Falcon (comics)
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| Falcon | |
.jpg/250px-Falcon_(comics).jpg) The Falcon Art by Joe Bennett |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America #117 (Sept. 1969) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Gene Colan |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilson |
| Team affiliations | Avengers |
| Partnerships | Captain America |
| Notable aliases | "Snap" Wilson |
| Abilities | Empathic link with pet falcon Ability to "see" through the eyes of nearby avian life-forms Flight Skilled martial artist and gymnast |
The Falcon (Sam "Snap" Wilson) is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in Captain America #117 (Sept. 1969). Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, the Falcon most frequently works with Captain America, and became a member of the superhero team the Avengers.
The Falcon is mainstream comics' first African American superhero; Marvel's Black Panther, is an African native. The Falcon follows the company's first African-American co-starring character, the non-superpowered World War II soldier Gabe Jones, and first regular supporting character, The Amazing Spider-Man's Joe Robertson. The Falcon debuted nearly three years before Luke Cage, Marvel's first African-American series star, and is also the first superhero of African descent not to have the word "black" as part of his superhero name, preceding the John Stewart Green Lantern by over two years. (The first black starring character in comics is Dell Comics' Old West gunfighter Lobo, introduced in 1965.)
The Falcon's deceased nephew was the Incredible Hulk's sometime-sidekick Jim Wilson, one of the first openly HIV-positive comic-book characters. Jim Wilson's father Gideon Wilson would go on to join the Gamma Corps. Gideon would presumably be Sam's older brother.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
[edit] Early Life
Samuel Thomas Wilson was born in Harlem, New York City, to Darlene Wilson, and Paul Wilson, a prominent minister. Wilson has a happy childhood and finds he has a natural affinity for birds. He takes up training pigeons, and has the largest pigeon coop in Harlem[1]. In his teens, however, encounters with racism leave him jaded.[2] When he is 16, Wilson refuses to join the church, believing his deeply religious parents to be ignorant for their faith. To his surprise, rather than put up a fight, his parents provide him with books on different religions and comparative theology. The next night, however, Sam's father is killed trying to break up a neighborhood fight. Two years later, his mother is shot and killed by a mugger one block from their apartment. Consumed by grief and "angry at the world" Sam turns his back on his past as a respected community volunteer. He moves to Los Angeles and creates a new persona: "Snap" Wilson, a professional criminal, gang member, and pimp.[3][4]
While "Snap" is on his way to "a big score in Rio de Janeiro", his plane crashes on Exile Island (years later, he would say "I actually loved this place quite a bit. It's where I met my two best friends," referring to Captain America and Redwing)[5]. The once-peaceful island had been taken over by the Exiles, a group of would-be world conquerors who had collaborated with the Nazi supervillain the Red Skull during World War II. More recently, they had been betrayed by the Red Skull, and were forced to remain in hiding on the island, enslaving the natives. Wilson finds and befriends Redwing, a falcon which he feels a remarkably strong bond with.
[edit] Becoming The Falcon
At this time Red Skull has possession of the Cosmic Cube, a weapon which allows its user to alter reality itself, but which also causes mental instability. The Skull uses the Cube to switch bodies with his archnemesis Captain America (Steve Rogers, often referred to as "Cap"), wishing to torture his long-time foe. The Skull next uses the Cube to place Cap on Exile Island, knowing that the Exiles will attack Cap, believing him to be the Red Skull. While exploring the island, Skull comes across Wilson and sees yet another way to torture Cap. He uses the Cosmic Cube to mentally fuse Wilson with Redwing, creating a "super-normal mental link" (which would, with time and concentration give Wilson broad powers over all birds) [6] [7] Next, the Skull uses the cube to alter reality, rewriting the past and removing the years Wilson had spent angrily living as "Snap". In the new history that the Red Skull created, Wilson was a morally upright and cheerful Social Worker. In this rewritten history, Sam is lured to the Island by the Exiles, who promise him a job while intending to enslave him. But rather than submit, he decides to try and organize the natives - "band them together and get them to fight for the freedom that they've lost!"
