Sam Wilson has donned both Marvel superhero titles, theFalconandCaptain America. However, ever since he put on the iconic red, white, and blue suit, it has been a point of debate among fans as to which hero mantle best fits his legendary character. While Sam got his start as the Falcon, there is palpable significance in his decision to take up the Captain America codename from Steve Rogers.
As Captain America, Sam Wilson represented a much-needed alternate perspective on American identity.
Sam Wilson debuted as The FalconinCaptain America#117 (1969) by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, after he and Captain America escaped from the clutches of the villains, the Exiles and Red Skull. In his introduction, Sam Wilson initially gained the power to communicate with birds, illustrating why he adopted the well-known moniker of Falcon and his avian hero persona.
For decades,many fans were accustomed to Sam Wilson as the Falcon. However, Sam Wilson has always had close ties to Captain America, raising the question of which hero mantle best serves his character.
Sam Wilson’s Hero Journey: From Falcon to Captain America in the Marvel Universe
Sam Wilson’s Transformation Into Captain America Meant an All-New Take On the Hero
On his own, Sam Wilson, as the Falcon, holds great cultural significance within Marvel as one of the first mainstream African-American superheroes and a stable member of the Avengers. His friendship withSteve Rogers as Captain Americabecame a recurring dynamic.Falcon’s hero identity is closely tied to his origin, as he strives to emulate his late father’s values of peace within his community. Sam’s role as the Falcon symbolized freedom, and his unique powers and design made him one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes.
Falcon’s gradual rise to popularity made it easy to see whymany fans prefer Sam Wilson in his original hero identity, as the Falcon allows him to stand as his own hero, separate from Steve Rogers. Despite this sentiment, Sam Wilson has been closely tied to Captain America since his inception, andSteve Rogers choosing Sam as the next Captain America marked a pivotal moment for both Sam and their growth as partners. In becoming Captain America, Sam Wilson represented a much-needed alternate perspective on American identity and would go on to accomplish greatness in his own right.
Steve Rogers Passed the Captain America Mantle Onto Sam Wilson – But Was This the Right Move?
Sam Wilson Embraced the Captain American Legacy
Steve Rogers chose Sam Wilson to take on his mantle inCaptain America#25by Rick Remender after Sam displayed great selflessness by saving New York from Hydra, making Sam’s adoption of the Captain America title a more recent development. At the time, Steve began aging rapidly due to losing his Super Soldier Serum, and Sam’s years of fighting alongside him as the Falcon made him a prime successor. Sam donning the iconic star-spangled suit was a meaningful progression that symbolized a more modern representation of American ideals, but it was also highly polarizing among fans.
Sam’s Captain America offered a fresh interpretation of the hero that aligned well with his existing heroic qualities, but many fans felt this change pulled Sam Wilson further into Steve Rogers’ shadow. On one hand,Sam Wilson made it possible for Marvel to separate Captain America from World War II, but it also positioned him as a continuation of another hero’s legacy rather than forging his own, as he had previously done as the Falcon. As Sam Wilson’s Captain America takes center stage in the MCU, the ongoing debate over whether he is better suited as theFalconorCaptain Americaremains as divisive as ever.
Even After 20 Years, Captain America’s Introduction of Isaiah Bradley Feels as Relevant as Ever
Captain America: Truth is Isaiah Bradley’s origin story, and while it is over two decades old, it is one of the most relevant Captain America comics.
