What sort of Easter Eggs and clever winks can we find in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? And is it really that much different than the comics?
Coming off the success that was WandaVision, the second television series from Marvel Studios, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, began last Friday on Disney Plus. And so far, based on its first episode, “New World Order,” it looks as though producer Kevin Feige will score another hit. It’s also clearly a very different series from WandaVision. Whereas the previous series was more supernatural mystery and sitcom parody, Falcon and Winter Soldier is your action spy thriller, taking many of its cues from Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). It even has the return of the French kickboxing mercenary, Batroc (Georges St-Pierre).
WandaVision also relied on many visual clues and Easter Eggs that left viewers like yours truly speculating on what would happen during it’s nine week run. There are Easter Eggs in Falcon and Winter Soldier, too. Only, on the basis of the series’ first episode, “New World Order,” they definitely seem to be fun little winks and nods towards the self-aware TV watcher. So just as we did with WandaVision, we’ll be spending the next six episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier going over them… and be making some comparisons between what’s in this series with what was in the original comics.
So get those sharp avian-like eyes ready and, naturally, there’s potential SPOILERS from here on out.
The Falcon’s Wingman in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
No, I’m not talking about Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) AI drone, Redwing (although the comic version is much different than the MCU version for the simple fact that its an actual falcon whom Sam telepathically communicates with). I’m talking about his buddy, Lt. Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez). And before you ask, yes, his depiction in this episode is very different from the comics, too.
For starters, he’s neither with the United States Air Force or even an adult. As depicted in Captain America: Sam Wilson, Torres was a teenage undocumented immigrant from Mexico who settled in Arizona. After being kidnapped by a white supremacist group called The Sons of the Serpent, and then experimented on by a mad scientist named Karl Malus, Torres became a “human/falcon hybrid.” This gave him the ability to fly and, like the comic book version of Sam Wilson, a psychic bond with Redwing. Oh, and he’s also part vampire, too, which allows him to regenerate from critical to fatal injuries like Wolverine (because comics!).
Anyway, since Sam Wilson was the new Cap, this meant Torres became the new Falcon. Considering how the series is setting up Sam to wield the shield, perhaps the inclusion of Torres means he’ll strap on the wings.
The Captain America Exhibit
In a callback to Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), we revisit the “Captain America” wing of the Smithsonian Museum. Some of the exhibits we’ve seen before, such as Steve Rogers’ original uniform, triangular shield, and motorcycle from Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). There’s also things we haven’t seen before like newspapers with headlines about Hydra, and a list of those who vanished after Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
Yet there’s another exhibit we see Sam Wilson and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) stand in front of. It’s a collage of various Cap related World War II memorabilia that includes the cover for Captain America Comics #1, a classic and monumental comic art by Jack Kirby that shows Cap punching Adolf Hitler.
Considering that the cover is also accompanied by the famous Uncle Sam army recruitment poster, and images from Cap’s war bonds tour from First Avenger, it’s rather appropriate. After all, American comics published during World War II were used as wartime and anti-fascist propaganda. What’s unique about Timely Comics’ Captain America #1 is that it came out in March 1941, several months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Which, in the context of the MCU, raises a number of questions. Does this mean the MCU version of Captain America #1 hit newsstands after the United States entered into World War II? Was there MCU versions of Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, and Timely Comics as there was Stan Lee? Are the stories featured in Captain America Comics #1 the same as they are in the real world? If so, did the MCU version give away classified government secrets, or was it considered similar to the dime novels about fictional adventures of real-life Western gunfighters? Yes, these questions are silly. But still makes you wonder.
The History of the Wilsons
One of the great things about the premiere episode is that we finally get to see more of Sam’s life and history outside of being an Avenger. We learn his family ran their own Louisiana fishing business that’s been inherited by his widowed sister, Sarah Casper (Adepero Odute). However, because of the Blip and the fact she’s struggling to make ends meat while raising two kids on her own, the business is on the verge of bankruptcy, meaning she may have to sell the main trawler named after their parents, Paul and Darlene. And of course, Sam wants to keep the boat because it wasn’t just his and his sister’s legacy, but also their family’s first home.
While this makes for compelling family drama and social commentary, none of Sam’s backstory in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is in the actual comics. Instead of being born and raised in Delacroix, Louisiana, comic book Sam was born and raised in Harlem, New York. Instead of running a family-owned fishing fleet, Sam’s father was a Baptist minister. And while Sam’s parents and brother-in-law are also deceased, they were all victims of separate incidents of gang violence. Oh, and Sam, angry over his mother’s death became a street hood who went by the name Snap Wilson before Steve Rogers helped turn his life around.
