Sam Wilson: How ‘Snap’ became Captain America
By Mark Lynch
Sam Wilson AKA the Falcon went from being wiped out by Thanos to becoming the next person to don the mantle of Captain America.
There has been a resurgence of characters of color over the past ten years. No longer are black characters used solely in clichéd roles to make a dollar. Let’s take Luke Cage, for example. Cage was created to cash in on the Blaxploitation genre in the 1970s but, but by the early 2000s, Cage was revamped. He became a legitimate hero, leader of the Avengers, and a far cry from the stereotype he once was. Another example is a man we’ll be talking about today, a guy that no one could have predicted would become a popular and star in his own show. That man is none other than Sam Wilson AKA the Falcon.
Sam Wilson may be the epitome of nothing to something. Before he was a hero and way before he started teaming up with Captain America, Sam Wilson was working for the mob and going by the name “Snap.” The funny thing about Wilson’s change was that it happened because of the Red Skull. By using the Cosmic Cube to manipulate Sam to get to Captain America, he ended up creating a friendship that would last decades.
As time went on, Sam Wilson became more than just Captain America’s sidekick; he actually became Captain America. When Steve Roger’s Super Soldier Serum was removed from his body, Sam Wilson was given the honor of becoming the new Captain America. No one was shocked when this happened. His peers would even remark that his promotion was long overdue.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe
To say that I knew Sam Wilson would become a popular character in the MCU would be a lie. It was confusing to me that they would bring in Falcon so early. It’s not like he’s a well-known character outside of the comics. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant surprise when the MCU’s version of Wilson turned out to be better than expected. Anthony Mackie was the perfect pick for the role, as he added a sense of levity to Sam that was absent from his comic book counterpart. He wasn’t drop-dead funny like Deadpool or Star-Lord, however. His comedy was more sarcastic. The famous, “On your left,” scene at the opening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a good example of this lightheartedness. The chemistry between Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie’s made everything about that work. There’s also the dynamic between Mackie and Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes. Their friendly battle for Steve’s friendship was both cute and funny, so much so that they’ve been given their own show.
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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is scheduled to be released later this year. Who would have thought this would become a highly anticipated show? Both characters are cool in the movies, but would they work in a series of their own? Absolutely. In Captain America: Civil War, Sam and Bucky proved they have a relationship that viewers can enjoy. The scene in which they’re watching Steve and Sharon Carter from the car is hilarious. Sam wouldn’t give Bucky any slack, and you could tell Bucky didn’t care for Steve’s new friend. This could be the most entertaining of all the Marvel/Disney Plus shows.
Despite the fun in the movie, Anthony Mackie is going to make an amazing Captain America, and Bucky helping him along the way will be incredible. They’re both going to fight people who may look at Sam and think he’s unfit to wield the shield. Will it be a racial thing? It’s possible. Marvel Studios hasn’t been afraid to shine a light on issues that plague us in our everyday lives. But through it all, Bucky is going stand by Sam, and it’s going to be a sight to behold.
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Sam Wilson has come a long way from being Snap. He may not be Captain America in the comic books anymore, but he’s never needed the shield or the name to be a great character. It’s amazing to see where he came from and where he is now. He’s not just Captain America’s sidekick — he’s his own man and hero, and it’s going to be great to see where the Falcon flies of to next.
What do you think of Sam Wilson’s history? Let us know in the comments below.