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| “ | Captain America is not just for the good days. He can't be. I can't be. If Captain America can't stand for the Dream on the very worst day-- When America is fallen-- Then there is no Captain America. Because our worst day is where we start from. Where we rise from. And if the man in the flag is too special to fall and rise and struggle with the rest... Then God help us all. | „ |
| ~ The Falcon. |
| “ | When he got back to full health, he told me to hang on to this. And I trust his opinion a Hell of a lot more than yours. Or maybe even my own, for that matter. If he can share, you can, too. So you -- and all those guys I imagine put you up to this -- are going to have to learn to get used to it. I'm Captain America now. Deal with it. | „ |
| ~ Captain America (Wilson) to U.S. Agent. |
Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilson, also known as Falcon, is a fictional character and superhero in American comics published by Marvel, and appears in the Captain America comics and The Avengers comics.
As a pawn of the Red Skull, Wilson was rescued and de-programmed by Captain America and became one of his greatest allies. Gaining the power to speak to birds, Falcon became the protector of Harlem and fought numerous criminals and villains in his career. Falcon later became a member of the Avengers, and has held the mantle of Captain America on several occasions. He's also the uncle of the late Jim Wilson, whom was a sidekick of the Hulk in several comic issues.
The character has appeared in numerous media since his debut, such as in films, television, and video games. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Anthony Mackie.
He was created by the late Stan Lee, the late Joe Sinott and the late Gene Colan, and first appeared in Captain America #117 in September of 1969.
Biography[]
Origin[]
Early life[]
Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilson was born in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York to Paul and Darlene Wilson, and is the brother to Sarah and George Wilson. He grew up in a tough Harlem neighborhood. His father, a minister, had been killed trying to stop a fight between two rival gangs when Sam was 9 years old. Some years later his mother was murdered by a mugger while she tried to protect her children. At some point he dropped out of high school (presumably to raise his siblings), and became self-educated. Sam did his best to try and do the right thing, but his grief and anger eventually led him down a criminal path. He took on the name of "Snap" Wilson while working for the mob. However, it was later written that his history as Snap Wilson was fabricated by the Red Skull to discredit Wilson's heroism.
Meeting Captain America[]
| “ | If I'm going to be your partner, I have to be something more than a costumed athlete. | „ |
| ~ Sam Wilson to Captain America. |
After an assignment, on the way to Rio de Janeiro, Sam's plane crashed on a remote Caribbean island named Exile where the Red Skull and his henchmen were hiding out. The Red Skull sought to use Wilson as a pawn to attack Captain America (who was currently on the island) with. He used the Cosmic Cube to revert 'Snap' into Sam, and give him the ability to telepathically communicate with birds, especially a bird that Wilson had bought named Redwing.
After their initial skirmish, Cap was able to free Wilson from the Skull's programming. Together they defeated the Skull, and the Falcon became Cap's partner for a long time. It was later revealed that the 'Snap' persona had entirely been a construction of the Red Skull to manipulate Wilson, and in fact he had never been a criminal at all.
Wilson received help from the Black Panther, who created a harness for Wilson, allowing him to fly. Going by the name "Falcon", Wilson became Rogers partner and they fought several villains. When Rogers briefly abandoned his Captain America identity, others attempted to take up the mantle, including a young man named Roscoe whom the Falcon mentored. When the Red Skull eventually killed Roscoe, Rogers again became Captain America.
The Falcon ultimately left as Cap's partner when he was named the leader of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Super-Agents. Later, as one of the few black superheroes active, he was drafted to join the Avengers by Henry Peter Gyrich to fill a quota. Resenting being a "token," he quit at the first opportunity. At one point, a Sentinel chased him believing him to be a mutant, but this was later debunked and the Sentinel was presumed to have been malfunctioning. Shortly following this incident he came across, fought and defeated the super villain named Electro.