Thus, when Captain America (still in Red Skull's body, but disguised) meets Sam Wilson, he sees a kindred spirit and the two become fast friends - as the Red Skull intended. Cap convinces Wilson to adopt a persona to inspire the natives in their rebellion. The two create the costumed persona The Falcon, and train together extensively before attacking and defeating the Exiles. After the battle, however, they are attacked by the Skull, who gives Captain America back his real body (much to the surprise of The Falcon, who had not realized his new friend's real identity). Together they are able to defeat the Red Skull. [8] The Falcon later becomes Captain America's regular partner in crime-fighting,[9] and briefly even takes on the "Captain America" costume and identity (when Steve Rogers had apparently been killed).[10]
Later, again as the Falcon, Wilson receives help from the Black Panther, who creates a harness for Wilson which allows him to fly.[11] When his faith in the government was broken by the Secret Empire, Captain America abandons his costumed identity. Others attempted to take up the identity, including a young man named Roscoe. Falcon attempts to talk Roscoe out of the clearly dangerous decision. Seeing Roscoe will not be dissuaded, Falcon tries to mentor him, hoping to keep him alive long enough to see he was making a mistake. Unfortunately, the Red Skull kills Roscoe, driving Steve Rogers to once again become Captain America[12].
Soon afterward, the Red Skull finally springs his trap and reveals Falcon's true past as "Snap" Wilson, and attempts to use the Cosmic Cube to make Falcon kill Captain America, but is thwarted[13] Now aware of his past but deciding to continue as a hero, The Falcon is eventually named head of the Super Agents at the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D..[14]
[edit] Avenger
US government superhero liaison Henry Peter Gyrich then recruits the Falcon, one of the few active African-American superheroes, to fill a mandated racial quota for the venerable team the Avengers.[15] Resentful of being a "token", the Falcon quits at the first opportunity. He debutes a new costume when he fights the supervillain Taskmaster.[16]
Eventually, a new team of Avengers is assembled to fight the international menace Scorpio. Afterwards, the United Nations offers to make this new team of Avengers an international peacekeeping agency. Having been called on for his talent, and not for the color of his skin, Falcon decides to stay as a member of this Avengers team. By this point, Falcon had discovered that he could extend his telepathic bond with Redwing, allowing him to control other birds and "see" through their eyes. He uses this ability to spy on Henry Gyrich (now the Avengers' liaison with the United Nations) and discovers that the United States' Secretary of Defense, Senator Dell Rusk, has been pressuring Gyrich to spy on the Avengers and turn over their secrets. Although initially hostile to one another, Falcon convinces Gyrich to help the Avengers spy on Rusk, feeding him false information while gathering evidence to expose him. They discover that Rusk is actually the Red Skull, who has launched a biological weapon attack on America, intending to use the ensuing panic to gain control over America's government and start a war with other countries. Falcon is instrumental in defeating the Red Skull[17].
It is around this period of time that, a new "Captain America" secretly created by the Office of Naval Intelligence (O.N.I.) goes rogue and begins eliminating anything and anyone he sees as a source of terrorism. To draw this agent (dubbed "The Anti-Cap") out, O.N.I. leaks information about their involvement in a biological weapons project with the notorious Rivas Family, powerful Cuban druglords. Reporter and Social Activist Leila Taylor investigates this rumor and attempts to smuggle a sample of the virus into America, but she is arrested by U.S. forces in Cuba. Falcon, who is a friend of Taylor, breaks her out of prison and investigates her claims, destroying the Rivas Family's biological weapons lab and obtaining a sample of the mysterious virus they were developing for O.N.I. Falcon is able to fly Leila back to America (although his flying harness is destroyed in a hurricane) while Captain America follows Falcon's directions and retrieves the virus sample. The Anti-Cap kills the head of the Rivas family, and pursues Leila, Falcon, and Cap, intent on obtaining the virus sample. After reuniting, Falcon and Captain America are able to barely defeat the Anti-Cap. Realizing that O.N.I.'s goal was to draw out their rogue agent to execute him, Captain America arranges to have the Anti-Cap be secretly imprisoned in the Wakandian embassy, until O.N.I. agrees not to kill him.
Since Captain America and Falcon now possess both O.N.I.'s rogue agent and the last remaining sample of O.N.I.'s virus, O.N.I. begins to put increasing amounts of pressure on the heroes. Falcon is especially targeted - he had broken Leila out of Federal Custody, and his criminal history makes it easier for O.N.I. to create further false charges against him. Falcon soon finds himself on the run from O.N.I.
