Sam Wilson's MCU Journey: From Falcon to Captain America!

In the upcoming movie “Captain America: Brave New World,” Anthony Mackie’s character Sam Wilson takes up the iconic shield. This political thriller sets Sam Wilson’s Captain America against Harrison Ford’s General Ross, who has a formidable new persona as the Red Hulk. The plot would have left comic book enthusiasts 20 years ago scratching their heads, highlighting how far Sam has progressed since his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Initially, he was just Steve Rogers’ running partner, but he eventually evolved into the Falcon, battled extraterrestrial threats alongside the Avengers, and ultimately succeeded his friend to become the new Captain America. With the release of this new Captain America film approaching, it’s an ideal moment to revisit Sam Wilson’s entire Marvel Cinematic Universe background.

This summary also acts as a watch guide if you want to rewatch all of the Falcon’s exploits.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

“On your left.”

Initially, Sam Wilson debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as an ordinary, jovial man running around Washington D.C., often overtaken by the super soldier, Steve Rogers during their runs. However, comic enthusiasts recognized his potential for greatness. The character of Sam Wilson was introduced by Stan Lee and Gene Colan back in 1969. He made a groundbreaking entry as the first African-American superhero to appear prominently in mainstream comics. Wilson’s first appearance was alongside Steve Rogers in Captain America #177, where he was inspired by Rogers to take up crime fighting, thus transforming into the Falcon.

Initially, Wilson and Rogers crossed paths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; at this time, Wilson was a veteran of the US Air Force’s pararescue team who transitioned into counseling fellow veterans dealing with trauma. They connected through their shared struggles of adapting to peace-time life after military service. Thus, the foundation for an iconic duo was laid.

After establishing credibility, Rogers found sanctuary with Wilson when they both hid from Hydra alongside Natasha Romanoff, also known as the Black Widow. Despite being deeply affected by the death of his comrade Riley during military service, Sam stepped up when Rogers disclosed that S.H.I.E.L.D. had Hydra agents within its ranks, ready to execute their grand scheme. “Buddy,” Wilson exclaimed, “Captain America needs us. There’s no stronger motivation than this.

Wilson chose to aid in the destruction of Hydra utilizing an advanced “EXO-7 Falcon” jetpack he had employed during his military service. Equipped with his Falcon equipment, Wilson joined forces (and soared above) with Rogers and Romanoff as they engaged Hydra and the Winter Soldier in battle. However, things became more intricate when it was disclosed that the Winter Soldier was none other than Bucky Barnes, Steve’s former best friend who had been turned into a relentless assassin through mind control.

Reflecting on the fact that Wilson and Barnes will eventually be inseparable despite their initial animosity, it’s almost amusing to recall how their first encounter unfolded. They came face-to-face atop a Helicarrier, where they instantly tried to eliminate each other. The altercation ended when Barnes severed one of Wilson’s wings and propelled him off the flying vessel. However, being grounded didn’t deter Wilson from participating in the battle against Hydra. He intervened to halt the rampage of Hydra agent Rumlow within the Triskelion, thereby safeguarding the lives of the World Security Council members. Subsequently, he engaged Rumlow in hand-to-hand combat. The encounter didn’t seem promising for Wilson, but fortunately, a Helicarrier intervened by crashing into the building, forcing him to leap for his life onto a moving helicopter. This demonstrated that even without his equipment, the Falcon is never afraid to take flight.

After Hydra was foiled and S.H.I.E.L.D. disintegrated, Wilson vowed to aid Rogers in finding Barnes, who vanished when the Helicarriers crashed. What started as a simple life turned into a battle against an evil entity, side by side with Captain America, Black Widow, and Nick Fury. This unexpected turn of events redefined his future path and marked the beginning of his superhero journey as Falcon.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

In the second “Avengers” film, Wilson popped up twice, albeit briefly but significantly. The initial encounter took place during the gathering at the Avengers Tower. Wilson reconnected with Rogers, informing him that he was persistently tracking down Barnes, even though all leads had turned out to be dead ends. He said to Rogers, “I’m quite content chasing cold trails on our missing person’s case. Saving the world is your realm, and your realm is, well, chaotic.

In the post-credits scene of “Age of Ultron,” we see the return of Wilson. The Avengers team had undergone significant changes following their intense battle against Ultron. Captain Rogers then assembled a new group of heroes, consisting of Black Widow, War Machine, Vision, Wanda Maximoff, and the Falcon. Of particular interest, this is the first time Wilson wore a wingsuit adorned with prominent red details, making it more reminiscent of his comic book counterpart. This significant event marks Wilson’s official induction into the Avengers.

