a seemingly throwaway moment involving a penicillin injection becomes significant. The theory suggests that the Super Serum would enhance not only the human body but also the bacteria within it, which needed to be eliminated for the process to work correctly.

Red Skull, on the other hand, injects the serum without prior sterilization. This oversight results in the super-enhancement of bacteria within his body, leading to the destruction of his facial skin and potentially more extensive damage. To survive, his body enters a constant battle against these supercharged microbes, resulting in his disfigured appearance. In contrast, Captain America's transformation chamber appears to include extreme sterilization, down to the cellular level, ensuring that his body could fully benefit from the Super Serum without bacterial interference. This theory also suggests that Steve Rogers' superpowers include an extraordinary immune system, which played a part in his transformation.