Meanwhile the superheroine the Scarlet Witch, having gone insane, begins using her powers to recreate many of the Avengers' greatest trials and tragedies. She destabilizes the Falcon's mind, causing him to act increasingly like his "Snap" persona. He begins carrying a gun, keeps secrets from his friends, assaults Leela's boyfriend Norman when he protests they go into hiding, and uses a high power rifle to shoot at his friend Joseph "Robbie" Robertson (to fool Robbie into thinking O.N.I. was threatening to kill him). Although they succeed in exposing the illegal activities of O.N.I. and clear Wilson's name, Sam's methods cause his relationship with Captain America to become strained. Cap confronts Falcon about his recent actions, and Falcon, angered at what he sees as an "Ultimatum" terminates their partnership. As they are walking away, Norman (who blames Falcon for the end of his relationship with Leila) appears and shoots at Falcon. Captain America is seriously injured by the stray bullets, and even appears to die. The shock of watching his best friend seemingly die because of his actions has a powerful affect on Sam, who briefly gives up being Falcon and reexamines his life. [18]
[edit] Civil War/Initiative
Sam Wilson reappeared as Falcon without explanation,[19] and supports Captain America against the Superhuman Registration Act. When the Captain becomes incapacitated, Falcon temporarily assumes leadership of the "Secret Avengers" rebel group.[20]. Following Captain America's assassination by the machinations of the Red Skull, the Falcon registers with the government and is made responsible for Harlem, although he continues to be in contact with the underground New Avengers. Falcon is one of the pallbearers carrying Captain America's coffin, and gives an inspirational speech at the funeral.[21] Afterward, S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits the Falcon and agent Sharon Carter to investigate the Captain's assassination by locating the Winter Soldier and tracking down the Red Skull.
[edit] Powers, abilities, and equipment
[edit] Powers
In his earliest appearances Falcon exhibits a close bond with his bird Redwing, which in Captain America 174 Professor X confirms as being a paranormal empathic link. The Red Skull later reveals that he had used the Cosmic Cube to create a "super-normal mental link" between Sam Wilson and Redwing.[22] Falcon later recalled the experience, stating "Hurt like hell. Being mentally fused with that falcon. Able to see through his eyes."[23]
Recently, Falcon revealed that he has been able to extend this empathic link. "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. ... I have over six billion pairs of eyes in the United States alone." He used this ability to quickly search New York City when the criminal Scarecrow kidnapped two children[24], as well as to spy on Senator Dell Rusk (actually the Red Skull in disguise) and Henry Peter Gyrich [25]. He is also apparently able to access the memories of birds, and see things they had witnessed in the past (although birds have a different concept of the passage of time, which makes it difficult for him to know when any events they witnessed occurred).[26]
Falcon has shown some ability to apparently control birds, as shown when he enlisted their aid in attacking Scarecrow, and when (badly injured and manacled to a wall) he telepathically summoned a large number of different birds from the surrounding area to smash through a window and attack the Red Skull.
[edit] Current Uniform and Flight Harness
In the past, Falcon wore a costume of synthetic stretch fabric lined with a steel alloy mesh, with an attached wing harness[citation needed]. After the original flying harness's destruction[27], the Black Panther supplied Falcon with a new costume and wings. An emitter array on Falcon's back creates holographic "hard light" wings with a maximum wingspan of up to 50 feet. Controlled by a cybernetic link, the wings can be instantly reconfigured into "dozens of different cruise configurations". A "magnetic drive", in turn, provides the thrust needed to get Falcon airborne. The emitter also possesses GPS Jamming Devices that prevent satellite tracking, while the hard-light wings interfere with infra-red tracking. A Vibranium microweave was added to the costume itself, making Falcon resistant to small arms fire. [28] The entire system is controlled mentally through cybernetic circuitry in the Falcon's mask. The costume has in the past featured a hidden "talon," a cybernetically controlled grappling line built into the gauntlets of his costume which he uses to entangle opponents, hook objects, or for swinging and climbing when his wings are detached. The costume's visors come equipped with various capabilities, including infrared lenses, giving him the ability to see objects by their infrared signature at night, magnification capabilities, and remote imaging sensors that allow a full 360 degree of vision when activated. The cowl also has a wide band receiver and transmitter with an unspecified range. The suit was originally built by Wakandan scientists, with costume modifications by Desmond Burrell.[citation needed]
[edit] Earlier Flight Harness
Falcon's original wing harness features detachable jet-powered glider wings made of lightweight titanium ribbing and Mylar. The wings are covered with wafer-thin solar power receptors which convert sunlight into electricity to power miniature high-speed electric turbine fans in his costume and boots. The wings can be detached and reattached to his costume cybernetically. The harness is destroyed in Captain America and the Falcon #2 (2004).
