The black Falcon is a superhero character that appears in Marvel Comics. The original Falcon, Sam Wilson, first appeared in Captain America #117 in 1969. Sam Wilson was the first African-American superhero in mainstream comic books. Since then, there have been several other characters that have taken on the mantle of Falcon. The most prominent black Falcon in recent years has been Sam Wilson, who briefly assumed the role of Captain America.
In this article, we will take a look at the history of the black Falcon characters in Marvel Comics, providing an overview of the key black heroes who have worn the wings of the Falcon. We will examine their origins, powers, storylines, and significance as some of Marvel’s most prominent black superheroes.
Sam Wilson: The Original Falcon
Sam Wilson made his first appearance in Captain America #117 in September 1969. Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, Wilson was introduced as a Harlem-based ex-social worker. He forms an alliance with Captain America to battle evil as the high-flying Falcon, equipped with a specialized wing harness that allows him to fly. Wilson was mainstream comics’ first African-American superhero, marking a pioneering step forward in representation.
As the Falcon, Wilson served as Captain America’s crime-fighting partner for years. His backstory was expanded to include being orphaned as a child and later recruited by the Red Skull and transformed into a pawn. Wilson eventually breaks free and embraces his role as a hero alongside Captain America. The Falcon was a recurring character in the Captain America comics throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Sam Wilson later temporarily took on the mantle of Captain America himself after Steve Rogers lost his powers for a period. Wilson wielding the iconic shield marked the first time an African-American portrayed the star-spangled hero on a regular basis. More recently, Wilson formally succeeded Rogers as the new Captain America when Rogers was aged into an old man. Wilson carried on the legacy as the all-new Captain America, starring in the Captain America comic book series.
Joaquin Torres: The Falcon after Sam Wilson
Following Sam Wilson’s promotion to Captain America, the role of the Falcon was filled by a new character – Joaquin Torres. Introduced in 2015’s Captain America: Sam Wilson #1 by writer Nick Spencer and artist Daniel Acuña, Torres is a Mexican-American hero from Tucson, Arizona.
Torres’ backstory establishes him as an undocumented immigrant whose family was deported when he was a child. He was later kidnapped by the Sons of the Serpent, a white supremacist vigilante group. Captain America rescues Torres from them and provides him with a new winged flight suit to become the new Falcon.
Torres made his costumed debut fighting alongside Sam Wilson, who was now serving as Captain America. Torres’ tenure as the Falcon has involved confronting racist groups like the Sons of the Serpent and overcoming trauma from his difficult past. He looked up to Wilson as a mentor figure and strived to live up to the proud legacy of the Falcon.
Aaron Davis: The MCU’s Black Falcon
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, the black Falcon is embodied by Aaron Davis, who is played by actor Anthony Mackie. Davis is introduced in the 2014 film Captain America: The Winter Soldier. His origins are changed from the comics – Davis is introduced as a pararescue airman trained in aerial combat by the military.
After leaving the service, Davis joins forces with Captain America as the winged superhero the Falcon. He fights against HYDRA forces using an advanced jet pack with articulated wings made of vibranium given to him by Cap. Davis reprises the role in several subsequent MCU films, acting as a loyal ally to Captain America and the Avengers.
Mackie’s portrayal of the Falcon earned praise for bringing more diversity to the Avengers lineup. His character developed an endearing bromance and rapport with Chris Evans’ Captain America over the course of the films. Mackie will continue the role in upcoming Disney+ series like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where Davis will team up with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes.
Aaron Davis: The MCU’s Black Falcon
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, the black Falcon is embodied by Aaron Davis, who is played by actor Anthony Mackie. Davis is introduced in the 2014 film Captain America: The Winter Soldier. His origins are changed from the comics – Davis is introduced as a pararescue airman trained in aerial combat by the military.
After leaving the service, Davis joins forces with Captain America as the winged superhero the Falcon. He fights against HYDRA forces using an advanced jet pack with articulated wings made of vibranium given to him by Cap. Davis reprises the role in several subsequent MCU films, acting as a loyal ally to Captain America and the Avengers.
Mackie’s portrayal of the Falcon earned praise for bringing more diversity to the Avengers lineup. His character developed an endearing bromance and rapport with Chris Evans’ Captain America over the course of the films. Mackie will continue the role in upcoming Disney+ series like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where Davis will team up with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes.
Other Notable Black Falcons
In addition to the main black Falcon characters of Sam Wilson, Joaquin Torres, and Aaron Davis, there have been a few other noteworthy African-American heroes to take up the winged mantle in the Marvel Universe:
- Paul Bailey – An NYPD detective who briefly impersonated the Falcon to investigate crime in Harlem in the 1990s.
- Sam “Snap” Wilson – The nephew of Sam Wilson who joined an Avengers-style team called the New Squadron in the mid 2000s.
- T’Challa – The Black Panther briefly dressed as a mysterious new Falcon while assessing the hero’s worthiness.
- Patrick – A young man who idolized Captain America and wore a makeshift Falcon costume before Sam Wilson earned the mantle.
- Rayshaun Lucas – A STARS rig operator who helps Sam Wilson and becomes an ally named Patriot.
While short-lived, these characters expanded the legacy of the Falcon within Marvel’s African-American hero community.
Origins and Backstories
Here is an overview of how some of the most significant black Falcon characters in Marvel Comics gained their superpowers and backstories:
Sam Wilson
– Originally had no powers, relied on wing harness granting flight.