Avengers Disassembled[]
The insane Scarlet Witch accidentally destabilized the Falcon's mind, pushing him back towards his "Snap" persona, and while he continued to work with Captain America, their relationship became strained, until, finally, Cap felt that he had no choice but to stop working with him. While Falcon argued, a man who the "new" Falcon had forced from his home to use as a safehouse shot Cap in the back (while aiming at Falcon). Thinking Cap dead, Falcon cleaned himself up and went after the so-called "Anti-Cap," who had been causing problems for them both.
Civil War[]
He helped Cap track down the Winter Soldier. He was the first to join with Captain America against the Superhuman Registration Act, and played a leadership role in the Secret Avengers.
Following Captain America's assassination by the machinations of the Red Skull, the Falcon registered with the government and was made responsible for Harlem, although he remained in contact with the underground New Avengers.
Afterwards, S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited the Falcon and agent Sharon Carter to investigate the Captain's assassination by locating the Winter Soldier and tracking down the Red Skull.
Joining the Avengers[]
He later rejoined the Avengers in Tony Stark's initiative to expand the team's roster and become bigger.
Iron Nail[]
When Cap returned from Dimension Z, he knew Zola's daughter Jet Zola. Then, he and Steve were sent to Nrosvekistan to prevent Nuke from causing World War III. There, Sam rescued Daily Bugle's reporter Samantha Chan, whose photos were manipulated by Ran Shen to let people think that Captain America was Nuke's accomplice. Then, Falcon was victim of the explosion of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier caused by Nuke. Maria Hill thought Sam was dead, but Jet, thanks to her super-senses, saw Wilson, telling Cap that he was wounded but not dead. Then, Sam helped Cap and the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents fighting super-weapon Gungnir, released by Ran Shen and Dr. Mindbubble. During the final fight between Cap and Iron Nail, Steve was deprived of the Super-Soldier Serum, quickly aging into an old man, being saved by Sam from inside a collapsing Gungnir.
The Tomorrow Man[]
After the Gungnir battle, Sam woke up in the morning and was shocked by the vision of Jet in his bed. Remembering the evening before, Wilson and Zola's daughter got drunk drinking wine, and than had some fun. Jet woke up as well, saying that what happened in the night was her "first time", saying she'd like doing it again. Then, she said to Falcon that she started to like him.
While hugging, Jet saw her father tower in the middle of New York. Sam and Jet went right to it, communicating to the Avengers that Zola was attacking the city with his Mutates, with Jet believing it was a distraction. Zola's daughter still suggested to Steve and the whole team to fight Zola's army in any case, while her and Falcon were going to neutralize Arnim from the inside. While they were in the tower, Falcon and Jet discovered an imprisoned Sharon Carter, freeing her and then getting to Zola himself. There, Falcon and Jet started fighting him, in the tower and then in NY's streets. When a back from the dead Ian Zola discovered that Zola's secret plan was a bomb powerful enough to blow up the entire city, and neither Iron Man or Thor could face the problem because of the Unvengers, Falcon stepped up, took the bomb and brought it out of the city, in the sky.
The bomb blew up, with everyone thinking Sam to be dead, including a crying Jet Zola But after all, Sam was still alive, thanks to his Stark-branded Vibranium wings that absorbed most of the power of the bomb. Jet hugged him, joyful, but then Sharon Carter accused her to be an accomplice of her father, plotting with him to neutralize Cap and steal the Avengers' DNA to create the Unvengers. Jet, hurt by what Agent 13 said, rejoined his father. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers gave up as Captain America, as the Serum was not in his body anymore, and with probably every Avenger seeing it, he gave his legacy to Sam himself, that became the All-New Captain America. Ian decided to join Sam as a companion in his missions, under the name of Nomad.
All-New Captain America[]
| “ | Because Captain America is not just for the good days. He can't be. I can't be. If Captain America can't stand for the dream on the very worst day--when America is fallen--then there is no Captain America. Because our worst day is onl where we start from. Where we rise from. And if the man in the flag is too special to fall and rise and struggle with the rest... Then God help us all. If I've got to work harder now? Prove me more? That was always true. And that's a weight I'm proud to carry. | „ |
| ~ Sam speaking of the Captain America mantle. |
Sam's first mission as the new Captain America got him in Hydra's croshairs, and Sam found himself confronted by several of Cap's most deadly foes as the result of a trap. Misty Knight saved him, and revealed that Hydra had infiltrated numerous critical teams from the super hero community. The terrorist organization had also planned to spread the poisonous blood of an Inhuman kid named Lucas all over the planet.