[edit] Abilities
Falcon is also an excellent trainer of wild birds, and has been trained in gymnastics and hand-to-hand combat by Captain America.
Redwing is a highly trained hunting falcon who responds to the Falcon's verbal and mental commands and joins him in battle against his adversaries.
At one point, a Sentinel chased him, believing him to be a mutant, but this was later debunked and the Sentinel is presumed to have been malfunctioning.[issue # needed]
[edit] Other versions
[edit] MC2
In Amazing Spider-Girl #7 Falcon was revealed to be dead. However, the Ladyhawk twins wear attire strikingly similar to his first costume (Before he got his wings).
[edit] Ultimate Falcon
Samuel Wilson is an explorer, adventurer, and scientist who uses a backpack with high-tech folding wings to fly. Wilson first appeared in Ultimate Nightmare and then worked on the Vision, demonstrating a high level of technological understanding. He is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. rather than an official member of the Ultimates or Reserves. Not much is known about the Ultimate version of Falcon, except that he appears to have an entirely different origin than the original Falcon, has served with or under General Nick Fury. This version appears to be an accomplished combatant, especially when using the sharp edge of the metal wings he wears as a weapon. His wings are controlled through the help of nanotechnology with which he can communicate and which can also send and retrieve computer information.
Ultimate Falcon also appears in the second Ultimates annual, where he teams up with Captain America, and in the Ultimate Vision miniseries.
[edit] U. S. War Machine
In Marvel's MAX imprint series U.S. War Machine, Falcon appeared alongside Captain America and Hawkeye; he and Hawkeye served as Captain America's backup and wore no costumes, only being addressed by their real names. In this reality, Captain America was actually Bucky wearing the Captain's uniform as here the Captain had died in World War II in his stead.
[edit] What If?
In the 2006 comic What If Captain America had fought in the Civil War?, the Earth-717 version of Wilson was an orphan raised by a Shawnee medicine man, and grew up to fight in the American Civil War as part of an Indian volunteer regiment. He performs a ritual to give Steven Rogers the power of We-Pi-Ahk, the Eagle Spirit, and has a red eagle painted on his chest for this ceremony. He is killed by Colonel Barnes, the White Skull.
[edit] In other media
The Falcon (along with his bird Redwing) appeared as a member of the Avengers in the television series The Avengers: United They Stand voiced by Martin Roach.
Falcon appears in the Robot Chicken episode "The Deep End" voiced by Seth Green. He is seen in the segment called "The Real World: Metropolis."
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Lee, Stan Captain America #117-119 (Sept.-Nov. 1969)
- ^ Englehart, Steve. Captain America 186
- ^ Johns, Geoff. Avengers volume 3, #64
- ^ Priest, Christopher J. Captain America and the Falcon, #7
- ^ Priest, Christopher J. Captain America and the Falcon, #11
- ^ Englehart, Steve. Captain America #186. Marvel Comics, 1975
- ^ Johns, Geoff. Avengers volume 3 #60. Marvel Comics, 2003
- ^ Lee, Stan Captain America #117-119 (Sept.-Nov. 1969)
- ^ Captain America #133
- ^ Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8-9 (April-May 1999)
- ^ Captain America and the Falcon #170
- ^ Captain America 181-183
- ^ Captain America and the Falcon #186
- ^ Captain America and the Falcon #218
- ^ Avengers vol. 1 #184 (June 1979)
- ^ Captain America Annual #11
- ^ Johns, Geoff. Avengers, Volume 3, #57-70
- ^ Priest, Christopher J. Captain America and the Falcon, #1-14
- ^ House of M #1, Captain America vol. 5, #12, Civil War #1
- ^ Civil War #4
- ^ Fallen Son: Death of Captain America
- ^ Englehart, Steve. Captain America #186. Marvel Comics, 1975
- ^ Johns, Geoff. Avengers volume 3 #60. Marvel Comics, 2003
- ^ Johns, Geoff. Avengers volume 3 #64. Marvel Comics, 2003
- ^ Johns, Geoff. Avengers volume 3 #61-69. Marvel Comics, 2003-2004
- ^ Brubaker, Ed. Captain America volume 5 #35. Marvel Comics, 2008
- ^ Priest, Christopher Captain America and the Falcon #2, Marvel Comics (2004)
- ^ Priest, Christopher Captain America and the Falcon #6, Marvel Comics (2004)
[edit] External links
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