– Kidnapped and genetically altered by Red Skull, giving him limited telepathic links with birds.
– Gained powers later of telepathically commanding birds.
– Trained as a social worker in Harlem before becoming a superhero.
– Orphaned as a child, raised in poverty by his minister father.
Joaquin Torres
– Powers from flight suit given to him by Sam Wilson.
– Suit built with Wakandan technology, lets him fly and link with Sam’s own wing harness.
– Origins as an undocumented Mexican immigrant who faces racism and bigotry.
– Joins forces with Sam Wilson’s Captain America to fight white supremacist groups.
Aaron Davis
– Powers from advanced flight exoskeleton designed by Stark Industries.
– Jet pack wings made of vibranium, giving great speed and maneuverability.
– Trained as a pararescue jumper in the US Air Force.
– Joins the Avengers and ties to Captain America after leaving military service.
Powers and Abilities
The core ability shared by all the black Falcon heroes is flight via wing harnesses or specialized suits. Beyond this, their powers include:
- Sam Wilson has telepathic bird communication and control.
- Joaquin Torres shares a neural link with Sam, letting them coordinate in the air.
- Aaron Davis has no special powers beyond his tactical flight suit.
- Enhanced strength, speed, agility from rigorous training.
- Masters in aerial combat and tactics.
- Expert hand-to-hand fighters.
- Skilled in use of Falcon-themed weapons like smart boomerangs.
- Able to link up with other heroes thanks to flight abilities.
This unique combination of aerial aptitude and combat prowess makes the Falcon a highly mobile threat to villains. Together, Wilson, Torres, and Davis create an impressive legacy of high-flying black heroes upholding the name Falcon.
Costumes and Gear
A signature part of the Falcon’s appeal is his unique costume and gear:
- Sam Wilson’s original costume featured red and white fabric wings attached to a green wing harness on his back. This allowed him to glide through the air and carry Captain America while flying. He wore a red domino mask and a red and white outfit accented with green.
- As Captain America, Wilson wore a more tactical version of the stars and stripes costume incorporating lightweight armor panels and aviator goggles.
- Joaquin Torres’ modernized Falcon flight suit is red and black with large wings made of lightweight nano-materials. The wings link with Sam Wilson’s own wing harness.
- The MCU’s Falcon played by Anthony Mackie sports a metallic jet pack with articulated red wings made of vibranium. The wings have miniguns and missile launchers integrated.
- Both Falcon costumes feature goggles for eye protection while flying at high speeds.
- A wrist-mounted drone called Redwing provides reconnaissance and backup during missions.
- Smart boomerangs, bolas, and various sharp projectiles used as ranged weapons.
The costume and equipment of the Falcon is engineered for speed, reconnaissance, and devastating aerial assaults against targets below. It represents the pinnacle of flight-based combat suit technology in the Marvel Universe.
Notable Storylines
Some of the most iconic comic storylines starring the black Falcon over the decades include:
- “Captain America and the Falcon” – Sam Wilson teams up with Captain America beginning in the 1970s against threats like HYDRA and the Red Skull.
- “Falcon: Year One” – Explores the origin of Sam Wilson and how he trained to master his bird telepathy powers and wing suit.
- “All-New Captain America” – Sam Wilson assumes the mantle of Captain America when Steve Rogers loses the super-soldier serum in his body.
- “Avengers vs. X-Men” – Falcon is part of the Avengers fighting against the X-Men over the coming of the Phoenix Force to Earth.
- “Operation Rebirth” – Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres team up as Falcon and Patriot to uncover the origins of Isaiah Bradley, an early black super soldier.
- Marvel Cinematic Universe – The Falcon played by Anthony Mackie features prominently in films like The Winter Soldier, Civil War, and Endgame.
These stories place the Falcon at the forefront of major events in the Marvel Universe and demonstrate his importance as one of Marvel’s signature black superheroes.
Significance and Legacy
As the first African-American superhero in mainstream comics, the legacy of the black Falcon is monumental. When introduced in the late 1960s, the character reflected changing attitudes and progress towards civil rights at the time. The Falcon would inspire many subsequent black heroes in the Marvel universe.
Sam Wilson’s role as one of Captain America’s most trusted allies placed him at the heart of the Marvel universe for decades. Anthony Mackie’s fan favorite portrayal of the Falcon raised the character’s profile even higher in popular culture.
The Falcon also represents an inspirational underdog story – he is a hero without wealth or resources like Tony Stark, who overcomes circumstances and trauma to do good for the world. His tenacity and work ethic make him worthy to even take up the mantle of Captain America at times.
Ultimately, the Falcon’s legacy is cemented as a groundbreaking black Marvel hero who opened doors for many more to follow. He shattered barriers and demonstrated that classic heroes can come from any background.
Conclusion
For over 50 years, the black Falcon has loyally upheld justice and heroism in the Marvel Universe. Sam Wilson broke boundaries as the first African-American superhero in mainstream comics. His evolution from the Falcon into Captain America himself reflects changing times and greater inclusivity.
Anthony Mackie’s charismatic live-action portrayal has further endeared the Falcon to new generations of fans. His friendship and teamwork with Captain America created an iconic example of an interracial superhero partnership.
Other Falcon legacy characters like Joaquin Torres and Aaron Davis add richer diversity to the heroic mantle today. The winged warriors of the Falcon will continue to soar high as empowering symbols of heroism, now and into the future. Their legendary status in Marvel is assured.