With the help of Misty Knight and Armadillo, a Hydra agent Cap turned to his side, Cap was able to locate and defuse several bombs that contained fleas with the kid's blood which had been scattered across the globe. With his plan thwarted, Baron Zemo launched a contingency plan, the self-detonation of Baron Blood (who drank large amounts of Lucas' blood) in the atmosphere, resulting in the propagation of the blood. Cap managed to disarm Baron Blood and leave him floating in space to be recovered by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Sam cut his ties with S.H.I.E.L.D. after a series of events triggered by the hacker known as the Whisperer, who had leaked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plans to create a Cosmic Cube, a project that Sam opposed publicly. When S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to capture the Whisperer, Sam helped him instead, believing the hacker's actions to be righteous, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s potential retribution disproportionate. With the help of the Whisperer, Sam spent months taking down different Hydra cells, and made a deal to acquire diplomatic immunity.
The parting of Wilson from his superiors took another step when he decided to stop working for the government, believing that the United States needed a Captain America who was more socially active than before. Captain America's segregation from the government wasn't without criticism, with certain Americans believing him to have become "Captain Socialism," while other fully showed his support.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
| “ | You still don't get it. The Avengers don't overlook anything, Gyrich. Especially in their own neighborhood. I'm always psychically connected with Redwing, but through concentration I've recently tapped into another ability -- I'm able to link-up with other birds. | „ |
| ~ Falcon to Henry Gyrich. |
- Avian Telepathy: Sam was given the ability to telepathically link with birds endowed by the Red Skull using the Cosmic Cube. This link is strongest with his companion Redwing but he is also able to extend his empathic link to other birds making it possible for him to see through their eyes. He has also shown the ability to control birds. These abilities apply to the entirety of birds.
Abilities[]
- Master Martial Artist: Sam has been trained by Captain America in multiple martial arts making him a dangerous combatant. His skills enable him to defeat some of the greatest trained and skilled martial artists in the world such as multiple elite Spetsnaz soldiers at a time and superhumans as strong as the Wrecking Crew members.
- Peak Human Condition: Even before his training with Captain America, Sam was in very good shape. After years of intensive and extensive training with Steve, Sam is now at the peak of human condition for a man of his age, height, and weight.
- Master Acrobat: He was was a skilled athlete in his youth to young adulthood and later underwent rigorous training in gymnastics and acrobatics with Captain America and his skills are roughly on par with Steve Rogers.
- Master Aerialist: Sam is also an extraordinary aerialist due to his training with Captain America and to his own experimentation with his "hard light harness". Due to his abilities and experience in martial arts and aerialism, he is one of the best aerial fighters in the world exceeding the skill of other flyers such as Iron Man and Ms. Marvel.
- Skilled Shield Fighter: Sam is proficient in the use of Captain America's Shield. He has shown himself able to hit several targets, as well as display near-perfect accuracy from the air.
Equipment[]
- Falcon's Wings: Created by Wakandan scientists, Falcon uses the wings to fly around in the air at top speeds.
- Captain America's Shield: Upon taking the mantle of Captain America, he was given his shield.
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Anthony Mackie, who also played Takeshi Kovacs in Altered Carbon and John Doe in Peacock's Twisted Metal tv series.
Television[]
- In The Avengers: United They Stand, he was voiced by Martin Roach.
- In The Super Hero Squad Show, he was voiced by Alimi Ballard.
- Ballard reprised his voice for the character in Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat.
- In The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, he was voiced by the late Lance Reddick, who also portrayed Charon in the John Wick series and Zeus in the upcoming Percy Jackson tv series, and also voiced Sylens in the Horizon series, Agent Clappers in Paradise P.D. and Zavala in Destiny 2.
