Step aside, Steve Rogers. There’s a new Captain America in town — and he’s one of your best friends!
After making the big announcement about the new female Thor, Marvel Entertainment doubled down this week by announcing a new hero taking over the star-spangled mantle from Rogers: Sam Wilson, better known as the high-flying Falcon.
Marvel Comics
Wilson takes on Cap’s stars, stripes and shield in the pages of “All-New Captain America” #1, written by Rick Remender and illustrated by Stuart Immonen. The exact specifics behind Falcon’s promotion aren’t yet known, but one thing is already clear: The only thing better than a shield-slinging superhero is a shield-slinging superhero with wings.
“Historically, Falcon would often act as air support, flying Steve into the battle. Why not merge the two?” Remender tells Marvel.com. “He pops the wings, and as he flies, he keeps the shield latched onto his back. He dives down onto the scene, hurls the shield, wings retract, and rolls into a kick or jump, catches the shield on the way back. He doesn’t have the super soldier serum, but he has the added zing-zang-zoom of flight.”
This is the first time Falcon has assumed the Captain America name and likeness, though not the first time another hero has stepped into Steve Rogers’ shoes. As recently as seven years ago, Steve Rogers “died,” leaving his former partner and pal Bucky Barnes to take on the Captain America title. Steve eventually came back to life (or, more accurately, became re-stuck in time), but apparently he still needs some work when it comes to hanging onto the role of Captain America.
Marvel Studios
Even without becoming the new Captain America, Falcon has had a hell of a year. The wing-wearing superhero was front and center in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” played by Anthony Mackie; he’s expected to return for the third “Captain America” film, if not sooner in “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
“I’ve been having a lot of fun writing Sam,” says Remender. “It’s a completely different attitude. The fact that he’s not a soldier shifts things up a bit. Sam’s not going to be Steve. Steve can be very rigid. That can be kind of joyless at times, whereas Sam is absolutely not that.”
What do you think of Falcon as the new Captain America?
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