Ant-Man (2015)

In the storyline of Ant-Man, Scott Lang finds himself in a predicament where he needs to pilfer a crucial device from an old Stark Industries storage facility. However, upon his arrival, he’s taken aback to discover that the place has been transformed into the Avengers’ latest operational hub. This unexpected revelation triggers an alarm system, and who greets him but Wilson, fully kitted out as Falcon.

Despite Lang’s noble motive behind stealing the technology, Wilson decides to apprehend him, leading to a high-speed chase across the Avengers Compound. In the end, Lang manages to outsmart Wilson by shrinking himself small enough to enter Wilson’s flight suit and sabotage its electrical system. Wilson emerges from the encounter with some bruises but is mainly mortified at losing to Ant-Man, a fact he emphasizes by stating, “I really don’t want Captain America to find out about this incident.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

In the heart of a mission, I find myself alongside the Avengers, striving to halt Crossbones and his gang from snatching a lethal biological weapon in Lagos, Nigeria. Amidst the fierce combat, my ally Wilson deploys a flying drone he fondly names Redwing – a wink to his sidekick bird we’ve shared a psychic bond with in the comics. Regrettably, despite our valiant attempts alongside Rogers, Maximoff, and Romanoff, a devastating event occurs with significant loss of life and destruction, which ultimately brings about severe repercussions for us Avengers.

In a new turn of events, General Ross proposes a series of UN-sanctioned regulations called the Sokovia Accords, which require superheroes to be under government control. However, this proposal creates a rift among the heroes, with Wilson expressing strong disagreement and aligning himself with Rogers’ stance. A conflict arises between these contrasting ideologies and superpowers, with Tony Stark advocating for the Accords. To complicate things further, Barnes reappears, wanted for the alleged murder of Wakanda’s king.

The dispute intensifies and reaches its peak at an airport in Germany. The two factions don their gear and engage in a fight on the runway, where Wilson is forced to partner with Barnes, finding himself covered in webbing by Spider-Man, exclaiming, “Is that goo oozing from you?!” When Rogers and Barnes flee using a plane, War Machine inadvertently receives fire from Vision when Wilson avoids an attack mid-flight. Rather than flying off, Wilson lands to check on Rhodey due to his concern for his fellow hero. He suffers the consequence of this act by getting knocked out by Stark and being sent to the Raft prison alongside Barton, Maximoff, and Lang.

When Iron Man arrives at The Raft seeking information about Captain America’s location, Ant-Man consents to reveal it to him, but only if Iron Man goes “independently and as a friend.” After Iron Man and Captain America settle their disagreements like noblemen (exchanging blows and brutal combat that almost resulted in their demise), Captain America frees Ant-Man and the others from prison.

For the very first time, Wilson’s moral values and personal integrity faced a significant challenge. Yet, he demonstrated unwavering loyalty, courage, and kindness, regardless of any potential repercussions.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Mondo Reveals INFINITY WAR and ENDGAME Vinyl Box Set

Until recently, Wilson’s actions had been largely earthbound. But in “Avengers: Infinity War”, things escalated beyond comprehension. Since their escape from the Raft, Wilson, Rogers, and Romanoff had been living as fugitives underground. This all shifted when the Children of Thanos arrived on Earth to retrieve the Infinity Stones, beginning with the Mind Stone on Vision’s forehead. When Vision and Maximoff were assaulted by Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive, it was Wilson, Rogers, and Romanoff who stepped in to help. The trio fought together seamlessly, with Wilson firing missiles and executing jetpack-powered dropkicks on the alien minions, forcing them to retreat.

In light of the elevated risks, Sam Wilson along with his group emerged from their secretive base to transport the injured Vision to the Avengers’ stronghold. Upon arrival, they encountered Rhodey and Bruce Banner once more. Shortly after, they escorted Vision to Wakanda for repairs. This was the location where the Avengers and Black Panther’s forces braced themselves against Thanos’ horde of fearsome Outriders. Wilson partnered with War Machine in launching a barrage of gunfire and explosives from the skies. The scene then unfolds as Wilson releases a set of three Redwing drones, each possessing extraordinary destructive power.

Regardless of their best efforts, Earth’s heroes succumbed when Thanos appeared and seized the last Infinity Stone. With a simple snap of his fingers, Thanos reduced Wilson, along with many other creatures across the universe, into dust. However, for now, Falcon’s journey doesn’t end here.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Five years after the Blip, the surviving Avengers miraculously brought back everyone Thanos had eliminated. However, their rejoicing didn’t last long when a time-traveling Thanos attacked their headquarters with his army. After a fierce battle against the Mad Titan, Rogers was the only one left standing, setting the stage for Wilson to make an unforgettable comeback.

Hey Cap, that’s Sam speaking. Are you there? … I’m coming in on your left, he said over the radio, signifying his return, accompanied by Earth’s most powerful superheroes. Sam Wilson was beside Rogers as he shouted his battle cry “Avengers assemble!” and charged into combat against the invading alien force. During the Infinity Gauntlet exchange sequence, he defended Hawkeye, eliminating a giant monster resembling a cave-troll by pinning it with his wings. In the end, Stark made the ultimate sacrifice to eliminate Thanos from the universe forever.