- In Avengers Assemble, voiced by Bumper Robinson, who voiced the MCU's iteration in Captain America: The Winter Soldier - The Official Game, Rook Blonko and Terraspin in Ben 10: Omniverse, Bumblebee in Transformers: Animated, War Machine in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and Ryan Kinkade in Voltron: Legendary Defender.
- Robinson reprised his voice for the character in Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, Marvel Heroes, and Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes.
- In Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers, he was voiced by Kaito Ishikawa, who also voiced Nero in the Devil May Cry series, and Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd in Fire Emblem.
Video Games[]
- In Lego Marvel Super Heroes, he was voiced by Andrew Kishino.
- In Marvel Avengers Academy, he was voiced by ASAP Rocky.
Quotes[]
| “ | Your skin may be a different color... but there is no man alive I'm prouder to call... brother. | „ |
| ~ Falcon to Captain America. |
| “ | ... It's time for the Falcon to Fly! | „ |
| ~ Falcon. |
Template:QUote
| “ | People that... know me, call me "Falcon". | „ |
| ~ Sam on his alter-ego. |
| “ | To Steve Rogers...the best of us. | „ |
| ~ Sam honoring Captain America. |
| “ | I hate Nazis. | „ |
| ~ Falcon to Namor. |
| “ | Memories stop by like in-laws--You don't get to choose when the mind drifts--Tiggered by a song, a place--The need for someone no longer here. You relieve everything that mattered for you then. The way it all was... And how far gone it all is. When the roof caves in--When the ground crumbles under my feet--Even all these years latter--My first instinct is to turn to my parents. To advise me. To know I'm doing right. But home is gone. The worse things get--The more I need them--The harder it is to face. I gave the people of Harlem everything I had--Desperately trying to feel their shoes. Working myself near to death raising my sister and brother. Spent my life worried it wasn't enough. How could I ever live up to the bar they set? But I've got a sneaking suspicion that if they could see me now--They'd be proud. | „ |
| ~ Falcon. |
| “ | Let's just be honest here -- this country is as divided as it's ever been. Red and blue, black and white, Republican and Democrat, North and South -- feels like we are constantly at each other's throats. We don't trust each other. We no longer see ourselves in our neighbor. And this is not some intellectual debate -- people are dying. Our streets are burning. Inequality is soaring. It feels like things are about to break wide open. And it used to be -- even if we didn't agree on what to do in our communities, we could at least unite in fighting common enemies. Everybody's okay with beating up Hydra. Even that's not so simple anymore. The good guys -- S.H.I.E.L.D. and the N.S.A. -- are getting caught doing things we never dreamt the bad guys would do, even in our worst nightmares. But the even bigger, scarier problem for me? In all these struggles, all these debates, and all these things tearing us apart -- I have a side. That's right. I have opinions. Strongly held beliefs, even. And here's the thing -- the more I saw the people I believed I was standing up for being walked on -- the more I heard a noise machine spouting intolerance and fear, drowning common sense out -- the more I wondered -- shouldn't Captain America be more than just a symbol? Steve always tried to stay above the fray, and I respected him for it. He took a stand when he had to, but as far as politics went -- he played it close to the vest. But if I really believed I could make a difference -- if I really believed I could change some minds, do some good -- then wasn't I obligated to try? | „ |
| ~ Falcon. |
Trivia[]
- Ranked 45th on IGN's "Top 50 Avengers".
- Ranked 96th greatest comic book hero by IGN.
- He is one of the first African American superheroes with prominence in Marvel comics upon his debut.
- He's most likely named after Samuel Wilson, whom is often considered to be the basis of "Uncle Sam".
- He originally was a non-flying hero, as he had Redwing, a trained falcon.
- He was brought into the Avengers originally by Henry Peter Gyrich in an attempt to make the group more racially integrated.
- He is currently the only known black successor of Captain America, as Isiah Bradley wasn't officially recognized as Captain America during his tenure in the role.
- Fury's intel classified his power level at six.
