With Sam Wilson’s journey to becoming Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier reaching an end, it’s worth diving into what happened to his comic book counterpart when he took up the shield. Like Anthony Mackie’s character in the MCU, Falcon eventually went from Steve Rogers’ crime-fighting partner to Marvel’s new Sentinel of Liberty.
In the MCU, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier delayed Sam’s Captain America transformation by having him give the shied back to the government. Due to feeling that it still belonged to Steve, he decided not to accept the role Cap had wanted him to have in John Walker (Wyatt Russell), whose overly aggressive behavior has forced Sam to rethink his decision about being Captain America.
It remains to be seen what sort of future Sam will have as Captain America in the MCU. As for the comics though, Sam’s Captain America days were filled with challenges. After being the Falcon for more than 40 years in Marvel Comics, Sam received the shield when the loss of the super soldier serum turned Steve into an elderly man in 2014. After agreeing to become his successor, Sam wore a version of the Captain America costume that came equipped with wings. As for the Falcon mantle, he retired it and ed it down to teenager Joaquin Torres, who became his first-ever superhero sidekick. Sam assumed a leadership role with the Avengers, started a romance with Jane Foster's Thor, and operated as Captain America for quite some time.
He faced one of his biggest tests when a second superhero Civil War broke out, with him sharing a viewpoint that contrasted with his mentor’s. Captain Marvel, Steve, and others ed a new system that would allow the government to predict crimes before they could happen, but the new Captain America and Iron Man believed that this went against the notion of free will. The Avengers subsequently went to war with each other, and Sam Wilson served as one of the key figures on the rebels’ side.
Afterward, various events in Sam’s life made him question whether or not he should continue on as Captain America. Steve had returned to his normal age, which led to many feeling that he should get the shield back. Plus, social injustices that were occurring all over the world caused him to become disillusioned with the country. The last straw was what happened to former Avenger and Black superhero Rage. Rage getting wrongfully convicted and badly beaten up in prison caused Sam to determine that he should cease being Captain America.
He changed his mind when Steve Rogers – who had been turned evil by the Cosmic Cube’s power - led HYDRA into taking over the world. Sam briefly returned as Captain America to oppose their rule, and permanently gave up the shield once the true Steve Rogers was back. Knowing that the time had come for Steve to be Captain America again, Sam resumed his old role as the Falcon, and thus the status quo was restored in 2017. In the case of the MCU, on the other hand, Sam’s position as Captain America stands a much better chance at being a long-term one, especially since Steve Rogers’ time as the Star Spangled Avenger is apparently over for good.
Key Release Dates
-
Black Widow
Release Date:2021-07-09 -
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Release Date:2021-09-03 -
Eternals
Release Date:2021-11-05 -
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
Release Date:2022-05-06 -
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Release Date:2022-11-11 -
captain marvel 2
Release Date:2023-07-28