Following the lakeside funeral service for Stark, Wilson teamed up with Banner and Barnes to devise a plan to send Rogers on a mission to restore the Infinity Stones to their original time locations. To everyone’s astonishment, Rogers reappeared as an elderly man sitting on a park bench. He handed his shield to Wilson and offered some inspiring words before bestowing upon him the role of Captain America.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

Despite Rogers having faith in Wilson’s capabilities to assume the role of Captain America, the U.S. authorities had different plans. When Sam Wilson chose to contribute the shield for display at the Smithsonian as part of the Captain America memorial exhibit, he was taken aback and disheartened to see the government bestow it upon U.S. war hero John Walker, appointing him the new Captain America. Beneath his surface, Wilson harbored doubts about being deserving enough to uphold Cap’s legacy by wielding the shield himself. However, his choice to relinquish the shield unwittingly led to the government misusing that legacy for their own purposes.

In a startling turn of events, Wilson joins forces with Barnes once more to pursue the Flag Smashers, a band of extremists rumored to be enhanced by a mysterious Super Soldier Serum. Unraveling the origins of this new substance leads them to Isaiah Bradley, an elderly war veteran. Bradley shares his harrowing tale, revealing that during the war he was forcibly given the serum and transformed into a super soldier. Unlike Steve Rogers who became a beloved hero, Bradley was clandestinely jailed and subjected to decades of government and Hydra experiments. The atrocities committed by America against Bradley make him resolute that there should never be a Black Captain America. This chilling disclosure compels Wilson to scrutinize the very essence of Captain America, eventually leading him to redefine the role according to his own convictions.

In this action-packed flick, I found myself questioning whether Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, should embrace the Super Soldier Serum to match the formidable strength, speed, and resilience of the upgraded Flag Smashers. Yet, John Walker, the new Captain America, finds himself on a dangerous path when he succumbs to the serum’s allure. After witnessing his comrade’s tragic demise in combat, Walker’s rage takes over, leading him to pursue and mercilessly kill one of the Flag Smashers in broad daylight – an act captured on camera for the world to bear witness. This brutal scene casts a dark shadow over the image of Captain America, transforming public opinion into one that perceives our hero as a symbol of savage violence.

As the true struggles of the Flag Smashers come to light and I contemplate Bradley’s fate, Walker’s disgraceful actions tarnish the legacy of Steve Rogers beyond repair. Ultimately, driven by a sense of duty and a desire to forge his unique path as Captain America, Rogers chooses to decline the serum, opting instead to reclaim the shield and continue the noble legacy he began so many years ago.

After Sam Wilson is declared the latest Captain America, he hands over his Falcon role to his Air Force partner Joaquin Torres. Meanwhile, Wilson returns to Louisiana to reconnect with his family and hone his shield-throwing skills. Barnes presents him with a brand new Vibranium-infused Captain America suit, which was generously provided by their allies, the Dora Milaje of Wakanda.

The confrontation between the Flag Smashers concludes in a heart-wrenching manner. The Flag Smashers kidnap members of the Global Repatriation Council (GRC) due to their intention to forcibly relocate people affected by the Blip. In his new red, white, and blue superhero attire, Wilson swoops in to intervene. Regrettably, despite his valiant attempts, Wilson fails to persuade their leader who meets her demise during the fierce clash. Having rescued the GRC, Wilson urges them not to forcefully relocate millions displaced by the Blip but instead extend aid and protection from their respective governments.

In the end, Wilson leads Bradley and his grandson, Eli, to the Smithsonian for an unexpected treat. He guides them through the Captain America exhibit and reveals a freshly crafted statue of Bradley, along with a tribute that narrates his story and salutes him as a hero.

In a choked-up voice, Wilson assures Bradley that his actions for the nation will always be remembered, and he emphasizes, “They’ll never be forgotten.” Gratefully, Bradley returns the embrace.

Captain America: Brave New World (2024)

In the United States, “Captain America: Brave New World” will premiere on Valentine’s Day. Although specific details are still unknown, we have a general idea of what to anticipate as Sam Wilson takes center stage in his debut film as the new Captain America. The story seems to depict Sam fighting battles on multiple fronts, with Ross causing destruction as the Red Hulk, Sidewinder wreaking havoc, and the Leader operating covertly behind the scenes. We also catch a glimpse of Torres in action as the new Falcon and the return of Isiah Bradley. We’ll have to wait and see what unfolds for Sam Wilson in this upcoming chapter.

2025-02-06 01:04

Sam Wilson’s MCU Journey: From Falcon to Captain America!