COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

 

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

Wow!  I haven't done one of THESE in a long while!  This is what happens when your day job and other responsibilities (having writing blogs for the CW shows), take up SO much time, that I'm not able to get back to one of the other FUN aspects of writing this blog:  talking about actual COMIC BOOKS.  But I got inspired....and over the next few weeks, we're going to cover some books in relation to the recent MCU mini-television series' that have aired on Disney Plus.  Starting THIS week, we take a peek into the introduction of one of Steve Rogers' best friends and partners - Sam Wilson - The Falcon!  Sam came onto the Marvel scene helping out the Star-Spangled Avenger, and became a stalwart of Cap's team, and eventually, an Avenger.  Now....Sam is our Captain America, having taken the mantle from Steve, and continuing the legacy set in place by our First Avenger.  So, let's dive into the first appearance of our Winged Avenger!  

CAPTAIN AMERICA (Vol. 1) #117

COVER ART:  Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott, John Romita, Sr.

WRITER:  Stan Lee

ARTIST:  Gene Colan

INKS:  Joe Sinnott

LETTERER:  Sam Rosen

COLORIST:  N/A

EDITOR:  Stan Lee

COVER DATE:  September 1969

PUBLISHER:  Marvel Comics

TAGLINE:  The Coming of THE FALCON!

STORY TITLE:  "The Coming of....THE FALCON!"  

Captain America #117 brings us a new hero to the Marvel Universe - Sam Wilson.  Wilson makes his debut in a big fashion by helping out our patriotic protagonist against his arch enemy, the Red Skull.  Cap digs Sam's willingness to help, and soon, the two are joined at the hip, as Falcon becomes Cap's right-hand man.  Sam got to be a mainstay on the book, that he eventually got added to the title of the book, and it ran as Captain America & The Falcon from issue #134 - #222 (minus a few issues where his name did not appear on the title).  Sam also became one of the cornerstones of The Avengers.  Sam has been one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe, and when the MCU got into full swing, his profile got a MAJOR boost thanks to Anthony Mackie's portrayal in Captain America:  The Winter Soldier.  With all the positive feedback, the character has been the newest member of Steve Rogers' team to eventually take up the shield and mantle of Captain America for modern times.  The Falcon is truly one of the best characters to ever appear in a Marvel Comic...and he just keeps getting better. 

THE STORY:  While the Red Skull is parading around in Captain America's body---enjoying the adulation he gets, but disgusted by it as well, and plotting to destroy his good name, Steve Rogers is trapped in the body of the Skull, no thanks to the Skull's manipulation of the Cosmic Cube.  Steve is stuck on a Haitian island, being attacked by a group called The Exiles, who had employed a young man -- Sam Wilson -- to teach them falconry, which he had mastered with his bird, Redwing.  Instead of helping The Exiles, Wilson aids Cap and the citizens enslaved by the Exiles into a revolt.  Cap sees the good spirit of the man from Harlem, and tells him to wear a mask as a symbol for the people, thus Sam Wilson becomes The Falcon.

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Sam Wilson's appearance in Cap's book was a boon for minority characters for Marvel, who had already struck gold with Black Panther.  Sam is seen as a kid from a rough neighborhood with a good heart, and becomes even MORE inspired by Cap to become a symbol and a hero.  Sam Wilson has gone on to become an even MORE popular character, and this issue set the precedence for a new hero to rise up, and take up the mantle of good.  So good was Wilson as a character---and popular as well---that being added as Cap's partner for a decent chunk of Cap's title run made him a very viable character to the Marvel Mythos for years to come.  Stan Lee was gifted enough to be in tune with the youth of the day to create characters that were relatable to the current culture.  

NEXT WEEK:  We focus on the "new" partner of The Falcon....an old friend from Steve Rogers' past.