As for Sam’s sister, Sarah doesn’t have two boys in the comics but a son and a daughter. Her son Jody is also a teenager and, like his uncle Sam, was being tempted into a life of crime until Sam convinced him to change his ways. The last time Sarah or her kids appear in the comics is in All-New Captain America, and only in flashback.
So why the changes? Likely for the same reason the MCU Sam Wilson is a member of the Air Force just as Steve Rogers was a member of the Army. By giving Sam a more working class and military background, it makes the comparisons between himself and Steve that much stronger. Which, of course, also strengthens the case for why he’s the rightful heir to the Captain America mantle.
Bucky’s Bucket List
In a neat bit of parallelism with Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes has compiled his own bucket list. Except where Steve’s list had names of songs, books, and movies post-1945, Bucky’s list has a list of names of those he wishes to make amends with… or bring to justice. Most of those names are also Marvel-related Easter Eggs.
Some names, such as “L Kaminski” and “S Whitaker” are references towards comic book creators Len Kaminski and Steve Whitaker. Other names like “A Rostov” refer to Marvel Comics villains. In this case, there’s an “Andre Rostov,” a Soviet Union general known as The Red Barbarian who was an enemy of Iron Man. He was also Bucky’s handler when he was still The Winter Soldier.
The real name to pay attention to, however, is “H Zemo.” As in Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl), the main villain from Captain America: Civil War (2016) who will also appear later in the series. That makes Bucky’s list not only a key component for exploring his character, it’s also crucial to the plot of the entire season.
The Flag-Smashers?
“New World Order” also introduces us to series’ primary antagonists, the Flag Smashers, a group of terrorists who believe the world was better after Thanos snapped away half the population. They also have super-soldier-like abilities and (unbeknownst to the good guys) are actually led by one Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman). Of course, this is different from the source material, though not as much as you might think.
In the comics, the first Flag Smasher was one Karl Morgenthau who, after his diplomat father died in a riot, decided there shouldn’t be any countries. He would then create his own organization, The Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind, or ULTIMATUM for short. He also didn’t have super powers, relying instead on high-tech gadgets and martial arts. Basically, think V from V For Vendetta, only with better toys and without the Guy Fawkes mask.
There were also three other Flag-Smashers, all of whom were members of ULTIMATUM, who took up their leader’s cause. The second Flag-Smasher was one Guy Thierrault, who made his debut during Marvel Comics’ Civil War event. And because being an anarchist is an occupational hazard, Guy was killed by one of his own ULTIMATUM agents, who then took up the Flag-Smasher mantle for himself, until he, in turn, was also killed. The last Flag-Smasher in the comics ended up being a Life Model Decoy of Dr. Erik Selvig.
Captain America II
With the episode ending with the announcement of a new Captain America (Wyatt Russell), it’s no secret that this will be John Walker. And make no mistake, if the comics are anything to go by, the MCU version of Walker will be a very different Cap than Steve. Although he’s still a very much a hero, Walker in the comics is also much more aggressive, opinionated, and arrogant. That’s because Walker believes that since Steve was a product of the Great Depression, FDR’s New Deal, and World War II, it makes him an outdated relic who no longer represents modern American ideals and values. Which, of course, Walker feels he better represents.
To prove this, Walker goaded Cap to a wrestling match as “The Super-Patriot”… and just barely won. That’s because in comics, Walker gained super strength, reflexes, and endurance from a crime boss called The Power Broker, who, in turn, hired Karl Malus (yes, the same guy responsible for giving Torres his powers). In any case, after Walker saved Washington D.C. from a would-be terrorist, the US government recruits him to become the new Cap after Steve quits and becomes “The Captain.”
We’ll see what differences there are between the comic book and MCU Walker to be sure. But one difference is his new government issued Cap suit, as it incorporates design elements from other suits. The front of uniform does resemble the U.S. Agent uniform he will eventually wear, but it also has design aspects of Bucky’s costume from the 1940s. It’s also a darker shade of blue than Steve’s uniform, which gives audiences a visual cue that Walker will be a darker version of Cap than they are used to.
One thing’s for sure, the ending perfectly sets the stage for Sam and Walker to butt ideological heads over who the true bearer of Steve’s legacy is.
What Easter Eggs did you spot in Episode 1 of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? Let us know in the comments below!